Why did YOU leave The Church?

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Angel7

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For former Catholics, and even Former Christians. WHY did YOU leave?!
If you came back To The Church. Please say what it was that drew you away, and tell me your story!
 
I was an ex-Catholic for about two years. I left because I saw a pattern particularly in my home parish but also to varying degrees in just about every other parish I had ever visited of
  • priests who were just unhappy people
  • priests who didn’t really believe anything
  • no sermons with a specifically Catholic theme, with approximately two exceptions in something like 20 years, and the one exception was basically a debunking of the Catholic point of view, and the other exception the priest was transferred shortly thereafter (coincidence?)
  • diffuse, nearly content-free sermons
  • alterations of the words of the Mass that were motivated by an utterly transparent feminist agenda, made by priests but also by parishoners
  • overall useless catechesis and time-wasting Bible studies
  • a peculiar sense of not being on the same theological page as anyone with real power
  • a sense of being condescendingly tolerated while being disenfranchised
  • being told to my face that I am being influenced by Christian fundamentalists
  • blatant diffidence in the face real challenges on the part of bishops individually and collectively (e.g. the subject matters of pastoral publications of the US bishops in the 1970s-1980s)
  • my parish music ministry was, quite frankly, a homosexual clique
  • liturgical themes that coincided with whatever secular society was preoccupied with at the time (e.g. one Lent’s seasonal theme was racial harmony)
  • and then a number of disturbing incidents of a particular nature that would need a little time to explain
 
Apollos said:
I was an ex-Catholic for about two years. I left because I saw a pattern particularly in my home parish but also to varying degrees in just about every other parish I had ever visited of
  • priests who were just unhappy people
  • priests who didn’t really believe anything
  • no sermons with a specifically Catholic theme, with approximately two exceptions in something like 20 years, and the one exception was basically a debunking of the Catholic point of view, and the other exception the priest was transferred shortly thereafter (coincidence?)
  • diffuse, nearly content-free sermons
  • alterations of the words of the Mass that were motivated by an utterly transparent feminist agenda, made by priests but also by parishoners
  • overall useless catechesis and time-wasting Bible studies
  • a peculiar sense of not being on the same theological page as anyone with real power
  • a sense of being condescendingly tolerated while being disenfranchised
  • being told to my face that I am being influenced by Christian fundamentalists
  • blatant diffidence in the face real challenges on the part of bishops individually and collectively (e.g. the subject matters of pastoral publications of the US bishops in the 1970s-1980s)
  • my parish music ministry was, quite frankly, a homosexual clique
  • liturgical themes that coincided with whatever secular society was preoccupied with at the time (e.g. one Lent’s seasonal theme was racial harmony)
  • and then a number of disturbing incidents of a particular nature that would need a little time to explain
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I am sure the above is true,but I quite the opposite can be said as well.
 
I was four years old, my family moved to a different state, and my parents found a church there that was a different denomination.
 
Apollos said:
I was an ex-Catholic for about two years. I left because I saw a pattern particularly in my home parish but also to varying degrees in just about every other parish I had ever visited of
  • priests who were just unhappy people
  • priests who didn’t really believe anything
  • no sermons with a specifically Catholic theme, with approximately two exceptions in something like 20 years, and the one exception was basically a debunking of the Catholic point of view, and the other exception the priest was transferred shortly thereafter (coincidence?)
  • diffuse, nearly content-free sermons
  • alterations of the words of the Mass that were motivated by an utterly transparent feminist agenda, made by priests but also by parishoners
  • overall useless catechesis and time-wasting Bible studies
  • a peculiar sense of not being on the same theological page as anyone with real power
  • a sense of being condescendingly tolerated while being disenfranchised
  • being told to my face that I am being influenced by Christian fundamentalists
  • blatant diffidence in the face real challenges on the part of bishops individually and collectively (e.g. the subject matters of pastoral publications of the US bishops in the 1970s-1980s)
  • my parish music ministry was, quite frankly, a homosexual clique
  • liturgical themes that coincided with whatever secular society was preoccupied with at the time (e.g. one Lent’s seasonal theme was racial harmony)
  • and then a number of disturbing incidents of a particular nature that would need a little time to explain
Click to expand...
:hmmm::hmmm::hmmm:Goodness, can you share with us the reasons you returned?:confused:🤷
Peace, Carlan
 
I simply lost faith that the teachings of the Catholic Church were guided by the Holy Spirit. And if the Church was simply a human institution, then it could be wrong on just about anything.

This leaves me in a quandary, as I think the traditional teachings of Christianity fall apart in the absence of the Church’s interpretations being infallibly correct. Human interpretations of the Bible, and the traditions that those interpretations have inspired, are simply human guesses. And even the Bible becomes suspect, since there is no reason to think that the books which were included in the Bible are any more inspired than the books which left out. And what does it mean to be “inspired” anyways? Since we can’t understand the Bible without interpreting it, don’t our understandings need some kind of Divine guarantee of being correct? But, without the Church, the interpretations of one person often conflict with the interpretations of others.
 
Dale M-- Did you ever take time to investigate exactly what the C.C. truly believed?

The reason that I asked is that I was in the same boat several yrs ago. Before I made the decision to leave or stay I decided to look for, not only what the OFFICIAL doctrines of the C.C. church were, but WHERE did those doctrines come from and WHY the church believes them.

I entered the Seminary as a Lay Student and had a Bishop as a professor, plus the local Cardinal’s Secretary as another professor. They discussed with us just what had happened in the last hundred years or so that allowed heretical professors and books into the Seminary and how that produced many many heretical priests that, although able to function as priests choose to teach countless people falsehoods behind the backs of the Pope and Cardinals. They have been working hard in the last 20 yrs to “clean house” and have changed the books and in many cases the professors that have been teaching the garbage. They are also teaching something called the “New Evangelization” which is a renewed way of teaching the faithful so that we have a better understanding of our faith and the Sacred Scriptures. Unfortunately because of the lack of proper teaching of our faith in the past, many, but not all, adults still do not have a clear understanding of our faith, even if life-long Catholics. Which is why, I caution all to be very careful when being told by a “Catholic” member what the true faith is. Always ask to be shown where in our Catechism it states that. The Catholic Catechism is the book which states what our beliefs are. Not even a priest or nun should be believed without some proof.

Mind you not all of the priests or nuns from this period of time were poorly taught or choose to believe and accept the heretical teachings, but unfortunately many did; especially since Vat. II in the mid 60’s.

Take another look at our faith. Read what we truly believe and search to see where in history those beliefs come from. The followers of the apostles wrote a good deal about the faith of the early Christians and I don’t think it’s possible to read much of that without realizing why Catholics believe and worship the way that we do.

Peace in Christ brother.
 
Hostility to singles. (And, please, spare me the “It’s Not The Church’s Responsibility To Entertain You And Find You a Wife” schpiel.) It’s difficult for me to partake in the Eucharist and worship our Lord in an environment where I am ostracized and treated like a second-class citizen.

“Coming home to Rome” is a piece of cake when you’re married or are a single parent or you’re a senior citizen. It’s a more discouraging and distressing process if you’re single and already written off (incorrectly in most cases) as a ‘vocation’.
 
Racism, prejudice. Lack of Catechesis. I am Hispanic. My 12 years in Catholic school in Philadelphia,PA, the prejudice and racism from quite a few of the fellow students. Their parents were worse and they were Catholic…

I assimilated into “Americana” and to the “Nativism” of the WASP (white, anglo-saxon protestant). I did not speak Spanish or hold culture of my ancestry. I graduated high school and served 7 years in the U.S. Navy. At 18 years old I registered to vote as a Republican.

Mass was weird, it never equated to “my world”. Mass was crabby American people showing face. One mass the priest’s homily mentioned of love of God and neighbor. After Mass a few of the men were criticizing about black people and Puerto Ricans. At 12 years old, I was shocked.

I got “caught up in the world”. I wanted to “live it up”. At 18 years old in 1982 I left the faith for the pleasures of alcohol, sexual immorality. Sunday worship was for certain kinds of people. Not me, I was looking out for number one. ME!

I was a “progressiveist”, “relativist”. Church was for “archaic” old people who I thought were not with the times. My views were more Agnostic. God exists but as the “Land lord of the Earth and the universe”.

2001 was my conversion. I was involved with a married woman. She was bisexual. My grandfather’s death and funeral Mass (Mass) was my conversion back. When my grand father died, I felt like I was “pickep up” from my sleep at April 25th 2001 4:30 AM. I walked about my “girlfriend’s” place like it was noontime.

May 1, 2001, the Funeral Mass. OK he was 108 years old and felt like a New Orleans style attittude. All of a sudden, I started crying uncontrollably like a baby,while feeling like a “heart wrenching”. That same week I asked my mother and father if I could go to Mass with them.

Next May will be 10 years since my return. I have learned more catechesis from 2004 to 2005 than all my years in Catholic School. St. Augustine, FL trip brough me back to my ancestral heritage along with my Catholic Hispanic roots. It’s great to be home. God bless
 
havana1 said:
Hostility to singles. (And, please, spare me the “It’s Not The Church’s Responsibility To Entertain You And Find You a Wife” schpiel.) It’s difficult for me to partake in the Eucharist and worship our Lord in an environment where I am ostracized and treated like a second-class citizen.

“Coming home to Rome” is a piece of cake when you’re married or are a single parent or you’re a senior citizen. It’s a more discouraging and distressing process if you’re single and already written off (incorrectly in most cases) as a ‘vocation’.
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A couple of questions: First of all; are you still Catholic? I noticed you signed up as one. Also, is this something that happened recently and which age group would you consider yourself in? teens and 20s? 30’s & 40’s? Over 50?

The other thing I’m curious about is how many Catholic Churches are in your area?

The reason that I’m asking is that on one hand I remember when I was single and regularly attending mass I felt left out at times because the priest would rarely, if ever, address the homily (sermon to the protestants) toward singles. No one seemed to notice me either, because the parish was large. That being said, once I got involved and joined the choir, folk group, lectored, etc. a lot more people noticed me. My church didn’t have a singles group, but there was a parish close by that had a HUGE one! That’s where I met my husband and we had about 15 marriages out of that group alone. It’s still going strong. Many parishes now offer Life Teen masses and many have singles groups for the over 30 crowd. These groups are very involved in their parishes. If your local church didn’t do squat for you, go to a different one that has an active group. Different Pastors run their parishes differently. Look around. Ultimately it’s not how the people behave, even the pastor of the parish that should cause you to choose your faith, it’s what we believe in.

I’m Catholic, active in my faith, in the pews, and I for one say “Come on back!” :hug1:
 
Angel7 said:
For former Catholics, and even Former Christians. WHY did YOU leave?!
If you came back To The Church. Please say what it was that drew you away, and tell me your story!
Click to expand...
there was no option for me so i didnt vote…but the reason i left is because i realized all religions have equal evidence…none…so until such a time as one religion gains real evidence or an event occurs to me that makes me personally feel evidence in one direction or another i chose to worship no gods with the belief that there are no gods…until a real being i feel is worthy of such a title is found
 
cheese_sdc said:
I no longer believed that Jesus is God, so I left.
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So why are you on this site? What is it that you’re looking for?

Whatever it is, I hope that it’s simply the TRUTH. I believe that if you sincerely want to know what that is. If you sincerely search for it; not thinking that all of your answers are correct, and not falling for anything anyone tells you, you’ll find it.

Remember too, that it’s not the people that claim to be Christians that make it true or not, there’s a lot of people that say they are Christian and are horrible people, and anything, but Christian.

I might suggest that you read, “The Case for Christ”. It is written by an atheist who’s wife becomes a Christian and since he’s a lawyer he sets out to get proofs that it’s all a lie. Check out what kind of evidence he found. Believe me when I say, he absolutely HATED Christianity too and thought anyone that believed in it was a complete fool.
 
bluemary said:
So why are you on this site? What is it that you’re looking for?

Whatever it is, I hope that it’s simply the TRUTH. I believe that if you sincerely want to know what that is. If you sincerely search for it; not thinking that all of your answers are correct, and not falling for anything anyone tells you, you’ll find it.

Remember too, that it’s not the people that claim to be Christians that make it true or not, there’s a lot of people that say they are Christian and are horrible people, and anything, but Christian.

I might suggest that you read, “The Case for Christ”. It is written by an atheist who’s wife becomes a Christian and since he’s a lawyer he sets out to get proofs that it’s all a lie. Check out what kind of evidence he found. Believe me when I say, he absolutely HATED Christianity too and thought anyone that believed in it was a complete fool.
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read the case for Christ…it is filled with bad arguments and appeal to authority
 
CharlesDarwin said:
there was no option for me so i didnt vote…but the reason i left is because i realized all religions have equal evidence…none…so until such a time as one religion gains real evidence or an event occurs to me that makes me personally feel evidence in one direction or another i chose to worship no gods with the belief that there are no gods…until a real being i feel is worthy of such a title is found
Click to expand...
Just a thought that occured to me one day. Look up at the night sky. Do you see the moon? The stars? Are they real? Now answer me this: Does the universe end? If yes, what’s outside of it? If no, how can that be?

You see, if you and I can look at the stars that we know are real and the universe that we know is real, but cannot, with our finite little brain, wrap our mind around there being an end to the universe, or no end to the universe, then what in the world makes you think that because you can’t fathom there being a Creator, one doesn’t exist?

Also, yes, there’s a lot of proofs. Just because you aren’t aware of them, doesn’t mean they can’t be found. Study some of these books that were written by atheist that set a goal of proving that there was no evidence for God or Jesus as God-made-man.

Also, if God truly exists, and he created the universe, tell me why for one minute you believe that He owes you proof of His existance? If you’re looking for a personal miracle as a way of you controling God, you’ll never get one. If, on the other hand, you seek for Him with a sincere and humble heart, you’ll find your proofs, maybe through a miracle, as I did, or through more humble means. Don’t give up your search. :jrbirdman:
 
Angel7 said:
For former Catholics, and even Former Christians. WHY did YOU leave?!
If you came back To The Church. Please say what it was that drew you away, and tell me your story!
Click to expand...
what drew me away? My parents divorced and my mom left the church…nasty divorce…abuse…I could go on and on. Then the people in my life that were Catholic never taught me anything about their faith…it just seemed legalistic. My boyfriend…now husband…talked to me about a personal savior. I left the Church.

What drew me back? I would go to Mass with my grandfather occasionally…he still never taught me anything about it. Ah…but the beauty of the Mass…the reverence…attracted us. Decided to try again. Found our local parish…and the wonderful priest there…he really cares about people and leading them to Christ. You can see it in him… I have fallen in love with my faith again. I have fallen in love with Christ again…more in love then I ever have. But this time…I’m going through RCIA (never confirmed)…to learn more about my faith. But now…the Eucharist keeps me here!

God Bless!
 
CharlesDarwin said:
read the case for Christ…it is filled with bad arguments and appeal to authority
Click to expand...
What are those bad arguments?

Yes, he does appeal to experts in many different areas of Science. So what is your evidence against Jesus being God? Also, do you believe in God? If not, what do you believe?
 
bluemary said:
Just a thought that occured to me one day. Look up at the night sky. Do you see the moon? The stars? Are they real? Now answer me this: Does the universe end? If yes, what’s outside of it? If no, how can that be?

You see, if you and I can look at the stars that we know are real and the universe that we know is real, but cannot, with our finite little brain, wrap our mind around there being an end to the universe, or no end to the universe, then what in the world makes you think that because you can’t fathom there being a Creator, one doesn’t exist?

Also, yes, there’s a lot of proofs. Just because you aren’t aware of them, doesn’t mean they can’t be found. Study some of these books that were written by atheist that set a goal of proving that there was no evidence for God or Jesus as God-made-man.

Also, if God truly exists, and he created the universe, tell me why for one minute you believe that He owes you proof of His existance? If you’re looking for a personal miracle as a way of you controling God, you’ll never get one. If, on the other hand, you seek for Him with a sincere and humble heart, you’ll find your proofs, maybe through a miracle, as I did, or through more humble means. Don’t give up your search. :jrbirdman:
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are the moon and stars real? define real…according to some hypothesis of quantum mechanics…yes they are real 2 Dimensional objects on the very edge of our universe

does our universe end? unknown…whats outside it if it does end? the multiverse

i read the books and found them lacking any real argument what more do you think i should do?

if god expects me to worship him and will send me to hell for worshipping the wrong god…then i expect him to give clear signs of what is him…and what is the “devil” if one exists

for all you know you are worshiping the evil gods of the Grecian religions seeking to stray you away from the true faiths. i find it a more reasonable and logical conclusion since all religions use the same arguments and the same non evidences to support themselves that they are all false and will continue in this until something changes my mind
 
bluemary said:
What are those bad arguments?

Yes, he does appeal to experts in many different areas of Science. So what is your evidence against Jesus being God? Also, do you believe in God? If not, what do you believe?
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he appeals to authority with simply saying "see there’s a handful or scientists who have said the word god a few times so you should believe them…i dont understand what they were saying and this is completely out of context but just ignore that and believe!

i have no evidence jesus is god. I do not need to explain why he isnt god

what is your evidence that zues is not god? not using your current faith or religion in the argument? you can not argue against it

“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”
 
Nicea325 said:
I am sure the above is true,but I quite the opposite can be said as well.
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Naturally. But when these sorts of things happen over and over again in parish after parish, it’s kinda irrelevant if the opposite can be said of isolated parishes. I got a good sampling because I was moving around a lot.
 
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