I haven't had time to read all the responses but it seems interesting so I will go back and read.

I am Catholic but stopped attending mass years ago. Why? I don't know. I think I became disillusioned when after a prayer meeting the other 20-somethings and I would try to figure out which diner to go to, and half of them would say "no, not that one, thats where the Jews hang out".... "not that one, thats where the Ricans hang out." It felt soooo phoney to be praising God and promise to be good Christians then to be condemning others and labeling them.

I was married in my back yard by a non-Catholic minister. I was adamant he marry us because he was my neighbor whom I adored... I wanted to be married by a friend not a starnger. My Catholic friends had SUCH a hard time about it. I don't understand why people make distininctions (sp?) about priests vs. ministers, etc. They are all reading from the same book, right?

Now I'm in the hard spot I'm in. I've been praying to God for guidance and help. Been thanking Him for what good things I encounter. I thought about going to church around here.... I can't bear to step into another Catholic church after my last experience, and I just don't identify with the other churches that don't recognise Mary since I always felt a strong connection to her.

My SIL is a devout Catholic. Her father was Schizophrenic and seriously, honestly thought he was Jesus. I'm am serious. My father was also Schizophrenic and my brother exhbits tendencies. My brother is a complete atheist. His take is that back n the day there were prophets. Today there are Schizophrenics. He goes to mass every Sunday with his devout wife and children. He listens to what the priest has to say and his wife hopes one day God will touch him, but it remains that he's atheist and believes what he believes. I think its amazing that two people with such vastly different opinions of God have such a loving and strong marriage.