Were You a Cradle Catholic or a Convert?
Cradle Catholic
How Old Were You When You Left the Catholic Church?
33
How Old Were You When You Returned to Catholicism?
42
Why I Left the Catholic Church
I left the Catholic Church after a life-changing event. I felt that the Church would agree with my decision to do what I had to do. I joined the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (a church that is mostly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender).
Why I Returned to Catholicism
I returned to the Catholic Church in January of 2010 after a hard struggle with who I am. I had to return as my new self. I had to change my name in the event. I joined a very diverse church with a huge mix of nationalities and 2 languages (Spanish and English). I know that this decision will not sit right with the Church as a whole, but I have been known as my new self for 10 years of my life, and my new church knows me by this name. One resource that helped me to return is getting ready for our huge weeklong festival. The people of my new church has been so loving in my reentry into the church with the latest being the inclusion into the order of St. Augustine. I missed the entire Mass over the Protestant services. With the church that I came from cutting everything in the service back to the point that the service can fit on a 42 page powerpoint presentation. I was writing these presentations and running them on the church's monitor. This became a job to me rather than worship. I almost hated every Sunday having to do this job. With my return to the Catholic Church I now have time to actually worship rather than work the whole service.
Advice
- My advice for those that have left the Church for any reason is this:
- If it is the priest that caused you to leave, return to another church close to your home church. (I live close to one church and drive about 2 miles to my church. I have no hard feelings for my neighborhood church. I have to have a church that has both English and Spanish).
- The church has no right to judge (as Jesus said, "Let him without sin cast the first stone").
