Sorry, but if you think the Roman Catholic Church’s claims about itself are true you should turn yourself in to the nearest RC parish, arrange a confession, and beg Father to receive you IMMEDIATELY. Your very salvation could be at stake!
Stop extracting money from the Church of England. It is selfish and wicked to do that if you have already decided to withdraw yourself from it.
First, thank’s for being so charitable. Second, it’s not as if I hadn’t “turned myself in” to the nearest parish. It’s just been determined that I should take the time I need, which was stated by the Catholic priest. I refuse to talk about my personal salvation – which I have my own doubts about, you be sure!*– in this tone. Thank you.
How exactly is it that I am “extracting money” from the CofE? I’m not even on the members list of the parish any longer, nor do we receive funding. In fact, you should be happy, sir, that I am still contributing to it.
If he has already changed his mind, and continues on as an Anglican, he is perpetuating a fraud. If he is really Roman Catholic in his heart now, then he is basically saying that the Church of England’s claim to be part of the ‘one, holy, catholic and apostolic church’ is a lie, which means he should stop engaging with it forthwith.
While I do believe that claim is not sustainable, I trust that God knows one’s heart. Think: Baptism by desire. I haven’t refused to become Catholic, quite the opposite.
OP, are you still taking communion in your C of E parish? If so, why? The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Church of England priests are not priests at all but laymen in vestments and that their “sacraments” are not valid. So you, by continuing to take communion in an Anglican church, are not only violating your own conscience (presumably) but leading others astray by publicly participating in something which you now believe (as a Roman Catholic at heart) to be a fraud.
No, I do not take communion any longer. Sorry to disappoint you.
Perhaps you have committed some “mortal sins” in your life. You do realize that as Anglican “priests” are not real priests you cannot receive absolution from them right? So if you get hit by a bus tomorrow you could be in danger of hell-fires? Do you not see that your reason for staying in the Church of England (presumably, money) is both condemnatory to you and something that has the capacity to lead others astray as well?
Yes, I recognise all of that. I don’t know where I’d end up and I can’t help but think that you would be quite alright with me going there for abandoning the CofE. Really, I do not at all appreciate this tone.
My reason for staying in the CofE is that I am bound to do so by a contract. People are telling me they are so happy that I work there (this is a year of voluntary service to the parish) and with all that I do. Are you seriously telling me that I should leave them all alone from one day to the next, leaving all the stuff unfinished and unworkable?
No, I do not see it as condemnatory to myself. (See above) Since I have not refused to join the Catholic Church, but rather have decided to do so, I do not believe that I would automatically go to Hell because of that. However, I could, of course, for other reasons known to God.
I would be leading them astray if people knew I didn’t accept Anglican claims. They don’t and therefore I am not leading anyone anywhere. And by the way, I put in a word for the Catholics anywhere I can. That wouldn’t be to your liking, I presume.
Could it not be possible that perhaps, the OP needs a period of transition to find a new job, before he stops working for the Church of England?
What of the Anglican faith has he been compromising in his current capacity? Has he been distributing Communion? Has been attempting to subvert any particular outreaches or missions of his parish?
Yes, that is the case: I am bound until 31 August. I have not compromised anything, if by that you mean getting up in the pew and shouting: “Heretics!”. I have not been giving out communion, neither have I been trying to subvert anything. Quite the opposite.
It seems additionally that he strove to provide an accurate portrayal of the Church with the assignment we are currently discussing.
His parish absolutely has the right to terminate employment at any time given his desire to convert to Catholicism, but maybe they’ve allowed him to stayed employed until he has found a new one? Or perhaps he signed a contract and therefore cannot terminate his employment until it expires?
The latter is the case.
It could also be that none of what I said is true. But in Christian charity, shouldn’t we at least offer him the benefit of the doubt?
Thank you for saying that, I believe it has been very helpful!
there, I believe.