Why many faithful are leaving the Catholic Church

All of the comments made on the Detroit Free Press web site are incredibly valid with the exception of a couple. To say that people leave the Church because of lack of faith is being very unfairly judgemental. Good people and good priests can leave because they want to be Christians. EG: if I stop putting money in the collection because it goes to silly causes like the JPII center in Washington, doesn't mean I have no faith. I know the Lord referred to us as sheep but he didn't say the sheep had to also be blind.

The mainstream media is "hoping" beyond hope and is "wanting to happen" beyond ALL happenings that faithful Catholics are leaving the Church. On the contrary, this is just a continuation of liberal, bias, anti-Catholic rhetoric---a distortion of the truth. Out of the top 10 religious organizations in the world, the Catholic Church has increase in membership this year by 1.5%, the largest increase of ANY Church. The media misrepresentation of the truth and the deception of the facts continue by the liberal press. It is no wonder that today in the U.S. liberalism is considered to be a "mental disorder!"

hojo wrote:

The mainstream media is "hoping" beyond hope and is "wanting to happen" beyond ALL happenings that faithful Catholics are leaving the Church. On the contrary, this is just a continuation of liberal, bias, anti-Catholic rhetoric---a distortion of the truth. Out of the top 10 religious organizations in the world, the Catholic Church has increase in membership this year by 1.5%, the largest increase of ANY Church. The media misrepresentation of the truth and the deception of the facts continue by the liberal press. It is no wonder that today in the U.S. liberalism is considered to be a "mental disorder!"

hojo, I would like to see your source for your statemsnts. Where did you get you info. on the church growth?

The leadership in the Roman Catholic Church (this is the Church that is being commented about) is not the source nor the cause of my faith. It has failed me in my own life and so many others down through the centuries. I left the clergy to marry for many reasons. One of the great reasons was the lack of support, financial and spiritual. After I left the clergy the veritable dam burst and over half of my own ordained classmates left(class of '59). The scandal was only the mustard on the turkey! The leadership's stubborn refusal to even attempt to learn from the past or the present; its idiotic insistance on infalliblity; its clinging to the Greek model of human nature; its banging of heads on the obvious(like the place of women in ministry) without result are all enough to make me ill. Still I find no other Christian faith tradition any where near as good.
Iron Will

The reason that the Catholics is that they are not properly educated in the teachings of the faith. For example, the Eucharist is the real presence of Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity. If Catholics would acknowledge that truth, no one would leave. The Catholic Church is not a Christian pep club to belong to or take away team loyalty if one of its members sin, and that's what many people reduce it to. Even though some members of the clergy have sinned, it does not mean that a member of the Church doesn't receive the sanctifying graces through the sacraments; they still do. Anyone who sins will have to answer to God, whether priest or lay person. It does not nullifying the truths taught from the Church.

Isn't it obvious Why so many faithful are leaving the Catholic Church?
They don't want their kids to be sodomised.
What better reason do you want?

4gvn, world religious population trends are extremely well tracked. You can find them just about anywhere. Here's just one: http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.ht...

And Deanoff, if you seriously want to discuss issues, you can't rely on lazy bumper sticker slogans and expect to be treated seriously. The story was supposedly that young people are leaving the Church. If that's true, then it's not because they don't want their kids molested.

There are many reasons someone might leave a church...ask the Lutherans, Anglicans, etc. The fact is more are coming in than leaving. That doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned about the young people leaving. We need to reach out and find out where we've missed them. But an abuse rate that's lower than the public average doesn't in itself explain what's happening.

BTW, I have two young boys who are altar servers, and I haven't a single concern about their safety. What's more, I'd be proud if they grow up to be priests. They'd be a blessing to the world.

People are leaving the church because religian and education are incompatable.

Kat wrote:

The reason that the Catholics is that they are not properly educated in the teachings of the faith. For example, the Eucharist is the real presence of Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity. If Catholics would acknowledge that truth, no one would leave. The Catholic Church is not a Christian pep club to belong to or take away team loyalty if one of its members sin, and that's what many people reduce it to. Even though some members of the clergy have sinned, it does not mean that a member of the Church doesn't receive the sanctifying graces through the sacraments; they still do. Anyone who sins will have to answer to God, whether priest or lay person. It does not nullifying the truths taught from the Church.

What you stated may be true about being properly educated in the teachings of the Catholic faith. That does not necessary mean you have a monopoly on Jesus/God. You can easily make a spiritual communion. Invite Jesus in your heart. God can work through all those rites/sacraments but God can also by pass those rites/sacraments and go directly to a person. Why? Because God can do anything! God sees a true, heart of a person. You & I don't.

When a person is loved by God as is & while others are busy doing rituals & thinking they (Catholics) are acknowledging the truth they believe they are following what God wants them to do (somewhat scoring points with God) because the Catholic Church teachings tells them it is good to do all these rituals/prayers etc..because the leaders of the Catholic Church(all male hierarchy) said so because God told them so in a divine revelation.

Just my humble opinion.

Blessings/Good Wishes,
Estelle

Kat wrote:

The reason that the Catholics is that they are not properly educated in the teachings of the faith. For example, the Eucharist is the real presence of Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity. If Catholics would acknowledge that truth, no one would leave. The Catholic Church is not a Christian pep club to belong to or take away team loyalty if one of its members sin, and that's what many people reduce it to. Even though some members of the clergy have sinned, it does not mean that a member of the Church doesn't receive the sanctifying graces through the sacraments; they still do. Anyone who sins will have to answer to God, whether priest or lay person. It does not nullifying the truths taught from the Church.

But The Catholics DO believe that the Eucharist is the real presence of Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity.

Estelle wrote:

<quoted text>
What you stated may be true about being properly educated in the teachings of the Catholic faith. That does not necessary mean you have a monopoly on Jesus/God. You can easily make a spiritual communion. Invite Jesus in your heart. God can work through all those rites/sacraments but God can also by pass those rites/sacraments and go directly to a person. Why? Because God can do anything! God sees a true, heart of a person. You & I don't.
When a person is loved by God as is & while others are busy doing rituals & thinking they (Catholics) are acknowledging the truth they believe they are following what God wants them to do (somewhat scoring points with God) because the Catholic Church teachings tells them it is good to do all these rituals/prayers etc..because the leaders of the Catholic Church(all male hierarchy) said so because God told them so in a divine revelation.
Just my humble opinion.
Blessings/Good Wishes,
Estelle

An opinion may be humble and still be incorrect. This post is proof.

People leaving the Catholic Church?

That's news to me. Everyday St. Peter's Square is overflowing with people wanting to hear the word of God. In fact there are more people there than pigeons. Someone must be making this all up. Could it be the Protestants? I have been told by my Cardinals that the Catholic numbers are up.

You're Holy Father, PopeBennieDick blesses all of you. Remember that God loves Catholics.

Domino Nabisco Baby!

hojo wrote:

The mainstream media is "hoping" beyond hope and is "wanting to happen" beyond ALL happenings that faithful Catholics are leaving the Church. On the contrary, this is just a continuation of liberal, bias, anti-Catholic rhetoric---a distortion of the truth. Out of the top 10 religious organizations in the world, the Catholic Church has increase in membership this year by 1.5%, the largest increase of ANY Church. The media misrepresentation of the truth and the deception of the facts continue by the liberal press. It is no wonder that today in the U.S. liberalism is considered to be a "mental disorder!"

hojo, overzealousness/fanaticism are also considered to be mental disorders. Not saying that's you, just stating that it is.

Sheryl 1 wrote:

<quoted text>
hojo, overzealousness/fanaticism are also considered to be mental disorders. Not saying that's you, just stating that it is.

You should know. You're an over zealous anti Catholic fanatic!

Strange that. considering your own child is Catholic and your husband.

A house divided won't stand.

SherylReal wrote:

<quoted text>
You should know. You're an over zealous anti Catholic fanatic!
Strange that. considering your own child is Catholic and your husband.
A house divided won't stand.

Oh, you idiot - read what I just posted. NON-practicing, I TOLD YOU THAT BEFORE. They left too and I remember telling you that!

You can't remember anything, can you?

SherylReal wrote:

<quoted text>
You should know. You're an over zealous anti Catholic fanatic!
Strange that. considering your own child is Catholic and your husband.
A house divided won't stand.

Bet my family life is closer, better and more stable than yours.

Sheryl 1 wrote:

<quoted text>
Bet my family life is closer, better and more stable than yours.

YOU SAID you didn't believe I have a child...now which is it? You can't even remember your own lies!

Actually, my name is Sister Gaga and I'm an embittered old nun trapped in this damn convent, typing while my sisters sleep.

haha, I thought it was SherylReal - see how I'm YOU?

So what, you get the message.

Sheryl 1 wrote:

<quoted text>
Bet my family life is closer, better and more stable than yours.

A house divided will FALL!

I bet that's why you spend most of your life on the internet. There is already trouble in "paradise!"

SherylReal wrote:

<quoted text>
A house divided will FALL!
I bet that's why you spend most of your life on the internet. There is already trouble in "paradise!"

You've got your own trouble in "paradise" because you are always here.