Why I left the Catholic Church

NY Post ^ | April 4, 2010 | MICHELE MATTIA

[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.

[Quix]

WRONG AGAIN.

[verga]

By your own confession then, the vast majority [by that one doc alone—70-90+%] of professing Roman Catholics et al are farces regarding their pseudo-Christianity.

That is not really what I said, but thae fact remains that there was about a 20 year period when some Catholics began to act like the Puedo Christians in the prot churchs more concerned about "Feeling the spirit" and enjoying the music and fellowship and pretending to have a "relationship with Jesus."

And due to the poor cathechiesis they forgot that Catholics (And the Orthodox) are the only ones that have a real relationship with Jesus through the Real Presence.

Make sure you save that as part of the thread too.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

But does the fact that Jesus' siblings are named prove God's word is true?

I'll wait while you call the priest.

[Jvette]

Really? And those translations have passages that say that Mary bore children other than Jesus?

[Running On Empty]

Of course.

[Jvette]

Please, then, provide those passages.

[Jvette]

No need to call a priest.

Where does it say these brothers/sisters are born of Mary?

[Quix]

You probably know those verses as well as the rest of us.

I have no big need to contribute to further denial on y’all’s part.

[kcvl]

Thank you @UnityNY for 2 tremendous Easter Services!
16 minutes ago via Tweetie

Unity of New York - A Spiritual Center for Creative Living
Rev. Paulette Pipe

http://twitter.com/Lifes_Dash

Michele Mattia, CC; Life Design Coach, Business & Creative Strategist, & Inspirational Speaker

“Do you want to make a difference and learn to live in the now?”

http://www.designingyourdash.com/Welcome.html

So excited that my friend Paulette is in town! Off to dine!
3:54 PM Apr 1st via Tweetie

[GiovannaNicoletta]

I just gave you the Scripture which states that Mary had more children and you rejected that Scripture.

Where does the Bible say that Joseph had more than one wife or had girlfriends?

If he didn't have any wife other than Mary, and he didn't mess around on Mary, and Mary didn't have any other children, then Joseph must have given birth to Jesus' siblings himself.

Whew! Talk about twisting yourself into pretzels. It's just so much easier to believe Scripture as God wrote it!

[Running On Empty]

The word you are referring to in other credible translations is “before”, rather than “until”.

It does make a difference.

[verga]

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.

2 Sam 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death. Exactly how many children did she have After the day of her death

Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 13 And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." So jesus will not be with us after the end of the age

1 Cor 15:25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. So Jesus will not reign after His enemeis are under his feet?

You might want to re-think that whole "Until theory" of yours because from where I sit it is not going your way.

[ArrogantBustard]

Learning I was one with God and God was Absolute Goodness, which was inherent in me, made sense.

Can't have any of that icky 'original sin' and stuff ...

[GiovannaNicoletta]

Right.

Where did Jesus' siblings come from?

[verga]

See post 92, to disprove that whole “Until” thing, not that the prots will beleive their own bibles

[Jvette]

Cop out.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

Who gave birth to Jesus’ siblings?

[TheStickman]

“A bunch of bureaucratic political power mongers founded the Roman Catholic et al organization several hundred years later”

Historically incorrect.

Hope you have a Blessed Easter.

[ArrogantBustard]

The fallen and depraved spirit of the ENEMY is strong on this thread; the stench of sulfur is unbearable.

May God rebuke you, Satan! In the Most Holy Name of Jesus, the Risen Lord, begone!

[Jvette]

No, you gave me Scriptures that said that St. Joseph did not have sexual relations with Mary. It was important to emphasize that St. Joseph was not the father of Jesus, but rather Jesus' father is the Holy Spirit. Main Entry: 1un·til Pronunciation: \ən-ˈtil, -ˈtel; ˈən-ˌ, -təl\ Function: preposition Etymology: Middle English, from un- (probably from Old Norse *und up to; akin to Old Norse unz up to, until, Old High German unt, Old English ende end) + til, till till Date: 13th century 1 chiefly Scottish : to 2 —used as a function word to indicate continuance (as of an action or condition) to a specified time 3 : before 2 The use of that word does not indicate that there were children born to St. Joseph and Mary following the birth of Jesus.