Anonymous wrote:OP seriously you believe in everything Catholics do not.

Pro Choice
Gay marriage
Divorce

Why would you want to be part of something that condones chiid abusers and is against the things you believe in?

How about Unitarian? Or Episcopalian?.

Perhaps the OP has other beliefs the correspond with the church.
The core social values in Catholicism are:

1). Respect for life and dignity of all people.
2) Call to participate in family and community
3). Fundamental rights to life and human decency coupled with responsibility to provide those things to others.
4). Preferential treatment for the poor and vulnerable
5) Dignity and rights of workers
6). Care of the planet.
7). The promotion of justice and peace.

I'm a different christian religion. No religion is perfect. We don't all have to believe 100% the same things to be members of a church. If you disagree with some things, that's between you and God.

OP seriously you believe in everything Catholics do not.

Pro Choice
Gay marriage
Divorce

Why would you want to be part of something that condones chiid abusers and is against the things you believe in?

How about Unitarian? Or Episcopalian?.

I am very happy being Catholic. It has a rich intellectual, service and contemplative tradition. It's a big tent and you can find different parishes and orders emphasize different aspects.

I could have written your post. I now occasionally take my elderly parents to their local, not very progressive, catholic church

was pleasantly surprised last week when the priest made an announcement for people to please stop calling and asking for letters excusing students from getting the vaccine on religious grounds. He said that not the position of the church, there was no moral objection to the vaccine - the opposite in fact- and that the church would not provide such letters.

Not all catholic parishes are the same at all. Find a very progressive one and you will feel more at home. I once lived near an amazing catholic church in nyc. The congregation had a very large percentage of gay members and had an extremely active soup kitchen and homeless shelter. The celebrants would openly discuss issues like women becoming priests. They refused to advocate for conservative politicians.

OP here - thank you this is just what I needed to hear!

As a person who spent his entire life in Catholic education (HS level), I can tell you that many people wrestle with at least some aspects of Church teaching. I find it important personally to distinguish between the Church as founded by Christ and the Church that is run by humans who can be quite flawed (and sometimes evil). There are many things in the Church that are quite comforting and peaceful -- such as Mass and other liturgical services -- and that is where I find my faith. God has given all of us the intellect to form our own consciences about the particulars so don't worry if you find yourself at odds with some aspects of faith. If Catholic churches were attended only by those who have no doubts, they would be rather empty.

I think you put it well that you can share your personal beliefs with your own family and "take it for what it's worth." PP 20:50 and 21:17 are spot on!

I can understand the pull, OP.

The Catholic Church has so much to offer, both to the individual and to society: it feeds, houses, clothes and cares for the sick and poor more than any other religious institution. The liturgy, music and prayers are beautiful and have been a part of mass for 2000 years (in one form or another). It's something to realize that no matter where you are in the world, the mass will be the same. Visiting centuries old churches in Europe and seeing the religious arts and icons deepen spiritual ties.

For what it's worth, almost every Catholic that I know does not agree with some of the Church's teachings. Conservatives Catholics aside, most mainstream Catholics follow the Vatican 2 edict, "Man has the right to act in conscience and in freedom so as personally to make moral decisions.” Heck, 40-50% of American Catholics do not agree with banning or limiting abortion.

Remember, the people sitting next to you are the 'Church', not the Cardinals and Bishops who lead the church.

God gave you free will and free mind for a reason. I have an identical struggle to you and that is what keeps bubbling to my head. I go to church. I pray. I disagree and despise aspects of the church/history. But the the church is for the people not the popes, and I am the people. The fine print of my beliefs are between me and god only.

We become Episcopalian. Just sayin.

Have you gone to an Episcopal service?

We became Presbyterian.

Much, much, MUCH happier there.

Many at our church are ex Catholics. We don't have to lie anymore!

I am Catholic. My husband was raised Lutheran, and we looked at several churches before coming back to Catholicism.

I also enjoy the quiet and contemplative mass. Despite the reputation to the contrary, I don’t feel that I am told what to believe about social and political
topics during Catholic mass. I also feel that there is definitely room to disagree and debate the tenents of Catholicism. My husband went through RCIA, and he was very skeptical and had a lot of questions. I think that at times he was frustrated that he got less answers than he wanted, but I don’t think that I have ever heard anyone discouraged from questioning.

I hope that you consider returning, op. I think you will find that you see some things differently with adult eyes.

Grew up Catholic, married in the church, though disagreed with some of the teachings (lack of science) of PreCana. Since then, the child abuse scandal happened, my brother got divorced, I support gay marriage, and I support a woman’s right to abortion. So I took an extended break from the religion because I disagreed with so many tenets that I felt like a fraud.

I miss mass and the contemplative nature of Sunday gathering. I did some research on finding a new religion that checks all my boxes and it’s basically Judaism and I don’t think I can convert.

I had a realization recently and am considering just going again. I don’t agree with several things but I feel like if I teach my kids why, snd I take it for what it’s worth, then I might be OK. I truly miss the feeling that I get from Sunday mass, and I don’t think there are better options.

Any thoughts?