[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Evangelicals and fundamentalists often brag that 50% or more of their congregations are former Catholics.

Where did you get your statistics?

Of course, the dirty little secret is that a majority of those "former Catholics" fall into this or similar categories.

I left the catholic church because after 12 yrs in catholic schools, and 21 years in the church I had no clue what the catholic church actually believed, so it didn't mean alot to me. Oh yeah, go ahead and put the blame on me, that's ok, it couldn't possibly be that the catholic school I attended was bad at teaching. Blame it on a kid.

I have actually learned more about what catholics actually believe (that is actual catholics, not the millions that claim to be who are teaching in the schools:) from participating on these threads for the last year. I still cannot agree with their teachings, but I have more respect for what they believe now then before.

Becky

[Nubbin]

I left the catholic church because after 12 yrs in catholic schools, and 21 years in the church I had no clue what the catholic church actually believed, so it didn't mean alot to me.

I think this is common, or at least it's what I have heard most former catholics claim. I believe it. If you had been properly grounded in the tenets of the faith you wouldn't have left. As far as who is to blame, you or the Church, I'm not going to play the blame game with you. I personally think that Catholic parents are at least partly, and probably mostly to blame in not teaching and handing on the faith to their children.

What I find interesting is that as a convert (former evangelical) I don't place any blame on anyone or anything for my conversion to Catholicism. I only thank God for it.

[redhead]

"Oh yeah, go ahead and put the blame on me, that's ok, it couldn't possibly be that the catholic school I attended was bad at teaching. Blame it on a kid."

Becky, nobody is "blaming" you for leaving the Church. And you had good reason. If you have frequented these lists for very long, you know how many of us are aware of the sorry state of Catholic education. You weren't the problem. Hurry home, ok?

[Lady In Blue]

Why don't you buy or get from your local library books,tapes,videos by authentic Catholic writers who teaches what the Church believes.Start with the Fathers of the Church and "The History of the Church" by Eusebius and also "The Didache-Teaching of Jesus Through the Apostles." You will find in all of those sources, proof that the Catholic Church is the one founded by Jesus Christ and you won't find a Baptist,Evangelical,Anglican,Presbyterian among them!