Becoming Protestant

[kbwall]

True, but “going protestant” doesn’t really qualify for apostacy…depending on what “type” of protestant one becomes.

What do you mean by “type” of protestant?

 

[fred_conty]

I just want to start by saying that I have no intention of becoming protestant, for a number of reasons. This is just hypothetical. Yes, I got the idea from the guy who made the topic about Islam, but this is slightly different; Islam denies Christ is God, and denies Him as a savior. Protestantism teaches both of those things, but many of the their teachings go contrary to Catholocism.

So, my question is obvious; would a Catholic go to Hell for leaving the Church and going Protestant? Assume they have full knowledge of what they are doing and know church teachings.

What we don’t understand is that the further we are from the truth of Jesus, the less chance we have of living our life in accord with the will of God.

Is it really only about heaven or hell? Or is it about living a life in union with Jesus?

For example, the Catholic who believes in the real presence in the Eucharist. He knows that this Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the very same Jesus that preached from the boat on the sea of Gallilee. And yet he leaves the Catholic church to go to another church which does not have Jesus really present in their church.

What kind of logic is that? They go to another church to find Jesus and yet he is really present and found in their catholic church which they left in order to find him. Does that make any sense? To leave him in order to find him?

It’s a mystery to me. Just a thought.

 

[Newbie2]

What do you mean by “type” of protestant?

Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, etc.

 

[OraLabora]

If Catholics are correct than Protestants doomed, and vice versa. In the end I believe the primary beliefs that Christ is deity is most important and Christianity in general will be saved.

The Catholic Church most certainly doesn’t teach that Protestants are doomed. First of all the Church teaches that there’s a very big difference between being raised in the Protestant faith, and being raised Catholic and becoming Protestant. Actually we Catholics can’t even become Protestant because baptism leaves an indelible mark on our soul. We can certainly join a Protestant community and that would be sinful (mortally or not depends on circumstances), but deep down, God knows we are Catholic. He does not take back His sacraments (in this case baptism).

For cradle Protestants, the sin was the schism, not being born into a Protestant community or brought into the Protestant faith by Protestant parents. Moreover the Church teaches that Protestant baptism, if done with the appropriate formula, is valid and brings us into communion with the Catholic Church. It his, however, an imperfect communion unless one formally joins the Church later.

As such the Church does not teach that Protestants cannot be saved even if they remain Protestant. The Church cannot place limits on what God can or cannot do. She can say that the fullness of Truth rests in the Church. She can say that the Church is in fact necessary on Earth for salvation to occur and that the Church is an essential part of God’s plan of salvation. And she can say our chances improve dramatically if we become faithful Catholics. But she does not teach that being Protestant automatically dooms one to hell, and it could very well be that poor Catholics end up in hell and good, charitable Protestants end up in heaven.

This is all more or less spelled out in the Catechism.

 

[codefro]

I just want to start by saying that I have no intention of becoming protestant, for a number of reasons. This is just hypothetical. Yes, I got the idea from the guy who made the topic about Islam, but this is slightly different; Islam denies Christ is God, and denies Him as a savior. Protestantism teaches both of those things, but many of the their teachings go contrary to Catholocism.

So, my question is obvious; would a Catholic go to Hell for leaving the Church and going Protestant? Assume they have full knowledge of what they are doing and know church teachings.

To leave the Catholic Church in any way, fully knowing the truth of the Catholic faith, then the soul of the believer has now been put in jeopardy. Though, if you know the truth of the faith, then why would you leave…- it’s the truth. If you didn’t know the truth that is another matter.

 

[Lifesong]

As a new convert who has friends who left the Catholic faith to become Protestant this is hitting home with me. One good friend left the Church because she wanted to attend a Bible Study, next thing you know she is joining this Protestant church. She really does believe she has found Jesus there in a way she did not in the Catholic Church. She did this while I was still Protestant and when I converted it kind of shook her. When she asked me why, I explained really it all came down to the Eucharist and once I knew the truth I could not go back. She told me her Catholic friends have told her that is why she whould come back as well- I have never really had a full heart to heart with her but I sense that she may well be one of many cradle Catholics who were pooly catechized and who may not believe what I now believe about the Eucharist. I pray for her a lot- I just keep praying that those who leave will fall in love with Jesus whever they are and then realize what they left behind. I pray every day for Christian unity- with the world they way it is all of us who profess the name of Jesus need each other and it is our Lord’s will that we all be one.

God Bless,

Val