Why Young Catholics Are Leaving the Church

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

[Jvette]

Lack of Christian charity is hardly the sole providence of Catholics. A cursory reading of this thread alone proves that.

[Jvette]

I have listened many times to Hugh and I believe that he has a great deal of respect for the Catholics and the Church. He has many times defended her.

[Quix]

WELL PUT.

THX.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Absolutely incredible, isn't it, that a Catholic parent should see it as a red flag when his kid is able to start quoting from the Bible? Worse, it's so sad that tell tale signs of leaving Catholicism include becoming aware for the first time that God is speaking to us or that we should give praise directly to God for specific things. But it does make sense that these things would be very threatening to the Catholic Church. Any time there is evidence of a direct and personal relationship with God that lessens the power and control of the Catholic clergy and hierarchy.

AMEN! A very telling article in all respects. It would be kind of funny if it weren't so sad.

But in large measure, I don't even claim malevolence on their part. I'm sure most of them see their own insertion between the layman and God (and Mary's and the other saints') as being for the layman's own good. For some inexplicable reason they believe that God CHOSE to permanently insert sinners spiritually between Him and His children for salvific reasons and that this was good. Given the claim of following Christ's word, however, it defies all logic, reason, and notion of a loving God.

AMEN!

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie" -- 2 Thessalonians 2:11

[Jvette]

Absolutely incredible, isn't it, that a Catholic parent should see it as a red flag when his kid is able to start quoting from the Bible? Worse, it's so sad that tell tale signs of leaving Catholicism include becoming aware for the first time that God is speaking to us or that we should give praise directly to God for specific things. But it does make sense that these things would be very threatening to the Catholic Church. Any time there is evidence of a direct and personal relationship with God that lessens the power and control of the Catholic clergy and hierarchy It is a red flag that the child has been fed isolated verses that are used to support dissent. Catholics know the Bible, they know the story as it is meant to be understood, not in a verse by verse method that is used to justify a rejection of Catholicism. My kids here this stuff all the time and they come to me and ask me about it without just hearing it and being poorly catechized accept it as truth. They know that even the devil uses Scripture for his own ends.

[RJR_fan]

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

Carl Jung noticed that disillusioned Protestants found another Protestant denomination. Disillusioned Catholics more typically became atheist.

[Religion Moderator]

Evidently RC was pronounced in a certain area in an offensive way and therefore is a pejorative to those who are familiar with it.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so very much for sharing your insights, dear brother in Christ!

[WorldviewDad]

Well said...this was my experience as I left the catholic church at sixteen. At the time I was the head alter boy, member of the parish council, had just received the catholic religious medal from the Boy Scouts, and worked for the Catholic school...but my parents became concerned when I became too religious because I started to quote from the Bible.

After several conversations with priests, brothers, and a bishop I left, and my parents were told by their priest to let me go where God was leading me. I have been the “black sheep” of the family since.

[fortunecookie]

Some of us know too many. And some of the churches take advantage of the smorgasbord to recruit.

[Forest Keeper]

After several conversations with priests, brothers, and a bishop I left, and my parents were told by their priest to let me go where God was leading me. I have been the “black sheep” of the family since.

Thank you for the kind words and for sharing your story. I'm glad your parents' priest did not make what must have been a difficult time for you even harder. I hope you are still on good terms with your family, even with the differences in faith. And I rejoice that God has opened His word to you so that you can see the faith as it was in the beginning.

Luke 11:28 : He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I have been the “black sheep” of the family since.

Sounds more like the "found sheep." 8~)

[WorldviewDad]

Thank you for your reply...I also appreciate your kind words. I am on okay terms with most of my family...being the only one having kids (seven so far) means my parents’ only grandchildren are my children, this seams to have at least opened up communication lines. Prior to this they seldom talked with me and I still have one sister that won't talk to me (even though she doesn't go to church at all...?) I can tell that my parents are starting to see the difference between the choices I have made verses the other siblings...one committed suicide, one divorced, one living with a boyfriend for ten years...yet I am the odd one. God Bless

[WorldviewDad]

Thank you and God bless

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The best persuader is a good example. The happier you are, the more bountiful your beautiful family is, the more the truth of God in your life will be revealed to your parents.

Grace begets grace.

"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." -- Psalms 27:13-14

[concernedgrandma]

An absolutely, unequivocally brilliant analysis/retort, “Mayfair!”