Why Young Catholics Are Leaving the Church

Inside Catholic ^ | May 7, 2010 | Kathryn Jean Lopez

[NYer]

Kathryn Jean Lopez is editor of National Review Online and associate editor of National Review.

[NYer]

We all know at least someone. I would also suggest that the “smorgasbrod” of christian churches poses a temptation for others.

[Sudetenland]

I’d say that it’s a “hands off” problem . . . or is that hands on? LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[Salvation]

Good article!

[Judith Anne]

I see no point in making this an open thread. It will quickly become a cesspool. As I have no desire to hear what the crazed evangelicals have to say, I will not be participating.

[strider44]

For me it was pretty simple. I’m just not comfortable around homosexual priests. My father grew up in a strict Catholic family, went to Catholic school his entire life, and Boston College. He entered the seminary and was there less than 3 months because of one reason - he said 90% of the seminarians were gay. The culture was terrible. He left and never looked back (this was the mid 1960’s)

His own cousin is still a priest, but lives with another man and is pretty openly gay. This is not a small percentage of priests...

I will not raise my young sons in the church as I just don’t trust the priests. Sorry if that makes me a bigot.

[Tax-chick]

Not my idea of a good time, either. Want to come over to the Undead Thread and read my daughter’s reports from Brunei?

[MayfairFly]

I would also suggest that the “smorgasbrod” of christian churches poses a temptation for others.

Every lapsed Catholic I know (and I know a lot) did not switch to another faith. They quit going to church altogether.

[Judith Anne]

Oh, I know plenty of very rational evangelicals; people I like, and who I work with. Making it personal is against the rules, BTW.

[Judith Anne]

Good idea.

[massgopguy]

The Youth Group at my church, The Immaculate Conception in Malden, MA, participated in a 24 hour Food Fast from Good Friday through Saturday. There was 125 of them. They performed various service projects during this time and slept in the church hall. The Knights of Columbus made breakfast for them and man they were hungry. They also raised over $10,000 for charity. What great kids. After hearing them hold up a Cross and give a one word explanation of what it means to them, I don’t see any of them leaving the church anytime soon.

[goodwithagun]

If we would leave the Church it would be because we are sick of being preached to about healthcare and immigration. We (I’m 30, husband is 32, son is 19 months) are constantly being told that healthcare is a basic human right and illegal immigration is not illegal.

[Tax-chick]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2487885/posts?q=1&;page=301

Posts 302, 303, and 365.

[Kansas58]

God bless you for your efforts.
I must choose my battles and, like everyone else, there is much on my plate right now.

[vpintheak]

"Evangelize at all times; when necessary, use words," St. Francis of Assisi is known to have said. What powerful and true words. People can see through the bologna of words, but when you are living it, it can't be disproven.

[Alex Murphy]

[Conservative radio talk-show host Hugh] Hewitt describes his move from Roman Catholicism to Presbyterianism as partly positive and partly negative. He considers himself an "ex-pat, obliged to move to a Protestant expression of faith because I experience God's presence more easily and more conclusively as a Presbyterian and began to do so over a dozen years ago." Presbyterianism works for him in ways Catholicism no longer did. "The Presbyterian confessions and order of worship are very left-brain and made me into a much better Christian," he says.

Ping!

[carton253]

Speaking as a crazed evangelical, the issue for me is Jesus. If you find Him in a Catholic Church, a Methodist Church, or one of those “store-front” churches... that’s all that matters. You and I can walk together and fellowship together over the glories of our Lord.