Voices from the Back Pew - Busted Halo

At Busted Halo, we love the Catholic Church, and also have a heart for reaching those who question, struggle with, or feel they have no place in the Church. Voices From the Back Pew seeks to share honest stories of curiosity, struggle, or tension with the Church in an effort to show others they’re not alone.

Voices From the Back Pew Articles

Holy Land Hospitality: How a Shabbat Dinner on a Work Trip Renewed My Catholic Faith

July 14, 2026
by Rochelle Finzel

A skeptic’s journey through Jerusalem leads to an unexpected spiritual awakening through Shabbat, memory, and rediscovering faith beyond the Church.

Recent Posts

Holy Land Hospitality: How a Shabbat Dinner on a Work Trip Renewed My Catholic Faith

A skeptic’s journey through Jerusalem leads to an unexpected spiritual awakening through Shabbat, memory, and rediscovering faith beyond the Church.

July 14, 2026
by Rochelle Finzel

Talking God: Raising a Child in a Faith I’m Estranged From

When I was 12, I drifted away from Catholicism. So when my son showed a newfound interest in the Church, I was surprised.

June 30, 2026
by Ashley Archambault

I Don’t Want to Be the Only Catholic at the Peace Vigil

I think most Catholics never learn about the peace tradition of the Church, and if they do, they see it as optional as opposed to foundational.

June 16, 2026
by Heather Angell

As Someone Who Is Queer and Questioning, I Challenge the Church To Love Me As I Am

I know who I am and I am proud of ever piece. My questions now revolve around Christianity that have caused me to feel unloveable.

June 2, 2026
by Desiré Findlay

After My Dream Job at USAID Disappeared, Praying Public Rosaries Brought Me Courage

A few weeks after being sent home on administrative leave, I knelt beside the sign outside what had been the entrance to my office and began to pray.

May 19, 2026
by Meghan Hussey Lim

When ‘Community’ Feels Like a Gated Neighborhood: How I Found Belonging

The Church often muddles proximity with community. We can recite the same creed, but we don’t always accompany each other.

May 5, 2026
by Joseph Peach

Faith Amid Friction: Why I Stay in an Imperfect Church

As I sat in the quiet before each of Triduum service, I found myself needing to articulate why I still enthusiastically embrace Catholicism.

April 21, 2026
by Michael O'Connell

A Sanctuary for the In-Between: Why I Visit Churches, Even Though I’m Not Sure What I Believe

Caught between Catholic and Lutheran worlds, a travel writer revisits faith through sacred spaces, living in the spiritual in-between.

April 7, 2026
by Maggie Downs

My Annulment Was Healing. I Still Think the Process Is Unnecessary

No one ever gets married thinking they will get divorced. I never did. But I found myself filing for divorce and starting the annulment process.

March 24, 2026
by Patty Breen McNeil

The Cost of a Wooden Pew: What Happens When Mass Isn’t Accessible

When I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, my ability to be physically present within church buildings — and the Mass — was impacted.

March 10, 2026
by Stephanie Boccuzzi

The Sunday Struggle: Navigating Mass as a Parent of Children With Autism

Raising neurodiverse children changed how we experience the Mass. A reflection on autism, belonging, and finding grace from the back pew.

February 24, 2026
by Matthew Chicoine

The Messages I Miss When Homilies Only Come From Men

Even when I feel misunderstood by priests, I am reminded that I can always trust in God, the creator of all things, to fully understand, know, and love me.

February 4, 2026
by Sarah Kimball

Editor's Picks

Transforming Small Talk: Building Community Through Meaningful Conversations

April 15, 2026
by Catherine Sullivan

Faith Amid Friction: Why I Stay in an Imperfect Church

April 21, 2026
by Michael O'Connell

Cinema Divina: A Beginner’s Guide to Praying With Movies

March 6, 2026
by John Dougherty

Other Related Articles

3 Saints Who Struggled With Their Mental Health — and What We Can Learn From Them

Getting help isn’t a sign that your faith is weak. It’s a sign that you’re paying attention to the life God gave you.

July 15, 2026
by Emerole Clinton

Holy Land Hospitality: How a Shabbat Dinner on a Work Trip Renewed My Catholic Faith

A skeptic’s journey through Jerusalem leads to an unexpected spiritual awakening through Shabbat, memory, and rediscovering faith beyond the Church.

July 14, 2026
by Rochelle Finzel

A Crack in the Mirror: How a Health Crisis Changed My Relationship With God

Maybe I have been given another chance — not to live a charmed life, but a more meaningful one.

July 13, 2026
by Debora O'Donnell