Have u ever thought of becoming a Catholic?
971377
Yes, but the required frontal lobotomy put me off the idea.
374453
I was raised a Catholic but was never taught anything about faith and that you need it to be saved. I was mostly religious stuff like confessing your sins to a priest when all along I could have just talked to God myself. Why go to the priest anyway???  And the whole rosary thing I never understood. I was taught all the religious aspects  but never the way to know for sure that you have eternal life. Which is FAITH in Jesus and trusting that He is the ONLY way to get to heaven. For it is by grace we have been saved through FAITH and this is not from us but it is a GIFT from God, not by works so that no one can boast. I am so glad that I KNOW that I have eternal life!!!! -I am not saying anything bad about Catholics but just my experience. I actually know many catholics who believe it is by faith and that the other religious stuff means nothing. Besides "religion" is man made, it doesn't matter what one you are as long as you have faith in jesus for salvation.
317286
No, I did not, but I do want to go to Church.  The problem I have is that I have a disabled child and two other children.  We did go once and it was awful because we spent the whole time trying to keep our child quiet.  The other two boys were OK and could go off to special groups for the children.  It was quite a stressful experience, so now I try to pray at home.  A pity really, because I wanted my children to grow up knowing all about Church and the meaning of Christmas and Easter.
1165173
I was raised Catholic my whole entire life until 11 years ago after my mother suddenly passed away.  I wanted to get my life in order so I met with the Catholic priest and as soon as I told him that I had 2 step children he stopped me.  I'm not married to a Catholic and didn't get married in the church and he said that I couldn't take communion and that my husband had to get an anullment.  Really broke my heart.  They keep these priests that molest little boys and just move them to another church.!  That's okay?  But me not being married to Catholic isn't okay?!  Sad huh?  So to answer your question, no!
997250
OK- you're 19....here's an observation from a 40 year old.\n\nWhen I was a child, I took everything my parents said absolutely. I never questioned anything.\n\nWhen I became a teen, I took on the popular 'you aren't the boss of me mentality'....and questioned everything....and didn't much take their advice- I could decide things for myself.\n\nWhen I became an adult- and a parent- I realized my parents were right about just about everything. They had lived through a lot, made mistakes, seen others make mistakes. They had the benefit of wisdom and experience, and weren't such bad guides, after all.\n\nI see my relationship with the Church the same way. As a child, I did what I was told. As a young adult, I bought into the idea that I could make my own decisions--many of the bad ones.\n\nNow, with the benefite of hindsight, I realize how much pain in my life could have been completely avoided if I had followed the teachings of the Church.\n\nI made my own decisions on many things....and eventually came to relize I was WRONG when those decisions conflicted with Church teaching. Every time and without exception. The Church has always been right and I have always been wrong.\n\nSo now, when an issue of faith or morals comes up- I look to the Church first, and form my opinions based on what the Church teaches. After all- the only purpose of the Church is to help us get to Heaven!\n\nNow, the Pope. No, he doesn't 'control' me. I do look to him as my spiritual leader, a man of faith who is an example for me as a Christian. And when he speaks on matters of faith and morals, I obey him as leader of the Church who wants only the best for me.....like any good parent.
382237
No. I think Opus Dei would send you a big HUGE rejection letter.\n\nSorry to crush your dreams.
557156
maybe you havent gone to the right church
891156
I had this same problem. I was raised Catholic, but very loosely. Religion did not play a major part in my life, but don't think I was ever really an atheist. I started looking into other religions such as different Christian denominations, Hinduism, Bhuddism, Zoroastrianism, Mormonism, Judaism, Sikhism, Shinto, Manicheism, Gnostic Christianity, Wicca and even simply deeper into my original Catholic upbringing. I found them all very interesting, and full of truths, but not complete. Then I looked into Islam and I converted after about a year or so of research  and study of the religion. It just seemed to be what I had already believed all along, for as long as I can remember. \nI'm not saying that you should necesarilly become a Muslim now, but look into it. I would look into other religions on a deeper level and study them to see what makes the most sense and find what you believe (note I say "believe" and "sense" in the same sentence, not "find very interesting"). Until you find something, if you don't come to your own conclusions, just believ in God and do whatyou think is right; there isn't really much room for error there.\nI hope you find what you are looking for.
803979
I got baptized into Catholicism, but not of my own accord.
571093
Well since I don't have one the answer would be no. But I did go to Catholic school from k-8 and was always told that I asked too many questions. Being a person who believes that many people will take advantage of you if they have the chance I would still say that I would never believe "everything" that somebody tells me.
1177188
I grew up as Catholic. \n\nWhen I reached the age to ask questions about what I believed and cared about, I looked around at other faiths and decided that Catholicism answered all my questions. \n\nSo I go to the Catholic church around the corner. I can also find a Catholic church where ever I travel.\n\nWith love in Christ.
734276
I grew up Catholic but I chose to not have any religion at some point.  Honestly it bored the heck out of me.  Now I do find the study of relgions fascinating, just not the belief in one.
272660
Yes ... visually, you'll see I'm much more present in life.  I've stopped asking for so much selfish stuff since I've started praying; however, I do still have many personal gifts I ask for like patience, understanding, wisdom, and forgivness. \n\nI now also ask for bigger stuff like WORLD PEACE and an end to Sexual Slavery/Human Trafficing ... Do I believe that my prayers for bigger stuff will happen?  Yes I do believe my prayers for the bigger stuff will happen.  My role modle is the "Our Lady of Fatima" children.  They had their vision of the Virgin Mary, and they did penance for us all to be saved from Hell and an end to Communist Russia their whole life; Russia fell and their prayers came true ... now that's a big prayer to fullfil, and God did it ... I believe World Peace and an end to Sexual Slavery and Human Trafficing follow God's plan, so he is working on these issues just like he did with the "Our Lady of Fatima Children".
761430
I am Catholic.  There are many organizations at school and other places where people of all faiths get together to pray, have fun, and serve others.\n\nI hope that you are able to do this in your town.  If not, take the first step and invite the Catholics to participate in some community service project or celebration.  It is a great time of the year to start.
233598
My husband.\n\nHe was raised as a Catholic. During his teen years, he decided God did not exist and he held to that for years. Then he met Jesus personally and his life was completely changed. He has never been the same since. :)
843838
I was born and raised Southern Baptist.  I never felt at home in that faith.  I always felt like an outsider looking in.  I went to church Sun morn, Sun eve and Wed eve every week without fail for my entire childhood.\n\nI graduated from high school and moved out on my own.  After a period of staying out of churchs completely, I felt empty in my heart.  After a lot of soul searching I figured out that the emptiness in my heart was due to my being out of the will of God.  In order to fill that emptiness I had to reconcile myself to God. \n\nI tried going back to the Baptist Church, but I still never felt like I was a part of that.  At the time I worked with two Catholics.  They had a peace about them that I wanted in my life!  They talked openly about being Catholic, they weren't ashamed of it.  And I could tell that being Catholic was a big part of their entire life--not just a trip to church twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday nite.\n\nSo I did some more research.  I liked what I read about the Catholic faith.  And I began to take instruction in the Catholic faith.  This has been one of the hardest things I've ever done in my whole life.  All my life as a Baptist I was taught that Catholics were going to hell because they worshipped Mary and the Saints.  That they prayed to statues.  That the Roman Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon mentioned in the Book of Revelation.  That you ask Jesus to forgive you, not a man---even if the man is a priest.  And so on and so forth, ad infinitum ad nauseum.\n\nIt took a lot of study and prayer to find the answers to all those bogus notions I'd been taught.  Catholics don't worship Mary or the Saints--we venerate them.  We don't pray to statues---that's just dumb.  I don't believe the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon.  Jesus gave the power to forgive sins and cast out demons in his Name to his disciples.  And its ok to confess your sins to a priest.  \n\nI took instruction for about six months.  I joined the Catholic Church about 25 years ago and I've never regretted a minute of it.  I finally feel at home in a church.  I'm active in my local Church--I help out at Mass and I teach in our Parish School of Religion.  \n\nI have a peace in my heart and soul that I never felt when I was Baptist.   And I still hear the same bone headed things that I heard as a kid about Catholics.\n\nHas this cost me anything?  Yes.  My father, a die-hard Baptist, never accepted my conversion.  Until his dying day he still would not talk about it.  That hurt a lot.\n\nBut I have a church home now--and a solid faith in my Lord Jesus--who saves me from my sinful nature by his Grace alone.  I can't earn my salvation--its a gift from the Lord.  \n\nWould I do it over again?  Yes---although I probably would've not drug my heels so much and made the conversion much sooner.
963688
pick whos in your heart not becoz he goes to the church is perfect already but take note , im a pure catholic , i love to invite more people go to my church