How one can let other people influence their faith negatively

[SaintOfVirtue]

I didn't read the whole thread, but isn't saying that other people "negatively affected your faith" comparable to saying (in a hypothetical situation) other people negatively affected your marriage and caused a divorce?  Faith is a relationship, not a science or political party.

[franciscanheart]

Welcome, @Dorian. I'm sorry others have made you uncomfortable and treated you with disrespect.  While nowhere near on par with your experiences, I have known the temptation to leave a parish at least because of how people treated me (families with small children who aren't robots and therefore aren't perfectly quiet are criticized harshly at times). Again, I'm not really comparing that to your experiences, because it's nowhere near that magnitude, just saying I can understand a little bit of that temptation to leave because of others. I do hope you come back, and I will pray for you and for those around you to treat you with the respect you deserve.  You might want to talk to @franciscanheart, too. 

I'm around, @Dorian, if you want to chat. I'll make sure I have some free space in my inbox.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

@Dorian I think you need to have made 100 posts before you have access to Private Messaging on Phatmass. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong about this.)

One way to quickly increase the number of your posts is to post in the Phatmass online Rosary thread. At one Hail Mary etc. per post, it adds up.  http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/124665-rosary-lets-pray-it/

[MarysLittleFlower]

Dorian, I have never been through something like what you describe but for a while as a Catholic, I didn't have friends at my parish and I went only to be with Jesus. I thought I'm alone but He is alone too, and I made my loneliness as a way to be with Him and console Him. Jesus is always alone in the Tabernacle and longs for souls. This time really brought me closer to Him. What do you think about just going to be with Jesus and not really reading anything online / facebook etc? I know we naturally want human friendship but I've found my best friend in Jesus and He has a human nature. And He understands us totally. not like others. I struggle with feelings of loneliness too but for a different reason and maybe not as much as you but it did help. Why not just start with going to Adoration? This can give strength. And just Mass on Sunday. I'm a "trad" Catholic and I think what matters is the will and living chastely, - and all of us are called to live chastely.   God bless you! If someone is homosexual and accepting Church teaching and living chastely, I dont see them as any less Catholic

[tinytherese]

It's been said,"Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary." Living our faith is powerful. It doesn't justify leaving the Church or not looking into the faith because of how others behaved, but it sure makes both of those things easier to do.