Hi frens...I’ve been an active poster over in PW since the Donald days...but I feel like this post is more suited for the GaW crowd....I wonder if there are any other Catholics that can empathize with how I’m feeling right now, and can maybe offer some guidance... I was born and raised Catholic, and still practice—in fact, have been incredibly involved with the music ministry in my church for over a decade...it’s something that gives me great joy and peace to share with my parish family. But each day, I see more and more diocese announcing vax mandates with NO religious exemptions, and my heart just breaks. I find myself thinking that I might leave the only church I ever knew over this—and it’s really the only constant thing that I’ve had in my 41 years of life, so it’s a terrifying thought. But, how can entire dioceses turn their backs on, and abandon a central tenant of our faith SO easily, and so callously? If they can, it just doesn’t seem like it’s the right faith for me. For other Christian anons out there—maybe even some ex-Catholics—did you find a new faith home in a certain denomination, or did you feel most comfortable in a non-denominational setting? I’m not sure where to even begin to look. 😢
Thanks for reading, my friends ❤️
You don't actually need to leave the church, you also don't need to agree with or follow everything the church says. Catechism part 3 article 6 sections 1776 to 1779:
1776 "Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment. . . . For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. . . . His conscience is man's most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths."47
I. THE JUDGMENT OF CONSCIENCE
1777 Moral conscience,48 present at the heart of the person, enjoins him at the appropriate moment to do good and to avoid evil. It also judges particular choices, approving those that are good and denouncing those that are evil.49 It bears witness to the authority of truth in reference to the supreme Good to which the human person is drawn, and it welcomes the commandments. When he listens to his conscience, the prudent man can hear God speaking.
1778 Conscience is a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed. In all he says and does, man is obliged to follow faithfully what he knows to be just and right. It is by the judgment of his conscience that man perceives and recognizes the prescriptions of the divine law:
Conscience is a law of the mind; yet [Christians] would not grant that it is nothing more; I mean that it was not a dictate, nor conveyed the notion of responsibility, of duty, of a threat and a promise. . . . [Conscience] is a messenger of him, who, both in nature and in grace, speaks to us behind a veil, and teaches and rules us by his representatives. Conscience is the aboriginal Vicar of Christ.50
1779 It is important for every person to be sufficiently present to himself in order to hear and follow the voice of his conscience. This requirement of interiority is all the more necessary as life often distracts us from any reflection, self-examination or introspection:
So in other words everyone could potentially have a catholic variant of faith. :)
Exactly. Thank you. It is hard to remember all of that when the worldly stuff is coming at me so hard. As a convert to the Catholic Church, I try to remember what brought me to that decision. I believe Jesus directly set up his church on Earth by assigning that task to the Apostles. Looking at history, I see the Universal church has been attacked frequently by evil. The Bible and Tradition are needed to understand the plans God has for His people. Looking at the martyrs from the early church has been inspirational. To believe so completely and to never deny Jesus no matter the threat to their lives is the most courageous act of Faith. We have never experienced that level of persecution here for our Christian beliefs. It has always made me think about that level of faith. For Christians to attack other Christians is such a difficult situation to watch. That is basically what having so many denominations has done to Christians. We must look to what we have in common and act as Jesus would have us act.
With the mission to go and spread the word to the world became a very large organization, bureaucracy becomes necessary. They basically invented record keeping and such. Layers of management.
Men have corrupted the church.
True but God won't let them prevail.
Well said!
Beautiful. Thanks for posting.
Thank you for this awesome response — I’m reading it over and over again.
The 5 Solas might help. The Bible alone, through faith alone, by grace alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone.
I found a home in Orthodox Christianity (the 2nd biggest denomination in the world behind Catholicism) this year. Most of the people I've met in the church are anti-vaxxers.
I will check it out! Thank you ❤️
Listen to your heart. That's where the Holy Spirit resides.
Thank you friend ❤️ You are right.
Same and after the digs I did on the Vatican and everything else going on with the Catholic administration I can’t right now. I do miss Mass and stations of the cross, confession, etc, but I have an amazing relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Maybe some day when they cleanse themselves.
Your faith is far more than your church and it's certainly more than a puppet living in opulence over in Vatican City.
I was raised Catholic as well but no group of misguided men will cause me to waste a single minute inside of a catholic church.
I speak with and pray to God daily and my faith has never been stronger.
You typed what was I was thinking.
I’m sorry to hear about your situation. That’s tough to go through. It must be hard when you’ve seen a lot of good happen in a church then you see things change.
I recently heard someone talk apply questions of conscience to the vaccine situation. Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8-10. The point was that there are churches that are making a law where there is no law. In some cases they may be violating the conscience of another by pushing or requiring vaccines.
1 Timothy 4:1-5 continues to happen where church’s abandon sound doctrine. My 2 cents is to look for a local church that teaches sound biblical doctrine without compromising the truth. Every church is going to have their quirks and traditions which we all have different opinions about so everyone is going to find something that isn’t their preferred flavor. Focus on the core truths and don’t sweat the small stuff.
FWIW, I’m a non-denom Christian or evangelical. I try to avoid thinking this denomination vs that denomination. It’s important to remember that within a single church there are wheat and tares. There are sheep and goats and wolves in any flock/denomination.
Yes to all of this
The prophecy of our Lady of Fatima has come to pass. The Anti-Christ is on the papal throne. Looks bad but there are good Catholic leaders out there. Pray the rosary with company. Read Revelations. See this as a much overdue spring clean.
I am sorry for the intrusion but i am not Catholic and have always wanted to know why the word of Men as in the Pope and Cardinals are accepted as THE word when so many have been proven 'sinners' like Most people. God is either in YOUR heart or Not. A man telling you what to think is a 'Communist'
This is a very good question! If you read the acts of the apostles carefully, as well as earliest fathers of the church - Ignatious, Irenaeus, Clement, Polycarp, etc, you will see Christ set up a teaching authority, with a means to safeguard His teaching from falsehood, as otherwise we would all be sheep without a shepherd - with no way of ascertaining exactly what He taught, with no mixture of error. Of course that teaching authority only covers what Christ taught, and does not extend to politics, weather, medical advice, or economics. Nor, obviously, are those having this role free from temptations, personal sin, and potentially very harmful incorrect choices.
Over here in GA we have a lot of people born and raised with certain beliefs in, and loyalties to, our country. We have all had these deeply held assumptions of truth slowly, painfully, but surely peeled away as corrupt earthly mockeries of the truths we wanted to be real. In other words, the country we love is being destroyed before us, but we are still patriots, believing in the original reasons and principles, and we are here re-dedicating ourselves to those ideas.
I'm not Catholic, but I know how you feel. A nation and a church are different, but I'm sure you can see the similarity of the situations. Seeing the old die is painful. A new republic, or a new rebirth of the old one, is coming whether we are prepared or not.
The Roman Catholic church has been an enormous institutional hierarchy our entire lives. It has always housed a great diversity of opinion. But God cannot be fully and eternally contained in any earthly institution. The Catholic church has been corrupted by the world, and the only question is to what degree, and whether it can still be saved. Is the solution to fix the church, or to create a new one? I think you know the answer: Trump is not Saint Francis, and neither is the Pope. It will be a difficult journey, but God has a place for you whether you work to rebuild or to build a new. Let prayer guide your path.
I know a lot of prayerful, righteous Catholics in your situation. Even within the church, some are guided by faith more than others. Let God and prayer be your guide.
I am a Catholic and I understand how you feel. Right now, the battle between good and evil is going strong. Unfortunately, many clergy are on the side of evil. You have God in your heart and soul. Was taught the church isn't a building, but the people, so, even if there are two other parishioners who share your views, gather together and pray, break bread together and offer thanks to God for all your blessings. I will say to talk to the priests, nuns and others to find out how they feel. They may have the same beliefs as you. ((Big Hugs)) These are trying times.
I’m born and raised Catholic as well. I don’t often go to church and am plenty happy praying and keeping the faith in my own way at home. I try not to let the politics of other people (such as the pope) influence or affect my faith.
I’m not Catholic myself, but watch some videos by Father James Altman who, imho, epitomizes the true Catholic religion. He was just censured by the higher-up beasts in the hierarchy for being outspoken.
You might want to consider reaching out to Father Altman and speaking directly with him.
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3-7eoTN2vNM
Hello,
I am a fairly recent convert to the Catholic faith. I went from a life of drugs, and parties, hopelessness, and pain to a fully fulfilled life. My life changed when I finally turned to God and became apart of the one true faith. I have been Catholic for about 4 years now and I can say with confidence that I will die as a Catholic, but heed my words here DO NOT ABANDON THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST.
I understand what you are feeling, I understand the leadership within the Church is horrible. Many priests who are speaking the truth are being silenced or being forced to resign. The Vatican has fallen in line with the satanic elite that is hell bent on destroying all that we hold dear. I have to remind you though, the evil men that have taken hold of the Church, are not a reflection of doctrine and the Churches teachings. In times of peril we are taught to cling to tradition, this is why Jesus left us his teaches and also why God left us a bible to cling too. There is so much history and teachings you could learn to bolster your faith. How often do you spend listening to teachings/Church interpretations/sermons? It sounds like you need to listen to or read more because you shouldn't be shaken so easily. This is not what God wants of us.
I have personally been kicked out of my local Churches for not complying with the masks, the social distancing, everything. I was extremely hurt by that but God opened the door and allowed me to find refuge in Churches that provide the Byzantine/Latin rite. I also believe that our current pope and his loyalists are traitors and is no better than any of the scum that wants to wage war with God. This is why they are hell bent on destroying the Latin rite which has been the tradition for thousands of years up to about 1967. Don't wavier, this is the time to learn not to dread. I have posted some channels for you to check out, learn a lot more about our faith before abandoning it, it is truly something special.
Dr. Taylor Marshal - https://www.youtube.com/user/Taylor0Marshall
Father Altman - https://www.youtube.com/user/AndreTubeable
Father Mark Goring - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXWkyfyPE2fosQbnYOTiuZA
Catholic Answers - https://www.youtube.com/user/catholiccom
Father Mike Schmitz - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVdGX3N-WIJ5nUvklBTNhAw
Sensus Fidelium - https://www.youtube.com/user/onearmsteve4192
Learn the difference between the vision the modernists want and compare it to the vision of the traditionalists. You have come so far, do not be fooled into running now.
God bless and long live Christ the King.
Good list. Also US Grace Force: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCKZ9OefEJLEx1qYcBxgAFww
How could I forget these guys, they are fantastic!
I am in a Christian denomination that decided to follow the law of the land and enforce the masks. But I told my pastor that he is only to follow the law of the land so long as it does not violate the reveal will of God. I pointed out 2 Cor. 3:18 says we are to come before the Lord with UNVEILED FACES. James 4:17 says, “If you know the good you ought to do, and you don’t do it, to you it is sin.” This is a critical verse and the churches MUST NOT VIOLATE A PERSON’S CONSCIENCE. They know this. They are just blinded by the media brainwashing.
If after all this pleading with them to see this differently, and praying fervently, ask the Lord what He wants you to do. And when you think you know, pray and ask for a confirmation. God will guide you through this, fren.
Blessings. May you find The Lord wherever you go.
2Corinthians 3:17, WE “are free, and therefore we have no need to cover our faces, as slaves do before the presence of a great king. There is no veil over our hearts, and therefore none over the eyes with which we exercise our faculty of spiritual vision. We are as Moses when he stood before the Lord with the veil withdrawn.”
“But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 3:14
I’ve got it going on in my denomination too, Lutheran. Not far from yours. Causing a lot of questioning and a return to God that is highly helping. Maybe you will find this encouraging to read a fellow Catholic who is standing up. (Link below)
I’ve found a lot of encouragement reading the Bible. Jeremiah is very encouraging to me right now maybe it will be to you as well. Depending on how the district president for my synod resounds we may be removing our membership from the church. I empathize with the way you feel watching them falls to lies and virtue signaling is painful.
July 21 2021: “Archbishop Viganò: Vaccines made with fetal tissue are a ‘human sacrifice of innocent victims offered to Satan’ Bishop: https://archive.vn/IenxF Viganò sees that “abortion is proposed by the Satanists as a true and proper religious rite,” arguing that in this Satanic world view, through an abortion-tainted vaccine, one becomes a member of the Satanic anti-church. He writes that Satan claims, “through the pharmaceutical companies that use fetal tissue from abortions to manufacture a so-called vaccine that is presented in the delirium of Covid-19 as a sacrament of salvation by which one is incorporated into the ‘mystical body’ of Satan, the globalist anti-church.” “Mors Tua Vita Mea (Your death is my life) is the title of the Italian book on the abortion-tainted coronavirus vaccines ””The ancient pagan rituals – omnes dii gentium demonia, says the Psalm – live again today in the sacrificial offering that unfortunate mothers believe can be claimed as a right.” “But who are the mothers who, denying their very nature, agree to kill their own child? The majority of them are women in their first pregnancy, unaware of the horror they are about to commit and the remorse that will accompany them forever. Here are the first-born to be consecrated to Satan: the children of unfortunate mothers and spoiled girls, who discover what it means to be mothers precisely in not wanting to be so, instead perverting their femininity by reducing it to a bargaining chip or an instrument of ephemeral enjoyment, in the name of rights which they claim for themselves but which they permit themselves to deny to the creatures they carry in their womb. The non serviam repeats itself inexorably every time the obedience of the fiat is refused and the will of the Almighty is rebelled against. In abortion, Satan achieves the greatest injury to God: he offends Him as Creator, making the mother the murderer of her own child; he offends Him as Lord, usurping the right of life and death over innocent creatures and claiming the right to violate the Fifth Commandment with impunity; he offends Him as Redeemer, nullifying the fruits of Christ's Passion for creatures killed without the grace of Baptism; he offends Him as Father, while also vilifying the Sacred Maternity of the Most Holy Virgin.”
Thank you.
You’re welcome. God bless
I grew up non denominational because I think the denominations are silly and unnecessary. I’ve never understood the Catholic faith placing the pope on such a high pedestal, he’s not Jesus. A good friend of mine leads worship at a Methodist Church so we visited recently and I was bothered that the preacher mentioned the Wesleyan beliefs more than he did the Bible.
I’m sorry you’re going through this but in my opinion, I think leaving the Catholic Church could be the best thing for you. Find a church that doesn’t place any single person above another. We are all sinners at Christ’s feet. Also a focus on scripture and not someone else’s opinion (I’m looking at you Joel Osteen...).
Bottom line... who do you say that Jesus is? See John 14:6. Read Romans in the Bible. All the doctrines are there. Your good works won't save you but only the blood of the Lamb, Jesus. See Ephesians 2:8-10.
Amen Christian
☝️🙏🏼❤️
You don't abandon Jesus because of Judas.
Bergoglio is not the Pope.
www.barnhardt.biz
Exactly!
Me too... lost from their corruption.
I was told to check out the Episcopalians.
I have come to the conclusion that our church political structure was infiltrated with corruption. Our church finally freed itself from debt. At our celebration the bishop announced that our church will now take on the debt of another failing monastery! At the celebration of Freedom from the Vatican bank. We had nothing to celebrate anymore, the bishop just chained our church back into crushing debt. I have faith but the people running the church are not Christians they are impostors. Using the church for profit. They are corrupt money lenders.
I an Eastern rite catholic, very traditional, not touched by Vatican II; but recently attend a Roman catholic church because its closer.
I go to church to worship God, receive communion and hear His words.
As regards to homilies in the East homilies usually explain the readings as it pertains to daily life.
But Roman catholic churches teach more on govt rules and regulations. I find it so upsetting that RC priests will not speak against abortion, euthanasia, being in the state of grace to receive, Church rules. Only once have I heard a priest say that on confession days there are only 4 people to confess but somehow the whole church receives communion at every mass. He said: Are you all saints or dont you know what sacrilege is?
A wise man once told me that the attitude of the head of the department filters down throughout the department. The catholic church has so many sins never addressed by the pope, yet he will comment on climate change, the environment, acceptance of gay rights, the vax..... followed by the bishops.
We all must remember the pope is infallible ONLY as it pertains to church DOCTRINE, nothing else. Otherwise it is only 1 man's opinion.
There are many people bouncing around catholic churches because their consciences tell them somethings not right in a particular church. Internationally many are calling for schism to return to original church teaching. . The remnant church.
It's not you, it's them. But don't give up on them yet anyway. I'm Jewish in a blue state and decided to "come out" as a Trump supporter to stand up to the nonsense after my synogague put up a BLM sign. Suprisingly and unexpectedly, other Jewish patriots emerged, agreed, and stood with me. The sign came down. Churches and synogagues are for connecting with Gd and not for a political agenda. The ignorant may always be ignorant but they need us to stand up for our institutions now more than ever.
Don't let the ugliness of a few trees divert you from the beauty of the forest.
Born and raised Catholic - went through all schooling through Catholic schools. I will die a Catholic. Why because I realized a long time ago, God and Jesus are not in a specific church. That MY faith and beliefs are MINE. I still enjoy a mass but with your eyes open and heart full of the holy spirit, you can enjoy and participate. This is because it is MY relationship with God and Jesus Christ that matters, not a priest or a nun. I choose to keep God in my life daily and don't have to feel I must go to a building to feel him or worship him. It will be difficult for many faithful Catholics to deal with what is coming because they have been told that they MUST go to church on Sunday and participate, and look up to a priest etc. I realized long ago that these priest and nuns were human. There will be good and bad in all walks of life. Keep the faith fren and this Catholic is praying for peace of mind, peach of heart and peach surrounding you.
Find a copy of The Secrets of Romanism. https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Romanism-Joseph-Zacchello/dp/0872139816 It’s a red pill for catholics.
The Catholic Church signed on to Agenda 21, the plan for the 21st Century to reduce world population to 500 million. Do you need to know more to make a decision?
I grew up going to a Catholic Church but now I go to a Lutheran Church. Less fire and brimstone and more talk about God's love, grace, and forgiveness. I am more comfortable there and I'm pretty sure God doesn't mind where I sit while I'm praising him. Maybe you can find a different community more aligned with who you are.
I feel your pain. I won’t go back to my childhood church bc it is now run by a gay pastor. Every church with same domination I’ve visited is woke. I actually started going to mass (not take eucharist just stay in pew). Some fens have suggested I try Baptist or orthodox Christian church. Makes me feel lost though.
It sucks leaving your church home, but the only way to find a new one is to visit other churches and see what they're like. You can do some preliminary research online to find other churches in your area and what their "statement of faith" is.
When you visit, ask to speak with one of the leaders in the church to get more information on what they're all about.
fren, i am not Catholic, but for many years i was very active in a church startup. i was the sound guy. the community was great, but internal politics crushed the young church. i have never found a new church. i am also in a much healthier place spiritually. Please pray, ask God to show you where he needs you, and he will. pray and read the bible. let everything else fall away.
There is a wonderful man who believes the current pope along with the men who elected him are not on God's side. Dr. Martin along with a sidekick. I thought I had saved the link, but I didn't figure out there was a side bar on my phone until I had been here for quit some time.
I joined a small Episcopal parish after the Catholic church refused my husband and I admittance unless we paid $3000 each for annulment of previous marriages. I loved the literary and found it at the small country parish we now attend. I later found out the hierarchy of my church were card carrying leftists right out of Berkley and after a considerable struggle decided to compartmentalize my parish from the greater church because its parishioners were good souls. That has been tested during this lockdown. The church seems to have left us out to dry.
Liturgy not literary which was typed by spellxheck.
My brother in New York experienced the exact same thing. Then someone recommended an Episcopal church and he loves it. It’s his new home. Never misses a Sunday. Has been totally welcomed by the parishioners. Ask God to lead you. He will.
There are a lot of awake people in his new church. That’s why he’s happy there. Being awakened is not frowned on.
If you truly believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, there is no other place you would want to go.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8HlYpwbJAq0
Man made religions are all bullshit. Coming from a lifelong Catholic. They are just businesses. Have a personal relationship with God. He will speak directly to you without the interpreter!