The question asked: "Hiya! How are you? I have a little question to ask of you...if you don't mind that is! Why are you a Catholic? Why haven't you left the Catholic Church and gone to another church? Why do you believe all the stuff they say about Mary, priests, Eucharist, mass, reconciliation etc. etc. etc. ??? Lets’ just say I'm getting curious as to why people (in particular young people) are staying within the Catholic Church when it seems that so many churches have so much to offer... so what are your reasons?" Here are some of the answers.
"First reason im a catholic is because i was born into a family that practiced this religion. truth is, i wouldn't have it any other way. i love the tradition that comes from the catholic church. i love the fact that we can also pray to Mother Mary and the Saints when we need help and when we need to intercede to God or Jesus. a lot of my friends from other churches are not able to do this. i also like our catholic church because of its teachings and how it does not pressure an individual to follow its teachings or outcast and individual when they dont. God has helped me and my family soo much in our lives and I am thankful to him for giving me the opportunity in this life to be a Catholic."
(early twenties, female)
"I am in the Catholic Church because it is the Church that Our Lord Jesus Christ set up for us, and although the protestants have varying levels of truth to them, the Catholic Church has the whole truth.
"Mat 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
"Also we are able to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus in the Holy Sacrament of the Mass. Not even the best preaching from a Protestant pastor can come near to receiving Jesus himself in the Holy Eucharist.
"Praise God for our Holy, Catholic Church"
(early twenties, male)
"I was bought up a catholic, and for a long time I thought I was going to church by Default.
I had a very tough up bringing and went through extreme sufferings as well as personal battles with alcohol and drugs at a very young age. This is already starting to sound like the New Age Charasmatic churches and how they are "Saved" however... I Answered Gods Call.
I went on my first Antioch Weekend down here in Sydney when I was 15... this got me right intime before i headed down an even rockier path... I learnt that I was "special Cos God Dont Make No Junk"
Im not saying Antioch saved my life, Im saying God called out to me and I listened, and I saved my life because of my education on God through Catholic schools.
Since then I have become a stronger member of my Parish and to this day I still go to Antioch. Yes i have been to other charasmatic churches, but one thing we as catholics believe is teaching the Word of God and not trying to CONVERT anyone. We do not hold fierce Judgments about other Denominations and we do not go around telling people if they dont know jesus and be born again they have a demon inside them and they will not enter heaven.
The Catholic faith is the original Christian Church by the Roman Catholics, all other denominations branched off from our traditions... and its because of these traditions The Catholic Church is still alive.
My reason for being a catholic is simple... Education, Personal Journey and FAITH... and all because of Gods call to me through Antioch."
(early twenties, female)
“I decided that if I was going to get confirmed (at 17) – it was an informed choice to be a faithful Catholic for the rest of my life.”
(mid twenties, female)
“Because it feeds my soul not just my life. I have tried other churches for community, fellowship, good music, youth ministry etc and while I get annoyed at the lack of opportunity for this within our church I can’t go past the Catholic faith and tradition. This doesn't mean I don't question and disagree, but the beauty of the church is that there is still room for this. … This is where I find the most life.”
(mid twenties, female)
“Most other churches are apt to chop out or disinherit parts of the Catholic faith that sustain the life of those in the Catholic church … If someone told me that part of my heavenly family was 'invalid', for instance, Mary, the angels, and saints, then I'd be rightly peeved (understatement), and I'm sure that my heavenly family would be extremely angry that they are unable to foster a relationship with those that they love and continually pray for here on earth. ... This is what some churches do. That's all apologetics really, but what would my relationship be to God were it not for the full benefit package I receive from my Catholic faith? Without the living presence of Jesus in the Eucharist every time eternally, or his mercy to cover my faults whenever I so choose to repent? I can't even imagine. I pity those who do not know of these graces. The word of God makes sense within the context of the Catholic faith. "
(early twenties, male)
“I like these questions, they good for testing and developing your relationship with the Big Fella. The main reason I'm a Catholic is because my folks are. That's the way I was baptised. I remembered I did a lot of questioning when I was at school, especially in early high school. But I found that when things were going tough, He'd be the dude I'd turn to, so I guess He's always been there with me. ... seeing other people my age talking about God and their relationship with Him was important to me. I guess the same could have happened if I was brought up in a family who went to another church, with other beliefs. But I haven't really had any reason to go to another church. … Mmm, good question. Still got me thinking."
(mid twenties, male)
“I guess I am a Catholic partly because I was bought up as one, it is part of who I am I guess. ... I am very thank full to God that he gave us Mary. there have been times in my life when I haven't been able to turn to God because I have been angry with him or what ever , but I have been able to turn to Mary thinking that she is a mother and a woman, she will understand, and I have been able to ask her to ask God about things. one time one of my brothers went missing , he was at Uni. and got into the drug scene, I was so upset and mad at God but at the same time I knew that He was the only one who could help me find my brother so I asked Mary to pray . … despite all the odds I found my brother,( this is a few years back ) and he is doing really well and I don't think he would be here without the intercession of Mary. Oh yeah, another reason why I asked Mary for help was because as little children my brother mum dad and I use to say the rosary together and so I thought if my brother wasn't opened to God directly then he at least might be opened to Mary. I know a lot of people have a problem with Mary and I do believe that the devil uses anything he can even Mary to get us side tracked , but I think if your focus is on God than Mary is good. I think that the one that gives birth to the Son of God has to have something going for her.”
(mid twenties, female)
"I've had a lot of personal experiences of stuff like the Eucharist, Reco'[1], Mary...and have always found other churches (even the hip-hop Pentecostal types) lacking. I believe that is due to a number of things but most of all the fact that, definitely, positively, Jesus is fed to us in the Eucharist. I don't need to go elsewhere. Do I need to say more?”
(mid twenties, female)
"I'm Catholic because I choose to be. I had a wonderful enlightening experience at Hearts Aflame when I was considering if this 'stuff' was for me. I wasn't sure about the Eucharist, Mary too, but when I took the time to listen I discovered I had a lot of misinterpretations that once corrected, I could see how they all made sense. Mary always points to Christ, as she always has. She intercedes for us - we don't worship her. She has always been intimately with Christ from the very beginning, without her "Yes" for mankind, there would be no salvation. … I think of the Church as the cake and the other churches have a slice to varying degrees. They are often focussed on particular forms of prayer such as P&W[2], but don't see different forms of prayer as having merit. We have P&W, Mass (which is the biggest prayer), Taize, formal prayers such as the Rosary and different devotions, Adoration and the list goes on. Within The church, every need can be accommodated by getting involved with different groups that have a charism for a type of prayer - and most importantly, they are still within the church, so can be kept truthful. Different interpretations lead to confusion, and division. That's why if you accept the teaching and authority of the church as given by Christ, then truth flows through all it's charisms.”
(mid twenties, male)
“I don't think other churches have a lot to offer. I think we perceive that they do but when they offer camps and rallies etc, when you think about it, not many people go.”
(mid twenties, male)
"Well.....I've done a lot of questioning and a lot of rebelling against some of the things the church teaches, but in the end I have always found that the church (in her wisdom) knows best. … Also the years of experience, wisdom and knowledge that it has accumulated over the years. It's like when parents discipline their children, the child doesn't always understand, but it's always for their good and because they love them."
(mid twenties, female)
“Basically the only thing the Catholic Church lacks compared to other churches is an attitude to embracing a youth attitude. It seems only some parishes have an attitude to driving a community and vibrancy feel, while other remain stuck in their stagnant stale ways. I think the draw card at the end of the day is the EUCHARIST. No matter what the other churches have to offer, the Catholic Church has the Eucharist, and as an "added bonus" the penitential rite of Reconciliation! As well as not only having the King of Heaven, but also the Queen of Heaven praying for us! How awesome is that!"
(early twenties, male)
“Why have I stayed on? Simply because I chose to get involved! I looked for something within the Church that I could partake in, so I joined the Cathedral choir and have since developed a huge passion for music ministry and liturgy. At first I wasn't serious about church, but I was definitely keen on music and choral singing. Somehow I suspected that this would eventually lead me to expanding my understanding of the Church and, lo and behold, it has and I'm still discovering the riches of this faith of ours.”
(mid twenties, female)
“I love the richness and tradition. There is room for all expressions of faith e.g. charismatic, devotion to Mary etc. You can link the Church to Jesus in a direct line. You can be a Catholic all over the world and it is the same faith. Jesus is totally present. I don't know why I believe this but I have a deep sense of faith and just know. The Catholic faith was past on from my family and to be honest I knew nothing else. My parents would shoot me if I left the Catholic Church for another church."
(mid twenties, female)
“I am going to another church (at least I mean I haven't been in a Catholic one for some time). … I like the way I can go to service and sit, stand kneel, be loud, or mainly just contemplative. Basically people are free to express faith in their own way, which I think is really healthy, and I don't find that freedom or creativity in the Catholic Church any more. … The thing that's stuck out to me most so far is the simplest thing - where the pastor walked past me in the congregation and smiled at me which made me feel great and welcome. I compare this to the number of times I've felt dissected when people look at me in the Catholic Church, and how unapproachable most of the priests seem compared with how accessible these guys are. I go where I know I can be with more like minded people than the Catholic youth who are generally a lot younger- and I feel quite alienated- my own age group is fairly much non existent.”
(mid twenties, male)
“I guess I have two answers - one is emotional and the other is intellectual/historical/logical. First, it was through the Catholic church, especially through Our Lady, that I first encountered the love of God - the Catholic Church is home, and it is where most of my friends are - it is where I have been through the roller-coaster ride of the initial stages of my conversion, and where I have been nourished subsequently. So, on an emotional and personal level, it would be heart breaking for me to leave. However, this personal sense of being at home is NOT enough to justify why I am here. So here comes part 2. There is so much theology to come to terms with - the Trinity, the person of Jesus, the Sacraments, Mary, the scriptures and Tradition, contraception/abortion/homosex-uality, heaven/hell/purgatory, etc. These are all important - some of them very much part of our salvation, and so it is important to try and learn about them. However, I know that I personally will never have a complete understanding of it all. So who can I trust to help me understand? Who has the authority to interpret scripture? Surely not everybody, since there are very opposing ideas about what some passages of scripture mean e.g. John 6. I believe that it is only the Catholic Church who has this authority, based on the giving of the keys of the kingdom to Peter. And, since the Church has been around about 100 times longer than me, with the Holy Spirit guiding her, I trust her teaching. … Because, if I'm going to give my life to Christ and His church I want to be sure that I am committing to the fullness of truth, not just parts of the truth. Sometimes, I get frustrated seeing people in authority misrepresenting the truth, or not living the Gospel. However, that is not a reflection on the truth, it is the reality that we are all broken sinners in need of God's grace and forgiveness.”
(mid twenties, female)
"Because it's the truth or closer to it then the rest. I'm looked at other faiths and other versions of Christianity, they all have something. The Protestants have a freedom to their faith, for the most part, that I think Jesus wanted for us but then they are missing so much in the way of learning. At 2000 years old I think our church is like a teenager. Just beginning to understand the realities of the world and far from the perfection that it thinks it is but the other faiths are much much younger, wandering in the dark and not sure of anything so they grab hold of the most tenuous things and for me that is ridiculous. That's why I stayed with the church. It's far from perfect. Not even close really. But its a fraction closer then the others and a lot more willing to admit mistakes and learn, if slowly. Of course there is the more nefarious answer that I truly feel this is the right place and faith for me in my heart every time I receive the sacraments or read the bible or the catechism.”
(early twenties, male)
“The catholic faith is like a massive banquet table, and everything else just seems like one small meal on that table. You can have it all so why not?"
(mid twenties, male)
“Being a Catholic is the only way for me, it’s the best way and for me it’s the only way and I hope that I will be able to stay a Catholic and a follower of our Lord right to my very last gasp!”
(“mature” female)
“I knew there had to be a God when I got pregnant after being told I couldn’t have children. I like the Catholic Church because of the Black & White. The teaching is there because somebody had a question and the church has answered it.”
(“middle aged” female)
G.K. Chesterton put it well:
"The difficulty of explaining 'why I am a Catholic' is that there are ten thousand reasons all amounting to one reason: that Catholicism is true."
(early twenties, male)