Posted on 04/10/2013 3:48:20 PM PDT by NYer
Twenty million Americans consider themselves lapsed Catholics, but Pope Francis is convincing many to test the holy waters again with his bold gestures and common touch.
After years of disenchantment with the church's hierarchy and teachings, former members of the flock say they are willing to give the Vatican a second chance under new leadership.
Dallas teacher Marilyn Rosa is one of them.
"It was a sign," Rosa, 57, said of the Argentine Jesuit's election as pontiff last month. "It was like a miracle."
Born and raised Catholic, Rosa attended parochial schools and had a church wedding for her first marriage. Over the years, she drifted away from the religion that had been such an integral part of her Puerto Rican family's life.
She questioned the relevance of church policies in the modern world. As a divorced woman, she felt cast out. The pedophile-priest scandals disgusted her.
Three years ago, she quit going to Mass and joined an evangelical church. But she didn't feel at home and she started to wonder how she could fill the void.
"The day the pope got elected, I turned on the TV and when I learned he was Latin, I went crazy at home," said Rosa.
"When they started to talk about how he lived by himself and didn't move into the archbishop's residence, how he took the bus to work, I said, 'I know God is talking to me. This is the man we needed.'"
On Palm Sunday, she and her second husband "reverted," attending services at Dallas' St. Pius X Catholic Church.
"It was packed. I had to stand up the whole time. But I felt so happy. It was like a revival," she said.She questioned the relevance of church policies in the modern world. As a divorced woman, she felt cast out. The pedophile-priest scandals disgusted her.
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.nbcnews.com ...
"He's not letting himself be controlled by the rest of the church," Rosa said. "He's his own man."
So, it's all about physical appearances and not about the actual truths taught.
They act like he’s the first pope who’s Catholic.
There is NO SUCH THING as "leaving the Church." Baptism is FOREVER and Rosa CONVENIENTLY forgot that. She ain't foolin' me. She is a Catholic in the DEEP denial of sin. The Evil One sold her a bill of goods.
I find this all very interesting. While some of these folks will return to practicing their religion, many sound to me like their “change of heart” is superficial.
It is nice that they are inspired by Pope Francis’s humble example, but the 2 previous Popes were also humble and holy men. The end result desired is a change of heart and to follow in Jesus’s footseps, converting yourself to be a follower of Jesus, not a person who wants the church to change according to their own values. The gal who went to a Unitarian Church does not sound like a serious Christian believer to me, but that is my own opinion. At least for now we stil have religious freedom in the USA, which is all for the good.
So, is she going to leave her second “husband” and renounce her fornicating ways?
Millions have the same resume, know next to nothing about the faith and are lousy "Catholics". Joe Biden comes to mind.
my mom and another woman, huge obama supporters can barely contain themselves over how much they like this pope so that makes me very suspicious
Wise words.
“So, is she going to leave her second “husband” and renounce her fornicating ways?”
If divorce (for adultery) and death didn’t end a marriage, God would not have allowed remarriage... and Christ would not have reaffirmed God the Father’s words.
If she did not divorce over adultery - or if her first husband isn’t dead, she has deeper issues to repent from.
People have to start somewhere. Maybe many (even if not this woman) will go from admiring Pope Francis’s “accidentals” to paying attention to what he says.
My pastor is still “recycling” his sermons, as of last Sunday ;-).
WHAT THE HELL DIFFERENCE does it make where the Pope comes from?????????? Whatever.
I’ve been “lapsed” since Vatican II. I’m staying that way until Vatican II is lapsed.
It is nice to see that the new father of the church is attempting to live a simple life. It’s left to be seen if he is as conservative as he is simple.
Church begins when you leave the doors of the Holy Place’s confine and embrace society. Praying for an “hour” then supporting everything against Scripture in order the gain the world’s affection will not cut “It”.
How do you enter deep, deep, deep into Christ's Catholic Church? Honey, sub specie aeternatis, we're all in the kiddie pool here.
I think if I could convert, anybody could.
Hold the door open. God wants them. In their heart of hearts, they probably know they need to be saved, and the comfort-pleasure-ease society around them ain't gonna do it for them.
Lord, save us!
I helped guide a couple of my RCIA students through annulments. It's hard. Sometimes it's REALLY hard. But ---not always, but sometmes --- the annulment process reveals that the firs marriage was so defective that no way was it Sacramental.
And then? Maybe they'll walk off. Or, maybe they'll be shook up but take another look.
Pray for them!
It's a Hispanic thing.
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