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Why I left the Catholic Church
NY Post ^ | April 4, 2010 | MICHELE MATTIA

Posted on 04/04/2010 3:54:17 AM PDT by Scanian

I grew up in the Catholic Church; however, it seemed like I was Catholic by inheritance only, as no one in my family prayed before meals, read from the Bible, or even discussed God.

You went to church because you were supposed to go to church. I attended Catechism classes every Sunday until I turned 13 and received my Confirmation. My teachers were often frustrated with my perpetually raised hand to ask questions like: Why can’t women become priests? Why can’t priests get married? Why do I have to go to confession instead of talking to God directly? And why did it seem like God was always angry?

In my mind, God was a lot like Santa Claus. I envisioned him sitting on a motorized cloud (after all, he had a lot of sky to cover) in order to keep tabs on when I was good or bad. Once I left for college, Catholicism had become more about politics, rules and exclusivity than my connection to God. The hypocrisy I felt every time I stepped into a Catholic Church knowing I didn’t agree with much of their doctrine caused me to walk away. I knew at some point I would find my spiritual home.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: culturalcatholicism; dogma; liberalism; pharisees; spiritualsuicide
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To: theoldmarine

“on my way to work, in my car that I asked God to forgive me and change me and gave Him my life without and [any?] reservations and [with?] a commitment to obedience. God gave me what I was looking for.”

Praise the Lord.


21 posted on 04/04/2010 7:26:49 AM PDT by daniel1212 ("Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out " (Acts 3:19))
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To: theoldmarine
“whosoever CALLS upon the Name of the Lord will be saved.’

I guess that would include Judas Iscariot.

22 posted on 04/04/2010 7:32:01 AM PDT by NYer ("Where Peter is, there is the Church." - St. Ambrose of Milan)
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To: Salvation; Amityschild; Brad's Gramma; Cvengr; DvdMom; firebrand; GiovannaNicoletta; Godzilla; ...

—AN ACCURATE HISTORY
—ACCURACY ABOUT MARY’S OTHER BLOOD CHILDREN

for two among others.


23 posted on 04/04/2010 7:44:11 AM PDT by Quix (BLOKES who got us where we R: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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To: Quix
rabid deniers

Where is the PASCHAL joy in that?

24 posted on 04/04/2010 7:47:28 AM PDT by don-o (My son, Ben - Marine Lance Corporal texted me at 0330 on 2/3/10: AMERICA!)
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To: don-o

Y’all put up baiting threads, then wail when folks respond.

Where is the PASCHAL joy in that?


25 posted on 04/04/2010 7:49:05 AM PDT by Quix (BLOKES who got us where we R: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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To: theoldmarine

Sir, with all due respect.

I am sorry that you felt you weren’t getting ‘fed’. But my experience is just the opposite. I became Catholic because I wanted to be in His Church and not in opposition to Him.

Please, don’t put this up on Easter. I realise that you were unhappy with the Catholic church, but this is neither the time nor the place.


26 posted on 04/04/2010 7:52:49 AM PDT by BenKenobi ("we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be")
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To: Quix

Y’all? Huh?


27 posted on 04/04/2010 7:53:19 AM PDT by don-o (My son, Ben - Marine Lance Corporal texted me at 0330 on 2/3/10: AMERICA!)
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To: BenKenobi

“Yet, in regards to fruits of regeneration, while the necessity of works is constantly voiced by Catholics in response to the emphasis upon faith, it is the evangelicals who by far manifest the most fruit as quantifiable measured. “

Sir, you might want to reflect that the Catholics do not see the need to boast.

FReegards.


28 posted on 04/04/2010 7:55:34 AM PDT by BenKenobi ("we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be")
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To: Quix; don-o

e.g.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2486382/posts


29 posted on 04/04/2010 7:55:42 AM PDT by Quix (BLOKES who got us where we R: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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To: AmericanInTokyo

“Jesus must have shed some tears over her going to the dark side.”

The dark side is apparently where folks of “other” religions end up, depending on what your religion is.

I think this thread is suffering from an overabundance of smug.


30 posted on 04/04/2010 7:56:51 AM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: don-o

I think “Y’all” is a well enough known generic term encompassing groups of various sizes joined by various priorities and issues.


31 posted on 04/04/2010 7:57:48 AM PDT by Quix (BLOKES who got us where we R: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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To: RFEngineer

Well put.


32 posted on 04/04/2010 7:58:28 AM PDT by Quix (BLOKES who got us where we R: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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To: BenKenobi
REALLY?

It would appear
that in addition to
not being on the same planet
we are not even in the same galactic cluster!

33 posted on 04/04/2010 8:01:29 AM PDT by Quix (BLOKES who got us where we R: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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Someone that leaves the Catholic Church, leaves the Church that God founded.

I pray that anyone who is that misguided finds their way back.

There is no other Church.

34 posted on 04/04/2010 8:08:37 AM PDT by NoRedTape
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To: NoRedTape

Amen


35 posted on 04/04/2010 8:12:37 AM PDT by big'ol_freeper ("Anyone pushing Romney must love socialism...Piss on Romney and his enablers!!" ~ Jim Robinson)
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12 Reasons to join the Catholic Church.

Great article from 2007..............on FreeRepublic.com

Here........................

36 posted on 04/04/2010 8:19:59 AM PDT by NoRedTape
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To: Quix

So. You keep files and stuff? How many am I on?


37 posted on 04/04/2010 8:21:04 AM PDT by don-o (My son, Ben - Marine Lance Corporal texted me at 0330 on 2/3/10: AMERICA!)
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To: verga

There are those who have realized the new birth by repentance whole-hearted faith in the Biblical gospel of grace, which Peter and Paul etc., preached in Acts, and so leave institutionalized churches because of their predominate lack of life and their underlying doctrines. And which are usually far more devout and conservative than than what they left. Then there are those who leave for the wrong reasons, such as for lower standards

However, the idea that Rome effectively rigidly holds its adherents to higher standards than her Fundamental Evangelical counterpart is a vast misconception.

    Evangelicals versus Catholics, from various formal studies, spanning 1992 to 2008 (see sources here, show,

  • 73% (highest) of Pentecostal/Foursquare believers strongly affirm that Christ was sinless on earth, with Catholics, Lutherans and Methodists being tied at 33%, and the lowest being among Episcopalians with just 28%

  • 64% of those in Assemblies of God churches (versus only 9% of Catholics) strongly DISAGREE that if a person is generally good, or does enough good things for others they will earn a place in Heaven [salvation on the basis of merit].

  • 56% of Assemblies of God (versus 17% Catholics) Christians strongly DISAGREE that Satan is just a symbol of evil [rather than a real being].

  • Catholics and Mainline Protestants tend towards more belief in a more Distant God.

  • Evangelical Protestants and Black Protestants tend towards belief in a more Authoritarian God.

  • Among 7,441 Protestant pastors. Asked if they believed that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God: 87% of Methodists said no. 95% of Episcopalians said no. 82% of Presbyterians said NO. 67% of American Baptists said no

  • Bible Reading: the highest was 75%, by those going to a Pentecostal/Foursquare church who reported they had read the Bible during the past week (besides at church), while the lowest was among Catholics at 23%

  • Volunteer church work (during past 7 days): Assemblies of God were highest at 30%, with the lowest going to Catholics at 12%.

  • Donating Money (during the last month): Church of Christ churches were the highest at 29%, with Catholics being the lowest at 12%

  • American evangelicals gave four times as much, per person, to churches as did all other church donors in 2001. 88 percent of evangelicals and 73 percent of all Protestants donated to churches.

  • By denomination, 61% of the those associated with an Assemblies of God church said they had shared their faith at least once during the past year, followed by 61% of those who attend a Pentecostal/Foursquare church, and ending 14% among Episcopalians and just 10% among Roman Catholics

  • 39 percent of Catholics affirmed not attending church is a sin, versus 23 percent of Protestants.

  • Weekly Church attendance: Evangelicals showed the highest participation of approx 60 percent (30% more than once a week). Catholics were at 45 percent (9% more than once a week), and Jews 15 percent.

  • The highest percentage of those who strongly agree they have a personal responsibility to share their faith was found among believers in Pentecostal/Foursquare churches (73%)

  • 81% of Pentecostal/Foursquare believers strongly agree that the Bible is totally accurate in all that it teaches , followed by 77% of Assemblies of God believers, and ending with 26% of Catholics and 22% of Episcopalians.

  • 40% Roman Catholics vs. 41% Non-R.C. see abortion as "morally acceptable"; Sex between unmarried couples: 67% vs. 57%; Baby out of wedlock: 61% vs. 52%; Homosexual relations: 54% vs. 45%; Gambling: 72% vs. 59%

  • Committed Roman Catholics (church attendance weekly or almost) versus Non-R.C.:

  • Abortion: 24% R.C. vs. 19% Non-R.C.; Sex between unmarried couples: 53% vs. 30%; Baby out of wedlock: 48% vs. 29%; Homosexual relations: 44% vs. 21%; Gambling: 67% vs. 40%; Divorce: 63 vs. 46%

  • Catholics broke with their Church's teachings more than most other groups, with just six out of 10 Catholics affirming that God is "a person with whom people can have a relationship", and three in 10 describing God as an "impersonal force."

  • Only 33% of Catholics strongly affirmed that Christ was sinless on earth

  • 88% of Catholics believe that they can practice artificial means of birth control and still be considered good Catholics.

  • 70 % of all Catholics in the age group 18 to 44 believe the Eucharist is a "symbolic reminder" of Jesus [it is, of His death], indicating they do not believe it is Jesus actual body and blood

  • Only 30% of Catholics said believe they are really and truly receiving the body, blood, soul and divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread and wine.

  • 26 percent of Catholics polled strongly agree with the Church's unequivoval position on abortion

  • Catholic women have an abortion rate 29 percent higher than Protestants.

  • 46 percent of Catholics who say they attend mass weekly accept Church teaching on abortion; 43 percent accept the all-male priesthood; and 30 percent see contraception as morally wrong.

  • 31% of faithful Catholics (those who attend church weekly) say abortion should be legal either in "many" or in "all" cases.

  • 73 percent of Catholics rejected Catholic teaching artificial methods of birth control.

  • Only 20 percent strongly agreed with the Church teaching that only men may be ordained.

  • 59% of all Catholic women of childbearing age practice contraception—a rate of usage statistically equivalent to that of the general population (60%).

  • 66% of Catholics supported women's ordination to the priesthood, and 73% approved of the way John Paul II leads the church.

  • 80% of Catholics believe it is possible to disagree with the pope on official positions on morality and still be a good Catholic.

  • 77 % of Catholics polled "believe a person can be a good Catholic without going to Mass every Sunday, 65 percent believe good Catholics can divorce and remarry, and 53 percent believe Catholics can have abortions and remain in good standing.

  • 30% of Roman Catholic priests described themselves as Liberal, 28% as Conservative, and 37% as Moderate in their Religious ideology. 53 percent responded that they thought it always was a sin for unmarried people to have sexual relations, : 32 percent that is often was, and 9 percent seldom/never.

  • 44 percent of the priests said "definitely" a homosexual subculture'--defined as a `definite group of persons that has its own friendships, social gatherings and vocabulary'--exists in their diocese or religious order

  • 50 percent of Protestants affirmed gambling was a sin, versus 15 percent of Catholics; that getting drunk was a sin: 63 percent of Protestants, 28 percent of Catholics; gossip: 70 percent to 45 percent: homosexual activity or sex: 72 percent to 42 percent.

  • 39 percent of Roman Catholics and 79 percent of born-again, evangelical or fundamentalist Americans affirm that homosexual behavior is sinful.

  • 79 percent of American Jews, 58 percent of Catholics and 56 percent of mainline Protestants favor acceptance of homosexuality, versus 39 percent of members of historically black churches, 27 percent of Muslims and 26 percent of the evangelical Protestants. U.S.

  • Evangelical Churches (17%), had the lowest percentage of souls aged 18-29, versus Unaffiliated (31%), Muslims (29%), Historically Black Churches (24%), Mormons (24%) and Other Faiths (24%). Mainline Churches had the greater percentage (23%) of souls 65 and older.

  • 2% of Mainline Churches, 77% of Catholics and 53% of Evangelical Churches affirmed, "There is MORE than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion."

  • 50% of Evangelicals considered themselves Republican or leaned toward that party, 34% Democratic or leaned thereto; 9% Independents.

  • 48% of Catholics considered themselves Democrats or leaned toward that party, 33% Republican or leaned thereto; 10% Independent.

  • 88% of Evangelicals voted for Sen. McCain in 2008, compared to just 11% for Sen. Obama. 40% of evangelicals said it was because of the candidate’s position on moral issues. Only 9% of other voters listed that as their driving reason. Other significant reasons for evangelical voters included their candidate’s political experience (23%) and his character (15%).

  • 37% of Catholics were registered as Democrats, 27% Republican, and 31% as Independents.

  • 77 percent of Black Protestants said they vote Democratic, whether they attended weekly services or not.

  • The 16 most Catholic states contain 24 of the most liberal cities. Excluding (Maryland 26th), predominately Roman Catholic states contain all but one (Seattle WA) of the 30 most liberal cities. Of states in which S. Baptists are the single largest denomination none (of the 30 cities) were found (the term “liberal: being defined according to individual contributions to PACs, election returns and the number of homosexual households:

  • (See HERE for Table of casual Religio-Political relations. And HERE for Correlation between faith, ideology, politics, environment, money.)


38 posted on 04/04/2010 8:23:16 AM PDT by daniel1212 ("Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out " (Acts 3:19))
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Why I left the Catholic Church

Willful ignorance Miss Mattia. That's why you left.

39 posted on 04/04/2010 8:27:18 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: don-o

Wrong assumptions, yet again.

0.000000

is the answer.

I don’t even keep what would be sensible to keep of my own postings to save hassle looking them up again.

I do keep a lot of stuff to give to moderates on the fence about our evil globalist/ Communist/ socialst government critters & their treasons etc.

I do save some threads occasionally.

I do save some of my writings and some of the better writings of others.

That reminds me . . . I was going to start that gleanings file toward a thread on the 10 MEDITATIONS . . . ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY by Ferraro.

And,

I Have earnestly endeavored to abide by your wishes as much as I saw workable, in terms of our exchanges.

You seem to have quite a burr in your saddle this morning.

I pray your family is well this Resurrection Day.


40 posted on 04/04/2010 8:28:13 AM PDT by Quix (BLOKES who got us where we R: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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