Why Do Catholics Leave the Church?

[pugdog]

The story of the Prodigal Son seems to be a glimpse into the hearts of those who leave their life thinking there is a better way. They go out, live badly, misspend their blessings only to find out they have indeed left the only life worth having. And as the prodigal son finds upon returning to his father,humbled and repentent, that he is LOVED and ACCEPTED.

 

[anon5216]

1. The mythology is not believable.
2. The exceptional examples of Catholic spiritual giants share far too much in common with the exceptional examples of spiritual giants from other religions and spiritual traditions.
3. Why settle for promises of spiritual results post death - which can never be proven, when there are so many examples demonstrating that spiritual results happen here and now - and they have nothing to do with accepting any particular set of belief statements (mythologies).

 

[Sillara]

1. The impossibility of remarriage. Many Catholics divorce and remarry and want the Church to accept their most recent marriage as the true one.
2. The teachings against contraception. Oftentimes Catholics do not want to accept this teaching.
3. The teachings against homosexual acts.

So, yes, probably it can all be boiled down to sex.

Sigh.

Nothing is worth leaving the Church over!

 

[elvisman]

1. The mythology is not believable.

Such as?

1. The exceptional examples of Catholic spiritual giants share far too much in common with the exceptional examples of spiritual giants from other religions and spiritual traditions.

Poor catechesis/ignorance

1. Why settle for promises of spiritual results post death - which can never be proven, when there are so many examples demonstrating that spiritual results happen here and now - and they have nothing to do with accepting any particular set of belief statements (mythologies).

Really poor catechesis/ignorance.

 

[anon5216]

1. The mythology is not believable.

**Such **as?
The entire old testament.

1. The exceptional examples of Catholic spiritual giants share far too much in common with the exceptional examples of spiritual giants from other religions and spiritual traditions.

Poor catechesis/ignorance
Obviously, Catholic catechesis does nothing to compare the lives and spiritual experiences of the more profound Catholic saints with those of similar ‘saints’ from other religions and spiritual traditions.
I agree, clearly there is extreme ignorance on the part of those only believing what they are taught to believe by standard Catholic catechesis.

1. Why settle for promises of spiritual results post death - which can never be proven, when there are so many examples demonstrating that spiritual results happen here and now - and they have nothing to do with accepting any particular set of belief statements (mythologies).

Really poor catechesis/ignorance.
All over these forums people express themselves in a manner that clearly indicates their faith is no more than a matter of loyalty to the belief statements issued by the Catholic Church.
(Not everyone, obviously, but a high percentage).

This is indication that the process is not being delivered/received effectively - or from my perspective, the catechism itself is extremely limited and flawed.

Otherwise, there would be an abundance of Padre Pios by now.

 

[elvisman]

The entire old testament.

If you left the Catholic Church because you couldn’t understand the Old Testament, you left for the wrong reason, pal.
**Unfortunately, there are many like you who leave because they do not understand and are too lazy to find the answers. **
Besides, Protestants and Jews also believe in the Old Testament. The question is why leave the Catholic Church – not ALL Christianity in general.

*Obviously, Catholic catechesis does nothing to compare the lives and spiritual experiences of the more profound Catholic saints with those of similar ‘saints’ from other religions and spiritual traditions. *
I agree, clearly there is extreme ignorance on the part of those only believing what they are taught to believe by standard Catholic catechesis.

I’m not sure I understand why you think that the Catholic Church, which has the fullness of the Gospel would put on a pedestal those who reject the whole truth to settle for a partial truth. Doesn’t make much sense to me.
She is better off highlighting the examples shown by obedient servants.

All over these forums people express themselves in a manner that clearly indicates their faith is no more than a matter of loyalty to the belief statements issued by the Catholic Church.
(Not everyone, obviously, but a high percentage).

This is indication that the process is not being delivered/received effectively - or from my perspective, the catechism itself is extremely limited and flawed.

Otherwise, there would be an abundance of Padre Pios by now.

**Again – you just don’t get it. **
The Padre Pios and Mother Teresas are shining examples of the faith. They strengthen the faith of others by the examples of their lives. You couldn’t (or wouldn’t)see this and became bitter.

Also - show me how the Catechism is flawed and not simply because it doesn’t jive from "your perspective".

 

[James224]

Hi Timothy,

If you had to give three reasons, what would they be?

My Repsonse:

1. Lack of understanding their faith.
2. A priest or someone hurts their feelings.
3. Fall away through sin and fail to confess.

 

[anon5216]

If you left the Catholic Church because you couldn’t understand the Old Testament, you left for the wrong reason, pal.
Unfortunately, there are many like you who leave because they do not understand and are too lazy to find the answers.
Besides, Protestants and Jews also believe in the Old Testament. The question is why leave the Catholic Church – not ALL Christianity in general.
Don’t confuse acceptance of a presented belief with understanding of a presented belief.
I have by no means been lazy in my spiritual quest.

Besides, there are many contemporary Jews who view the ancient Hebrew scriptures (OT, etc.) as invalid mythology, in the same manner as contemporary Greeks/Italians/Germans/Scandinavians/etc. view their own culture’s myths.

The question was simply “Why do Catholics leave the Church?” with no qualifications as to trading one sect for another within Christianity.
I was raised Catholic and left. I gave my reasons. These reasons aren’t conjectures by someone speculating why a person might leave - they are my actual reasons.

Regarding your qualification about leaving the Church, but not Christianity in general. Yes, that would certainly be a useful specific discussion. It just didn’t happen to be what the OP initially specified.

I’m not sure I understand why you think that the Catholic Church, which has the fullness of the Gospel would put on a pedestal those who reject the whole truth to settle for a partial truth. Doesn’t make much sense to me.
She is better off highlighting the examples shown by obedient servants.
I don’t think the CC has to put any spiritually advanced ‘saints’ from other traditions on any kind of a pedestal.
I was merely responding to your comment about being ignorant. If you don’t know about those other saints, you are by definition ignorant of them, and that ignorance will color your interpretation of what you think you know spiritually.
For example, this whole “fullness of Truth” vs. “partial Truth” nonsense. Truth is not a set of belief statements that you can quote.
I agree there’s nothing wrong with the Church highlighting those individuals who achieved advanced spiritual states via the Catholic tradition, but don’t confuse “obedient servant” with “advanced spiritual sainthood”.
Simply being an “obedient servant” may imply some sort of usefulness of yours to those you are obedient to, (maybe - you could still be a nuisance to them), but it guarantees nothing more than that.

**Again – you just don’t **get it.
The Padre Pios and Mother Teresas are shining examples of the faith. They strengthen the faith of others by the examples of their lives. You couldn’t (or wouldn’t)see this and became bitter.
I whole heartedly agree that Padre Pio is a shining example of what is spiritually possible within the bounds of the Catholic faith. He is not proof of its exclusive monopoly on Truth, however.
Mother Teresa, on the other hand, while setting a good Christian example, is not in the same league as Padre Pio by any remote stretch of the imagination.

**Also - show me how **the Catechism is flawed and not simply because it doesn’t jive from "your perspective".
The Catechism is a summary of Church doctrine - nothing more.
Taken purely as information on what Church the doctrines are, there is nothing flawed about it (as long as it stays in sync with Church doctrines, of course).

The flaw comes in when people take the memorization of doctrinal descriptions as providing genuine spiritual transformation - especially of the nature of someone like Padre Pio.
Not to mention confusing obedient agreement to these belief statements as actual understanding.

Also, try not to confuse lack of agreement to Church mandated belief statements with bitterness.
The two are entirely independent issues.

 

[elvisman]

Don’t confuse acceptance of a presented belief with understanding of a presented belief.
I have by no means been lazy in my spiritual quest.
The question was simply “Why do Catholics leave the Church?” with no qualifications as to trading one sect for another within Christianity.
I was raised Catholic and left. I gave my reasons. These reasons aren’t conjectures by someone speculating why a person might leave - they are my actual reasons.
Regarding your qualification about leaving the Church, but not Christianity in general.
Yes, that would certainly be a useful specific discussion. It just didn’t happen to be what the OP initially specified.

Ummm . . . nice try, but that’s a cop-out because it’s** precisely**** what the OP initially specified:**
“Why Do Catholics Leave the Church?”

I don’t think the CC has to put any spiritually advanced ‘saints’ from other traditions on any kind of a pedestal.
I was merely responding to your comment about being ignorant. If you don’t know about those other saints, you are by definition ignorant of them, and that ignorance will color your interpretation of what you think you know spiritually.
For example, this whole “fullness of Truth” vs. “partial Truth” nonsense. Truth is not a set of belief statements that you can quote.
I agree there’s nothing wrong with the Church highlighting those individuals who achieved advanced spiritual states via the Catholic tradition, but don’t confuse “obedient servant” with “advanced spiritual sainthood”.
Simply being an “obedient servant” may imply some sort of usefulness of yours to those you are obedient to, (maybe - you could still be a nuisance to them), but it guarantees nothing more than that.

**Whereas the Catholic Church ****doesn’t **claim knowledge of any particular people in Hell – the Holy Spirit has guided her in the knowledge (John 16:13-15) that there are specific people in Heaven. Knowledge of non-Catholics in heaven (post OT) hasn’t been revealed to her.

Let me ask you something:
Have you completely turned your back on Christianity in** general**** or just the Catholic Church?**

I whole heartedly agree that Padre Pio is a shining example of what is spiritually possible within the bounds of the Catholic faith. He is not proof of its exclusive monopoly on Truth, however.
Mother Teresa, on the other hand, while setting a good Christian example, is not in the same league as Padre Pio by any remote stretch of the imagination.

**I never said St. Pio was proof of the Church’s monopoly on Truth. I said he was a shining example of faith. So was Mother Teresa. She is every bit a shining example of the faith as St. Pio – in ****different **ways because they had different missions in life.
If and when she is canonized, it will be because the Holy Spirit has guided the Church to this knowledge (John 16:13-15).

The Catechism is a summary of Church doctrine - nothing more. Taken purely as information on what Church the doctrines are, there is nothing flawed about it (as long as it stays in sync with Church doctrines, of course).
The flaw comes in when people take the memorization of doctrinal descriptions as providing genuine spiritual transformation - especially of the nature of someone like Padre Pio. Not to mention confusing obedient agreement to these belief statements as actual understanding.
Also, try not to confuse lack of agreement to Church mandated belief statements with bitterness. The two are entirely independent issues.

I calls’em as I sees’em. You sound like just **another **bitter ex-Catholic.

Besides, IF you are a Christian, you must know about the guarantees that Jesus left the Church:
That he gave her** FULL**** authority. **Matt. 16:15-19, 18:15-18, John 20:21-23

That His Holy Spirit would guide her to ALL truth about the things that are to come.*** John 16:13-15***

That those who remain faithful and obedient and** endure**** to the end will be saved. **Matt. 24:13

IF** you are a Christian, you would believe these promises. **
If you’re not – then you’ve turned your back on him and he will turn his back on you. Matt. 7:23, 10:33, Luke 10:16

 

[anon5216]

Ummm . . . nice try, but that’s a cop-out because it’s** precisely**** what the OP initially specified:**
“Why Do Catholics Leave the Church?”
**Whereas the Catholic Church ****doesn’t **claim knowledge of any particular people in Hell – the Holy Spirit has guided her in the knowledge (John 16:13-15) that there are specific people in Heaven. Knowledge of non-Catholics in heaven (post OT) hasn’t been revealed to her.

Let me ask you something:
Have you completely turned your back on Christianity in** general**** or just the Catholic Church?**
**I never said St. Pio was proof of the Church’s monopoly on Truth. I said he was a shining example of faith. So was Mother Teresa. She is every bit a shining example of the faith as St. Pio – in ****different **ways because they had different missions in life.
If and when she is canonized, it will be because the Holy Spirit has guided the Church to this knowledge (John 16:13-15).
I calls’em as I sees’em. You sound like just **another **bitter ex-Catholic.

Besides, IF you are a Christian, you must know about the guarantees that Jesus left the Church:
That he gave her** FULL**** authority. **Matt. 16:15-19, 18:15-18, John 20:21-23

That His Holy Spirit would guide her to ALL truth about the things that are to come.*** John 16:13-15***

That those who remain faithful and obedient and** endure**** to the end will be saved. **Matt. 24:13

IF** you are a Christian, you would believe these promises. **
If you’re not – then you’ve turned your back on him and he will turn his back on you. Matt. 7:23, 10:33, Luke 10:16

Elvisman,

Read the prior posts again, regarding precisely what the OP specified and precisely what you added to the question.

You are grasping and clinging to belief statements. They mean nothing spiritually.

Try studying the lives of people like Padre Pio with the intent of discovering what about their approach to spirituality enabled them to rise above mere spouting of brightly colored sound bites and actually experience spiritual transformation.

If you actually have faith in Catholicism, then for God’s sake, do something with it.
All I’m reading from you is repetition of standard talking points.

 

[elvisman]

Elvisman,

Read the prior posts again, regarding precisely what the OP specified and precisely what you added to the question.

You are grasping and clinging to belief statements. They mean nothing spiritually.

Try studying the lives of people like Padre Pio with the intent of discovering what about their approach to spirituality enabled them to rise above mere spouting of brightly colored sound bites and actually experience spiritual transformation.

If you actually have faith in Catholicism, then for God’s sake, do something with it.
All I’m reading from you is repetition of standard talking points.

Yes, that’s all nice but you’re expectation that all Catholics must be like Padre Pio is, well, silly and ignorant and, spiritually immature, frankly.

We are all members of the Body of Christ and have different functions.
Besides, all I’m reading from you is a guy who dodges every question asked of him.
**
Oh, what the heck, I’m feeling adventurous. I’ll ask one more time - if you have the guts to answer the question:
Have you completely turned your back on Christianity in general or just the Catholic Church?
**
And what makes you think I’m NOT doing anything with my faith. I’m trying to get you to understand, aren’t I?

As for your assertion that “belief statements” (as you call them) meaning nother spiritually is about the most ignorant thing you’ve spewed yet.
Professing belief in God and His son Jesus Christ means nothing?
You’re even more shallow than I thought . . .

 

[pugdog]

Anon5216, why are you denigrating the beliefs of those posting here?
Don’t you know that your posting is a call for intercession on your behalf? I am adding you to my prayer list today.

 

[anon5216]

**Yes, that’s all nice but you’re expectation that all **Catholics must be like Padre Pio is, well, silly and ignorant and, spiritually immature, frankly.

We are all members of the Body of Christ and have different functions.
Besides, all I’m reading from you is a guy who dodges every question asked of him.
**
Oh, what the heck, I’m feeling adventurous. I’ll ask one more time** - if you have the guts to answer the question:
Have you completely turned your back on Christianity in general or just the Catholic Church?

**And what makes you think I’m NOT **doing anything with my faith. I’m trying to get you to understand, aren’t I?

As for your assertion that “belief statements” (as you call them) meaning nother spiritually is about the most ignorant thing you’ve spewed yet.
Professing belief in God and His son Jesus Christ means nothing?
**You’re even more **shallow than I thought . . .

Padre Pio demonstrates a standard of achievement.
Are all going to reach that? Of course not.

But to think that repeating the ‘belief statements’ you’ve been taught and declaring loyalty to them is spirituality, is incredibly spiritually immature, frankly.

No, I do not identify myself as Christian, nor do I identify myself as Buddhist, Hindu, Animist, Atheist, Shamanist, or any other ‘ist’.

Yes, merely professing belief in God and Jesus Christ means ‘nothing’ other than you believe there is something to it worth pursuing.
It doesn’t mean you’ve actually done anything about it.

You may believe a certain person is a great pianist and a great teacher, and you may advertise that belief to all and sundry,
but that doesn’t mean you’ve ever touched a piano or taken a lesson from this great teacher or even attended one of their concerts.

What I read from your postings indicates nothing more than that incredibly shallow level.
Being a salesman for a product doesn’t mean you’ve actually used the product.

You are not trying to get me to understand. You are trying to get me to accept talking points you’ve memorized.

 

[RobbyS]

My experience?
1: Drift, disinterest, apathy
2: Rebellion against parents’ values
3: Not married in the church
4: Can’t find a good reason to stay–lack of spiritual conversion to Christ and His Church
5: Someone was rude, or someone was doctrinaire, or someone was a hypocrite–in short, disillusionment.

I would add one more: the radicalism of the post-vatican II period which undermined the faith of many Catholics.

 

[anon5216]

Anon5216, why are you denigrating the beliefs of those posting here?
Don’t you know that your posting is a call for intercession on your behalf? I am adding you to my prayer list today.

Spirituality is far more than repeating talking point belief statements.

I appreciate your adding me to your prayer list if it’s to pray for my continued ever-transcending spiritual development.

I will do the same for you.

 

[elvisman]

Padre Pio demonstrates a standard of achievement.
Are all going to reach that? Of course not.

But to think that repeating the ‘belief statements’ you’ve been taught and declaring loyalty to them is spirituality, is incredibly spiritually immature, frankly.

No, I do not identify myself as Christian, nor do I identify myself as Buddhist, Hindu, Animist, Atheist, Shamanist, or any other ‘ist’.

Yes, merely professing belief in God and Jesus Christ means ‘nothing’ other than you believe there is something to it worth pursuing.
It doesn’t mean you’ve actually done anything about it.

You may believe a certain person is a great pianist and a great teacher, and you may advertise that belief to all and sundry,
but that doesn’t mean you’ve ever touched a piano or taken a lesson from this great teacher or even attended one of their concerts.

What I read from your postings indicates nothing more than that incredibly shallow level.
Being a salesman for a product doesn’t mean you’ve actually used the product.

You are not trying to get me to understand. You are trying to get me to accept talking points you’ve memorized.

And these “belief statements” are . . .?
There you go again assuming you know the depth of my spirituality.

Hmmm . . . which god do you believe in, then? Because, by your signature line, you seem to believe in something, yet by your statements, something other than the God of Christianity.

 

[Swan]

And these "belief statements" are . . .?
There you go again assuming you know the depth of my spirituality.

I’m sorry, but this is exactly what you have been doing to anon5216. For example in post 66 you dismiss ex-Catholics as lazy and in post 69 you write him/her off as being “just another bitter ex-Catholic”. Just because someone doesn’t agree with your beliefs doesn’t make them insincere, lazy or bitter. Since ou want folks to give your spiritiual sincerely the benefit of the doubt, you might want to try doing the same.

 

[Salty_Macadamia]

My best guess would be.

1. Satan’s influence (99.999% hidden)
2. Influence from other devils
3. Influence from humans under other influences (human or demonic)

Basically it all boils down to influence.

 

[toddvetter]

I can give 50 pages of reasons why some leave Christian churches all together.

thedeathandresurection.com/pdf/death%20and%20resurrection%20time%20line.pdf

This sums up this topic more objectively than any study existing to date for this topic.

Remember if we speak not according to the Law and testimony there is no light in us.

This study by page 35 objectively illustrates who has light and who does not.

I think you will enjoy this study immensely.

Blessings from the Heavenly parent!

 

[elvisman]

I’m sorry, but this is exactly what you have been doing to anon5216. For example in post 66 you dismiss ex-Catholics as lazy and in post 69 you write him/her off as being “just another bitter ex-Catholic”. Just because someone doesn’t agree with your beliefs doesn’t make them insincere, lazy or bitter. Since ou want folks to give your spiritiual sincerely the benefit of the doubt, you might want to try doing the same.

Wrong.
I chided him because his reasons for leaving the Church were because of laziness and an unwillingness to practice his faith. He rejects the notion of obedience and is instead seemingly filled with spiritual pride.**
He posts read like just another bitter and uninformed ex-Catholic.

Frankly, it’s immaterial to me whether anti-Catholics consider me sincere or not - but I won’t sit by and listen to unfounded and ignorant attacks on the Church.