Erik, my main issue with the Catholic Church is how they fail to develop spiritual relationships with God in most of their children and rather force them into a bunch of exercises that cause them to resent the whole package.
Jesus loves us and God wishes for all to be saved but unless one invests themselves in Him, he will never be drawn to simply a building of imperfect people who sing songs and hear speeches. Churches are not meant to be social clubs. They are meant for people to find God.
Until that interest is there, don’t go back. You’ll only find more of what drove you away. In the meantime, try to lose the bitterness. Your mother was only trying to do what she thought was right and some get a little too forceful if the child isn’t cooperative.
God is always willing to forgive. Ask Him sincerely and you will find Him.
I wasn't driven away. I never belonged. And I'm not bitter. My mother tried to foist an abomination on me and I didn't fall for it. I moved on a long time ago and catholicism will never be a part of my life. In fact, everyone in my family rejected catholicism. Now that my mother is dead there isn't a single descendant of hers that is a catholic. Not one.
Churches were never the means by which God meant people to find Him.
Jesus did precious few of His miracles in a *church* setting. Most of it was when He was traveling around the countryside going out to the people. Just like He told US to.
Go ye into all the world.
We're to take the good news out into a lost and dying world that doesn't know it needs Him or even wants Him. He DIDN'T say, *Build buildings you call churches and wait for people to come in and fill them up.*
People will never find God in church. All they'll find in church is religion and religion isn't God.