The Church is Christ's bride (Ephesians 5:29) and has "no spot, wrinkle or blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). Christ also stated that the gates of Hell will not prevail against His Church (Matthew 16:18). Individual clergy may commit sins, even popes commit sins because in the Church there are both "weeds and wheat" (Matthew 13:30).
In removing yourself from the Church, the only one who suffers is you. You have removed yourself from the life-giving sacrament of Holy Eucharist.
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." - John 6:51-56
Whatever your disagreement with the Church, why not visit Catholics Come Home. You have nothing to lose.
The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."
Any "Christian Church" that claims merely acknowledging the Creator (not even using the word God) grants you access to Heaven has some fundamental problems. According to the Catechism, suicide-bomber Abdullah will be in Heaven, but Protestant Lars will not. The former denies Jesus as Savior, the latter lives by it, yet the Church has determined that the former is to be in Heaven, the latter in the fires of Hell.
In removing yourself from the Church, the only one who suffers is you. You have removed yourself from the life-giving sacrament of Holy Eucharist.
There are plenty of other, life-affirming, Christ-centered churches for people to attend. The Catholic Church - contrary to its own dogma - is not the sole arbiter of what is Christian and Holy.
Bump!
Thank you for your kind post.
Re your post #12: I’m a little confused. You have in the past said that the Bible—and even the “new testament”—is unreliable and full of contradictions. Yet I see that doesn’t prevent you from quoting it. Why quote a book that is unreliable and self-contradictory in order to “prove” something?
I don’t know ANY former Catholics who are suffering in any way from leaving the church. Catholics always say people aren’t catechized correctly but that’s bull, too. I’m sure there are many reasons why people leave, but suffering because of it, nah.