Why do catholics leave the Catholic Church

[PJM]

Why do and are catholics leaving the Church and possibily their salvation. Heb. 6:4-8

Continued Blessings,

Pat

 

[Will_B]

I’m sure there are an many reasons as there are people who leave the church.

My wife and I came into the Church in September of 2009 and knew some former catholics in our former denomination…

Most were married and divorced, then left the church to remarry.

Others didn’t really understand the Catholic Church theology.

Some just went to a church where they could justify their sin… Premarital sex, gay sex, etc… Yes, there are christian (so called) denominations where it is OK (not a sin) to have premarital sex.

 

[aidanbradypop]

Why do and are catholics leaving the Church and possibily their salvation. Heb. 6:4-8

Continued Blessings,

Pat

For their own personal will. Many many many many lol Catholics that leave the Church do so for social reasons. Some leave the Church due to marriage to a non Catholic. I know a lady who left the Church for “family unity.” Her husband was Protestant and she simply left to keep the household in one church and faith. I asked her is family unity worth your salvation? She did not like that question lol.

But many people leave because of not being informed of correct Catholic doctrine or social issues. Some people just desire their will over God’s. Earthly things take charge and God gets pushed to the backseat.

A few left during the abuse era. For some reason they become disconnected from the Church rather than disapproving of the individual.

A guy told me once that Hilter was an altar boy and faithful Catholic. He stated that “look what the Church produced.” Now he knows that is completely unfair and that Hitler is NOT the Church nor the Church is Hitler.

 

[Steveabrous]

It’s also false. Hitler didn’t join the church until he was an adult, and had adperstions of power. He joined the church to gain favor with the masses.

 

[BobCatholic]

catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0252.html

“While a lot of people leave the Church, they tend not to be good Catholics,” says Curtis Martin, president of Catholics United for the Faith, who himself returned to the Church after spending five years as an evangelical Protestant. “The Protestants [now] coming into the Church are the most devoted Protestants, people deeply committed to Scripture and prayer. We’re losing the numbers game but we are winning the quality game in spades.”

 

[PaulinVA]

catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0252.html
“While a lot of people leave the Church, they tend not to be good Catholics,” says Curtis Martin, president of Catholics United for the Faith, who himself returned to the Church after spending five years as an evangelical Protestant. “The Protestants [now] coming into the Church are the most devoted Protestants, people deeply committed to Scripture and prayer. We’re losing the numbers game but we are winning the quality game in spades.”

Ouch!

 

[rfournier103]

I can think of three reasons…

1. The sex-abuse scandal. I stopped attending mass for several years because of it. I would NEVER dream of attending another community’s services, but I sure wasn’t going to mass. (I’m back and attend weekly now.)
2. They don’t agree with/want/feel like they need moral guidance from anyone. The olde “ain’t nobody gonna tell me how to live MY life” kind of deal. I know plenty of people who fall into this category.
3. Other Christians quizzing them on “where is THAT in the Bible?”… Most Catholics don’t know their faith all that well, and are led away by people who tell them that Catholicism is not the ‘real’ Christianity. I know people who fit this category, also.

 

[mary_bobo]

During a discussion in a group at church, one member of the group answered this question very simply “so they can live like they want.” I thought that summed it up pretty well. All the excuses given are just that–excuses.

 

[aidanbradypop]

During a discussion in a group at church, one member of the group answered this question very simply “so they can live like they want.” I thought that summed it up pretty well. All the excuses given are just that–excuses.

I agree:thumbsup:

 

[RJ_Empson]

There are lots of reasons that I am sure are very personal to each individual and we can only pray that they find their way back to the Lord through his one church.

 

[pnewton]

catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0252.html
“While a lot of people leave the Church, they tend not to be good Catholics,” says Curtis Martin, president of Catholics United for the Faith, who himself returned to the Church after spending five years as an evangelical Protestant. “The Protestants [now] coming into the Church are the most devoted Protestants, people deeply committed to Scripture and prayer. We’re losing the numbers game but we are winning the quality game in spades.”

How does one have any statistical information on the depth of people’s spirituality?

 

[Polycarp1]

Why do and are catholics leaving the Church and possibily their salvation. Heb. 6:4-8

Continued Blessings,

Pat

Many people go to church to get an emotional high or for the social aspects and miss the real importance which are the sacraments particularly the Blessed Sacrement. No one who real believes in the Real Presence would ever leave it. Their focus is on people and not God. Once the high wears off they go looking for another. We are called to mature in the faith, so although there may well be initially an emotional aspect, faith is not emotion and the high goes away as the Spirit leads us into the deserts where we are called to exercise our faith and grow. The Lord never promised us emotional gratification He said “Pick up your cross and follow me”.

 

[maryjk]

Many times it isn’t because someone isn’t a “good Catholic” or faithful enough or even because they want to do it their way.

Some were told to leave. Or at least told they may as well leave.

Long story, short. My parents left the church after my 1st Communion. Mom was a product of Catholic school, Dad went to CCD, as he put it, forever.

Mom had life saving surgery, but was told by our local priest that because she didn’t get permission to have a hysterectomy, she was in mortal sin and had excommunicated herself from the church. (Nice, huh?)

Yes, I know the priest was wrong. Yes, my mother came back. But it was hard, and she left for a long time.

And she didn’t want to do it her way, she just wanted to live long enough to raise her children. She knew her faith as well as anyone. And up until that time she was a good Catholic.

I suggest, instead of grouping everyone together, realize that each person has a story. A reason. And take time to learn that story or reason.

 

[jediliz]

I have an uncle that was raised in the Church…then he joined the army and basically…well, he was probably poorly catechized…when he visited us 2 years ago, he even claimed he had NEVER heard the Salvation message at Mass when he was a kid growing up…well, now he’s ?Evangelical

He called me to wish me a happy birthday a short time ago, and then proceeded to tell me my life was half over and the world was ending “soon”…

I told him didn’t Jesus say that ONLY the Father knew the date? I told him unless he had a direct line to Heaven, he could NOT tell me that my life was half over! That made me upset, especially since it was my birthday.

So, in the case of my uncle, **very poor ** Catechism.

 

[ExCatholicGuy]

Why do and are catholics leaving the Church and possibily their salvation. Heb. 6:4-8

Continued Blessings,

Pat

First of all, to believe in the need for salvation one must accept the premise that we are inherently doomed.

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

First of all, to believe in the need for salvation one must accept the premise that we are inherently doomed.

How do you figure that?

 

[ExCatholicGuy]

How do you figure that?

If you are not doomed, why do you need to be saved?

 

[aidanbradypop]

Many times it isn’t because someone isn’t a “good Catholic” or faithful enough or even because they want to do it their way.

Some were told to leave. Or at least told they may as well leave.

Long story, short. My parents left the church after my 1st Communion. Mom was a product of Catholic school, Dad went to CCD, as he put it, forever.

Mom had life saving surgery, but was told by our local priest that recluseeshe didn’t get permission to have a hysterectomy, she was in mortal sin and had excommunicated herself from the church. (Nice, huh?)

Yes, I know the priest was wrong. Yes, my mother came back. But it was hard, and she left for a long time.

And she didn’t want to do it her way, she just wanted to live long enough to raise her children. She knew her faith as well as anyone. And up until that time she was a good Catholic.

I suggest, instead of grouping everyone together, realize that each person has a story. A reason. And take time to learn that story or reason.

I’m sorry to hear that. However, one cannot judge the Church by one individual. I have a Lutheran friend who is not really that moral minded. I do not judge the lutheran faith based on him. Many Catholics that leave the Church do so because of an experience they had with a priest, parish, or social issue they feel more strongly over than what the Church teaches. I know a female who is a lesbian and once Catholic (her words not mine). She left the Church because of gay marriage. Does living the Church make her views on gay marriage correct? Of coursr not. It simply means she does not have to answer to anyone. Or so she thinks.

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

If you are not doomed, why do you need to be saved?

I was mostly asking why that might turn someone away from the Catholic faith. Instead of rejecting the notion, why wouldn’t they try to learn more about it on their own, or seek the pastoral considerations of a Priest?

 

[pnewton]

Many people go to church to get an emotional high or for the social aspects and miss the real importance which are the sacraments particularly the Blessed Sacrement.

No doubt this affects many. It takes discipline to be a disciple. It’s right there in the word. Emotions are fun and sure help, but they can not be any more than a crutch when we are crippled that needs to be discarded when we are ready to walk.

I will add another reason some choose to leave, that I have seen, is personal conflict with a priest or other church member. In this too discipline is required to put aside personal grievances.