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What I have trouble understanding is the preoccupation with the Catholic Church, especially by the former Catholics. They haunt Catholic topic threads and demand an endorsement of their exegesis and new and often home-spin doctrines from the active Catholics, and ridicule, often very incorrectly, what they believe to be Catholic doctrine and dogma. Unfortunately, like too many active Catholics, the former Catholics are poorly catechized and too often hate the Church for completely invalid reasons. Like some scorned ex lovers they are obsessed with their former beliefs and rejection. While the Christian world is under attack by secular humanists, atheists, radical Islam and the like they spend their every waking moment defending their decisions by biting at the ankles of their biggest champion.

One more thing I wanted to add. This thread's title is "Why do Catholics leave, and what can be done about it?". Now, to me, that is an open invitation to people like me - a Catholic who left - and, if the poster was looking for serious and genuine answers to the question posed, why then are we being criticized for providing those answers? Was there a preconceived idea about the "why?" and anyone who offered something outside that answer is deemed only responding out of anger and bitterness or for "personal" reasons? If that's the case, then the choice is clear - stop posting threads that may get you answers you may not like or deal with it and accept that there ARE legitimate reasons for some people.

"Now, to me, that is an open invitation to people like me - a Catholic who left - and, if the poster was looking for serious and genuine answers to the question posed...

Which is why I begged the question, but please tell me that you don't believe that the participation by the usual suspects in this thread is an isolated response to the prompt.

I posed the question because of my involvement in RCIA I am on the other side of the issue, working with those who are entering or returning to the Church. Their experiences are so radically different than the bitter tirades and urban legends I see daily on these threads.