Joan,................... -- Catholic Friends Forum

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Date Posted: 12:37:59 08/11/07 Sat
Author: Neysa
Author Host/IP: user-38lciiq.dialup.mindspring.com / 209.86.74.90
Subject: Joan,...................
In reply to: Joan 's message, "Re: Joan, what attracts me to Catholicism......" on 11:13:30 08/11/07 Sat

I guess I am an adult who is Catholic simply out of habit. I know a lot of other people who are that way as well.

Deep down when I really think about it, I was brought up that you are Catholic...you MUST remain a Catholic.

When I was in 4th or 5th grade. I had a friend who was Baptist, who moved into my neighborhood, which was very Catholic. One day at recess I said to a classmate, that I was going to turn Baptist. I didn't see the nun, standing near us. Sister, heard what I said. I never saw anyone become so enraged. She looked like she could spit fire. She came up into my face, and said you are Catholic and Catholic you are to remain. She even was going to send me over to the priest.

I never questioned doctrine and said well I believe this and I don't believe that. Well, there is more that I don't believe in so I'll leave the Catholic Church. Those nuns still have a hold on my psyche. I would feel so guilty if I left the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is like a magnet it has its hold on me. As I said I attended Protestant services. I didn't feel the presence of God and the warm peaceful feeling I get from the Mass.

Even though I attended Protestant services, and was brought up to respect other religions. I am going to be very honest here. My parents would have disowned me if I left the Catholic Church!

As I mentioned my mom is Eastern Catholic, and my dad ( deceased) Western (Latin rite) Catholic. Although it was wonderful being brought up in both. It also presented a problem. You cannot belong to both. Meaning, I could not belong to a Latin Rite and an Eastern Rite Church, it is not allowed. I had to choose. Having two different rites within my Catholic upbrining at times was confusing enough.

I know I didn't answer your question. That is simply because I cannot. I never delved deeply into doctines, etc... For me it is simply I believe what I believe in Catholicism even without studying it in depth. Baptism made me a Catholic, and Catholic I remain. I know that is a very poor;vague statement. I almost sound like my uneducated great grandparents when I make such a statement. It is also fear and even perhaps superstition that holds me so tightly to the Catholic Church. It really holds me. The superstition part....I can still see my second grade teacher Sister Theodora, standing in front of the class saying : "children you were given the greatest gift, you were baptized Catholic. To leave the Catholic Church is a mortal sin. Children we all know that if you die with a mortal sin you are going to hell."

As an educated person, I do not believe in this statement. However, the part about leaving the Catholic Church, makes me tremble. That second grade nun and all the nuns that I had in my twelve years who preached the same statement, planted it into my mind. Even, if I would study the doctrines in depth and still come out not in agreement with them. I still would remain a Catholic.

Lastly, I didn't know that :-) meant not to be taken literally or seriously.

Neysa

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[> [> [> [> Re: Joan,................... -- Joan, 03:41:11 08/12/07 Sun [1] (ip68-0-253-131.ri.ri.cox.net/68.0.253.131)

"Lastly, I didn't know that :-) meant not to be taken literally or seriously."

I use it that way, but I'm beginning to think that no one else sees it that way. And since we can't hear each other speaking, so you can't hear that I'm not serious, I'll have to change the way I write.

Joan

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