I was born Catholic, Catholic school, church everyday & Sundays. I was a kid so I did what my parents told me. As I became an adult, I had 2 encounters with the church. 1 -when I got my divorce the church wanted me to get an annulment. Well I didn't because it was $500, didn't have the $$$, single mom, & I knew that in my heart God knew my circumstances. 2-while living in VA, my family came for Christmas 1 year. Took them to church with me. Priest said for communion, basically you can't have communion if your not a member of our parish. That did it for me. Have not been back yet.

The catholic church unfortunately has been a business for a long time. The fact that people are falsely led to believe that they must go through a priest to receive forgiveness is a lie. Jesus came to abolish religion and the law so we could have a personal relationship with him. He forgave the sins of the world by becoming the perfect unblemished Lamb sacrifice, so He could offer salvation ( eternal life) through faith, not works so no one can boast ( have pride). Jesus was very much against the religious leaders of His time on earth. They too oppressed the people and added hundreds of more laws to the Law of Moses. Jesus overturned the tables of the money exchangers in the temple because they were taking unfair advantage of the people. Relationship is the key that opens the heart to God. 😇