I converted from Anglicanism (the Church of England in my case) in 2010. I’d been baptised as an infant but by fairly non-committal parents (like most baptisms in the CofE!) but really found my faith at university.
Of course it came a little before the current crisis of confusion in Anglican practice but amid another (the start of serious discussions about consecrating female priests to the episcopate, in England). I can’t say for me that that would have been a huge factor in my own conversion…however the situation now, 6 years later, (well 8 since I began to consider it), I think would have been, and especially had I been a member still of the Episcopal Church I would be feeling much as you are, ChurchSoldier.
For me it came about from the twin factors of my undergraduate study of John Henry Newman and his own particularly lengthy and tortured conversation (in 1845), and that of some of his contemporaries; and of having two very close friends who were practicing Catholics and who were very encouraging but without being at all ‘pushy’ about their faith.
For someone who had long had a slightly uneasy feeling that the foundation history of the Church of England (coming about less from theological differences and more the political considerations of a nearly-bankrupt monarch wanting to marry someone who wasn’t already his wife, and who noticed that the Church in his realm had lots of shiney stuff that he would find useful in paying for wars against the French) - I found Newman’s writings and particularly his ‘Apologia pro vita sua’ very helpful in supporting me through the process of deciding.
It wasn’t entirely easy - while both churches maintain beautiful traditions as Alex H says, I was and am very very attached to the rhythm and flow of the language of the daily offices (Mattins & Evensong) of the Book of Common Prayer, and particularly the wonderful 4 centuries’ worth of music composed for them (in my of-course [ha!] unbiased view, the most beautiful in the world). This alone stopped me reaching a decision for over a year! And there were aspects of Church teaching I felt uneasy about as well.
I feel though that one can’t make momentus changes without a degree of sacrifice - and considering that nothing in Heaven or earth stops one a Catholic from attending Evensong once in a while anyway, there was hardly a sacrifice anyway!
My point (such as I have one) is that for anyone considering conversion I am sure there are a heap of factors pushing and pulling in both directions, ‘Should I stay or should I go,’ and ultimately I don’t think it’s an easy decision for anyone. If for any reason you wanted to talk about it in PM I’m very happy to.
I would not pray for a particular outcome to your decision making, but I do pray that it leads to a decision with which you are entirely happy, comfortable and which you may call and consider ‘home’.
(And also, for Alex H in your RCIA process as well
)
God bless
