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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: Gamecock

INDEED.


61 posted on 04/04/2010 9:27:58 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: Gamecock

Blessed Easter


62 posted on 04/04/2010 9:28:31 AM PDT by Running On Empty ((The three sorriest words: "It's too late"))
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To: Quix

Blessed Easter


63 posted on 04/04/2010 9:29:08 AM PDT by Running On Empty ((The three sorriest words: "It's too late"))
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To: Quix

Scripture never, ever refers to the brothers/sisters of Jesus as blood kin. We do not know exactly to whom Scripture is referring in the few passages where they are mentioned as Scripture itself never once makes it clear.


64 posted on 04/04/2010 9:30:30 AM PDT by Jvette
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To: Running On Empty

LIKEWISE.


65 posted on 04/04/2010 9:31:36 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: Jvette; Amityschild; Brad's Gramma; Cvengr; DvdMom; firebrand; GiovannaNicoletta; Godzilla; hope; ..

WRONG.

To believe that, one would have to believe that

1. the original languages were not robust enough to distinguish between cousins and brothers and sisters. That’s simply not true.

and/or

2. the translators were too poor to ferret out such a distinction. Also simply not true.


66 posted on 04/04/2010 9:33:03 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: Notwithstanding

“How sad that this woman has missed out on such a sublime and helpful truth and follows her whim rather then His truth.”

Your assumption.


67 posted on 04/04/2010 9:35:46 AM PDT by Psalm 144 (What is a slave, but someone robbed of his labor to sustain the idle?)
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To: Larry Lucido

When I changed churches, I didn’t feel a need to write a column about it. I just did it.

On the flip side, when someone else changed churches, I didn’t feel a need to say they went to the “dark side.”

**********************************

Good perspective. I think several denominations remain conduits for grace in spite of their culture and customs.


68 posted on 04/04/2010 9:37:35 AM PDT by Psalm 144 (What is a slave, but someone robbed of his labor to sustain the idle?)
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To: Quix

WRONG

There is no distinction between blood brothers/sisters and stepbrothers/stepsisters. The Bible never ever states that Mary bore any child other than Jesus.

There are numerous examples of the use of brother for those not in fact born of the same mother and father.


69 posted on 04/04/2010 9:41:27 AM PDT by Jvette
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To: Jvette; Amityschild; Brad's Gramma; Cvengr; DvdMom; firebrand; GiovannaNicoletta; Godzilla; hope; ..

I believe that’s wholesale wrong.


70 posted on 04/04/2010 9:47:53 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: Running On Empty

Have you heard? The tomb is empty! He is risen!


71 posted on 04/04/2010 9:48:20 AM PDT by Gamecock (If you want Your Best Life Now, follow Osteen. If you want your best life forever, don't. JM)
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To: Quix

Ah, you believe but you can’t dispute it.


72 posted on 04/04/2010 9:49:44 AM PDT by Jvette
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To: Jvette
The Bible never ever states that Mary bore any child other than Jesus.

The idea of the perpetual virginity of Mary is unbiblical. Matthew 1:25, speaking of Joseph, declares, “But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.”

The word “until” clearly indicates that Joseph and Mary did have sexual union after Jesus was born. Joseph and Mary had several children together after Jesus was born. Jesus had four half-brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Matthew 13:55). Jesus also had half-sisters, although they are not named or numbered (Matthew 13:55-56). God blessed and graced Mary by giving her several children.

73 posted on 04/04/2010 9:53:23 AM PDT by GiovannaNicoletta
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To: Gamecock
Have you heard? The tomb is empty! He is risen!

To which the Earth cries "Hallelujah"!

74 posted on 04/04/2010 9:53:42 AM PDT by investigateworld (He is Risen!)
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To: Notwithstanding
I would be happy to recommend a non-dogmatic short volume that anyone seeking to know Christ would benefit from reading

Please do. Thank you in advance. Rc!

75 posted on 04/04/2010 10:02:31 AM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: GiovannaNicoletta

You have chosen a translation of the use of the word “until” that supports your belief. There are other credible understandings of that word and how it is used in that one passage.

That one word does not dispute that Scripture does not ever say that Mary bore any child other than Jesus.


76 posted on 04/04/2010 10:03:18 AM PDT by Jvette
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To: Jvette

WRONG AGAIN.

I dispute it most forcefully.


77 posted on 04/04/2010 10:04:16 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: Jvette

AS BTW,

DO THE TRANSLATORS OF THE KJV, NIV, THE MESSAGE . . .


78 posted on 04/04/2010 10:04:43 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: GiovannaNicoletta

INDEED.


79 posted on 04/04/2010 10:05:18 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

Only with your beliefs, not facts or actual verses from Scripture.


80 posted on 04/04/2010 10:05:55 AM PDT by Jvette
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