Good Soldier Schweik: "Steve Shaw raised the subject of Roman Catholicism, not to be confused with Orthodox Catholicism."

Explain the difference.

Steve Shaw: "I'm constantly amused by these guys who think that my escaping from the grip of Catholicism must have been in any way hurtful. Not a bit of it, chaps. Compared to the iron grip of Islam, the velvet glove of Catholicism is benign. To stop being a Catholic, all you have to do is stop going to mass, stop going to confession and say very little. Hardly anyone notices for several years, then someone politely raises it. Why would I be bitter and hurt?"

In Catholicism, it is taught, and adhered to, that the ONLY doctrines about Jesus, must be approved by a priest, who is subject to the dogmas set forth by the Vatican...and NOT to listen to anyone or anything else, for fear of it being a heresy...and that would be a 'sin'.
The problem with this, is though you, "...To stop being a Catholic, all you have to do is stop going to mass, stop going to confession and say very little...."...there is a reason to 'say very little'...PLUS, though you stop doing all those things, the stigma of being receptive of getting another viewpoint sticks with you...and severely. It has been imprinted in your brain, for years or even decades...and you KNOW that, as well as I.
True story.

GfS