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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jan 24, 2019 15:46:38 GMT
I was raised Catholic. I currently am not really affiliated with any specific church, and don't even know what I believe in regards to religion. I decided a long time ago that Catholicism was not for me. However, most of my family is still Catholic.
I personally know five people who were molested by priests. The sexual abuse scandal and widespread cover up has solidified my position on the Catholic church. I am seriously curious how people can continue to support the church after this? Is it a matter of denial if you don't know anyone personally who was affected? Or is the sex abuse scandal not a big deal to you? I am not trying to sound rude or judgemental. I just want to know what thinking leads to the continued support for the Catholic church.
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 20:17:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2019 15:53:07 GMT
I am not supporting the church financially. I'll send in empty envelopes or include a note about getting the money from the Vatican or an account of someones vicious rape by a catholic priest. Like this one : link. We just had a lively discussion about this at work - most agree that bankrupting the church is the only way to get any true accountability. |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jan 24, 2019 16:02:14 GMT
I am not supporting the church financially. I'll send in empty envelopes or include a note about getting the money from the Vatican or an account of someones vicious rape by a catholic priest. Like this one : link. We just had a lively discussion about this at work - most agree that bankrupting the church is the only way to get any true accountability. Do you consider yourself to be Catholic? Either now or in the past? I'm not out screaming at every Catholic asking why they still support the church or continue to be Catholic, and I wouldn't protest the church. Although now that I think about it, that doesn't seem like a bad idea for people so inclined, since the church doesn't seem to have a problem protesting at marches or outside of the local Planned Parenthood--wonder how that would go over if people showed up outside of the church with signs against sexual abuse? |
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Post by pierkiss on Jan 24, 2019 16:14:29 GMT
There are only 2 reasons we are still affiliated with the Catholic Church. 1. Our mothers would kill us if we formally abandoned the church. It would be a screechy shit show of epic proportions. From both my mom and my husbands mom (and maybe Dad too, I don’t know how much he actually likes church). So, we are technically members, and we go on Christmas Eve and Easter.
2. Our kids are currently attending a catholic elementary school. To get the discount, you must be baptized current members of the church. Our children are not there for the schools catholicness. They are there because the teachers are AMAZING, they have teeny tiny class sizes so there is lots of 1:1 interaction, and the school fosters this wonderful inclusive family vibe. I love it. I went to the public schools here while I was growing up-I was a transfer student. The kids and their families were not welcoming at all. And it just continued and got worse throughout middle and high school. I absolutely hated my time in the public schools in this area. My husband went to this school and loved it. Only has ever had positive things to say about his time spent in that school system.
While I do not believe most of what the church teaches, and I absolutely do not agree with their stance on issues (abortion, birth control, gay rights, etc). And I have a huge problem with how they have handled and are continuing to handle the pedopholia and sex abuse issues, I like that my children are getting a background in a religion. Because hopefully when they grow up, they will be able to make their own opinions on what religion means to them and what they agree with and what they don’t agree with and will be able to use this part of their education as a foundation for those beliefs. I’m not sure I am explaining that correctly.
When the moms pass away and when the kids are no longer attending this school system, I am done with the church for good. I won’t look back, and I won’t be convinced to rejoin. I get absolutely nothing out of this religion, spiritually speaking.
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Mystie on Jan 24, 2019 16:15:32 GMT
My husband's sister married a Catholic guy, didn't convert herself as far as I know, but they attended and have raised their girls in the Catholic church. We were talking at Thanksgiving and she said when this latest Pennsylvania report came out, they stopped attending their church and are trying to decide if and where they will find a new church. They live in northeastern PA, so right at the root of some of the worst of it.
My brother-in-law's family is all deeply Catholic, it's part of their heritage and their family structure. And I'm sure their faith is a source of comfort for most of them. I know he felt so much disgust that he simply didn't want to be a part of it any more, because he is a deeply decent guy, but I know it's painful for him to even think about walking away for good.
It seems to me htat for Protestants, it's easier to move from one denomination to another...there are differences among them, but nothing huge. For a Catholic person who wants to keep worshiping, the change is much bigger and more disorienting. So I wonder if a lot of people just want to stay in their comfort zone where their friends and family are and where the ritual is a deep part of their faith experience. I can understand that. I think my brother-in-law will never feel 100% at home in a Protestant church. It's terribly sad, all of it.
For me, I don't think I could stay in a church with that kind of deep systemic evil. I don't delude myself that there haven't been abuses and abusers over the decades in my denomination, and if something this widespread and...organized...came out about my denomination, I would leave, but it would break my heart.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2019 16:16:23 GMT
I am still catholic. I have not changed churches nor religions. My daughter is an altar server. Protesters have appeared outside our bishop's home and the Chancery. They have not protested individual parishes.
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peabay
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Post by peabay on Jan 24, 2019 16:18:49 GMT
I officially left, but my husband isn’t quite ready. He doesn’t support the church - he never attends Mass and he certainly gives them no money. But there’s something very deep about the culture of growing up Catholic, attending Catholic schools and identifying as a Catholic that is hard for many to give up. I am surprised by those who continue to attend Mass and give money - I believe there’s something rotten in the core of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis seems like a decent man, but their stance on priest sexual abuse, contraception in third world countries and LGBT issues is all I need to know that I want no part of it.
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Post by maryland on Jan 24, 2019 16:19:58 GMT
I am not Catholic. I grew up in Maryland and everyone I knew was Catholic! I went to mass with my neighbor and with my boyfriend. I was Methodist, but loved the Catholic mass. My Methodist church was very small, and not many kids, so I preferred the larger Catholic church. When I was in law school, I continued to attend Catholic church. My husband is Methodist and we haven't found a church we love in our area. He won't go to Catholic church. I don't agree with many things going on in the Catholic church. But I always enjoyed the mass, and would enjoy going again.
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by pilcas on Jan 24, 2019 16:28:06 GMT
I am Catholic, I don’t practice anymore mostly from my convictions about birth control. I did go to Catholic school from elementary through College and all the nuns and priests I met were some of the most amazingly kind souls I have ever met. I do not doubt there are bad people in the church. I still support the Sisters of St Joseph who are the nuns that run my High school. They are progressive and a lot more femmenist than a lot of people I know. Their all girls school is outstanding and they make an effort to encourage girls in the STEM fields. I am from NYC and I think here we are just more flexible about things than in other areas. I know that my friends who go to church every Sunday practice birth control and ignore any rule against it. They tell me the spiritual connection to God keeps them going.
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Post by workingclassdog on Jan 24, 2019 16:30:35 GMT
This is a hard one.. I am not Catholic anymore but grew up in the Catholic church, went to Catholic school, except high school. I left because of what I thought the church was teaching was not really aligned with what I believed.
At the time it had nothing to do with the priest scandals (which actually wasn't known as much as it is now).
I am not going to fault ALL Catholic churches because there are some bad priests, because like anything else you can't group a whole sect of people and say they are all bad. Now for the covering up part, I do agree that the Vatican or whatever higher up is doing the hiding should be blamed, but I wouldn't hold (let's say) my old church, Holy Infant responsible for whatever doing at St. Joe's down the street.
IF I was still going to the Catholic church I would support 'my' church (not Vatican) with my tithing going directly to them, not to the Vatican. I don't know how all that works, maybe a portion of my weekly dues goes to the Vatican. BUT again I am not Catholic anymore so I don't have a fight in this one.
I honestly don't believe staying with the church because my family might flip out on me. My whole family is Catholic and I really don't care what they think. I did what I had to do for myself. I didn't announce it either. I did it quietly and when church was brought up I just said I was going elsewhere and leave it at that. Not anyone's business. My dad was SHOCKED and was worried what the 'family' would say (think Italian Catholic family) but the next thing I know he was attending another denomination. Go figure. To me each person has to make that decision if they want to continue or bow out.
Edited to add though... whenever I do go to mass (which is hardly ever).. maybe for a wedding or whatever, I totally fall right back into the traditions of it. It is kinda weird.
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Post by jassy on Jan 24, 2019 16:33:28 GMT
I don't understand it either, AT ALL.
My husband and I were both raised Catholic - went to Catholic elementary and high school. I even went to a Catholic college. There were 4 pedophile priests in my parish, and 3 in my husband's - the "worst" guy was on that was first at my parish and then my husband's. Bishop Anthony Pilla in Cuyahoga County, OH (Cleveland area) shuffled these men around. One of the pedophiles in my husband's parish was a CONVICTED pedophile in another state. He served time in prison there and then was placed in my husband's school. This was in 1980 so there was no way that anyone could have had a clue that he actually served time for molesting children. When he moved to my husband's parish, another known pedophile was put in charge of "watching" him - well. they tag-teamed the abuse in my husband's school. Three of my husband's classmates who were abused by this duo have died by suicide.
My husband's father still attends and supports the catholic church. It boggles my f*cking mind, and it has caused a rift between my husband and his father.
I agree that the only thing that will change the church is if it's bankrupted - as it damn well should be.
* It's simply not a case of "some bad priest*. The entire operation of the church from the very top to the bottom has been complicit for many decades for allowing these men to abuse the children. Thousands upon thousands of priests, with the bishops and the vatican protecting them. I read a story recently where documentation was found that the pedophile priests in California were purposely being put in parishes where the majority did not speak english and where many were illegally in the country because they knew those people were unlikely report the abuse. They served those children up on a silver platter, and it's pure evil.
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Post by Merge on Jan 24, 2019 16:35:49 GMT
There are only 2 reasons we are still affiliated with the Catholic Church. 1. Our mothers would kill us if we formally abandoned the church. It would be a screechy shit show of epic proportions. From both my mom and my husbands mom (and maybe Dad too, I don’t know how much he actually likes church). So, we are technically members, and we go on Christmas Eve and Easter. 2. Our kids are currently attending a catholic elementary school. To get the discount, you must be baptized current members of the church. Our children are not there for the schools catholicness. They are there because the teachers are AMAZING, they have teeny tiny class sizes so there is lots of 1:1 interaction, and the school fosters this wonderful inclusive family vibe. I love it. I went to the public schools here while I was growing up-I was a transfer student. The kids and their families were not welcoming at all. And it just continued and got worse throughout middle and high school. I absolutely hated my time in the public schools in this area. My husband went to this school and loved it. Only has ever had positive things to say about his time spent in that school system. While I do not believe most of what the church teaches, and I absolutely do not agree with their stance on issues (abortion, birth control, gay rights, etc). And I have a huge problem with how they have handled and are continuing to handle the pedopholia and sex abuse issues, I like that my children are getting a background in a religion. Because hopefully when they grow up, they will be able to make their own opinions on what religion means to them and what they agree with and what they don’t agree with and will be able to use this part of their education as a foundation for those beliefs. I’m not sure I am explaining that correctly. When the moms pass away and when the kids are no longer attending this school system, I am done with the church for good. I won’t look back, and I won’t be convinced to rejoin. I get absolutely nothing out of this religion, spiritually speaking. I totally hear that. TBH, my parents' deaths were what made it possible for me to formally walk away from the church. No screechy shit show. Sad, but true. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 24, 2019 16:41:06 GMT
I ran away from it as fast as I could and never looked back. At the present both DH and I are not members of any faith community. Our kid has not been baptized either, which would have absolutely horrified my 83 year old Catholic mom if she would have been of sound mind when DD was born. My family growing up was VERY Catholic. With eight kids it was pretty obvious and almost a running joke. Several of my brothers were altar boys, most of my older siblings sung in the church choir, etc. From the time I could understand what was what, it was glaringly apparent to me that the Catholic Church considers women to be second class citizens and I was having NONE of that, thankyouverymuch.
Since then, all of the stuff about the rampant sex scandals has come out and it’s absolutely appalling what TPTB in the church did to cover it all up, and that they moved these guys around to victimize even more kids in an ever widening circle. Horrific to think of how many people’s lives were irreparably changed or even ruined, and how many abusers never had to face any consequences for what they did. So no, there would be no way I would ever be willing to continue to support a religious construct that is so hopelessly flawed to its very core, even if I did believe the rest of the misogynistic BS they’ve been peddling for centuries.
I consider myself to be a spiritual person, but I have no need to sit in a crowded church or anywhere else for that matter to ‘feel close to God’. That’s just not a thing in my world. We go to church for weddings or funerals in support of our loved ones who do feel that need at those times, and that’s about it.
ETA: I went to a Catholic grade school up through 7th grade and it was the WORST experience. Sorry, but that school and everything about it sucked. I went to public magnet schools from 8-12 and seriously it was so much better. After I switched, I finally felt like I was actually learning something in school for the first time ever. Private school was basically like being watched by a third rate babysitter who liked all the rich kids better, so they got preferential treatment. Totally awesome. NOT.
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Post by Really Red on Jan 24, 2019 17:04:16 GMT
I was raised Catholic and remained so for a long time. 10 years ago I dropped out of the church for a variety of reasons. When people say they don't fault all Catholic churches/priests for the actions of a few, I could possibly agree, except the coverups were so unbelievably extensive. It nauseates me how many tens of thousands of young (mostly) boys' lives were destroyed by priests and that destruction was COMPLETELY covered up by the church. So no, I could not in all consciousness remain a Catholic.
How do others justify it? I imagine they need to separate themselves from that. They believe the Word or the teachings of the church.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jan 24, 2019 17:08:48 GMT
Thanks for sharing!
I do think that the traditions and rituals is a big part of the continuing support. My family hasn't talked about the sexual abuse scandal at all. My perception is that they just ignore it and act like it isn't real. That doesn't make much sense to me, and I find it hard to understand how people can do that. But, I also think that the fact that I was already distanced from the church for other reasons makes it easier for me to also hold the church accountable for this.
I can also see not blaming one church for another's mistakes/problems. However, this goes well beyond that and to me is a systemic issue. And nobody can know for sure that their church wasn't affected. Could be that nobody has come forward yet and nobody wants to be the first.
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Debbie
Shy Member
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Post by Debbie on Jan 24, 2019 17:27:39 GMT
double post
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Debbie
Shy Member
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Post by Debbie on Jan 24, 2019 17:29:05 GMT
Would you support a child rapist? Would you support an adult that hid the truth?
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Post by Basket1lady on Jan 24, 2019 17:39:24 GMT
I am still a practicing Catholic and teach Confirmation classes. My response is that I still believe in the Church. It is individuals committing these crimes, not the Church.
I do think it was a crime to cover up the abuse. For decades. I ask myself why John Paul II, who I consider to be a very holy man, allowed this to continue. Was it ignorance? Malice? Indifference? In the end, I believe that the higher ups thought the priests would change. That moving them to a fresh start would make a difference. That to talk about what was happening was a bigger problem than to just cover it up. And I believe that was wrong.
I teach because I want this new generation of Catholics to be the ones to make a stronger church. To truly love your neighbor and to be of service to others. To be the change. To stop judging others and to give freely to our fellow man. To stand for those who cannot help themselves.
And I do see some changes. Currently, there is an ongoing outside review to go over all the records in each parish, looking for abuse. The American bishops put new guidelines into place to handle any allegations. Each complaint is now reviewed by an outside advocacy committee. The first to be contacted are law enforcement. I pray daily that this will be enough to stop this from ever happening again.
I see the Church working to provide healthcare in poor communities. To reach out to mothers who are choosing to keep their babies and to support them, both emotionally and financially. I see the heaping bins of our food pantry donation box. Our church gives a bag of grocery staples to anyone who asks. No names or financial details are needed. I see groups going to homes where yard work is needed and my students voluntarily getting up early on Saturday mornings to work the food pantry because it’s fun. That is what I support.
I don’t condemn all Muslims for the actions of the extremeists. And I don’t condemn all the good men and women working so hard in the Church to make the world a better place.
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Post by librarylady on Jan 24, 2019 17:40:01 GMT
Would you support a child rapist? Would you support an adult that hid the truth? Not a Catholic. I realize every denomination has had bad leaders.
What bothers me is that the leaders of the Roman Catholic church are so willing to hide the ones who rape and keep the rapist from facing legal consequences.
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Post by papersilly on Jan 24, 2019 17:49:50 GMT
i was baptized Catholic but i do not support the Catholic church in any way, shape or form. i cannot support a church that will not elevate women to the same level of leadership as it will the men. i cannot support a church that will shuffle around sex offender priests instead of prosecuting them (we had a huge which-priest-got-the-16 year old-pregnant scandal in my mom's church when i was growing up. the church sent the priest on a "mission" to 3rd world country to avoid further scandal. the scandal made all the local news.). and don't get me started on it's stance on contraception....
dh is a catholic but not a practicing one. he went to catholic private schools when he was growing up. when we got married, i made sure we didn't get married in a catholic church. i'm sure both families weren't happy with that decision. oh well, sorry not sorry.
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Post by flanz on Jan 24, 2019 18:01:17 GMT
I walked away 18 years ago and wish I had done it sooner! The rampant pedophilia and the shuffling of abusive, criminal priests from one town to another unsuspecting one made/makes me furious! I grew up
"very Catholic" and when I left the church i never thought I would have a church home ever again. I found Unitarian Universalism (lots of former Catholics there) and am very happy.
The priest who married dh and me 35 years ago was arrested for sex abuse in his 80s. So despicable.
I strongly suspect that I know someone who was abused, parents didn't believe him, he walked out of his family's lives and never looked back.
I don't understand how anyone stays either!!! (((HUGS)))
ETA: Our kids attended Catholic elementary school for 4 years. By 5th grade the curriculum was so very weak, they were helping teach the other kids! Worst of all, many of us parents suspected the priest was a pedophile, and years later he was charged and found guilty of sexual abuse of children. He gave off the worst vibe... always trying to lure the children to him with his cute little dog.
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Post by flanz on Jan 24, 2019 18:12:26 GMT
I don't understand it either, AT ALL. My husband and I were both raised Catholic - went to Catholic elementary and high school. I even went to a Catholic college. There were 4 pedophile priests in my parish, and 3 in my husband's - the "worst" guy was on that was first at my parish and then my husband's. Bishop Anthony Pilla in Cuyahoga County, OH (Cleveland area) shuffled these men around. One of the pedophiles in my husband's parish was a CONVICTED pedophile in another state. He served time in prison there and then was placed in my husband's school. This was in 1980 so there was no way that anyone could have had a clue that he actually served time for molesting children. When he moved to my husband's parish, another known pedophile was put in charge of "watching" him - well. they tag-teamed the abuse in my husband's school. Three of my husband's classmates who were abused by this duo have died by suicide. My husband's father still attends and supports the catholic church. It boggles my f*cking mind, and it has caused a rift between my husband and his father. I agree that the only thing that will change the church is if it's bankrupted - as it damn well should be. * It's simply not a case of "some bad priest*. The entire operation of the church from the very top to the bottom has been complicit for many decades for allowing these men to abuse the children. Thousands upon thousands of priests, with the bishops and the vatican protecting them. I read a story recently where documentation was found that the pedophile priests in California were purposely being put in parishes where the majority did not speak english and where many were illegally in the country because they knew those people were unlikely report the abuse. They served those children up on a silver platter, and it's pure evil. I could not agree with you more! Pure evil! |
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Post by hop2 on Jan 24, 2019 18:13:05 GMT
I have been unable to reconcile my differences with the Catholic Church for decades. When I was young my Sunday school was run by a lively kind wonderful nun Sister Mary Francis. She was great but she didn’t accept any crap. If you started up she would turn & look at you and you stopped the crap immediately because that look said “stop screwing around I have a direct line to god he will zap you right here right now.”
Same parish we had a priest who was an old crabby nasty asshole. He was mean to everyone - picked on me frequently, but only verbally. He abused a couple of kids physically not sure about sexually but definitely left bruises. Sister Mary Francis told the diocese. However because the priest had a frock & collar & make sex organs He wasn’t fired, transferred or anything. But Sister Mary Francis was sent on ‘sabbatical’ she was not even allowed to say goodbye. Priest stayed and bruised up a few more kids. Many families switched to another church, including us. I have no idea what eventually happened to the jerk priest.
So to me that whole episode began my issues with the Catholic Church. Right doesn’t win, moral doesn’t take precedence, what is important is being male, being dominant and nothing else matters.
While the whole episode shook my entire belief system,I escaped with a belief in god but not a belief in the Catholic Church. Any time I consider taking in a mass for the heck of it there some crap that just reaffirms my issues with them. I’ve pretty much given up on organized religion altogether and just pray and maintain my own relationship with god myself.
I understand that there are many wonderful people in the Catholic ministry like Sister Mary Francis, I see the good things catholic charities have done in places. It good that there are still good people and good things I’m glad for them. I know there’s probably even great parishes out there. But support from me isn’t something I can do. I had to walk away because of the larger teachings of the catholic religion and my conflicts with those.
Other people should do what they are comfortable with. I’m happy for them if they find what they need there. That’s comforting.
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Post by Merge on Jan 24, 2019 18:14:36 GMT
Would you support a child rapist? Would you support an adult that hid the truth? Not a Catholic. I realize every denomination has had bad leaders.
What bothers me is that the leaders of the Roman Catholic church are so willing to hide the ones who rape and keep the rapist from facing legal consequences.
The Catholics are not unique in this regard. There have been hidden abuse scandals in the protestant and LDS churches, as well. I am not aware of any among Jewish congregations, but it's probably happened there, too. Personally, I am wary of any institution which teaches that some people, usually men, are led by God and must be deferred to. I think this creates a situation that is ripe for abuse and coverups. |
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muggins
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Post by muggins on Jan 24, 2019 18:28:01 GMT
I’m always amazed at how people continue to be supportive of this evil patriarchal business. The excuses boggle my mind - culture, family, parents, school, friendships, etc. But that’s exactly how all organised religion brainwashes people and manipulates them into believing there will be terrible consequences for those who leave. Same goes for the Mormon church.
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Post by Linda on Jan 24, 2019 19:44:46 GMT
This is something I struggle with - and from conversations with other faithful Catholics, it's something many struggle with.
I do NOT support anyone who rapes or sexually assaults another person. And I do not believe that Church teachings support it either - in fact I know Church teaching don't.
I do feel that there have been WAY too many coverups and denials from Catholic authorities in the past. Part of this is paralleled in society as a whole - it's only been recent decades that rape and sexual abuse has become something we talked about and prosecuted regularly. Not that the fact that abuse and coverups were happening outside the Church excuses those within the Church but it does place it in historical context.
While even ONE pedophile or rapist is too many within the Church - they ARE a minority and most priests are good men doing their best. Do we need a cleaning house within Church bureaucracy? Yes - I'm sure we do. Do we need to look more closely at seminaries and how it is determined if a man is suited to the priesthood - yes - even if that means the priest shortage increases. Do I think that priests who commit crimes should be turned over to the civil authorities and put on trial - YES!
But being Catholic isn't about the priest in my parish or the Bishop in my diocese or even the Pope in Rome - being Catholic is about my Faith, the Sacraments, my belief in transubstantiation...it's about worshipping God in the way I feel I'm called to, meant to.
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cakediva
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Post by cakediva on Jan 24, 2019 20:10:06 GMT
I walked away from the Church several years ago. I let go of the good old "Catholic guilt" that plagued me when ever I even thought about not going at Christmas
But it had nothing to do with any of the scandals. I just wasn't getting anything out of going.
But a few people have said it better than I could - for the very faithful, it is the institution that is corrupt - the faith itself, the teachings and the meanings behind them, that they continue to believe in and go to church for.
I know I'm not verbalizing it correctly - but I hope you understand my train of thought.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jan 24, 2019 20:13:04 GMT
This is something I struggle with - and from conversations with other faithful Catholics, it's something many struggle with. I do NOT support anyone who rapes or sexually assaults another person. And I do not believe that Church teachings support it either - in fact I know Church teaching don't. I do feel that there have been WAY too many coverups and denials from Catholic authorities in the past. Part of this is paralleled in society as a whole - it's only been recent decades that rape and sexual abuse has become something we talked about and prosecuted regularly. Not that the fact that abuse and coverups were happening outside the Church excuses those within the Church but it does place it in historical context. While even ONE pedophile or rapist is too many within the Church - they ARE a minority and most priests are good men doing their best. Do we need a cleaning house within Church bureaucracy? Yes - I'm sure we do. Do we need to look more closely at seminaries and how it is determined if a man is suited to the priesthood - yes - even if that means the priest shortage increases. Do I think that priests who commit crimes should be turned over to the civil authorities and put on trial - YES! But being Catholic isn't about the priest in my parish or the Bishop in my diocese or even the Pope in Rome - being Catholic is about my Faith, the Sacraments, my belief in transubstantiation...it's about worshipping God in the way I feel I'm called to, meant to. Very well said. At the core, it's about the Church and Jesus. |
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janeliz
Drama Llama
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Post by janeliz on Jan 24, 2019 20:21:10 GMT
I stayed longer than I should have. Out of habit. Out of some weird sense of nostalgia and loyalty.
It dawned on me too slowly that I felt no true connection to the faith and its principles, and I left for good over 5 years ago. Everyone posting on this thread is well aware of the sins and misdeeds of the church and its leaders, so I won’t ramble. I have nothing nice to say about Catholicism, so I’ll leave it at that.
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scrapngranny
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Post by scrapngranny on Jan 24, 2019 20:29:44 GMT
I left the Catholic Church over 25 years ago and became Episcopalian. The Mass is very much the same without the stigma of the Catholic Church.
I went to a Catholic funeral a few weeks ago along with some friends. One gal is Catholic a s asked me about which church I attended and I explained I had left the Church and now went to an Episcopal Church. She asked why I left the Church, my comment was, I believed in the religion, but the Church, she looked at me confused. I explained how I felt about the sexual abuse, the mass amount of money emassed by the Church. That, and their stand on birth control, women’s rights and a priest’s inability to marry, pretty much summed it all up.
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