Non-, Ex-, or Former Catholics?

Question

What are some of the main arguments against, and disagreements with the Catholic Church? I heard a quote once by a Catholic Bishop named Fulton Sheen who said something along the lines of, "There are not 100 people who hate the Roman Catholic Church, but millions who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Roman Catholic Church" - I'm particularly curious as to the reasons for disagreeing with Catholicism that those who have left Catholicism have. But again, anybody who isn't Catholic (or even those who are who don't like some of the teachings) what one(s) do you disagree with the most or have the biggest issue with?

Answer 1

The stuff they've done with the eucharist (transubstantiation) is magical and silly to me. Some of the dogma about Mary seems unrealistic (immaculate conception - Mary without sin). Those are just two off the top of my head.

I married a Catholic so was interested in the faith and talked to my mother-in-law about it a bit. On the whole I respect catholics and find them much more "christlike" than your average fundy.

Answer 2

We have had poor catechesis since Vactican II.
Also I heard someone say that having 12 years of Catholic education is not much more than a nursery school education. That might be a little mean but I have run into people who left the Church who feel they know everything about it because they went 12 years to Catholic school and what they believe the Church teaches was very simplistic even before Vatican II. A person has to be a convert or have a Catholic university education to find out that the church has divine law and human law. Human law can be changed, dispensed from and done away with. Some people scandalized after Vatican II made changes didn't understand that, even those who went 12 years to Catholic schools. Law of fast and abstinence for instance are not ends unto themselves and Catholic can make mature judgements under certain circumstances, for instance a host working hard preparing a meal that includes meat on a day of abstinence. Christian charity toward the host overrides the law of abstinence. We are obliged to obey the human law but we can use mature judgement.
I took the K of C course and then decided to go into convert instructions. Years later we were talking about church law and found out some K of C members had never read Father Smith instructs Mr. Jackson. Even before Vatican II if they had they wouldn't have thought the changes Vatican II
brought were so shocking.
I know your question was to ex and non Catholics but I wanted to put my 2 cents in that good Catechesis for Catholics is very important, children as well as adults.

Answer 3

I am Catholic, but for a time, I left the Church. The reason wasn't a doctrinal issue, however. A priest said some things that were very hurtful, and I couldn't deal with the situation.

In retrospect, I should have just told myself that priests are human beings and not all of them are saintly. But at the time, I wasn't at the stage in my Christian walk where I could be that objective, so I left for several years.

Now I am back and have no intention of leaving again. I love the Catholic faith, especially the Mass and the Eucharist. There are some doctrinal issues that I have questions about, but I can't say that there's anything I really strongly disagree with.

Answer 4

I was raised Roman Catholic, was baptized, did my confirmation and all that good Catholic stuff, went to church every Sundays and bible studies during the weekend until I was 12, then later in my teen year stopped going to church and really have embraced my culture more, coming from an asian familiy with Confucious values, it seemed more natural as I grew older to respect my ancestors and my elders than the Catholic church, I still never dismissed being Catholic, I'm just not a devout follower, maybe some might say I'm not even Catholic anymore, who knows, Confuciounism and Buddhism just seems more natural to me.

Answer 5

Grew up Cath.but no longer am. First time I went to pros. church I saw Bible being used for more then a small portion of the service,some use it as a guide for life and Catholics barely read it.I own a video showing nuns and priest who had very sincere calls on their lives--But these people had grown up with Bible-thru the years they saw the difference-and it does exist-the diff. between Cath. teachings and the Bible. I choose to go with God's Word. By the way these were now former nuns and priest-you could tell it hurt but they had to choose Bible or Catholic teachings. Think of this,when a Cath. finds Jesus and tells his family and they think he is nuts,has joined a cult--For finding Jesus!!!Crazy. For choosing God's right teachings over mans. The cath church has some things right-like abortion and so on,but to many off things.

Answer 6

I have a lot of respect for Catholics, since I worked for several years in a Catholic school. I found that a majority of church-going Catholics actually disagreed with a lot of the Church's dogma, especially contraceptives and abortion.

However, my main problem with the church is the same as my main problem with all Christian denominations. The Bible is not a valid source of information... a religion that does not grow and change is doomed... and Christianity is ultimately based on fear, which is no way to live one's spiritual life.

Those Catholics never knew they had a Wiccan in their midst. I wonder what would have happened if they found out.

Answer 7

I was raised Catholic and converted to ELCA when I was in college. There were several things that did not sit well with me. My boyfriend who was Pentecostal was not allowed to commune at my family's Catholic church. That didn't make sense to me because he was a believer and had had a Christian baptism. Also, I didn't agree with the whole Purgatory and penance thing. If we need to do good deeds and make penance for our sins to reduce our time in Purgatory and get into Heaven, why the heck did Jesus die on the cross? The Lutheran Church allows all believers, regardless of denomination, to commune. It also preaches that we are saved by grace from Jesus' dying on the cross and therefore, good deeds are encouraged but not necessary to get into heaven. Lastly, there is all the political nonsense. My church believes eliminating poverty and fighting for social justice is more in line with Jesus' teachings than opposing abortion and gay marriage, and I have to agree.

Answer 8

I left Catholicism due to its adherence to extra-Biblical beliefs, and doctrines and dogma that are in direct contradiction to the scriptures.

Jesus gave Peter the "keys to the Kingdom,"
not the keys to His church.

Answer 9

i like that quote and it could fit more then one church out there.

Answer 10

For 2,000 yrs they've been adding 'icing to the cake'. Get's old.

Contrivance; historical corruption, manipulation; verbal josting. etc. It's a shame.