Why Catholics are leaving the faith by age 10 – and what parents can do about it

cna ^ | September 5, 2016 | Matt Hadro

[VermiciousKnid]

Oh dear. Is there any way, any way at all you can go to a parish with a Latin Mass? I have found that young people (my own included) are far more satisfied when the Mass is not watered-down and the priests have no trouble answering questions such as the ones your son is asking.

Regards,

[OrangeHoof]

Point made. Mine was to say that forcing children into being part of ceremonies and traditions whether they chose to or not is why many children flee the church at the first opportunity and reject God. Better to teach children about a personal Savior who is understanding and forgiving and point them to His Word so they can choose this lifelong commitment. This is the role of parents to lead children to correct decisions rather than expect salvation by passing them through a checklist against their will.

My post to Erik was in sympathy, not criticism other than his tone. He seems to differentiate between Christianity and Catholicism which was all I was hoping for. He’s far better off than the children who passed through the checklist without ever understanding there is a personal Savior to trust and believe in.

[John Leland 1789]

The man in the picture is from medieval Edinburgh, Scotland, isn’t he? Red hair, blue eyes. Who is this man?

[John Leland 1789]

"if you were Baptized by a Catholic Priest on God’s Holy Altar, then you are - and ever shall be a Catholic."

Mind control; simple as that. Pouring water on any one's head makes them a part of nothing. There is no authority for it. It is a creation of men who seek to keep other men in bondage.

[Not gonna take it anymore]

As a Protestant, the choice to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior is a decision made by each individual. It's not forced onto children who don't even have the maturity to understand what's going on. As a Protestant, my 17 year old grandson made that decision on his own. No one forced it onto him. It was his choice and his choice alone. That's how it should be.

I went to a Protestant church camp when I was a kid. Well, lo and behold, they wanted to manipulate me into asking Jesus into my heart. I was already a believer and church goer but it was the usual you must do it this way or it doesn't count bs.

I'm a Catholic now and pleased as punch about it.

[mad_as_he$$]

So Jesus’s sacrifice means nothing? Splash some holy water on every baby born and they are all Catholic. Got it. No wonder the church has a membership problem.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"The Sacrament of Baptism leaves an indelible mark on one’s Soul.

You would think the Scriptures would mention that... hmmmmm.

[Elsie]

... but it was the usual you must do it this way or it doesn't count bs.

Ain't it wunnerful that ROME doesn't act this way!!??

[Elsie]

You would think the Scriptures would mention that...

It wasn't important until...

Yeah! That's the ticket!!

[AlaskaErik]

If you’re so satisfied and happy and fulfilled and better off as a Protestant why do you lower yourself by attacking the Catholic Church?

The story was about 10 year olds leaving your church. All I did was describe my victimization at age 10 in your church. If my story inspires just one person to realize they are a victim of the church and encourages them to seek out the truth, then it will have been worth it.

[AlaskaErik]

Lighten up, Erik. Talk with your ‘rabid’ BIL & you may be surprised.

My rabidly catholic BIL and SIL vote straight line Democrat. When I asked how this was reconciled with their anti abortion stance, the response was that Republicans don't do enough to overturn abortion laws. How do I have a rational conversation with someone like that? We don't even talk politics because he and his wife go full-blown emotional every time. There is no rational discourse with people like that.

[heterosupremacist]

“How do I have a rational conversation with someone like that? We don’t even talk politics because he and his wife go full-blown emotional every time. There is no rational discourse with people like that.”

Allow me to quote Bubba :

“I feel your pain.”

I have a sister, (who I love dearly) who has ALWAYS voted straight line Dem. I have not discussed politics with her since the Harmonica Lewinsky scandal, I learned long ago you can’t have a reasonable discourse with those people.

I have often wondered how a person of nearly the same age, from the same era, in the same neighborhood who attended the same school, born of the same parents could possibly see the world through a leftists prism.

I don’t ecpect to ever find an answer to this riddle...

[ZagFan]

I have to admit when I first read your comments about being a victim I thought you were speaking tongue in cheek and joking. Now I realize you are serious and I have come to two possible conclusions: 1).You are totally NUTS or 2).You are an attention seeker. A lot of people that claim they are victims fall into this category.

[EEGator]

I think it’s Jared Leto...

[AlaskaErik]

I have to admit when I first read your comments about being a victim I thought you were speaking tongue in cheek and joking. Now I realize you are serious and I have come to two possible conclusions: 1).You are totally NUTS or 2).You are an attention seeker. A lot of people that claim they are victims fall into this category.

Typical catholic in denial response. I suppose you think a woman that gets raped isn't a victim either because she wore a short skirt. You don't foist this kind of crap on a 10 year old. Hell yes I was a victim. But I had it easy. At least I wasn't molested by some pedophile priest like so many catholic boys were.

[firerosemom]

Hello Finatic - two resources that may help your son - Handbook of Catholic Apologetics by Peter Kreeft - it may be above his reading level but it sounds like it might not be, judging from his eagerness to engage others and seek the truth of things. If he works through it with a knowledgeable adult advisor (catechist? parish priest?) he may come away with a deep and strong appreciation of the faith that will stand up to any serious intellectual challenge.

A second resource has to do with faith and science, specifically aimed at high school students: the Faith and Reason series (Fr. Robert Spitzer SJ) which examines evidence for God from physics and philosophy. I was a volunteer with the project several years ago and I have shown the 5-DVD series to my class with thoughtful results. The series was based on Fr. Spitzer’s book, New Proofs for the Existence of God, a highly compelling, if intellectual, read.

Here is the link for the Kreeft book:

https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Catholic-Apologetics-Reasoned-Questions/dp/1586172794

and here is the link to the Reason Series program:

http://www.magisreasonfaith.org/the_reason_series.html

Adolescence is such a time of fierce spiritual battle - I teach in a grade 7-12 Catholic school - and the stakes are so high. I applaud you so much for being so involved in helping your son in his honest search for the highest truth there is.

[ZagFan]

Seriously, I hope you get the mental help you need.

I don’t know if you’re a traveler or not but you might want to put a card in your wallet stating that if you’re ever in need of emergency hospital care that you refuse to be taken to a Catholic hospital, since 20-30% of America’s hospitals are run by the Catholic Church (in my area it’s 50%) and you would rather die. The doctor might take your temperature in your mouth and you would become a victim again.

[AlaskaErik]

Seriously, I hope you get the mental help you need.

Seriously? That's all you can come up with? Do you tell that to everyone who doesn't want to be a catholic? My mental health is just fine. The ones with the mental health issues are the ones who vociferously defend a corrupt and immoral institution with a sordid history, run by an idiot. The Vatican is no different than the two party system in America. Conservatives vs liberals, each interpreting the bible in their own way. And it looks like the liberals are winning this one. Just wait and see what your precious church looks like in a few decades.

[ZagFan]

Ha! They’ve been saying that for 2,000 years. I’ll defer to Scripture on this one. Jesus told St. Peter he would be with him until the end of the age. And I’ll leave it at that.

Good luck with your mental health.

[metmom]

Mine was to say that forcing children into being part of ceremonies and traditions whether they chose to or not is why many children flee the church at the first opportunity and reject God.

I've come to the conclusion that many people have had bad religious experiences as children.

In their minds there is such a close connection between God and religion that they don't discern the difference. As a result, in reaction to the bad religious experiences they rightly reject the religion, but inadvertently reject God in the process.

I think those are the people who can be reached with the simple presentation of the gospel message.