I was baptized/confirmed just last year. I went to Catholic school, btw. However, im unsure about what I did. I'm not sure if I made the right commitment to a church. I have issues...
Priest sex abuse scandal
Marriage laws
Priestly celibacy
What comes down to earth for me is that I feel like I get "nothing" out of going to church. The priests dont give very good sermons in my opinion and they never remember any of their parishioners
What do i do
2007-12-28 11:47:58 · 17 answers · asked by clarix 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Personally, I can relate to your experience. When I was young, I did not fully realize what I was learning at that age in the Catholic Church. It is very complex and hard to fathom. As I got older, and grew in daily life, I came to realize the symbolism of the church's teachings. Each person realizes this as they grow up. You'll find a lot of other denominations focus on making you feel good and the message strays from that of the Catholic Church.
All humans make errors, and each parish is different. You are right in looking at yourself and beliefs. Don't give up on the Catholic Church yet. I strayed away for awhile and found myself coming back when I realized the true meaning of my faith.
2007-12-28 14:27:04 · answer #1 · answered by ml1234 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well Clarix, if i can say the abuse scandal doesn't only happen in the Catholic church - i know it happened in a church where i live, not Catholic.
Marriage laws, can't help you there - i believe marriage is between the two ppl involved and God..
Priestly celibacy - i believe when God appoints He also equips for the task, this applies to celibacy - so if one believes their called to the Priesthood, they then must believe God has that area under control..
You say you get nothing out of going to church - do you feel you go there to receive encouragement from the Priest and the other worshippers? - sometimes we have to give in order to receive - giving of ourselves brings it's own rewards - have you given enough time to making friends? - sometimes our expectations are a little to high of ministers, priests and pastors..
If your still not happy there you could try another Catholic church - ask God for guidance as to where you might fit in - where He would place you and use you to further His purpose. It might just be you are unfulfilled with your own life, and need a purpose in which to serve the Lord..
The important thing is you build your relationship with Christ - He will never disappoint you.
Many Blessings
2007-12-29 00:14:12 · answer #2 · answered by ;) 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Learn the basics of your faith: confession and the Eucharist. Holy Communion is everything. It is the reason we go to Mass. If you study that, and understand what the Eucharist is, everything will change. It is what converted me to Catholicism.
I'm sickened and sadened by the sex abuse scandal. I pray for the victims, as well as the priests who hurt them, because both need healing. I also realize that the priests are sinners like the rest of us, and that I must focus on the faith of the Catholic Church, which is pure and perfect.
What are you're questions about marriage laws?
Priestly celibacy is a discipline freely accepted by consecrated men. If i'm not mistaken, it's not Church dogma. There are plenty of ex-Protestant married clergy who became Catholic and were ordained as priests.
Concentrate on the Eucharist.
God bless.
2007-12-29 11:00:56 · answer #3 · answered by Danny H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First - scandals - the Church is made up of human beings, who are sinners. Please don't leave Peter because of Judas.
You get nothing out of going to Church? Indeed, we expect to walk away after an hour with "something". But rather, the Mass is worship of God and a recreation of His eternal sacrifice. We're there to worship and adore Him - it really isn't about us at all.
The homilies can be lame, I'll agree. The priest is supposed to tie in the readings of the day to our lives. While this is not an impossible task, it certainly can be done poorly.
You aren't really specific about marriage laws, nor priestly celibacy, so it is not possible to address your concerns.
2007-12-28 22:55:31 · answer #4 · answered by SigGirl 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Are you sure that your objections are valid, or are you just looking for an excuse to get out of the promises that you made to God when you were confirmed? It sounds to me as if you don't want the 'hassle' of living up to your confirmation vows and are trying to take the easy way out.
Try praying and asking God to show you what your true motives are and why you're not getting anything out of going to church. Usually, the reason for lukewarmness lies within ourselves and not our surroundings. Talk to a spiritual advisor that you trust (a priest, nun, deacon, or Catholic layman) and who can help you come to an honest decision about belonging to the Catholic faith.
This is going to involve taking a very close look at yourself and your own motives. It may not be a comfortable process, but I can guarantee that it will be an eye-opening one. God bless you, and may He lead you to the spiritual path that is right for you.
2007-12-28 20:06:44 · answer #5 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 6⤊ 2⤋
not a catholic.
christianity is not a religion that you're supposed to "get something out of". it is about worshipping and serving and blessing this amazing God that was sent to the earth as a baby in a manger to help us get through this crazy life here on earth until we die and get to live in heaven with Him for forever. christianity is realizing that it's not about you or the pastors preaching a sermon or whether they remember you every week...although that is nice sometimes. it's about a personal relationship with your creator, your savior, and your friend.
that is what being a christian is about.
i have issues with the catholic church too, but i don't follow people...i follow Christ.
blessings.
2007-12-28 19:54:05 · answer #6 · answered by danielle:) 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
If it is true that you are Catholic, you were probably sleeping during RCIA classes or the people who taught you did a poor job. Why do I say this? Because your 'concerns' show a poor understanding of the Catholic faith.
Firstly, the sex scandals involving the clergy is not exclusive to the Catholic faith. As a matter of fact, less than 1% were involved. The figure is much higher in public schools and in Protestant churches. My father was a Protestant minister and he was an adulterer and womanizer.
Secondly, What is wrong with the marriage teachings of the Catholic Church? It is the most faithful to the gospel. We still condemn divorce and abortion even though Protestant churches have backtracked on this.
Thirdly, celibacy is not a doctrine but a disciplinary rule of the Church. Jesus Christ and some of the apostles were celibate. Celibacy is in harmony with the priesthood because it is the generous choice of the personal way of life of Christ on earth; a way which allows a man to give himself to all while being devoted to God alone.
"But there are others who have given up the possibility of marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. He who can accept this should accept it." - Matthew 19,12b
Choosing chastity "for the kingdom of God" is not a way of gaining time and freedom for apostolic work: it is taking a direction that opens to the love of God with new possibilities. Paul defends this choice he himself had made.
"I think this is good (referring to celibacy) in these hard times in which we live. It is good for a man to remain as he is." - 1 Corinthians 7,26
"I would like you to be free from anxieties. He who is not married is concerned with the things of the Lord and how to please the Lord. While he who is married is taken up with the things of the world and how to please his wife, and he is divided in his interests." - 1 Corinthians 7,32-33
Lastly, do you know what the Real Presence means? If you do, you would not be bothered by bad sermons which I admit happen from time to time. Protestants also have their share of bad preachers. I don't go to Church for the homily. I go because I want to worship God with my brothers and sisters and share the "one cup" as St. Paul puts it.
If you still feel you are in the wrong Church no one is stopping you.
2007-12-28 19:51:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 3⤋
The Catholic Church was started by emperor Constantine who was the "Caesar" of Rome around 400 ad. if I'm not mistaken. Up until then, Christians were mercilessly persecuted by the romans and others. Constantine's mother was rumored to be a Christian. Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky by which he could win an important battle, which he did. As a result, he made Christianity the official religion of Rome. Up until then, Rome was a city-state filled with paganism idols, worship of multiple deities etc. When Christianity became the official religion of Rome, all of the sudden, all the pagan cult priests were in danger of losing their positions in society. So what did they do? They reinvented themselves into "christian" priests and the Roman catholic Church was born. Many of the Roman Catholic traditions have nothing to do with Christianity as described in the Bible and everything do to with cultic pagan practices. Easter, Christmas, worship of statues of saints, mary etc. all come directly from occult pagan practices.
If you want to know the God of the Bible, the God of Christianity, the Roman Catholic Church,
is not the place for you.
Jesus is the way anything else is a counterfeit...
2007-12-28 20:10:12 · answer #8 · answered by andybosik 5 · 2⤊ 6⤋
Did they make you sign an oath with your blood? You're not obligated to remain in any religion if your heart and mind are not in agreement.
Maybe you did what you thought was expected of you. But you are a free person to seek and search out God in whatever way you choose. Pray to our Heavenly Father, and keep praying. He IS the only one that truly sees your heart and will reveal whatever He wants you to see.
And please, leave the guilt behind. It's about God and you. Not about a religion.
2007-12-28 19:58:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
I don't know about the Catholic church or any other church, but don't give up on Christ.
2007-12-28 19:51:45 · answer #10 · answered by ignoramus_the_great 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋