I Am a Former Catholic and This Is My Story

[JustJules]

I was raised Catholic because my mother is Catholic and my father is Presbyterian. Let me start off by saying though that I do not hate Catholics or Christians or any religion. I was raised to respect others and their beliefs even if they are rude to me. I will, however, defend myself when met with harshness as many also would.

I was happy as a kid being Catholic though going to church has never been a favorite of mine. I prefer to worship alone or with a smaller group. Big churches make me feel like I am just another number. I have been in smaller churches before and the feeling in there is amazing for me. I went to CCD and Sunday school as a child like many also have. I never really liked it and when I was a kid I will admit I cried before I went.

I made it to Confirmation and I remember feeling kind of like I had to do this. I am 25 now and years later I am no longer a part of that church. I do not hate my parents for raising me Catholic. I learned a lot from all those years.

I left the church after they found a priest that had done bad things. I say bad things because after they announced it they never really spoke of it again and I do not know what happened to the priest. That made me question everything. I saw the flaws in the human people at church. Not all priests are bad people and not all nuns are harsh. I have a nun and a priest I still remember from CCD and when they left the place felt empty. I went to a Catholic University also and by my choice but I did not go for the religion.

I guess what also got me was how some say people who are not Christian do not have morals. I never agreed with that. I have Atheist friends and ones from other religions that have morals and common sense. You do not need the commandments to know killing someone is wrong.

There is so much more I could say but this is a MyTake and I do not want to put an overly large amount.

I still believe in a higher power but I do not have the same image of it that many Christians probably do. My belief in the afterlife is different also.

I do not mind comments on here and I am not going anonymous either. I do ask for people to be civil in the comments though.

[anewgirl]

I appreciate your respect. Even reading your replies to the comments, it's nice that you don't attack people that aren't like you. Very mature. 👍

[JustJules]

Thank you, I try to be as polite as I can be. If I do not have anything positive to say I try not to say it.

[MarkRet]

The Catholic Church is kind of broken, because they picked up rituals and mysticism from the Roman pagans in the early centuries. Celibate priests are like the Vestal Virgins of old, clergy wearing clothing that's different from ordinary people, ritual and mysticism taking precedence over teaching of the word, elevating ordinary humans to the status of 'saint', etc.

A pedophile priest brings shame on himself, but when the Catholic Church tries to hide him or cover it up, they smear the man's slime all over themselves. I heard stories about how nuns would beat a child's hand if they caught the child writing left-handed, but I don't know if that's true. I also heard that a boy in a Catholic school would be punished if his shoes were too shiny, because then he could look at the reflection and see up a girl's dress. Again, I don't know if that's true, but if it is, wow!

[MackFreeze]

I would recommend a Christian church, I go to a undenominational church.

However here is the thing. I wouldn't judge Christianity by toking at the lives of a pastor or priest anyone but Jesus. Jesus is our example! Not some pope or priest, they are just ordinary men. My main problem with Catholicism is that it is a religion trying to reach God with the pope and all, however Jesus came down to us all the way, He came to us at our worst as you know.

Look to Jesus as the example for Christianity not man, if you look for a flaw in me, your parents, or anyone else you will find one except for Jesus. Jesus is the way the truth and the life!

Cheers, God Bless!

[Babydyke]

Nice. I'm the same. Raised Catholic but not a believer anymore. Whatever spiritual stuff is out there beyond us is something no one here alive could ever understand. I'm just waiting to die and then I guess I'll found out what's after this life if anything. Religions are man made assumptions in my eyes.

[Browneye57]

A couple of things...
First of all I echo your story - also raised catholic but am now a protestant. There are two books I recommend for you by Gomez:
The Story of Christianity Vol 1 - Gonzalez
And Vol 2 - same author.
They cover different time periods through history, and will explain how the church came to be and what happened to it, and about the protestant movement.

Second, too many people of faith fail to separate the 'people of the church' with 'the church'. It isn't about the particular sect, nor the people of that sect or church - it's about your spiritualism, your faith, your soul, and god. The people will always fall short, so you cannot put your faith in THEM. It must be put in GOD alone.

[RachelleDraws]

When I was little, the school that I went to had a class for religion. Both my parents, my half sister and I were all atheists. I remember that I would ask questions at just about everything and was really sceptical. This caused quite a few of the Christians in my last to really not like me. Turns out some of the kids asked their parents about it and those parents complained to the teacher it was made that I had to sit out with the other kids that weren't Christian.

[JustJules]

Thats just not right. I got kicked off a Christian chat room for following the rules once. I questioned most things in the faith even as a kid. When I was old enough I stopped going. I was also always extreamly bored in church.

[Phanta]

I'm a former Catholic here too. I agree with you about leaving the Catholic church. I now faithfully attend a Protestant church. However, you say: "I still believe in a higher power but do not have the same image of IT...……….……" It? It? What happened?

[49erfan]

I actually used to not be so Catholic as my parents where but once I started being a catholic that I always was , my life started becoming greater , my image of aferlife is more clear now , I get more spiritual readings from heaven now than ever before , I always knew not every christian was nice but I think that was part of the journey

[JustJules]

That's wonderful for you it was not my path though.

[jasmyne2019]

I am Roman Catholic and i respect your decision to leave the church

[JustJules]

Thank you so much, my family has done the same.

[rocksongwriter]

"I was raised Catholic because my mother is Catholic and my father is Presbyterian."

My mother is Catholic and my father is Presbyterian too! I'm
still Catholic, though.

"I left the church after they found a priest that had done bad things."

That would be like me leaving the USA because it was discovered that a U. S. Congressman had done bad things.

[JustJules]

I left for other reasons also that was just one.

[Anonymous]

I had more problems with Roman Catholics than with all other religions together.

[MasterofPlebs]

Considering Roman Catholicism is a joke, I don't have much to say.

[JustJules]

Well, that is your opinion and its ok.

[MasterofPlebs]

I think it's an empirical fact, not an opinion. They've been a joke for hundreds of years.

[JustJules]

Well so have been a lot of things not just that one church. I could name a few but I choose to be respectful of other peoples wishes.

Have a good day!

[HGG3805]

That is unkind and is disrespectful to insult someone's religion. It is not an empirical fact. I am not Catholic or religious but would never insult anyone's religion or beliefs.

[sedrftvgyhujik]

didn't know america when as far as Catholic University's

[Anonymous]

I've seen faith sway in many faiths, I guess its the journey most of us have to take. Thanks for sharing your experiences

[Player9606]

Very nice take, I appreciate your efforts

[JustJules]

Thank you!

[DonkeyRick69]

God help any religion if its members left every time its priests/clerics/ ministers did something bad

[JustJules]

It's their choice to do so I have no reason to stop them from leaving it's not my business.

[DonkeyRick69]

No they must be marched to attend mass every week at gunpoint instead of sleeping all day Sunday because they partied to hard Saturday

[Alyssa91]

I think religions are bad read Osho!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing

[Anonymous]

Happy to see that you are starting to realize that Catholic churches are a joke.

[JustJules]

It's a persons choice to be Catholic or what ever they want. I do not agree with them but I have family members that are Catholic and I will not be insulting them here.

[Opinion Owner]

It is not insulting, I am telling the truth, I think being gay is wrong, but I don't hate gays nor do I get offended by someone telling me that I am.

[JustJules]

I never told a person being gay is wrong my cousin is gay and so are many of my friends.
Do you assume all Catholics are the same and just fit the same mold?

I'm not going to argue about this. I was trying to be respectful in MyTake and I plan to continue to be.
Have a good day.

[Opinion Owner]

You misunderstood, non of my intentions were bad, and I didn't think that I thought all Catholics are the same. *sigh* Have good one too.

[JustJules]

I do not think your intentions are bad its how it comes off as when on the internet. I have said hello to people before and they get angry. I'm sorry if I reacted out of turn.

[Opinion Owner]

Nah it's okay, I'm sorry too.

[Anonymous]

I feel like 9/10 priests touch little boys.

[Anonymous]

Interesting take!