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Wow..that was a pretty broad brush you just used...and equating those who grew up catholic and have since left the church with satan himself is downright unfair. I grew up catholic...went through all the ceremonies and even was confirmed. The rituals in the church, though lovely, left me wanting more of God. I wanted more than just rote prayers and symbolic gestures and rituals...which is all I ever saw in church in my youth. I left the church in my late teens...(this was shortly after my sister (14) was assaulted sexually by a visiting priest.) Church had been a big part of my life up until then...I was left disillusioned with the hypocrisy of the this man and those who chose to cover up his crime.

I wandered through life for a while wondering about God and this whole catholic thing...thinking as I was taught that I was going to hell because I no longer was in “the church”. I was condemned, according to what the church had taught me...I lived like a condemned person...with no hope.

Then one day I actually opened the Bible and read it..the whole thing...I found out that all the rituals and all the ceremonies and all the rote prayers were not what God required of me. All the posturing in church..the kneeling, standing, sitting nonsense was not what he required. (I found out there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.)

What he required of me was a repentant, contrite heart...not just feeling sorry at Saturday night confession and 3 hail Mary’s and I was good to go. He was calling me to a deeper walk with him. He required prayer that was from my heart...not prayer from memory (blathering away something someone else wrote). And He wanted me to hear His voice...not just talking to him ...but hearing back as well. Wow...that floored me...that the God of the universe wanted a relationship with me!! I decided to give my whole heart to God...I cast off the rituals and the ceremonies and got into the Bible and into prayer. I have never looked back.

I do not hold anything against those who choose to stay Catholic...it is their choice...but for me and my experience in the church...it just wasn’t enough. I want all I can get from Him. I speak to him everyday..and I do not need a priest to absolve me of my sin...I take it directly to the Father and he is faithful to forgive me. He hears me... I have rejected “religion” and have replaced it with a personal relationship with him. For me the trade was worth it...I do not belong to satan..nor do I do his bidding.

I don’t think you’re the type of person he was talking about! For one thing, you left because you were profoundly shocked by an evil thing that happened, not just because you wanted to do your own thing and were annoyed that the Church was making you feel guilty about it. Most people who Sample was talking about leave because they want to pursue some kind of evil (frequently sexual) and they have a real hatred of the Church for simply existing because it confronts them, even while they reject it.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Dowd has had abortions and this is the thing that is giving her a guilty conscience. But your case, and that of many people, is different.

I do not hold anything against those who choose to stay Catholic...

Interesting statement, coming as it did, after four paragraphs of repudiating Catholic practices. Sadly you've mistaken practices and rituals for faith, while accusing others of the same, and human failings for doctrinal failings. Kneeling is a sign of reverence, yet it is among the things your seemingly reject. Do you actually think God dislikes kneeling?

And for the record, Priests witness and affirm absolution. To say that you don't need a priest to be forgiven is a straw man set up. Catholicism does not teach that a man alone on an island is condemned to hell for the inability to practice.

I am sorry to hear about your experience with the Church.

I am a practicing Catholic,and believe it or not I too read the Bible. Imagine that!

I know what you mean when it comes to people being hypocrites in the Church. I don't let that muddy up the waters for me and affect my relationship with Christ.

I don't really blame you for being so distraught and let down by the personal incident that you went through. I do hope that you can forgive the Church for that one day.

I don't think that it helps that you were not catechized properly. If you really feel like the things that we do are just rituals and not a way to bring us even more closer to God, than you were not taught by the best. If you also feel like you were confessing to the priest and not to Christ, that is another red flag that your educators stunk! It's a huge red flag that your parish would allow such a heinous thing to happen to your sister and proceed to do nothing about it.

This is why we lose people. Some parish's just stink!

I hope that you stop using your broad brush and quit painting all of our parish's with it. I can tell you that my Church is awesome! If it were not for them I would probably be gone as well.