Anyone consider themselve recovering Catholic?

Question

I converted to Roman Catholicism when I was 15 years old, served in many and varied capacities during my time with the Church, even preached (as a lay person)... but eh Pope's letter on Homosexuality, the sex abuse scandals, and then the elextion of a nazi as pope... I am so done with HRCC and other organized releligion...

How about you?

Answer 1

I think organized religion is a horrible thing, basically it is a form of brainwashing the masses rather than allowing them to find the information for themselves, make whatever they want of it on their own, and believe whatever they want and have small differences in beliefs with others. Instead, it's all a bunch of people being told the same thing again and again, very little (or if much, mostly negative) about other religions, and all believing the same thing.

Answer 2

I'm am recovering in a way....
I don't think there is any church that hasn't some form of scandal in thier history, out of this adversity the church will become stronger and ppl will become strenthend and will learn many things -mostly what not to do, I don't think you should give up on religion -you didn't like what happened, I didn't either, I knew a few victims and they have not given up, why should you?

Answer 3

It's so funny you ask that. At least once a month in my A.A. group we laugh about being recovering Catholics. I would say at least 80 % of us grew up Catholic. What kind of statement do you think that says about the Catholic Church ? lol lol. Some of the teachings probably helped contribute to our psychological makeup. I felt the Church taught me that I was always in sin, always guilty, and that my God was a revengeful God. I think there ought to be a 12 step program for recovering Catholics, but the title CA has already been given to cocaine addicts, lol lol lol.

Answer 4

Organized religion is a man made way to falsify righteousness to God. Your righteousness doesn't come from being a part of a club belonging to a section of people, it come from living according to the commandments of God, and commitment to being righteous in His eyes. God sees everything that goes on on this planet, in every person, in every life. No man can orchestrate that or dictate it. Let God be God and every man a liar. Get to know God for yourself. And let the church hurt healing begin. God Bless.

Answer 5

I feel "recovered" and still consider Jesus Christ an important part of my past and current daily devotion, but I am no longer a practicing catholic; I am the oldest of ten and not one of my siblings is Catholic, but most of them are involved with deep spiritual pursuits of many denominations. I had 16 years of incredible catholic schooling, which was excellent-superior academically, and a mix of both positive and negative experiences. First was traumatic far right abusive co-ed "fire and brimstone" in the 50s, and then there was the an almost "anything goes" humanistic far left all girls private school during the 60s, followed by a moderate coed Jesuit christianity in the 70s (That extremetly polarized vascillation can screw up many people) but fortunately it helped me see the bigger picture of things, the dualism and polarities of healthy and unhealthy spirituality in general. I experienced the faith and teachings of both healthy and unhealthy nuns and priests; and it did help me develop a deep personal relationship with Jesus and many Catholic saints, in addition to it helping me shape a much healthier sexuality-gender identity as a woman in a "man's world" compared to my mother-father's generation, helping me learn an intro to devotional service and spiritual practice-discipline. The fact that I was given some very strict upbringing as a little girl, even if a tad twisted here and there, has helped me develop a later adult life of MUCH DEEPER spiritual understanding and devotion, much deeper than Catholicism ever taught me or took me when I was young. The Vedas (Vedic scripture: Bhaghavad Gita and Srimad Bhaghavatam as translated by Srila Prabhupad) are definitely the Torch of Knowledge and explain spirituality and cosmology including evolution in such a perfect scientific way for my scientist mind. So my early life in Catholicism helped me immensely in my current Vaisnavan path as a Krsna devotee. I also find that there is no coincidence that Krsna and Christ names are so close in sound, and that one is God the Son and the other is God the Father. So my relationship with God the Son helped me mature to a deep rich path to God the Father (Krsna). I thank Jesus everyday and have both His picture and Krsna on my altar. Much of the two religions' teachings are amazingly the same too, even though my very catholic father is terrified of my choices. But Vaisnavans do allow women to be priestesses,and that has also been a positive for me. But back to the two scriptures, both are often word for word, but the Vedas are thousands of years older than christianity-bible and much much deeper and MANY more texts than the Bible. VERY RICH! Satisfies my intellectual and inquiring mind that was so often criticized for asking so many deep questions that I was not supposed to ask. I was supposed to just BELIEVE it, period. Basically both paths teach me to know, love and serve God the Father, (except of course the teachings about reincarnation and that all life has a souls spark, not just humans). I am vegetarian now too and spend about three or four hours daily in deep spiritual practice, (chanting and puja) but I try to keep my consciousness fixed on God as many milliseconds of the day as possible. Going to mass for 45 min on sunday is not enough for me.

IMHO, it is not the teachings of Jesus Christ that are the problem, and there have been and are many great, saintly catholics, but like many organizations, the misuse of power by MANY in the "leadership-not" within the Catholic Church and the hiding of so many problems and their refusal to acknowledge problems for so long, has helped many of them fall from an expansive world position of world power.

All social institutions will have their times of rise and fall! But to throw the "baby out with the bath water" has been a common problem for recovering Catholics. There are always "bad apples," but one does not need to blame-toss them all and the basic foundational teachings! Just keep with the bone fide scripture and stay away from the sick people, esp the manipulative zealots who can dish out very toxic and dangerous shame and guilt that can make a person go in the OPPOSITE direction religion is meant to take them! Last month they told Catholics in OC CA that it was a mortal sin to kneel during mass. Good grief.

I feel so very happy, blessed and complete with the Vedic scriptures and Krsna Consciousness for its DEEP teachings about DEEP devotional service so I might someday be worthy of going Home to Him-Them. Hare Krsna! And BTW, KC is not really a religion. It is a LIFESTYLE and consciousness, a way to use the mind, heart and spirit. Many call it polytheistic orthodox Hinduism, but that is not accurate. It is actually a way of monotheistic spiritual life that transcends the material issues that make many religions so problematic. Even KC has their political problems and scandels. ALL religions have that in this very fallen era, so I avoid the people who are problematic, keep as transcendental to the material problems as I can, and keep focused on the spiritual realms and my love and devotional service for God the Father.