What happens if you are a baptized Catholic and leave and start going to a Christian church?

Question

How are you treated from the Catholic church if they find out you are participating now at a Christian Church even though you are a baptized Catholic?

lol. I'm not trying to stir anything up! I'm just asking how you are treated by the original church after you try to convert to another religion.

Answer 1

I was raised Catholic, stopped going to Mass when I was 12 after my parents divorced. I married a Christian and am now involved in the church. I was never looked down upon by my Christian church, they were just happy that I learned the Truth. I can't say much for what the Catholic church thought, because it was such a big time period - about 17 years - and they never did check on me or my family. This is just a guess, but I suppose they didn't want anything to do with a divorced family.
As far as baptism, it doesn't save you, but if you have given your life over to Christ- it is an outward show to be baptized. Babies have no clue when they are baptized, that's why it doesn't really make much sense. No babies were baptized in the Bible. They were dedicated to the Lord, though. So if you are wanting to be baptized, you should. It will strengthen your faith and boldness to proclaim the gospel.

Answer 2

The Catholic religion is most definitely christian so I do not really follow your question. I was a Catholic, baptized Catholic, left to check out other churches and faiths, and then went back to the Catholic church. I can't say I was treated any different than before. In my religious travels I did discovered it is all pretty much the same BS. It really makes no difference which is part of reason I have been an atheist for the past 20 years.

Answer 3

<> It marks the beginning of you becoming fully Catholic. <> There are a lot of couples who wish to have their children Baptized Catholic, but are not active practitioners of Catholicism themselves. It irritates me to no end because, of course, it's going to create a certain amount of spiritual confusion and maybe, God forbid, disilluionment. It's too bad your parents weren't more invested in the Church. Otherwise, by now, you would have received first Holy Communion, and Confirmation, and fully be Catholic. That's a good thing, if that's what you want that is. <> Perfect example of what happens when parents have their children Baptized when they couldn't care a fig about spiritual things. The good news is, you know Christianity is the Way, and you want to find the rigth Way amongst all the Christian denominations. <> The Catholic Church is the One, True, Church, though which Salvation is made possible via the High Priest and Savior Jesus Christ. If you believe this, but reject the Catholic Church, I'm afraid there is a good possibility you will nto be saved. If you don't believe in the Catholic Church right now, hopefully your spiritual journey will someday bring you back. The important thing, for now, is that you have received a valid Catholic Baptism. This is good because it means you have at least "one foot in the door" as they say. Now, you just have to work on getting your leg and the rest of you in through that doorway. You know what? If this process takes time, and I'm talking about time in terms of years, so be it. <> Maybe you should give the Catholic Church another chance. Do you remember the parable of the Prodical Son? The Church is always willing to take back those who have left.

Answer 4

Warts?

Actually Kimmy, it all depends on the people around you.

My wife went through it, and some of her family members were OK, others were very scared and worried for her.

I found that the more religious people were less accepting of the change(see St Francis answer), but this works the other way as well, (see Chippy's reply below).

In the end, there is a direct relationship between religiosity and bad behavior towards other humans.

I say go where you feel good, and go to what ever place causes you to be a better person.

Answer 5

I think if you returned to the Catholic Church, you would handle it then - confession, maybe take some classes if you were gone a long time.
If you choose never to return, it doesn't matter, you will believe what you believe, and that's OK if you are following your conscience.

Answer 6

First, Catholics are Christian. And, from experience, they would rather you change churches than leave the faith altogether. If it were the other way around, it would be a different story; many Protestant churches teach that the Pope is the anti-Christ, and that Catholics aren't even real Christians.

Answer 7

I don't think that anything well happen. Baptism in both of those religions signfies the same thing :having a second chance in life and being born again.

Answer 8

Catholics are Christian.

And Chippy, the Pope never said that. That's just another stupid internet urban legend.

Answer 9

Catholics ARE Christians. Please stop thinking otherwise. If your "new church" is telling you that Catholics are not Christians, they are wrong.

The Church and its representatives are sad that you have chosen to abandon the Faith, but will welcome you with open arms when you decide to "come home."

Answer 10

They'll burn you at the stake for contradicting yourself. Catholicism is Christianity. I left the Church, and they never sent a Christmas card. I left a BAPTIST church, and they wouldn't stop harassing me. Catholicism doesn't have those intense cultish tendencies that other christian sects do.