Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who feel they disagree with Church teachings sometimes do not fully understand those teachings or the basis for them. They may see only the “headlines” but might never have been exposed to the “body” of the story. Catholic teaching is the product of millennia of divine revelation, lived experience and philosophical and theological reflection by some of the greatest minds in human history. It has been and is often mis-taught, misrepresented and distorted, both in the Church and especially in the media.

OP, I would urge you to make your return with an open mind and heart. Make an appointment with the priest and raise your concerns, one at a time. Do the reading the priest suggests. If he can’t help you, ask for a referral to someone more knowledgeable and/or do the research on your own. If you’d like, you could begin with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (a book) and branch out from there. The Catechism is dense but sets forth a great deal of background for the Church teachings, typically with reference to source documents including Scripture.

Above all, pray for light and understanding. Avoid being distracted by things that do not directly concern you in your specific circumstances. It sometimes is interesting and stimulating to discuss and debate “issues,” but the goal of Faith is a living relationship with God in your life, in your circumstances, so that divine love can fill you and flow out of you to others. Faith is far more a matter of the heart than of intellect, but a well trained intellect can help guide the heart.

I wish you the best.

Sounds like you've really twisted yourself up into a pretzel trying to justify your continued involvement in the Catholic Church.

I’m sorry your interior life is so twisted that you cannot see beyond human appetites into the eternal to recognize the Church that, with all its flaws, remains the one founded by God himself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

It may not be the "tenants of Catholicism" that bother OP so much, but rather the child sex abuse.

Anonymous wrote:

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?.

Millions or catholics are pro choice, pro gay marriage, fine with divorce, think women should be priests and church leaders, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?.

Millions or catholics are pro choice, pro gay marriage, fine with divorce, think women should be priests and church leaders, etc.

That's like wanting to play soccer with your hands. That's not the game, go play basketball.

Anonymous wrote:

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?.

Millions or catholics are pro choice, pro gay marriage, fine with divorce, think women should be priests and church leaders, etc.

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?.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who feel they disagree with Church teachings sometimes do not fully understand those teachings or the basis for them. They may see only the “headlines” but might never have been exposed to the “body” of the story. Catholic teaching is the product of millennia of divine revelation, lived experience and philosophical and theological reflection by some of the greatest minds in human history. It has been and is often mis-taught, misrepresented and distorted, both in the Church and especially in the media.

OP, I would urge you to make your return with an open mind and heart. Make an appointment with the priest and raise your concerns, one at a time. Do the reading the priest suggests. If he can’t help you, ask for a referral to someone more knowledgeable and/or do the research on your own. If you’d like, you could begin with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (a book) and branch out from there. The Catechism is dense but sets forth a great deal of background for the Church teachings, typically with reference to source documents including Scripture.

Above all, pray for light and understanding. Avoid being distracted by things that do not directly concern you in your specific circumstances. It sometimes is interesting and stimulating to discuss and debate “issues,” but the goal of Faith is a living relationship with God in your life, in your circumstances, so that divine love can fill you and flow out of you to others. Faith is far more a matter of the heart than of intellect, but a well trained intellect can help guide the heart.

I wish you the best.

Sounds like you've really twisted yourself up into a pretzel trying to justify your continued involvement in the Catholic Church.

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to admit something that I'm still grappling with. I went to Catholic school through 12th grade. HS was very progressive for its time, so no issues whatsoever. Even as a much younger kid, I'd disagree (in my mind) with so much of it.

My son attended excellent public k-12. He's class of 2021, and is attending a Jesuit University. He's enjoying new friends, loves his classes and professors. During the college app process, I convinced myself that this wasn't the school for him. Hadn't given it much thought because he applied to 11 schools, accepted to some that he loved, deferred/waitlisted at others.

He chose this college as soon as he was accepted, and withdrew all acceptances, waitlists, and deferrals. While I'm so proud of him, I definitely feel a twinge of shame and I don't know why! It's not directed solely at Catholicism, but organized religion in general.

There's a lot to love about the school that accepts all identities and religions, provides places of prayer for other denominations, leans very liberal, and is doing a bang up job at giving students an outlet to express their generation's angst on issues, including the history of religious injustices. I'll attend mass at the University chapel when invited for parent events because I haven't attended in a long time. I still love the feeling in church, it's calm in the chaos. I do have faith in something greater and divine, call it what you will. Like others have said, it's between me and my God, the rest is just fluff. I vote, therefore I am. (a dem)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who feel they disagree with Church teachings sometimes do not fully understand those teachings or the basis for them. They may see only the “headlines” but might never have been exposed to the “body” of the story. Catholic teaching is the product of millennia of divine revelation, lived experience and philosophical and theological reflection by some of the greatest minds in human history. It has been and is often mis-taught, misrepresented and distorted, both in the Church and especially in the media.

OP, I would urge you to make your return with an open mind and heart. Make an appointment with the priest and raise your concerns, one at a time. Do the reading the priest suggests. If he can’t help you, ask for a referral to someone more knowledgeable and/or do the research on your own. If you’d like, you could begin with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (a book) and branch out from there. The Catechism is dense but sets forth a great deal of background for the Church teachings, typically with reference to source documents including Scripture.

Above all, pray for light and understanding. Avoid being distracted by things that do not directly concern you in your specific circumstances. It sometimes is interesting and stimulating to discuss and debate “issues,” but the goal of Faith is a living relationship with God in your life, in your circumstances, so that divine love can fill you and flow out of you to others. Faith is far more a matter of the heart than of intellect, but a well trained intellect can help guide the heart.

I wish you the best.

Meh. I went to Catholic schools from ES through college. I've taken lots of classes on theology, doctrine, and Church history. And I'm Episcopalian now. And the pews are full of former Catholics who like the ritual, but also appreciate the focus on social justice.

Anonymous wrote:People who feel they disagree with Church teachings sometimes do not fully understand those teachings or the basis for them. They may see only the “headlines” but might never have been exposed to the “body” of the story. Catholic teaching is the product of millennia of divine revelation, lived experience and philosophical and theological reflection by some of the greatest minds in human history. It has been and is often mis-taught, misrepresented and distorted, both in the Church and especially in the media.

OP, I would urge you to make your return with an open mind and heart. Make an appointment with the priest and raise your concerns, one at a time. Do the reading the priest suggests. If he can’t help you, ask for a referral to someone more knowledgeable and/or do the research on your own. If you’d like, you could begin with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (a book) and branch out from there. The Catechism is dense but sets forth a great deal of background for the Church teachings, typically with reference to source documents including Scripture.

Above all, pray for light and understanding. Avoid being distracted by things that do not directly concern you in your specific circumstances. It sometimes is interesting and stimulating to discuss and debate “issues,” but the goal of Faith is a living relationship with God in your life, in your circumstances, so that divine love can fill you and flow out of you to others. Faith is far more a matter of the heart than of intellect, but a well trained intellect can help guide the heart.

I wish you the best.

Anonymous wrote:People who feel they disagree with Church teachings sometimes do not fully understand those teachings or the basis for them. They may see only the “headlines” but might never have been exposed to the “body” of the story. Catholic teaching is the product of millennia of divine revelation, lived experience and philosophical and theological reflection by some of the greatest minds in human history. It has been and is often mis-taught, misrepresented and distorted, both in the Church and especially in the media.

OP, I would urge you to make your return with an open mind and heart. Make an appointment with the priest and raise your concerns, one at a time. Do the reading the priest suggests. If he can’t help you, ask for a referral to someone more knowledgeable and/or do the research on your own. If you’d like, you could begin with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (a book) and branch out from there. The Catechism is dense but sets forth a great deal of background for the Church teachings, typically with reference to source documents including Scripture.

Above all, pray for light and understanding. Avoid being distracted by things that do not directly concern you in your specific circumstances. It sometimes is interesting and stimulating to discuss and debate “issues,” but the goal of Faith is a living relationship with God in your life, in your circumstances, so that divine love can fill you and flow out of you to others. Faith is far more a matter of the heart than of intellect, but a well trained intellect can help guide the heart.

I wish you the best.