Would the Holy Spirit actively lead a person out of the Catholic Church?

[jwatza]

Would the Holy Spirit actively lead a person out of the Catholic Church to then bring them back again at some point as a renewed revert? I don’t know if this question fits the philosophy forum, I 'm not sure where to ask it?? I know someone who believes that this might be true and I would like sources of information to share with him about this. I think that it is against God’s nature to actively lead a person out of the Church that He, Himself, set up to provide the fullness of truth and the full means for salvation (the 7 sacraments). How could the God of all truth lead someone away from that truth? That person has free will and who knows if they might ever decide to come back to the Church? Would the Holy Spirit take that risk? Also, wouldn’t the Holy Spirit be leading that person into at least, objectively speaking, mortal sin? because they wouldn’t be going to Mass anymore? I would like some clear Church teaching to share with this person that I know.

 

[mtk76]

Very interesting questions you bring up and here is my take with a scenario.

Say someone is baptized as a baby into the church, goes through all the motions because their parents make them, get confirmed then stop going to Church. They really never learned much or appropriated the faith to be their own but only did it out of obligation. Next step is the person experiences a God encounter usually in distress and the lights come on. All of a sudden they have an energy they never had previously and appropriate a relationship with Jesus. Often times they will make some incorrect logical assumptions:

1. I have the Holy Spirit in my life and never did before
2. I never got anything out of my Catholic experience before
3. I should go somewhere else because of that
4. Person often acquires anti Catholic feelings due to the situation and the Church they often end up in.

Now the logic should have been more along the lines of

1. I never put anything into it or investigated the truth of the Church and reaped what I sowed.
2. I have been renewed by God so I should investigate the truth of the Church and then decide to recommit my faith.

What changed my perspective was the historical basis of the faith and realizing it was me not the Church. I found a bit of humility and realized it was my laziness from before not anything that was a defect in the Church.

 

[MarcoPolo]

This passage eludes that this may be possible, if the person needs to fall so he can come to Christ forever, which is the goal:

1 Cor 5:1-5 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body I am present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.