I wanted to run a question past you. I have a very good friend, married with 3 kids. They recently left the Catholic church for a non-denominational pentacostal-type church. She said she wasn’t being fed in the Catholic Church. And she is now truly on fire for the Gospel, and sharing it with everyone she meets. And it almost does seem that God is leading her there: so many coincidences, people put her in path, miracles taking place in her life. Do you think God could be leading her out of the Church? Should I be trying to actively engage her on this, or just keep praying for her to come back to the Church? Or could it be that God does want her in this non-denominational church? What are your thoughts on this? (I know you’re very busy, I really appreciate your help!)
No. I don’t think God is leading her out of the Church, because the Church is the Body of Christ that he has established on earth as the sacrament of salvation. The teaching of the Church is clear: outside the Church, no salvation. So it is as impossible that God is leading her out of the Church as it is that he would lead her to commit adultery or grand theft auto.
That said, it is not only possible, but certain, that God uses even our sins and failings and misunderstandings to bring glory to his name and that your friend may well be having a real encounter with God in the middle of all the confusion she is going through. This is why we are told not to judge. As far as your part in all this goes, it seems to me the best course is twofold: first, to pray for her and second, to call her back to the Church as the fullness of the Faith. Part of that is to find out what “not being fed” means to her. I suspect she means they felt isolated, lonely, and unloved — a tragically common problem in our parishes. If so, that means finding ways to answer that need, such as creating small group fellowships for prayer and mutual ministry. It may also mean they are spiritual thrill-seekers or that they have bought into somebody’s pet quack theology. For instance, some Pentecostal groups specialize in unbiblical teachings that deny the Trinity under the theory that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all the same person wearing different hats depending on whether it is before, during, or after the Incarnation. Many practice invalid baptisms. Many hold the theory that you are not saved unless you speak in tongues. None have a valid Eucharist. Is God utterly absent from such congregations? Certainly not. As the Church teaches, God’s grace is at work in such ecclesial bodies, and many people of good will are there, attempting to obey God’s will according to their best lights. But none of that is a reason to leave the Catholic Church.
One thing that will be necessary for you if you wish to engage your friend will be to find out what theories, if any, they have embraced about why the Catholic Church is in error. This may be complicated because typically such theories get layered on over choices that have little to do with the real reasons for leaving. In other words, people join a Pentecostal sect because they were lonely and felt welcomed, but then begin to absorb anti-Catholic rhetoric as an intellectual justification for their essentially emotional choice. So several months later, the story has morphed from “I wasn’t being fed” to “I read Matthew 23 and realized to my horror that we had been calling the priest ‘Father’ when Jesus clearly commanded ‘Call no man on earth ‘father’.’ There are, of course, sensible replies to such things (as, for instance, the fact that St. Paul says to the Corinthians, “I became your father through the Gospel,” not to mention the fact that Jesus is not issuing some absurd taboo against the use of the word “father” any more than he is declaring in the same verse that you can’t call Mrs. Johnson from third grade your teacher when he likewise commands we call no one on earth “teacher”).
You may have to drill down through quite a number of the theological excuses for leaving the Church (and there are plentiful resource out there for dealing with them all due to the efforts of such good folk as Catholic Answers, Scott Hahn, Patrick Madrid, et al. But at the end of the day, what it will come down to is dealing with the root causes which are in all likelihood emotional: Something was sought that was not found in the Catholic communion. That doesn’t mean the thing sought is not there. It also doesn’t mean the thing sought was what they really wanted. Nor does it mean the thing sought was what they necessarily should want. But it does mean that the thing sought needs to be identified and looked at in light of the Tradition.
In the end, what everybody is always seeking is happiness. Indeed, St. Thomas says that we can’t *not* want our happiness, since we were made by God to seek it. And that’s because God is our happiness, and we can’t not desire him. But we *can* and do seek our happiness in wrong ways. This is the essence of sin. To turn away from Jesus Christ, fully present in the Eucharist, is always therefore an objective evil, though the culpability for that evil is often greatly reduced or non-existent due to the simple fact that the person turning away has not the slightest idea of Who is present there. In this, they are like the confused person who enters the freeway on the exit ramp and drives down it the wrong way. They may be completely sincere, honest and good: but they are still going the wrong way and it can still have devastating consequences for themselves and others.
On the bright side, there is hope. God is in the redemption business. Not a few Catholics have sojourned in non-denominational Christianity for reasons similar to your friend’s and come back all the stronger Catholic for it. I think, for example, of my friend Jeff Cavins, who left the Church at 18 to become a Pentecostal pastor and who found his way guided back to the Church step by step by the Holy Spirit. I strongly recommend you read his story, (My Life on the Rock) because it is so archetypally illustrative of the kinds of forces that are often in play both in those who leave the Church and in those who return.
You are a good friend to care for your friends so much. May God bless your work in the vineyard!
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I could have written the first query myself - as I also have a friend whose left the Church because as she said it, “her kids were bored at Mass”. But they are not bored at their new church where the Sunday service is a mini rock concert with the words projected on the wall so everyone can sing along - loud and strong. They welcomed her with open arms (they are mostly fallen away Catholics as well) and the preacher is funny to boot.
I’ve asked her if keeping her kids entertained is her key role as a mom or getting them back to heaven. She knows it is heaven but she can’t seem to understand it can’t happen while going to this new church - “They are just so inviting.” She leaves a couple towns over from me so invites to my parish where we would warmly welcome them every Sunday isn’t possible. I’m still talking with her and praying for her (and her kids) but I feel a mite helpless…..
Jesus and Mary will never lead people away from the One True Church. Most people leave because they are very lazy about their spiritual life; such as having to go to Mass on Sundays; confession to a Priest; not eating meat on Fridays (especially in lent) and so forth. Someone mentioned that there is no salvation outside the church; be very careful; as our wonderfull pope has once again proclaimed that those who believe this is not a Catholic nor even could be called a Christian! Keep praying for those that leave the chuch to come back and as Pope John Paul said have pity for our brethen outside of the one true church. God Forgive us. JMJ
My mom is a variation on this - 15 years in the convent (almost ten professed). Then about another 15 years afterwards as a lay Catholic. Then Protestant for the last twenty or so years, getting her Masters theological degree, allowing her to preach in her denomination. She felt there was no room for her in the Catholic Church to answer her call to evangelize to the poor. I tried to show how the idea is a snake swallowing its tail - God will never call her out of the Church to call her to hew own service to the cross. I think she is honestly hesitant, that she knows better, but that maybe pride gets in her way. She believes JPII’s pastoral letter on women ordination was not infallible even though she recognizes his authority to some extent; same for other related documents. She also believes God calls everyone to the Eucharist and doesn’t understand how the Church can be so “exclusive”. She’s a woman of incredible prayer and courage and selflessness, far greater than me in these areas, but I don’t know what to do except to find teachable moments and pray (but I often forget to remember this intention).
I’m confused. If there is no salvation outside the Roman Catholic church, then why doesn’t the leaders of the church come out say Protestants are lost and condemned since they are not part of the Roman Catholic church?
They are still saved through the Church: its will and prayer. At the time of the judgment, they will understand their ignorance, and so to speak, become Catholic - to the extent that they know the truth of the Catholic Church (though they may still reject it). Whether the lack of knowledge during their earthly life is guiltily imputable to them is for God to judge; their being outside the Church may not be a subjective error or sin. We pray as Jesus did, “ut unum sint”, the famous phrase, “that they may all be one” (roughly). Now you can see how they are saved, to some extent and in a very real sense, through the Church.
So solid, Mark, so solid. Great post.
Save Us, your people, O God! I am a born and bred Catholic - now post post doctorate,,,,I thought Jesus addressed this already. Stop thinking in tribal mentality and open your heart to truly hear the WORD of God.(this weekend readings (particularly the Gospel) might be a great pkace to begin) A Lenten reflection query to many - How large (or small) is your God? My prayer and the Blessing of the Lenten Season are offerd for you!
Peace!
I have read the response with disbelief - tribal mentality for sure. We are not too judge those who are serving Christ outside of our “church”. Last time I checked that was reserved for Christ himself. Foolish fodder to do otherwise.
Peace
Having just reverted to the RCC from a Pentecostal church, I can see this both ways.
Mass means so much more to me because of my relationship with Christ. But, if I were a cradle Catholic, I might not have that perception. If I never had the opportunity to have a conversion experience, I don’t think I would find the sacraments so deep and rewarding. Yes, they are beautiful, but without a passion for Christ, they can be rote. It is sad that she had to find that outside the RCC, but be happy that she did. Because now her faith is so personal it’s become a fire within her belly.
Mr. Shea you are SPOT ON!!! I know because I left the Catholic shortly after marrying and was away for more than 25 YEARS, I NEVER thought that I would EVER return. NEVER say NEVER. By the Grace of God, I am right back at HOME once again. The Welcome was wonderful. In less than 3 years back I have become a Lay Minister, and on my parishes Evangilization Committee. We are working to evangelize the Baptized. So tell your reader that posed this question there is HOPE… I’m Proof! Tell him not to be or even LOOK depressed when he encounters her. Be happy that God is working in her life. Then get yourself reading. Study up on apologetics. There are lots of Websites like Catholic Answers and resources like ‘New Advent.org’. You will need to study up on Solo Scriptora, Once Saved Always Saved, and finally the Real Presence in the Eucharist. Protestants take the bible literal… it’s the word of God. The only time they do not take it literal is in the gospel of John CHAPTER 6! Study up. Most importantly …. PRAY ALWAYS! Pray for your friend and Pray for yourself. You want God to give you wisdom as you study. This will also demonstrate to your friend that it is possible to have everything she can find in the protestant church at HOME in the Catholic Church… where the CCC says we will find … “THE FULNESS OF FAITH”. God bless you and keep you and your friend in the very palm of his hands.
Mr. Shea, I am new to your blog… keep up the good work!
I agree with Bill. Study what the Bible teaches and compare it with Catholic doctrines. That’s where you will find some major problems.
Our Thirst is Satisfied in Christ
by Father Kevin Cusick(“The Wanderer"April 7, 2011 issue)
“Some Catholics leave the Church and go wandering,
ending up in ecclesial groups or sects that
allow them to pick and choose what they want to
believe and what they want to do as if they are
browsing in a cafeteria. They have forgotten, perhaps,
that God reveals Himself and calls us to conform
to what He reveals and, thus, it is not reasonable
to demand that He conform Himself to our preferences
and to our desires if we claim that it is God
whom we truly want.
The “gift of God” in Jesus Christ is the one Savior,
the one Source of Life who founded the Church
and calls us to enjoy communion with Him and one
another in the Church.
“There is only one God, and He is recognized as
Father by those who, through faith in His only Son,
are reborn of Him by water and the Spirit. The
Church is this new communion of God and men.
United with the only Son, who has become ‘the
firstborn among many brethren,’ she is in communion
with one and the same Father in one and the
same Holy Spirit. In praying ‘our’ Father, each of
the baptized is praying in this communion: ‘The
company of those who believed were of one heart
and soul’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church,2790).”
I am a cradle catholic and understood and trusted the catholic church. There was something I didn’t get and I knew there was something I needed to learn. I put my faith aside. Never really went to a protestant faith as I knew the value of the Eucharist. I am now back and my faith has finally taken root. I love the catholic Church.
Chantal
I’m not try to sound rude or anything but I got bible verses that prove oneness with god, jesus, and the holy spirit. They all one in the same, here are those bible verses.
John 1:1
John 1:14
John 10:30
Revelation 4:2
James 2:19
Ephesians 4:5
Acts 2:38
Ok I hope touched your heart in these bible verses and if you would like I couldt show you bible verses about being baptised in jesus name. Have a good day and I shall pray for you guys.
I believe that god is bringing her to that church be he chose her to be in his kingdom, anyone who studys scripture understands that god chooses his people before they even think about him.
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