Anyway, I was actually about to let this tidbit go when I saw that the PDI actually went out of it's way to interview a particular convicted religious offender. Funny how the mainstream media goes out of it's way to interview such folks when it doesn't go out of it's way to report stuff like WHY the Catholic Church opposes artificial contraception (and I mean officially, with Church documents and history and stuff, not the crap that our own less-than-ideally trained clergymen spew out). The religious feeling offender said something to the effect of "hey, 1 out of 10 Catholics thinking of leaving! Yay! More Filipinos are not choosing reason over religion."
So... I start with - is reason and religion mutually exclusive? People who claim such can fall under the following categories:
a) Some (not all) Atheists who want to feel smug and feel intellectually superior to religious people, even if aforementioned atheists merely repeat often preached myths and fables fabricated and spread by messiah like figures like Richard Dawkins. I mean seriously, atheism sometimes feels like a religion to me, sans belief in God but full of the "yes, we repeat what you say master."
b) Catholics or practitioners of whatever religion who question a particular tenent or doctrine of aforementioned religion with the intent to disobey. For example, the dissenters who want the Church to change it's stand on artificial contraception like to say that they (dissenters) are using reason while those who choose to obey the Church as per Jesus' command are merely blind followers. The funny part is that it is the dissenting Catholic who is blindly obeying and listening to what they want to hear. The thinking Catholic realizes that Christ established HIS Catholic Church, promised that the Holy Spirit will assist the Church, and that he who sins against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Ever. (cf. Mark 3:28-30)
People seem to like to think that the Catholic Church produced its doctrines out of thin air. The fact of the matter is that the Church formulated it's doctrines precisely because its job is to prevent confusion. Doctrines are formulated to clarify what defines or what doesn't define Catholicism. To pooh-pooh doctrine (as even some so-called Jesuits have done) is basically spitting at the Church itself, and thus spit at Christ. (cf. Acts 9:4)
But now back to the topic at hand. What do I have to say about 1 in 10 Catholics thinking of leaving the Church?
Putting aside the fact that many of those in that roughly 10% already don't hear Mass regularly (hint), let me say that my first reaction was NOT "oh no, one out of ten!"
In fact, it was "what? ONLY one out of ten have thought of leaving the Church?"
Why do I think this way?
Let's examine the reasons why people think of leaving the Church.
I would think that the most logical reason would be "I don't agree with the teachings or a particular teaching." That is a good one. I know a gay friend who left the Church because he does not agree with the Church's teaching on homosexuality. Good for him.
See, this is a GOOD reason to leave. Much better than people STAYING despite not being in communion with the universal faith and then trying to force their own beliefs on those who want to believe in the apostolic faith.
Another reason would be, "How can I stay in a Church whose members don't practice what they preach?" Again, another valid reason. My answer to that would be I'm not in the Church for the pedophile priest, for the boring sermon, or the corrupt bishop. I'm in it because of Jesus Christ. So why are there weeds mixed in with the wheat? Uh, Jesus said that that would be the case. (cf. Matthew 13:24-30)
Hence, those who think of leaving the Church are doing so because they are thinking. That doesn't mean that they will actually leave. I've thought about leaving the Church in the past precisely for the two reasons I elaborated. Yet, here I am. I chose to stay despite the problems, because I firmly believe in the words of Christ.
So what about the idea that one out of ten have thought of leaving the Church being indicative of reason over religion? I daresay that if Filipino Catholics used their brains more, then MORE people should have thought of leaving the Church, even if they do not, eventually, like me, or leave then come back with a solid faith, like many friends I know.
The reason why a good chunk of 90% have never thought of leaving could be one of two reasons:
a) they have experienced the same doubts that I have, but never thought of leaving.
b) they are blind sheep who choose to ignore all the problems in the Church or
c) they never really bothered to think about the reasons for their belief.
I know a lot of faithful catholics who belong to A. I don't know anyone stupid enough to fall under b (well wait, yes I do), but I think most Filipinos fall under C.
Most Filipinos don't even KNOW Catholic doctrines. Hence, how can they think "hmmm, what's the bibilcal basis for the immaculate conception?" when they probably aren't even sure what the immaculate conception is!
I therefore conclude that when a serious Catholic does not take his religion for granted and tries to probe everything with reason, then the aforementioned Catholic, unless his mind is fully illuminated by the Holy Spirit, will run into speedbumps and roadblocks. I also find it safe to assume that many of these roadblocks may have them consider, or think about, leaving the Church. The real question is: how many really do leave, why do they really leave, and whether after going around aimlessly, do they actually end up coming back home.
Remember, Christ would leave the 99 to go after the 1 lost sheep.
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