[married21]

I’m not assuming the worst about why people left Catholicism. The thing is, I’ve had plenty of chats with people of various denominations about differences in doctrine. Those people who left Catholicism because they are gravitating to teachings that make more sense to them are not the same ones who shut down or redirect the conversation when they find out what religion I am.

Also, I didn’t mean to sound like people with “issues” with the Church don’t have some good reasons, or that I assume their issues were one-sided, with the Church being always blameless.

[illinidiva]

Oh I agree with you that it is individual issues that drive people away from the Church. Many of us have had personally bad experiences with the Church growing up at either Catholic school or at our local parishes. I generally err on the side of it was the Church’s fault because the Church has done a really good job alienating people over the past forty or so years.

[Elsie]

Also, I didn’t mean to sound like people with “issues” with the Church don’t have some good reasons, or that I assume their issues were one-sided, with the Church being always blameless.

If the church has been 'catholic' from day one; then I can only assume the 'blameless' church did not include the 7 mentioned at the start of the Book of Revelation.