To being a lapsed Catholic. Still go to Mass and communion on occasion at Xmas, weddings, funerals. I am basically a quiet atheist.

I returned. I realized that all the other churches were basically just communities or some kind of moral or ethical social groups, but none of them addressed elemental faith in Jesus. I once read that if you believe the Eucharist is more than a symbol, you’d never be able to walk away from it. I’d argue the reverse as well - If you walked away from the Eucharist, then you must never have truly believed.

I went to science...

Anonymous wrote:Born and raised Catholic, but am no longer the Church's sheep. I read the PA abuse report, which was absolutely horrifying and the worst thing I've ever read in my life. My uncle was also abused by a priest when he grew up.

Completely done with Catholicism. If you left, where did you go? Sorta feeling the need for some kind of moral direction. Buddhism is appealing (not even joking) to me at the moment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lutheran (ELCA)

They are Christian nationalists.

Huh?

Catholicism -> Episcopalian -> Non-Denominational Christian

Anonymous wrote:I am Episcopalian and I have a couple of dozen Episcopal friends who are former Catholics.

+1 we're all here now.

I had two relationships with strict Catholics. The first got very upset at me for not dressing up enough for Sunday service. The other was batsh** crazy and I thought she was going to kill me in my sleep. I’m glad to be away from that religion now.

I'm Jewish. I didn't leave Catholicism because of that though, it was more of a slow evolution since my teen years.

Anonymous wrote:Lutheran (ELCA)

They are Christian nationalists.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Episcopalian and I have a couple of dozen Episcopal friends who are former Catholics.

They’re still Catholic

But not in good standing and will definitely go to hell if they don't return to the Church.

Heaven is not an HOA and the Catholic church is not its board.

Left the Catholic Church just after college, was nothing for awhile, then Islam.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Episcopalian and I have a couple of dozen Episcopal friends who are former Catholics.

They’re still Catholic

But not in good standing and will definitely go to hell if they don't return to the Church.

Someone recently told me that, I laughed and said "what part of 'I LEFT AND NO LONGER BELIEVE ANY OF THAT' do you not understand?"
Hell doesn't exist and I owe the Catholic Church nothing.

Ended up at one and then another (after a long distance move) non-denominational church. Both have awesome worship music and an emphasis on serving and generosity, and energetic kids' programs.

Both met/meet in schools so no religious symbols or any of that. Many people who came to this church in adulthood were raised Catholic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baptized Catholic, but never went beyond that. Then in the Methodist church for several years, starting in college. Then years later back to Catholicism. This time, as an adult, not a child following my parents' wishes. It is comforting there, on my own terms. I never had to experience the crap in childhood. As an adult, not afraid to have real conversations with the priests. I call them by their first name, as they do me. None of that "father " stuff.

What about the sexual scandals among the clergy? How do you handle that?

Not influenced. If I followed that thread thru life I would not connect with men, as they mostly abused/owned/purchased their wife(wives) throughout history. How do you deal with that? Do you confront every man who passes your path?

I (42 yr old female) rather enjoy my conversations with the priests -- Bob, Tom, whomever. Be an adult; chat with them the way you would anyone. Sounds like you are putting them on some kind of pedestal, which is your mistake.

Anonymous wrote:Baptized Catholic, but never went beyond that. Then in the Methodist church for several years, starting in college. Then years later back to Catholicism. This time, as an adult, not a child following my parents' wishes. It is comforting there, on my own terms. I never had to experience the crap in childhood. As an adult, not afraid to have real conversations with the priests. I call them by their first name, as they do me. None of that "father " stuff.

What about the sexual scandals among the clergy? How do you handle that?