Many ex-Catholics happier without Church
He uses the language of anguish, alienation and a sense of “missing something”.
It is possible that in some cases he is right, and that there are people who need the Church to be more inspiring to them, to reach out to them, but these are by no means the majority.
For the most part, ex-Catholics (whether they retain some religious beliefs or not) have walked away from the Church quite voluntarily, with no sense of missing anything much, though often with some sense of resentment at the control the same Church had over their lives at a time when it was difficult to be an ex-Catholic.
That time is, thankfully, over now.
But let there be no mistake about it, far from wandering like lost sheep in a spiritless mist, it’s clear most ex-Catholics are happier and more self-confident than they were before making the break.
The Church, far from needing to “lead them home”, should make a special effort to leave them alone.
Jaime Hyland
Heinrich-Mann-Str 26
13156 Berlin
Germany
