Why did you leave the Catholic Church?

[Greg27]

I guess what made me start to lapse was realising I couldn’t accept certain teachings on good conscience (particularly those relating to the ordination of women; I believe there is no good reason why women should not be ordained to the priesthood). Another was seeing in the Church, many conservative or fundamentalist Catholics who seemed clean to rid the church of any ‘liberal’ filth, which basically meant many people with ‘liberal’ ideas. Unfortunately as someone who has always been open-minded, I realised many of my questions and ideas came right under this heading, and I thought in the CC I could escape the nasty and narrow-minded fundamentalism I’d seen in Protestantism, but unfortunately that was not the case.

The Church’s crackdown on theologians such as Hans Kung and the deeply conservative stance of Ratzinger on many issues, was to me a ominous statement of what might happen to someone who could be labelled rather easily as a ‘heretic’ or ‘dissenter.’ I’ve noticed on these forums especially, quite a few Catholics seem keen to heresy hunt and find anyone who has the slightest dissent from the magesterium, and to remove them from the church, or to hurl the Code of Canon Law or statements from the Popes in their face when they sense ‘heresy’ or ‘dissent.’ I found this encounter on many occasions, especially online, and I began to get the sense I had to sacrifice my reason and my intellect and just ‘believe’ or else I was committing some kind of mortal sin.

I thought about this a lot and ultimately I felt like my mind was being strangled and stifled, and the freedom and peace I sought in conversion only being turned into pain, angst and concern. I think it was only a matter of time before someone would point out I am not a ‘true’ Catholic and I would have to leave the Church.

I also had increasing philosophical problems about the human mind being able to know God, after studying the Philosophy of Kant and Descartes.

I also had problems with the strong Phariseeism I was seeing in some Catholics towards ‘sinners’ and also arrogance towards those of non-Catholic or non-Christian religions.

I thought about this a lot, wavering and being reluctant to leave, but then I saw a post from someone here who effectively said it was his desire to see the medieval Inquisition re-established and for ‘liberal’ heretics who were destroying the church to be tortured and burned at the stake. I realised I would most likely be one such fellow in this person’s eyes, and that helped me realise I had made the right decision.

Perhaps one day if the church focuses less on making everyone follow authority and more in its wonderful traditions of contemplative spirituality, social justice and compassion, and charity, I might consider returning, but so long as there are people there who want to flush ‘liberals’ or those who think twice about things proposed for belief down the proverbial toilet, or have them burned alive, I can’t see myself being welcome or helpful in any way for the Church.

 

[cheddarsox]

I thought about this a lot, wavering and being reluctant to leave, but then I saw a post from someone here who effectively said it was his desire to see the medieval Inquisition re-established and for ‘liberal’ heretics who were destroying the church to be tortured and burned at the stake. I realised I would most likely be one such fellow in this person’s eyes, and that helped me realise I had made the right decision.

.

I remember that one!

 

[MariaG]

I guess what made me start to lapse was realising I couldn’t accept certain teachings on good conscience (particularly those relating to the ordination of women; I believe there is no good reason why women should not be ordained to the priesthood). Another was seeing in the Church, many conservative or fundamentalist Catholics who seemed clean to rid the church of any ‘liberal’ filth, which basically meant many people with ‘liberal’ ideas. Unfortunately as someone who has always been open-minded, I realised many of my questions and ideas came right under this heading, and I thought in the CC I could escape the nasty and narrow-minded fundamentalism I’d seen in Protestantism, but unfortunately that was not the case.

The Church’s crackdown on theologians such as Hans Kung and the deeply conservative stance of Ratzinger on many issues, was to me a ominous statement of what might happen to someone who could be labelled rather easily as a ‘heretic’ or ‘dissenter.’ I’ve noticed on these forums especially, quite a few Catholics seem keen to heresy hunt and find anyone who has the slightest dissent from the magesterium, and to remove them from the church, or to hurl the Code of Canon Law or statements from the Popes in their face when they sense ‘heresy’ or ‘dissent.’ I found this encounter on many occasions, especially online, and I began to get the sense I had to sacrifice my reason and my intellect and just ‘believe’ or else I was committing some kind of mortal sin.

I thought about this a lot and ultimately I felt like my mind was being strangled and stifled, and the freedom and peace I sought in conversion only being turned into pain, angst and concern. I think it was only a matter of time before someone would point out I am not a ‘true’ Catholic and I would have to leave the Church.

I also had increasing philosophical problems about the human mind being able to know God, after studying the Philosophy of Kant and Descartes.

I also had problems with the strong Phariseeism I was seeing in some Catholics towards ‘sinners’ and also arrogance towards those of non-Catholic or non-Christian religions.

I thought about this a lot, wavering and being reluctant to leave, but then I saw a post from someone here who effectively said it was his desire to see the medieval Inquisition re-established and for ‘liberal’ heretics who were destroying the church to be tortured and burned at the stake. I realised I would most likely be one such fellow in this person’s eyes, and that helped me realise I had made the right decision.

Perhaps one day if the church focuses less on making everyone follow authority and more in its wonderful traditions of contemplative spirituality, social justice and compassion, and charity, I might consider returning, but so long as there are people there who want to flush ‘liberals’ or those who think twice about things proposed for belief down the proverbial toilet, or have them burned alive, I can’t see myself being welcome or helpful in any way for the Church.

I guess I am fortunate. I realized very early on that PEOPLE will always let you down, but God will ever lead His Church on the right path. The Church is the pillar and foundation of truth. He may not lead us to all truth as quickly as we would like, but we will be led.

Sad comfort when you find yourself burning alive but at least you would have the comfort of knowing that you died for your faith:shrug:

God Bless,
Maria

 

[mikezieg8]

I left at 13. I had never even read the Bible or was told to read it.
My Mom said she was not allowed to read the Bible by her Catholic church.My Dad never read it.All they did was pray the Rosary. Only the Priest could read it and understand it. I shared what Peter said Acts4:12,3:19,2:38 to my Mom. She could not open her Bible and look at it. The Priest has to read it for her. I see that the Catholics have a different 2nd Commandment.EXodus20:4 I wonder why they don’t have the one where you are not to make any idols in form of anything above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them. My Mom taught us to do this and we had to at the catholic school we went to. We bowed down to the statues of Peter and Mary.

.All 5 of us kids went to the Parochial School thru 8th grade. We read our Catechisms but never the Bible. Why not? Now we have all left the Catholic Church and have read what the Bible says. Oh, my Dad even started to read the Bible before he died. It was the redish orange catholic bible in paperback. . I used to read from it to my dad the scriptures where Peter spoke. He read what Peter said in Acts about the Messiah and salvation. I don’t think My Mom ever read the Bible in her 84 years. She was the sweetest person I ever knew. I believe she is with the Lord whom she confessed as Lord and Savior and received forgiveness of all her sins. God is so merciful…

We are children of God(by Faith in Christ Jesus)Galatians3;26 Read Romans 8. If we are saved(belong to Christ) then we have the spirit of Christ in us. We are adopted. Would a loving father kick his son out because of sin or would he discipline him who he loves. What kind of Father would our God be? Jesus intercedes for us and if we sin we can confess that sin and be cleansed from all unrighteousness1JN18-10 The Lord knoweth them that are His Titus 2:14 Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us that He might Redeem us from All Iniquity and Purify unto Himself a peculiar people, Zealous for good works.

My wife is also a former Catholic. She ,my daughter and I now read our Bibles daily and are in a small fellowship that studies thru the bible together.

St Augustine wrote a quote of his own "Thou hast made our hearts for Thee oh God and they are restless until they rest in Thee:

Sincerely,

Mike

 

[fellowChristian]

I never heard of that before. My grandmother always read the bible. My father is 64 and was never told that.

I wonder if it was just something one person said? Or a misunderstanding? And the statues are Mary and Joseph

Somebody at work said that recently. He went to a Catholic Church and “they” tried to make him bow down to the statues of Mary and Peter. I just caught that.

I asked him “Do you ever pray at night before you go to bed?”

He said “yes”

Then I asked “Do you kneel before your bed?”

He answered “yes”

When I asked him" Are you worshipping your bed?"

He laughed and said “no”

Then I explained " We Catholics know that statue of Mary isn’t going to do anything for us, trust me."

When you are in a Catholic Church look around, is there a gold box? It is a tabernackle. In it is the Body of Christ in the Host.That is why we are on bended knee.

He had never met a Catholic who knew what or why we do what we do.He was with Catholics that time and they could not answer him. So he came to work with his own opinions and thoughts.Then I walked in

 

[MariaG]

I left at 13. I had never even read the Bible or was told to read it.
My Mom said she was not allowed to read the Bible by her Catholic church.My Dad never read it.All they did was pray the Rosary. Only the Priest could read it and understand it. I shared what Peter said Acts4:12,3:19,2:38 to my Mom. She could not open her Bible and look at it. The Priest has to read it for her. I see that the Catholics have a different 2nd Commandment.EXodus20:4 I wonder why they don’t have the one where you are not to make any idols in form of anything above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them. My Mom taught us to do this and we had to at the catholic school we went to. We bowed down to the statues of Peter and Mary.

.All 5 of us kids went to the Parochial School thru 8th grade. We read our Catechisms but never the Bible. Why not? Now we have all left the Catholic Church and have read what the Bible says. Oh, my Dad even started to read the Bible before he died. It was the redish orange catholic bible in paperback. . I used to read from it to my dad the scriptures where Peter spoke. He read what Peter said in Acts about the Messiah and salvation. I don’t think My Mom ever read the Bible in her 84 years. She was the sweetest person I ever knew. I believe she is with the Lord whom she confessed as Lord and Savior and received forgiveness of all her sins. God is so merciful…

We are children of God(by Faith in Christ Jesus)Galatians3;26 Read Romans 8. If we are saved(belong to Christ) then we have the spirit of Christ in us. We are adopted. Would a loving father kick his son out because of sin or would he discipline him who he loves. What kind of Father would our God be? Jesus intercedes for us and if we sin we can confess that sin and be cleansed from all unrighteousness1JN18-10 The Lord knoweth them that are His Titus 2:14 Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us that He might Redeem us from All Iniquity and Purify unto Himself a peculiar people, Zealous for good works.

My wife is also a former Catholic. She ,my daughter and I now read our Bibles daily and are in a small fellowship that studies thru the bible together.

St Augustine wrote a quote of his own "Thou hast made our hearts for Thee oh God and they are restless until they rest in Thee:

Sincerely,

Mike

What a shame that the gospel was so perverted in that Catholic Church. Apparently the priest and the teachers of your school were ignorant of a great Saint, Saint Jerome who said, “Ignorance of the scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”

As for the idol comment, I will not get into that here on this thread, but you should start a new thread on it. Just suffice it to say here that we do not make idols nor do we bow down and worship them and this has always been the teaching of the Catholic Church.

I pray that through this forum, you will come to understand that what you learned is not what you should have been taught about the Catholic Church.

Catholics are Christians. We have not hid or changed what you number as the second commandment. It is considered to be part of the first commandment. (The preceding is a link to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and you will see that no idols is fully included in what we number as the first commandment.) Catholics are supposed to read the bible. And this has always been the official teaching of the Catholic church even if there are some misguided priests who say otherwise.

God Bless,
Maria

 

[BelFarfalla]

I left at 13. I had never even read the Bible or was told to read it.

My Mom said she was not allowed to read the Bible by her Catholic church. My Dad never read it. All they did was pray the Rosary. Only the Priest could read it and understand it. I shared what Peter said Acts4:12,3:19,2:38 to my Mom. She could not open her Bible and look at it. The Priest has to read it for her.
If this is indeed the way your parents were then it is their personal choice. You said that you mother never opened her bible? Then why did she own one if she did not read it? You say that all they did was to pray the Rosary? Hm… did you know that in saying the rosary a person generally recites and contemplates passages from the Bible? So I guess your parents knew and memorized parts of the Bible.

It is not and has not been the policy of the Catholic Church that people cannot read the Bible. My parents read the bible. We had many copies of it in the house. We discussed It as a family. IT’s too bad that your parents made the PERSONAL CHOICE to not read the bible. (thought they obviously memorized parts of it).

I see that the Catholics have a different 2nd Commandment.

EXodus20:4 I wonder why they don’t have the one where you are not to make any idols in form of anything above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them.

This is completely untrue, it’s a lie.

Catholics did not remove anything from the commandments. The commandments are not numbered in the Bible. So different denominations have taken to number them differently. Here is what the CC include in the first commandment.
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them;
for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth
generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Protestants leave out the first part. Then they break the second part into two commandments. Then to keep the number of commandments at 10 the Protestants lump the two last commandments into one “Thou shall not covet.” Catholics keep them as separate commandments: “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife” and “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods”

Take a look at this link. It shows how different groups of Christians group the Ten Commandments. The Catholics and Lutherans group them commandments in the same manner. Other Protestants choose to group them differently.
fisheaters.com/10commandments.html

My Mom taught us to do this and we had to at the catholic school we went to. We bowed down to the statues of Peter and Mary.

Did you know that the bible instructs us to make statues and on the proper way to use them in worship? If you were taught to whorship statues as gods then you were taught wrong. Or did you as a child misunderstand what you were being taught. Sounds like you had some very very bad teachers.

 

[BelFarfalla]

I think it’s like 53 times. Who made that up? Who’s idea was it to repeat it that many times? And why not John 3:16 instead?
The rosary was brought up over a thousand years after Christ. I don’t think Paul was meaning about “traditions” to make them up as you go.

People used methods of counting prayers from even the old Jewish days. The rosary is simply a way to keep one’s place. Do you use a book mark (or maybe several of them) in the bible? What you seem to have forgotten is that in the past few people could read. So they would memorize huge amounts of the bible. When they ‘read’ the bible they would recite it from memory. This is a capacity we in this modern age seem to have lost. The Rosary grew out of the oral tradition. It was a way for a person to keep track of where they were in reciting the parts of the bible they had committed to memory.

Your church has ‘traditions’ that were not around at the time of Paul… why do you do those? Who told you that you could? How dare you… lol

I asked if they ‘just repeat the Hail Mary over and over’. You did not answer my question so I’ll answer it. No the Rosary does not consist of just repeating the Rosary over and over. I’ve listed the some of the prayers that are normally said during the course of the Rosary.

Your brief description of the Rosary being saying the Hail Mary 53 times leaves out the bulk of the Rosary… the reciting and contemplations of at least 53 verses from the bible. So the person saying the rosary has either memorized biblical verses for this contemplation or they are reading the Bible during it.

I think of the Rosary as being like a song in that the Hail Marys are the lines that are repeated between each verse. The verses are the recitation of the bible verses and their contemplation.

Here is a list of the prayers usually said during the Rosary.
The Apostles’ Creed
The Our Father
Glory Be to the Father
The Fatima Prayer: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Your Mercy”.

The Hail Mary
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.” This is nothing other than the greeting the angel Gabriel gave Mary in Luke 1:28

“Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.” This was exactly what Mary’s cousin Elizabeth said to her in Luke 1:42. The only thing that has been added to these two verses are the names “Jesus” and “Mary,” to make clear who is being referred to. So the first part of the Hail Mary is entirely biblical.

Hey if you want to ridicule people for memorizing the bible, reciting it and contemplating it my all means you have the right to do it. But it is a very uncharitable stance to take. Here’s my suggestion, if you don’t think it is right to memorize the bible, recite it, contemplate it and say prayers and using a string of knots or beads to remind you of your place then by all means do not do it. But also do not criticize those who take their faith so seriously that they spend hours reading, memorizing and contemplating the bible and praying about it.

 

[Ceil-1]

This may be a topic for another thread, but, I’ve noticed that Protestants in general, and particularly fallen-away Catholics
refer constantly to the Bible. It is as if they worship the book, rather than who the book is about.

My questions for those who fall into this category is this: can a person who never reads the Bible, but believes in Jesus Christ be saved? If so, why would you leave the Church that gave you Jesus for one that gets its sole sustenance from the book that talks about Him?

 

[sosayi1960]

This may be a topic for another thread, but, I’ve noticed that Protestants in general, and particularly fallen-away Catholics
refer constantly to the Bible. It is as if they worship the book, rather than who the book is about.

My questions for those who fall into this category is this: can a person who never reads the Bible, but believes in Jesus Christ be saved? If so, why would you leave the Church that gave you Jesus for one that gets its sole sustenance from the book that talks about Him?

I’m in the process of leaving. I’m tired of all the silly rules, guilt, and regulations. I don’t believe in Purgatory, Mary was an ever-Virgin, I do believe in the Virgin birth. My wife is remaining Catholic. The kids are leaving with me. I won’t let them get brainwashed like we were

 

[sosayi1960]

I guess what made me start to lapse was realising I couldn’t accept certain teachings on good conscience (particularly those relating to the ordination of women; I believe there is no good reason why women should not be ordained to the priesthood). Another was seeing in the Church, many conservative or fundamentalist Catholics who seemed clean to rid the church of any ‘liberal’ filth, which basically meant many people with ‘liberal’ ideas. Unfortunately as someone who has always been open-minded, I realised many of my questions and ideas came right under this heading, and I thought in the CC I could escape the nasty and narrow-minded fundamentalism I’d seen in Protestantism, but unfortunately that was not the case.

The Church’s crackdown on theologians such as Hans Kung and the deeply conservative stance of Ratzinger on many issues, was to me a ominous statement of what might happen to someone who could be labelled rather easily as a ‘heretic’ or ‘dissenter.’ I’ve noticed on these forums especially, quite a few Catholics seem keen to heresy hunt and find anyone who has the slightest dissent from the magesterium, and to remove them from the church, or to hurl the Code of Canon Law or statements from the Popes in their face when they sense ‘heresy’ or ‘dissent.’ I found this encounter on many occasions, especially online, and I began to get the sense I had to sacrifice my reason and my intellect and just ‘believe’ or else I was committing some kind of mortal sin.

I thought about this a lot and ultimately I felt like my mind was being strangled and stifled, and the freedom and peace I sought in conversion only being turned into pain, angst and concern. I think it was only a matter of time before someone would point out I am not a ‘true’ Catholic and I would have to leave the Church.

I also had increasing philosophical problems about the human mind being able to know God, after studying the Philosophy of Kant and Descartes.

I also had problems with the strong Phariseeism I was seeing in some Catholics towards ‘sinners’ and also arrogance towards those of non-Catholic or non-Christian religions.

I thought about this a lot, wavering and being reluctant to leave, but then I saw a post from someone here who effectively said it was his desire to see the medieval Inquisition re-established and for ‘liberal’ heretics who were destroying the church to be tortured and burned at the stake. I realised I would most likely be one such fellow in this person’s eyes, and that helped me realise I had made the right decision.

Perhaps one day if the church focuses less on making everyone follow authority and more in its wonderful traditions of contemplative spirituality, social justice and compassion, and charity, I might consider returning, but so long as there are people there who want to flush ‘liberals’ or those who think twice about things proposed for belief down the proverbial toilet, or have them burned alive, I can’t see myself being welcome or helpful in any way for the Church.

Amen, I agree

 

[jimmy85]

I guess what made me start to lapse was realising I couldn’t accept certain teachings on good conscience (particularly those relating to the ordination of women; I believe there is no good reason why women should not be ordained to the priesthood). Another was seeing in the Church, many conservative or fundamentalist Catholics who seemed clean to rid the church of any ‘liberal’ filth, which basically meant many people with ‘liberal’ ideas. Unfortunately as someone who has always been open-minded, I realised many of my questions and ideas came right under this heading, and I thought in the CC I could escape the nasty and narrow-minded fundamentalism I’d seen in Protestantism, but unfortunately that was not the case.

The Church’s crackdown on theologians such as Hans Kung and the deeply conservative stance of Ratzinger on many issues, was to me a ominous statement of what might happen to someone who could be labelled rather easily as a ‘heretic’ or ‘dissenter.’ I’ve noticed on these forums especially, quite a few Catholics seem keen to heresy hunt and find anyone who has the slightest dissent from the magesterium, and to remove them from the church, or to hurl the Code of Canon Law or statements from the Popes in their face when they sense ‘heresy’ or ‘dissent.’ I found this encounter on many occasions, especially online, and I began to get the sense I had to sacrifice my reason and my intellect and just ‘believe’ or else I was committing some kind of mortal sin.

I dotn understand the problem in the coutnrys of the 1st world, that have more secularization. they basically think that there are only 2 choices; that they must follow the religion in a perfect way, or that they must quit it. “everything or nothing”.
and people dont realize that God addapt himslef to us in a diferent way regarding our situation, and that catholicism is a path for that understanding.

the only misconceptions that exist are made by human beings however the doctrine is perfect.
and if sometimes we cant understand it, it is because we cant understand the fullness of the misterys of God, and therefore it is our mistake and not the mistake of the very same doctrine.

I thought about this a lot and ultimately I felt like my mind was being strangled and stifled, and the freedom and peace I sought in conversion only being turned into pain, angst and concern. I think it was only a matter of time before someone would point out I am not a ‘true’ Catholic and I would have to leave the Church.

if someone tell you that, it will only shows a deep ignorance toward his religion.

I also had problems with the strong Phariseeism I was seeing in some Catholics towards ‘sinners’ and also arrogance towards those of non-Catholic or non-Christian religions.

Perhaps one day if the church focuses less on making everyone follow authority and more in its wonderful traditions of contemplative spirituality, social justice and compassion, and charity, I might consider returning, .

The true is that catholicism is a path and a perfect doctrine however catholics can be deeply ignorant about their true religion.

The church dosent impose his authority.
They just say what they consider to be good or bad, that is their mission as the “Paraclete” to guide the lambs as Jesus told Peter.

and they dont force anyone to obey this, they just advice this stuffs that they consider right, nobody is forced to follow this.

that has been a huge misundertanding with the faithfull.

If they for example, exclude you from reciving the eucarist or something like taht, that would be only because they believe that thsoe sacraments are very precious however they dont want to force people to follow their authority.

If someone is excomulgated that dosent mean that he is not a catholic anymore. Peopel can still be catholic regardless of that.

 

[mikezieg8]

Hi,
I have never met any catholics who study the Bible except the apologists. I think the Bible was like an idol to my Mom. I wonder why my dad had to have a ST Christopher statue to keep him safe? Where do you think he got that idea? His catholic church. Dare you throw away all your statues and rosary’s and relics around your neck that are supposedly be able to save you. I must be seeing things when those in the catholic church bow to the statues and say prayers to them. There is a big market on statues for financial gain. Do you pray to your bed before you sleep at night?
Read Isaiah44
Isa 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared [it]? ye [are] even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, [there is] no God; I know not [any].

Isa 44:9	¶	They that make a graven image [are] all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they [are] their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.	Isa 44:10		Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image [that] is profitable for nothing?	Isa 44:11		Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they [are] of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; [yet] they shall fear, [and] they shall be ashamed together.	Isa 44:12		The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.	Isa 44:13		The carpenter stretcheth out [his] rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.	Isa 44:14		He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish [it].

Isa 44:15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth [it], and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth [it]; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
Isa 44:16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth [himself], and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
Isa 44:17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, [even] his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth [it], and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou [art] my god.

Mike

 

[pinkylee]

Hello,

I am asking this question to those who were members of the Catholic Church and then left - either to join another Church or to stop being religious altogether.

The question is:

What was the reason that you left the Catholic Church?

Where did you go?

Why did you chose where you went?

I left the church because I didn’t feel I got the answers I needed. And soon after leaving I felt it was a mistake. But I soon realized that the answers were not in a book or a person; they were in me.
When I left I converted to Islam; as some here may have guessed ( and quite rudely, I may add). To be honest I feel persecuted here on this board just as much as I do with the Muslims people I know.
I just want to remind everyone that it is Gods job to judge. not yours. I am a very honest Christian with a honest heart; who has a colorful past. I would not change a thing because it has made me who I am today.

 

[cheddarsox]

I dotn understand the problem in the coutnrys of the 1st world, that have more secularization. they basically think that there are only 2 choices; that they must follow the religion in a perfect way, or that they must quit it. “everything or nothing”.
and people dont realize that God addapt himslef to us in a diferent way regarding our situation, and that catholicism is a path for that understanding.

the only misconceptions that exist are made by human beings however the doctrine is perfect.
and if sometimes we cant understand it, it is because we cant understand the fullness of the misterys of God, and therefore it is our mistake and not the mistake of the very same doctrine.

if someone tell you that, it will only shows a deep ignorance toward his religion.

The true is that catholicism is a path and a perfect doctrine however catholics can be deeply ignorant about their true religion.

The church dosent impose his authority.
They just say what they consider to be good or bad, that is their mission as the “Paraclete” to guide the lambs as Jesus told Peter.

and they dont force anyone to obey this, they just advice this stuffs that they consider right, nobody is forced to follow this.

that has been a huge misundertanding with the faithfull.

If they for example, exclude you from reciving the eucarist or something like taht, that would be only because they believe that thsoe sacraments are very precious however they dont want to force people to follow their authority.

If someone is excomulgated that dosent mean that he is not a catholic anymore. Peopel can still be catholic regardless of that.

Truth is, I don’t know what the official stance of the Catholic church is on people who don’t believe all the teachings of the Church. I know I was shown the door repeatedly by self proclaimed REAL Catholics when I’d bring up issues and teachings I had struggles with. “Love it or Leave it” seemed to be the motto.

“We don’t need YOUR kind here.” , “We already have enough…cafeteria Catholics, lukewarm Catholics, Protestant Catholics, trouble making Catholics, heretical Catholics, Catholic in name only Catholics, etc. etc.”

On the other hand, once I left I was told “Once a Catholic always a Catholic.” “you can’t leave.” “Your just rebelling, full of pride, want to sleep with whomever you wish, want to use birth control, want an easy religion. etc, etc.”

This is what I was told by Catholics. I have no idea what the Church as an institution says about my kind. I have no idea how to find out. People have quoted the Catechism concerning “my type” and I’ve been told that I am welcome to return, and also that I am automatically excommunicated due to my actions and beliefs.

Anyway, out of respect for the Catholic church, in who’s teachings I am not in full communion with. I don’t refer to myself as a Catholic,.

 

[water]

On the other hand, once I left I was told “Once a Catholic always a Catholic.” “you can’t leave.” “Your just rebelling, full of pride, want to sleep with whomever you wish, want to use birth control, want an easy religion. etc, etc.”

Who told you that? Doesn’t sound really nice to me. How did you respond to those things mentioned by you above?

 

[PepeRoni]

I remember that one!

Only a good decision if you’re right

 

[PepeRoni]

On the other hand, once I left I was told “Once a Catholic always a Catholic.” “you can’t leave.” "Your just rebelling, full of pride, want to sleep with whomever you wish, want to use birth control, want an easy religion. etc, etc."QUOTE]

What they were trying to say is

“Your just rebelling…” - if the faith is real (which means the Church has Christ’s authority on earth), then you have to accept the teachings of the chuch. It’s only logical. If it isn’t true, none of it is true. So in a sense, it is all or nothing since if God exists, comes in the flesh and establishes a church with His authority and it says things must be believed, why would you not listen? You either believe it or you don’t.

“you can’t leave” - if the religion is true, then by once being a Catholic and being taught however nominally what it teaches and you reject it, the Church teaches you’re not rejecting the Church or a group of men, but Christ himself. And if Christ is God, that is bad.

They were just sharing with you poorly/uncharitably what the church teaches. So if you don’t believe it, who cares what other people say? To find these teachings, they are in the various councils of the church, Scripture, and the various synod and papal documents/encyclicals/other writings all through the 2000 year history of the Church. There isn’t a central database or single day/document the Church taught everything in condensed form. The Catechism is the Church at (as my boss would say) the 50,000 foot level.

 

[BarbG]

I felt very sad when I read this posting because I find it hard to believe that someone would leave the Church because we don’t use the Bible. I’m sure you’ve been to Mass – don’t you recall the readings from the Old Testament, the Epistles of St. Paul, the readings from the Psalms, and then the Gospel readings from the New Testament. Many years ago I taught 6th grade CCD and the entire year was given up to mostly the Old Testament and a few classes on the New Yestament. I also feel sad when I think that you’ve given up the Eucharist – believe me when I say, that the Eucharist is the only thing that keeps me going. I try to go to Mass every day and when I receive the Eucharist, I feel that Jesus is with me all of that day.
I will pray that you will reconsider your decision. Today I couldn’t get to Mass so watched it on EWTN and was totally moved, except that I couldn’t receive the Eucharist.

 

[cheddarsox]

Who told you that? Doesn’t sound really nice to me. How did you respond to those things mentioned by you above?

I was told these things by various Catholics both before and after I left the faith.

Mostly, I didn’t respond, because many of these people weren’t interested in speaking to me, just at me.

It is threatening to hear that someone is leaving the faith, I understand that, and that they were speaking to their own issues as much as they were to mine. They needed to believe I left for the reasons they provided. Arguing accomplishes nothing.

If people are not in a place where they can participate in fair discourse, then there is no point in talking with them anymore. It sort of becomes each one repeating their own point of view louder and louder. I learned a long time ago to walk away and put my energy elsewhere.

cheddar