Am I Damned? - Ex Roman Catholic?

Question

I was raised Roman Catholic until age 7. Was taken out of the church then by my parents (they were kicked out due to being divorced). Never went back and lost my faith over the years. Now neither believe nor disbelieve.

Probably an average amount of sins since my last confession (back in the 1960's).

Answer 1

As I understand it, the only sin that can't be forgiven is the blasphemy of the spirit.

I haven't a clue what that is. I don't know anyone who has committed this sin or anything close to it.

Your question suggests you may have a shred of some sort of belief, and you should probably pursue that belief into some sort of worship. In my opinion that would not have to be Roman Catholic.

I would investigate various religious faiths if you are so inclined. If you are a disbeliever this will not greatly change things for you. If you are inclined to believe something this could lead you to a more peaceful existence.

The fact you would ask this question suggests you might be concerned.

Answer 2

You are not damned. If so, you would be in Hell. That is something that is determined at our Judgement, which happens when we die.

As for sins, believe me, you probably have more sins than you realize. We all do. That's the devil's classic lie... "You're a good guy. You have not killed anybody. Keep doing what you are doing."

So come back. Go to confession... you're eyes will be opened and you will begin to see things in a way you never saw before.

Like the Prodigal son's father, the Catholic Church is waiting for you to return.

Also, you cannot believe AND not believe... it's one or the other. Sounds like you believe.

Watch EWTN and come home!

Answer 3

IMVHO Dan Brown not withstanding, a scan through the dead sea scrolls and Gnostic gospels will show you that R.C. is just the early Christian sect that came out on top rather than THE ONE TRUE RELIGION. If there was a TRUE religion the proof of it would be that everyone everywhere would believe in it. There may be one TRUTH but every culture and time can only interpret it in the context of their daily experience. Forget organized religion it's the opiate of the masses. Develop a personal relationship with GOD as you see him her or it.

Answer 4

If you feel like you are going to be damned, go back to the church. Growing up without church wasn't your fault, but now that you can make your own decisions, and you feel that it's calling you, go back to your ex religion!

Or study other religions!

I don't think you're damned if you are truly sorry for your abscence.

But I was raised as a Roman Catholic and I denounced my faith at the age of 8. I'm studying Islam and following it until I convert.

Answer 5

--Is Catholic--

First of all, no one can be "excommunicated" for getting a divorce. You can get "excommunicated" for getting remarried because that is adultery. Even when one is remarried and committing adultery, formal excommunication is not automatic. Rather, because one is in the state of moral sin, one cannot recieve the Eucharist until they have gone to confession.

Secondly, in Catholicism, salvation is a process. If you are progressing in your salvation, then you are headed towards salvation and away from damnation. Where are you headed? Towards God or away from God, or just standing still?



HOW DO NON-CATHOLIC GET TO HEAVEN?

If you go and read all of Dominus Iesus, WHICH I SUGGEST THAT YOU DO this is how it works out:

1. If a person is saved, they are saved through Christ, period.
2. A person who does not know Christ, the Son of God, still has the capacity to know the Word which works through all things and is the cause of goodness in all things (basic Catholic metaphysics). If they follow what they know of the Word, then salvation is a possibility for them....(however a "might be" or "may be" is not a "will be" just as Catholics do not have certitude (will be) for salvation but rather confidence)
3. Ignorance of Christ/the Word does not save, but it also does not damn. Rejection and disobedience of Christ/the Word is what damns.
4. Salvation requires us to co-operate with God. As the ancient saying goes "God who created you without you will not save you without you."
5. The more one knows God and follows His will, the easier it is to co-operate with grace and walk along the path to salvation. The less, the harder it is.
6. Only Jesus and His Church over the path to salvation. Other religions, other "gods" have no power at all to save, except for that which stems and flows from their correspondence to the Word and the Church.

Christ is the only path to salvation, but those who do not know Jesus the Christ may still be saved, but it will be through their knowledge of the Word not their religions.

Answer 6

I don't usually even bother answering any of the religion category questions on here anymore, for many reasons that I won't go into now but, your question pulled at my heart strings... I want you to know that NO, you are not da***ed and it's not even possible. You can't and never will be "d***ned" no matter what you've done, no matter what your sin. Because Jesus already took that burden for you and I, for all of us. You may have heard it before but, God loves you so much that he sent his precious son, Jesus, to the earth to die on the cross for your sins and mine, for all of us. And you and I can't even fathom how GREAT God's love is for us. He is Love. I honetly can say, I see it, his love, his grace, his forgiveness in my life.

I'm sorry, you lost your faith and you niether believe or disbelieve. I'm sorry to hear that you had to deal with divorce. I don't know and I can't say that I understand what that feels like but, I tell you the truth that God Loves you. Now and always.

1 Corinthians 13
(Just replace the word, God, where Love and it is)
(God) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (God) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

(God) Love never fails....And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (NIV)

I don't believe you have to confess your trespasses to a priest, just confess it in your heart, to find your way home.

Answer 7

some say that once you have recieved communion and accepted Christ as your savior that you cannot lose your salvation.

i do not hold to that belief. i think that if you have had the Word, know of the Father and the Son and disavow them, then you can most certainly place your immortal soul in danger of damnation.

think back on your teachings. even if you do not agree with the church that you were brought up in, dont turn your back on Christ, because He will not turn His back to you, if you ask Him for protection and foregiveness.

-eagle

Answer 8

by the teachings of the catholic faith i would think so
reasoning: you have not repented and came back in to the "fullness of christ"

dont worry about the churches dogma. follow god not the church

Answer 9

Nah. I was raised Roman Catholic. I dropped out of my Confirmation class when I was 13 because I really didn't care for the teachings. I find the religion to be insane. You're fine. Unless you murdered someone. Then you'll burn in hell you sicko!

Answer 10

This answer from a man who has been around the world, who is living in his 5th decade:

My belief is that God does not send Presbyterians to Hell because they were Presbyterians.

Get my point?

No matter what religion you believe in, what matters when it all comes down to the wire....is what is in your heart.

Is Christ Jesus in your heart? THAT is what you need to ask yourself.

No one is damn because they were once Catholic, but changed to some other Christian religion. Well, maybe in some very extreme circumstances, but...it is not my business to judge. I am not perfect, as is God.