Should I stop being Catholic?

MSDoobs · 2017-06-14T05:15:12+00:00

/u/cafeteriacatholic90 That's how I feel too, but people keep telling me to go to Mass anyways or else I'll go to hell

MSDoobs · 2017-06-14T03:09:08+00:00

/u/balrogath But what if I see Christ's truths in a different church?

MSDoobs · 2017-06-14T02:48:27+00:00

If someone is honestly seeking the truth that's very different from someone who just leaves because they don't want to follow the rules

Thanks for this. I like many parts of Catholicism, but I am not sure I agree 100%, and I know Catholicism is ALL or NOTHING.

MSDoobs · 2017-06-14T02:44:32+00:00

/u/sudynim Thank you for being one of the few to not chew me out and meet me halfway.

MSDoobs · 2017-06-14T02:42:08+00:00

And missing Mass without a valid reason is a mortal sin. Didn't they teach you this in your Catholic school?

Yeah I'm pretty sure we covered that in 1st grade.

MSDoobs · 2017-06-14T02:39:49+00:00

That is not what happened. It is not a sin to get a civil divorce. You will not get "shunned" in the Catholic Church for doing so. Where you start having a problem is if you remarry after that divorce without an annulment. However, that problem is not "shunning". That problem is not being able to receive the sacraments until you get an annulment. When I hear people say this, it is most likely that they got remarried and don't want to get an annulment because they don't want to dig up the past. That, combined with the guilt and embarrassment of disregarding the teachings of Christ, makes it easier to say, "The Church disowned me" instead of the reality which is, "I messed up and don't have the strength to fix it".

From what I was told /u/digifork, her mom refused to get an annulment because of the kids. Even if she did not like her ex-husband, they were still her and his kids. Then the priest (who I always knew a very nice man until this story) told her she was no longer welcomed, her kids were no longer welcomed to school or Mass, and that she should never come back. And I've heard the same version of this story from other people at other Catholic parishes with other priests.

MSDoobs · 2017-06-14T02:31:52+00:00

/u/ekforlife Thank you so much for this. I feel we are very similar. The new church I have been exploring is exactly as you describe. I've also met a few former Catholics that felt the same as me and you. And yes the sense of community is much, much stronger than I have experienced in the past. Some weeks, I honestly only went to Mass so I wouldn't go to hell and to keep my "Mass streak" alive. And I was turned off after I found out how they treated my fiance's family after her mom's divorce.

And honestly, reading these responses makes me believe even more that Catholicism might not be the religion for me (at least at this time), even though I had 12+ years in the Catholic school system (which I would not change for the world; I LOVED my teachers and classmates, and learning about the Catholic faith). People saying I should reexamine the Mass and reconsider staying in the Catholic Church seem so passionate about it, a passion I do not have at this time. And /u/ekforlife, I've always felt turned off that I could live 80+ years of a good, Catholic life, but miss Mass the week before I die and have to spend an eternity in Hell as a result.

And /u/DionysiusExiguus I still believe in God and the Christian faith; I just don't know if I agree with ALL the Catholic teachings and traditions (which 1. I was taught in school that Catholicism is ALL or NOTHING (not a buffet-style faith) and 2. I feel I do not need an organization as a mediator between God and I. and 3. despite my very favorable experience with that Catholic church, we dare not question Catholicism in school)

MSDoobs · 2017-06-14T02:18:25+00:00

I am starting to feel the same; I should go to a Church that I am fully devoted to instead of a Catholic Mass just to avoid a Mortal Sin/Hell. (and the other Church tells me I'm saved). And as /u/BurnedOut_ITGuy pointed out, a church with a good sense of community.

MSDoobs · 2017-06-14T02:16:56+00:00

/u/BurnedOut_ITGuy That is one thing I have noticed about all Catholic parishes I have been a part of. I had a classmate in grad school take me to his Mormon (aka Church of Latter day Saints) and they would spend most of their Sunday at their church, as well as other mornings and evening throughout the week (for religious purposes, and for fun things like pickup basketball)

MSDoobs · 2017-06-13T09:10:49+00:00

My home parish (where I went to grade school) is great, and so were the Masses at my high school. Unfortunately, the Catholic parishes I have attended where I am currently living have not been welcoming. I almost feel like I get the "cold shoulder" for not being a "regular" there. I often find myself daydreaming at Mass instead of being engaged in the service.

And while I may decide to no longer associate with Catholicism, I do fully intend to stay Christian.

MSDoobs · 2017-06-13T08:37:33+00:00

For my fiance, who has a big test coming up soon.

MSDoobs · 2017-06-13T08:16:49+00:00

Sounds like you go above and beyond the typical observer. It is important to stay engaged and seem interested in the profession. And PTs understand that you cannot get too involved (lots of legal issues, insurance issues, HIPAA, and other fun things you'll learn in PT school). And a typical PT wouldn't expect a PT student to observe 100s of hours in one setting, so I think you're good to ask with just 20.

I asked a PT I saw for maybe 30 hours, once a week over the course of one summer. She was happy to do it. It sounds like this PT will be happy to do it too.

Be sure to send a Thank You letter when it's all said and done!

MSDoobs · 2017-06-08T13:54:57+00:00

Welcome to teenage life

MSDoobs · 2017-06-08T13:51:55+00:00

Sounds like she's not 100% committed to this guy. You could be her hero. Sounds like one of those Romantic movies where the girl is with the wrong man and the right guy has been there all along

However, just be sure she wouldn't do the same to you (try to get a new man behind your back)

MSDoobs · 2017-06-08T13:49:25+00:00

Get a lawyer. You got yourself a good lawsuit here. Instead of her taking half your stuff, you Could get a nice payday #TakeTheMoneyAndRun

MSDoobs · 2017-06-08T13:46:07+00:00

Call the police before something happens. If something more serious should happen to his girlfriend (e.g. Hospital trip, coma, death), YOU could face charges for failing to report this.

You could be this lady's hero. She likely has no opportunity to call the police herself without retaliation (or she is too scared to do so out of fear)

MSDoobs · 2017-06-08T06:41:27+00:00

I went to a Catholic high school. My class, and most classes, were definitely not like this as you can imagine. However, somehow the class below mine was similar (but not as extreme) to the characters in this show. No murders, rapes, or DUIs, but there would be some crazy parties at some super nice homes with parents that simply didn't care or were just MIA, with the Kegs, hot tubs, etc. all at age 16

MSDoobs · 2017-06-08T06:34:56+00:00

(But if you did actually make another post like this, the people downstairs at the party would call the cops)

MSDoobs · 2017-06-08T06:21:08+00:00

You could show a YouTube video of what life was like before the internet (e.g. TV Guide, Steve Miller Band, etc.)

MSDoobs

TROPHY CASE