Church Shopping (1)

I was baptized a Catholic when I was three days old and have been a loyal member of the Church all my life. Recent events have made me ask “Why?” but I am still here.  I have a number of good friends who are committed Christians who have switched their allegiance from one denomination to another over the years

I recently found myself involved in several discussions about why people choose to join a particular church or denomination. In all of them at least one participant was a “former Catholic” who had left the Church for some reason.  (10% of most non-Catholic church members are "former" Catholics), Since surveys show that about 28% of parochial school graduates leave the Catholic Church as adults and that 50% of these join another denomination,  their reasons interest me.

Responses may be indicative of a denomination's liturgy, ecclesiology or rule of faith. Some stress the source of doctrinal orthodoxy, the nature of authority in the church, the style of liturgical celebration, the quality of preaching, the sacramental system or the nature of clerical leadership. The role of women in church ministry is an issue in today’s society. Some focus on the personality of the pastor or the friendliness of the church community. Other churches stress a community outreach to serve those in need while still others are primarily seeking to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Programs which serve children often have significant effect either through a church school or a religious education program. Generally all of these factors are involved to some degree.

For me Church is a committed community sharing the same vision of the Gospel, who come together to celebrate Christ’s gift of Himself and to live out His message in the world. It is an experience of His presence in the community and once shared is never totally lost.
All these are positive factors in attracting new members but some  negative issues may drive long-time Catholics to leave the Church. Pedestrian liturgy, poor preaching, inadequate or dishonest responses to moral or financial scandals on the local level, insensitive and autocratic decisions by church officials and a reactionary clericalism and return to the pre-Vatican II style church at all levels have led many to say “I have had it”. In some areas, such as Philadelphia or Cleveland today, very public scandals make it embarrassing to say you are a Catholic.

 (To be continued)