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

What My Yearslong Struggle With OCD and Scrupulosity Taught Me About Fear and Faith

October 6, 2026
by A. T.

When I think about moral perfectionism, I am now at a place where my mind doesn’t tell me I need to be perfect.

Recent Posts

What My Yearslong Struggle With OCD and Scrupulosity Taught Me About Fear and Faith

When I think about moral perfectionism, I am now at a place where my mind doesn’t tell me I need to be perfect.

October 6, 2026
by A. T.

I Used to Think Heaven Was in the Sky. Now I See It All Around Me

As a child, I pictured heaven like a scene out of “A Wrinkle in Time:” family members resting on beach chairs on fluffy clouds.

September 22, 2026
by Natalie Serianni

I Found My Vocation at the Altar. I Also Found a Barrier.

My vocation to the priesthood is as natural as breathing. It’s not something that leaves when I rest, go to work, or spend time with friends.

September 8, 2026
by Eloise Lynn

What Happens When Your Ministry Comes to an End?

Whatever work or ministry we’re given by God is one we give back to him and his people. It is never ours.

August 11, 2026
by Kerry Campbell

Latin-American ‘Cultural Catholicism’ Enriches My Passion for Social Justice

As a cultural Catholic, I already understood that my faith didn’t have to be a barrier to promoting social justice in my daily life.

July 28, 2026
by Alejandro Villa Vasquez

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

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

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Walking up to the Basilica of St. Thérèse in Lisieux, I couldn’t help but feel as small as a child compared to the vast building.

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