For former Catholics?

Question

Why did you leave, and what would have to happen for you to come back?

Answer 1

I love the Catholics. I was raised Catholic. I don't agree with a lot of the Voo Doo they do but they are family because they believe in Christ finished work on the cross. I am called to be a Baptist at the moment. I have been many labels over the years and they are all good. Maybe I will be called back to be a Catholic. I am sure they would welcome me back.

Shalom

Answer 2

Becuase the Gospel is not preached in Catholicism. I never heard anyone ever preach the Gospel while I was in that religion, from priests to nuns. Why is the word "saved" so foreign to Cathoicism? Easy, cause they don't know what it means, and havn't experienced the new birth becoming born again. A big reason a lot of people leave Catholicism is cause it's just a plain, boring religion to them, so they leave it and are swallowed up by the ways of this world. That's why liberalism is so strong in the northeast. You have to also understand that the history of Catholicism has a lot of knocks against it, such as the inquisition for example.

Answer 3

Number 1 I didn't believe what the priest preached. Number 2 I never heard a believable explaination of the trinity. Number 3 I never heard a good explaination of a soul. Number 4 I believe only in the forces of nature. Number 5 I have no superstitions. Number 6 all supernatural is superstition.
To come back ? A start would be a good believeable explaination of how one person can be three people. and three people can be one person.
Tell me how God is the father when the kid was conceived by a ghost. The ghost is the father, not God. I don't like double-talk.

Answer 4

I left as soon as I was out of school and out of my parents' house. Don't get me wrong -- I had no bad experiences as a catholic kid (although I went to school with kids who had as many as fifteen siblings and I thought that was just plain nuts), but I always knew that church was something my family did, not something I would ever do for myself, because I simply didn't believe in any god.

But I was actually considering going back to the church at one time (don't ask me why, I don't even remember). Then the child abuse scandal finally broke, and it was infuriating. Most of those victims will never see any kind of justice, and the bishops who protected the abusers will likely never see the inside of a prison.

Again I say, don't get me wrong: I know that the vast majority of priests and bishops are good and decent men. But the priesthood is a men's club, and club mates will protect each other first and always. I think this is bad for them and worse for those who rely on their leadership.

In short, there's nothing that could entice me back to the church.

Answer 5

I found it hard to find God. I was a "good" catholic; parochial school through sixth grade, catechism, altar boy, sacraments of communion and confirmation, both parents strong catholics. I was taught to fear God, rather than to love him, at least to my young mind. I felt there had to be more to it. I had to find the love of God, and to love God from my heart and soul outside the formal doctrines of the church.

Will I ever go back? Don't think so... too much "religion" for me. I'm sure it has it's place, and that some need the structure. I find freedom, love and joy living by His Spirit and the Word. The various denominations present their own brand of doctrines, and are just bits and pieces of true Christianity. Almost all are man-made or influenced, but the cornerstone of the faith is in the individuals personal spiritual relationship with the living God.

You'll have to understand, I was sold out, the whole route, to the Roman Catholic Church. It was all I knew and believed. It was that I sensed something was still missing spiritually. I looked within the church to find it or to understand it to no avail. I went through several paths after I left, to find God and/or enlightenment, investigating and attending other religious beliefs, churches, and philosophies. Almost all of them were about our attempts to reach God. As time went on, I found myself going full circle back to Christianity. Not because of familiarity, but because it was the only one that exclusively said God made a way to reach us, so that we could be with Him.

I found that Jesus was indeed the way, the truth, and the life. I studied and began reading the Bible with renewed interest. I prayed and asked, genuinely seeking God from that spiritual need I sensed within me. He answered my prayer, and proved His existence to me beyond hopeful wishing or imaginings. He filled that God-shaped void that only He can fill. My journey seemed to be at it's end, but it was just the beginning of the greatest adventure I could ever thought of or imagine. My experiences since then leave no doubt. He is an awesome God.

Answer 6

Why I left:

- I saw no evidence that the sacraments helped anyone resist temptation.

- Every "miracle" could be explained w/o resorting to the supernatural. As a hypothesis, God seems unnecessary.

- It occurred to me that if any of my friends and family ended up in hell, i could not be happy--making heaven impossible.

- Massive tragedies such as the 2004 tsunami are better accounted for without a god than with one.

What would make me come back:

- A miracle--one that could not be taken for a natural occurrance, and implies that the RCC is the One True Religion.

- God making a personal appearance in a manner that could not be taken for anything else, and saying that the RCC is the One True Religion.

Answer 7

I wanted more of God and less rituals. Left Catholicism many, many years ago. Joined a non denominational church and now I have a wonderful relationship with our Lord with a rich fulfilling life. My life is God centered. The best thing that ever happened in my life. I will never go back to the Catholic religion.

Answer 8

I left the church, not my religion. I'm not guilty of anything, am a good, kind person and don't need anyone telling me what to do. Go back? For what, so I can keep giving the weekly envelope? Homey don't play that.

Answer 9

the priest gave my childen permission to rebel against me...undermining my authority

also, i walked out when the priest announced on sunday , in front of my children, that homosexuality is normal..i left immediately with the kids so i could explain what the bible says about that.

boring services...

mary worship is not right...they call it veneration...but that is just a different name for the worship.... jesus never said to go to his mother for anything...mary is not an intercessor to jesus.... jesus instructed us to go straight to him...not her..the rosary is not a legitmate set of prayers.

i think the charismatic renewal is important to pursue. they would have to get rid of gay priests, mary worship., and try to get past the 52 sermons that are repeated every year....and get some fresh sermons and revelation from god....

but I could make the last point about any church.... most pastors and priests give boring sermons....they are uninspiring....

also it would be nice to see the church not compromise with the muslims......islam is totally false... and be more fair to Israel.

Answer 10

I left because I couldn't pretend not to know what I know anymore. I don't think it will change enough in my lifetime to go back.