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vladimir998
Guest
Perhaps someone has already pointed this out, but Bill Gates IS NOT CATHOLIC. His wife is. He isn’t. He admits to being an atheist.
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Nullasalus
Guest
Isn’t he an agnostic, actually? I know this is one of those things where everyone will fight over the definitions, but I could have sworn…
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Mommyof02green
Guest
It is a tragedy!
Yep!
I think she should of included that in her OP. Why?? Well it’s a big piece of the puzzle… My gut just told me that s huge piece was missing, things just didn’t add up. I think it was her last statement that struck me the most: There are alot of other things that have finally driven me away, including the fact that my own parish is a dysfunctional wreck. I read that and I just said something is missing. The whole story isn’t being told. I just wonder what are those “other things” that drove her away.
I know! And maybe the OP deep down knows it too. (maybe that’s why she’s here) However, what is logic when you are grieving??? Sometime you can not think straight when you are grieving. You can’t think straight when your world has been torn.** I do pray that the OP finds the peace and support she needs.**
No, it’s never a good to blame the WHOLE Church or ALL Catholics for the errors of one parish. I want to be judged by what I have done, not by the errors of by brothers and sisters. No mother would punish a child for the errors of child’s brother or sister.
I can’t speak for her parish either. I thank God for Msgr. S. If it wasn’t for him I would be lost. He has been a blessing. My parish was awesome to my family when my Dad became ill. So I know personally that not all parishes are the same. I said it before, and I’ll say it again: All Catholic Church are bound to the same laws. Some parish do an awesome job, others could use a lesson or too. ** I think that the OP should try another Catholic Parish in her area. She should also call her local Diocesan Office and find out where the support groups are at. They should be able to direct her in the direction of a parish, priest, and group that can truly help her.**
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Disheartened
Guest
Maybe I’ll make an appointment with the priest to discuss my situation and discontent. The thing is, I’m relatively well off. I didn’t need financial help. We had a very good life insurence policy and now my house is paid off. I’m just emotionally overwhelmed. I don’t have any family to help. The church I go to doesn’t have very many middle aged people active, it’s mostly older women.
Yes, seeing the poor response to my situation really started make me doubt the whole premise of the Church’s claims, such as the real presence, importance of apostolic succession, the Church’s apparant flip flopping of the issues I mentioned and some other ones, I don’t think I mentioned everything, just some things off the top of my head. I don’t really feel like argueing them point by point.
Yes, I did feel like coming here to anonymously complain and vent.
Yes, seeing the poor response to my situation really started make me doubt the whole premise of the Church’s claims, such as the real presence, importance of apostolic succession, the Church’s apparant flip flopping of the issues I mentioned and some other ones, I don’t think I mentioned everything, just some things off the top of my head. I don’t really feel like argueing them point by point.
Yes, I did feel like coming here to anonymously complain and vent.
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Mommyof02green
Guest
That Disheartened sounds like a wonderfull Idea
You may not need financial help, but you do need spiritual and emotonal help. I do hope and pray that you are able to find it. I really believe that you will find some help in that book I mention earlier. “The search for happiness four levels of emotonal and spiritual growth” by Oscar Lukefahr Again feel free to PM me if you need it.
I think that anyone would doubt… However, having doubt and knowing the truth are to different things. I would want to know the truth before I made any harsh moves… I would go to a different Catholic Parish to start.
--we all are like that time to time.
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Wendy-Kay
Guest
Those things you posted earlier were pretty darn terrible. As for poor responses, I thought they were either the result of compassion or rightous anger. How can you expect everyone to not defend the sacred?
If you can not see why the “cruel catholic” posters would not be patting you on the back while you say you are going to leave the Church because it is made up of sinners, consider that we would abandon our families, our jobs, our lives for the Eucharist, no matter how uncharitable the people at church were or how illicit the Mass was.
As for the cop out excuse, “I tried to…”, we are supposed to endure to the end. To loose hope is not an option. Feel free to vent. We all do. But don’t insult me and my Church in the process and then get mad when I defend her!
Also, don’t forget Peter, who *saw *the miracles of Jesus Christ and *witnessed the transfiguration *denied his Savior three times! Yet still Christ chose to build His Church upon Peter!
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Disheartened
Guest
I just got this PM, I don’t quite know what to make of it. Is this an insult to me? 
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TobyLue
Guest
Disheartened-------
Here are also some things to consider
We have had some US presidents that have abused their powers. The US Supreme court has changed rulings when challenged by circumstances. There have been corrupt Judges who had set criminals free. There have been many, many teachers in the US who have molested children. Some women teachers have had babies by some of their students. There are many criminals running around in the streets of US cities. Americans are killing other Americans and robbing them. Politicians have been hypocrites by preaching one thing and doing another. American doctors are performing millions of abortions yearly. The American movie industry has been corrupting our children with their TV programs, etc. etc. I could go on and on and point out many things that are wrong in the US. Because of the way many Americans act, does that prove that the USA as a country is no good? Americans are committing all of the things that you have accused the Church of doing. Am I ready to leave the USA for another country? No because I believe that America is the greatest country in the world and the only hope for world stability. By the same token, you should not judge the CC because of its many sinful members. The **CC is **the Church that Jesus founded. You say you converted from another religion/denomination. Is that religion/denomination you left free of everything you have accused the CC of? How about the Anglican Church, the Orthodox Church, the Baptist, Methodist, the church down the street, are they free of sinful members? The thing is when you became a Catholic, did you join because you found the truths in the CC or just because you husband was Catholic? Maybe you need to search for a parish where you can go and talk to a priest about all the problems you are facing. I can’t say that I know how you feel being left a widow with three children. It must have been, and I’m sure it still is, very stressful. But God brought you into the CC for a reason. Talk to a priest and if possible go before the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lord will speak to you in powerful ways that you never thought possible. Also do more studying about the CC; it’s doctrines, teachings, etc. because I think you were poorly catechized and it was not your fault. Go to the Catholic Answers Home Library. It has lots of useful information. Check out other Catholic Websites. There are also many Catholic services that can assist you.
**
In the CC you can receive Jesus’ Body and Blood and have a genuine walk and talk with Him like you can never have in another Church. As I suggested, a visit to the Blessed Sacrament can be **most **helpful.
God Bless and you are in my prayers.
Here are also some things to consider
We have had some US presidents that have abused their powers. The US Supreme court has changed rulings when challenged by circumstances. There have been corrupt Judges who had set criminals free. There have been many, many teachers in the US who have molested children. Some women teachers have had babies by some of their students. There are many criminals running around in the streets of US cities. Americans are killing other Americans and robbing them. Politicians have been hypocrites by preaching one thing and doing another. American doctors are performing millions of abortions yearly. The American movie industry has been corrupting our children with their TV programs, etc. etc. I could go on and on and point out many things that are wrong in the US. Because of the way many Americans act, does that prove that the USA as a country is no good? Americans are committing all of the things that you have accused the Church of doing. Am I ready to leave the USA for another country? No because I believe that America is the greatest country in the world and the only hope for world stability. By the same token, you should not judge the CC because of its many sinful members. The **CC is **the Church that Jesus founded. You say you converted from another religion/denomination. Is that religion/denomination you left free of everything you have accused the CC of? How about the Anglican Church, the Orthodox Church, the Baptist, Methodist, the church down the street, are they free of sinful members? The thing is when you became a Catholic, did you join because you found the truths in the CC or just because you husband was Catholic? Maybe you need to search for a parish where you can go and talk to a priest about all the problems you are facing. I can’t say that I know how you feel being left a widow with three children. It must have been, and I’m sure it still is, very stressful. But God brought you into the CC for a reason. Talk to a priest and if possible go before the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lord will speak to you in powerful ways that you never thought possible. Also do more studying about the CC; it’s doctrines, teachings, etc. because I think you were poorly catechized and it was not your fault. Go to the Catholic Answers Home Library. It has lots of useful information. Check out other Catholic Websites. There are also many Catholic services that can assist you.
Please do not worry about offending us**.
**
In the CC you can receive Jesus’ Body and Blood and have a genuine walk and talk with Him like you can never have in another Church. As I suggested, a visit to the Blessed Sacrament can be **most **helpful.
God Bless and you are in my prayers.
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TobyLue
Guest
I dont know who sent that PM to you, but it was very, very insulting. Please accept my apologizies for that person. He/she had no business sending such a nasty PM. For shame and may God have mercy on them.I just got this PM, I don’t quite know what to make of it. Is this an insult to me?
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Mommyof02green
Guest
I just got this PM, I don’t quite know what to make of it. Is this an insult to me?
:nope: Remember some people can really lack charity!! Please don’t let it get to you!! You clearly have enough on your plate.
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a_cermak
Guest
Yes, it’s an insult to you and a sign of complete lack of both empathy and humility on the part of the PM-er.I just got this PM, I don’t quite know what to make of it. Is this an insult to me?
while your leaving the catholic church,i am in the process of converting!good luck to you.every church has a bunch of morons,and now that youre leaving the catholic church should celebrate that one moron is leaving and will be replaced by an intellectual!
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Atreyu
Guest
Forward that pm to a moderator. That kind of stuff is not on here…I just got this PM, I don’t quite know what to make of it. Is this an insult to me?
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SemperJase
Guest
When you find the church that Mike describes, please tell us what it is.
The non-denominational church of my youth has much the same problems you attribute to the catholic church.
I remember describing some of these shortcomings to the deacon who led the RCIA class I was in. He told me if that was the reason I was looking at the catholic church, then I should not join it as I would soon find the same problems there.
It made me realize that the Catholic Church is full of sinners!
Thankfully, that made me look deeper into actual church teaching.
The Amish and Mennonites have their own problems as well. Do some reading on the Internet about them. You’ll find out they are as human as the rest of us.
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Fitz
Guest
I will pray for you. You came online as disheartened, and well perhaps to punish some of us for not being perfect. I accept that I am not perfect and I place my trust in our Savior. I suggest you continue to pray to our Lord for the discernment in making these claims against the church He instituted.
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DonProfondo
Guest
Disheartened,
Pray the Rosary. Just before you pray each decade, ask for Mary’s protection and intercession. Ask Jesus for faith and hope. Ask Jesus to help you carry your cross just as Simon of Cyrene helped Him to carry His.
Pray the Rosary. Just before you pray each decade, ask for Mary’s protection and intercession. Ask Jesus for faith and hope. Ask Jesus to help you carry your cross just as Simon of Cyrene helped Him to carry His.
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Michael_Francis
Guest
On it! You’re absolutely right! 
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BayernAnhaenger
Guest
My opinion, and it does sound mean, but sorry.
Stop the conspiracy theories. The Church is not out to get anyone.
Stop the conspiracy theories. The Church is not out to get anyone.
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LittleDeb
Guest
Disheartened,
I read through this whole long thread just to keep you in my heart. If your heart can’t hold you right now, just remember that The Sacred Heart of Jesus can hold you forever.
I remember being emotionally wounded by people in the Church. I remember when I was so angry at the Church’s stance on contraception. And I remember when my best friend became a widow in her 20’s.
At each of these turns, I lashed out. Where did I hit the hardest? My family, my own domestic Church. Angry and bitter I screamed at my mom for the hateful things that had happened to me at her parish. While angry at contraception I became a contracepting fornicator, just to prove myself right. Who did I really hurt? Me, and those who loved me. When my best friend’s husband died leaving her alone and 9 weeks pregnant, I had no one left to lash out at but God.
And boy, did I say some nasty things in anger! But my anger didn’t make God any less real. It didn’t change his True Church. Pouring out my anger did finally empty me. Then I could be filled with love. I’m still human and sinful, but all that pain brought forth true joy. Those birth pangs led me to happiness.
You’re a mom. You probably know what I mean.
If you ever want to talk about the contraception issue, please feel free to PM me. I embraced Church teaching by trying to prove it wrong from the outside in. That is a painful journey. It doesn’t hurt at all to embrace it from the inside out.
I read through this whole long thread just to keep you in my heart. If your heart can’t hold you right now, just remember that The Sacred Heart of Jesus can hold you forever.
I remember being emotionally wounded by people in the Church. I remember when I was so angry at the Church’s stance on contraception. And I remember when my best friend became a widow in her 20’s.
At each of these turns, I lashed out. Where did I hit the hardest? My family, my own domestic Church. Angry and bitter I screamed at my mom for the hateful things that had happened to me at her parish. While angry at contraception I became a contracepting fornicator, just to prove myself right. Who did I really hurt? Me, and those who loved me. When my best friend’s husband died leaving her alone and 9 weeks pregnant, I had no one left to lash out at but God.
And boy, did I say some nasty things in anger! But my anger didn’t make God any less real. It didn’t change his True Church. Pouring out my anger did finally empty me. Then I could be filled with love. I’m still human and sinful, but all that pain brought forth true joy. Those birth pangs led me to happiness.
You’re a mom. You probably know what I mean.
If you ever want to talk about the contraception issue, please feel free to PM me. I embraced Church teaching by trying to prove it wrong from the outside in. That is a painful journey. It doesn’t hurt at all to embrace it from the inside out.
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mosher
Guest
Reading through this thread it reminds me of two statements that I once heard.
The first was from Fr. Groeschel who once said, “Any sociologist will tell you that if you take a cross-section of 1.3 Billion people on one end you will find very holy people like Mother Theresa and on the other end don’t be surprised if you find Dracula.”
The second relates to the first. It was an interview with Oscar Wilde who at the time was a devout atheist and well known for his life of debauchery. He was asked by a reporter that if he were a religious man what religion would he be. His response was that he would be Roman Catholic. The reporter was taken by surprise at this response and responded by saying, "Why Catholic when all your family are high Anglicans? The response to the reporter was, “My families religion is a religion of proper people, the Catholics are the only ones that would have me.” He later died as a Catholic.
My pastor some time back gave a homily on the truth of the Catholic Church and he gave as its greatest argument that it was that the true Church because it is full of sinners. He said that only the true Church could be made out of the unrighteous because as Christ tells us, “Do the well have need of a physician?” We are a huddled mass of sinners scraping our way through life working out our salvation with fear and trembling. Many are hurt and many are harmed as a result of our sinfulness but in all that “where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.”
The first was from Fr. Groeschel who once said, “Any sociologist will tell you that if you take a cross-section of 1.3 Billion people on one end you will find very holy people like Mother Theresa and on the other end don’t be surprised if you find Dracula.”
The second relates to the first. It was an interview with Oscar Wilde who at the time was a devout atheist and well known for his life of debauchery. He was asked by a reporter that if he were a religious man what religion would he be. His response was that he would be Roman Catholic. The reporter was taken by surprise at this response and responded by saying, "Why Catholic when all your family are high Anglicans? The response to the reporter was, “My families religion is a religion of proper people, the Catholics are the only ones that would have me.” He later died as a Catholic.
My pastor some time back gave a homily on the truth of the Catholic Church and he gave as its greatest argument that it was that the true Church because it is full of sinners. He said that only the true Church could be made out of the unrighteous because as Christ tells us, “Do the well have need of a physician?” We are a huddled mass of sinners scraping our way through life working out our salvation with fear and trembling. Many are hurt and many are harmed as a result of our sinfulness but in all that “where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.”
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