Catholics: a U-turn back to the Church.

Zundrah · #1 Feb 24, '12, 10:36 am

If you ever came across a teaching or experience that caused you to stray from/ question the Church, what was it that brought you back?

This is in relation to my previous thread about Catholics that remain with the Church but reject teachings from it (which is still running);

http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=646646

**JRKH** · #2 Feb 24, '12, 11:30 am

The Mass

.....and.....

the Eucharist

.

chaunceygardner · #3 Feb 24, '12, 11:43 am

For me, it is learning that many people have or had the same questions or doubts, including Catholic theologians, bible scholars and the ordained (including bishops). Also, that not one priest to whom I discussed my concerns over several decades ever said I was not welcome or could not remain in the Church. Every one of them said I was not alone among my Catholic brethren. For that reason I never had to make much of a U-turn.

SonCatcher · #4 Feb 24, '12, 11:51 am

My parents and brothers started "church hopping" while I was in college. Since they still had great influence over me (I was still at home) I went along. I stopped at a Baptist church while they kept bouncing around as I began to sort things out. No place felt like "home" to me while I was away. During this time, I discovered Steve Ray's website where I learned the Catholic difference. I still didn't really understand Primacy, the Eucharist or Reconciliation, though.

It was actually a debate with a Protestant pastor that convinced me of the primacy of Peter. After he convinced me of that, I immediately understood the logical conclusion that Peter's authority could never go away and that I must be in full submission to it (I chose to not discuss this with him since the concept was still fragile in my mind - I have since prayed for his continual formation, instead).

Zundrah · #5 Feb 24, '12, 12:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaunceygardner

For me, it is learning that many people have or had the same questions or doubts, including Catholic theologians, bible scholars and the ordained (including bishops). Also, that not one priest to whom I discussed my concerns over several decades ever said I was not welcome or could not remain in the Church. Every one of them said I was not alone among my Catholic brethren. For that reason I never had to make much of a U-turn.

Yeah, it's healthy and normal to have questions and doubts. It's maybe just not healthy to entertain them too much.

Zundrah · #6 Feb 24, '12, 12:24 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonCatcher

My parents and brothers started "church hopping" while I was in college. Since they still had great influence over me (I was still at home) I went along. I stopped at a Baptist church while they kept bouncing around as I began to sort things out. No place felt like "home" to me while I was away. During this time, I discovered Steve Ray's website where I learned the Catholic difference. I still didn't really understand Primacy, the Eucharist or Reconciliation, though.

It was actually a debate with a Protestant pastor that convinced me of the primacy of Peter. After he convinced me of that, I immediately understood the logical conclusion that Peter's authority could never go away and that I must be in full submission to it (I chose to not discuss this with him since the concept was still fragile in my mind - I have since prayed for his continual formation, instead).

With the primacy of Peter, is that enough for you to dismiss all other worries about teachings from the Church?

Edmundus1581 · #7 Feb 24, '12, 12:37 pm

For me, it was attempting to live outside the moral laws of the Church - not wantonly, but with some "freedom" - and discovering that this only lead to misery. In my misery I realised that the Church had been right all along about moral absolutes. In accepting the moral absolutes I also returned to the fount of grace - Jesus Christ and His Church.

"Repent and believe the gospel' (Mark 1:15)

SonCatcher · #8 Feb 24, '12, 12:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zundrah

With the primacy of Peter, is that enough for you to dismiss all other worries about teachings from the Church?

No. I still did not understand Reconciliation and the Baptist influence caused serious doubt concerning it. But I went to Reconciliation trusting that the Holy Spirit guided the Magisterium to teach accurately about it. Despite that, I sought to learn about it. It was some years before I had adequate understanding of the Sacrament.

I still struggle to learn about the Faith but have treated my other disagreements similarly.

**JRKH** · #9 Feb 24, '12, 12:43 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zundrah

With the primacy of Peter, is that enough for you to dismiss all other worries about teachings from the Church?

Not a direct answer to this, but when one finds something that is both critical and unique to the Catholic Church, then yes it is often enough to - well not dismiss - but at least cut down to size any other worries about the teachings of the Church.

Whether that thing be Authority, The Pope, Historical continuity, the Real Presence of the Eucharist or something else...All things that are wonderfully unique to the Catholic (and EO) Church, it is really something of an "aha" moment and one begins to reassess things in this new light.

Peace
James

cradlecatholic5 · #10 Feb 24, '12, 12:57 pm

After my Dad passed away, I had some hurt, anger & doubts. I strayed for a few months, spoke w/ a wonderful, understanding priest.

It was Our Blessed Mother who helped me and continues to do so daily.

Zundrah · #11 Feb 24, '12, 1:17 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonCatcher

No. I still did not understand Reconciliation and the Baptist influence caused serious doubt concerning it. But I went to Reconciliation trusting that the Holy Spirit guided the Magisterium to teach accurately about it. Despite that, I sought to learn about it. It was some years before I had adequate understanding of the Sacrament.

I still struggle to learn about the Faith but have treated my other disagreements similarly.

So you hold on because you are sure that if and when you look into each teaching thoroughly, you will find reason and understanding? That's a good enough answer. If only others had that kind of patience you show.

Zundrah · #12 Feb 24, '12, 1:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRKH

Not a direct answer to this, but when one finds something that is both critical and unique to the Catholic Church, then yes it is often enough to - well not dismiss - but at least cut down to size any other worries about the teachings of the Church.

Whether that thing be Authority, The Pope, Historical continuity, the Real Presence of the Eucharist or something else...All things that are wonderfully unique to the Catholic (and EO) Church, it is really something of an "aha" moment and one begins to reassess things in this new light.

Peace
James

That's how I use to see it. But for me it was short lived. I think I rushed into it too quickly. People did say, it was happening too fast.

Zundrah · #13 Feb 24, '12, 1:28 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edmundus1581

For me, it was attempting to live outside the moral laws of the Church - not wantonly, but with some "freedom" - and discovering that this only lead to misery. In my misery I realized that the Church had been right all along about moral absolutes. In accepting the moral absolutes I also returned to the fount of grace - Jesus Christ and His Church.

"Repent and believe the gospel' (Mark 1:15)

It is true that nothing is as unfulfilling as leaving the whole Church behind for the sake of some disagreement. Because you're then stuck with having to find a church of which teachings you'll have to route through and make yet more decisions on anyway.

Edmundus1581 · #14 Feb 24, '12, 5:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zundrah

It is true that nothing is as unfulfilling as leaving the whole Church behind for the sake of some disagreement. Because you're then stuck with having to find a church of which teachings you'll have to route through and make yet more decisions on anyway.

Well, I can only say I agree completely!

Yes, the common experience in our comments seems to be that, outside the Church, we found we had lost one thing which we couldn't do without, and accepted that to recover it we had to accept all of the Church - with no picking-and-choosing.

BTW, I didn't completely leave the Church or go to another denomination, but I just kept attending, intermittently, while ignoring or rejecting many of its teachings - until I ended up in a personal mess, which I realized had been brought on by this apostasy.

**JRKH** · #15 Feb 24, '12, 6:12 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zundrah

That's how I use to see it. But for me it was short lived. I think I rushed into it too quickly. People did say, it was happening too fast.

I think that you may be being too harsh and impatient with yourself even now.
Just because one accepts the authority and Truth of the Church doesn't mean that one understands it, or that one doesn't scratch their head and go huh???

But - like a good citizen of the Kingdom and the household of God in His Church, I accept that maybe the Church knows better on matters too complicated for my simple mind to grasp.
For me - the core, as taught in the Bible - is Love. The important things for me to DO as a Catholic and as a follower of our Lord must be likewise built on Love. This keeps me plenty busy and so I don't become distressed over other - more tangential - matters.

Peace
James