Catholic conversion stories

[fulloffaith]

Hello,

I recently ordered a volume entitled ‘‘Far From Rome, Near To God’’
which told the stories of fifty Catholic priests who had converted to Protestantism. Content aside, i was wondering if anyone knew of any existing Catholic rebuttals to the arguments against the Faith made in this book.

Thanks.

 

[jpaul]

Hello,

I recently ordered a volume entitled ‘‘Far From Rome, Near To God’’
which told the stories of fifty Catholic priests who had converted to Protestantism. Content aside, i was wondering if anyone knew of any existing Catholic rebuttals to the arguments against the Faith made in this book.

Thanks.

Peace and all-good!

Judas Iscariot was an ex-apostle. Martin Luther was an ex-priest. You may add on the list the name of Bartholonew Brewer, etc. etc. But there’s nothing new here.

According to Saint John, "It was from our ranks that they took their leave - not that they really belong to us;
for if they had belonged to us,
they would have stayed with us.
It only served to show that none of them was ours. (1 John 2: 19)

For the faithful, Saint Paul said, “But there is no other. Some who wish to alter the gospel of Christ must have confused you. For even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel not in accord with the one we delivered to you, let a curse be upon him!” (Gal. 1: 7).

Ave Maria!

jpaul

 

[fulloffaith]

No, my friend, with all due respect, you misunderstand. I was referring specifically to the arguments made against our faith within the book itself. Please accept my apologies for any lack of clarity on my part, and thank you anyway for your responses.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

No, my friend, with all due respect, you misunderstand. I was referring specifically to the arguments made against our faith within the book itself. Please accept my apologies for any lack of clarity on my part, and thank you anyway for your responses.

It would help if you gave some examples, unless you are asking if someone has actually published a specific response to the claims made in the book you read. That I do not know.

 

[jpaul]

No, my friend, with all due respect, you misunderstand. I was referring specifically to the arguments made against our faith within the book itself. Please accept my apologies for any lack of clarity on my part, and thank you anyway for your responses.

Peace and all-good!

Read books written by ex-priests (like *Pilgrimage from Rome *by Bartholomew Brewer). Then read also books written by ex-ministers (like *Rome Sweet Home *by Scott Hahn). You will sensed a big difference.

More than anything else, the ex-priests are full of hate against the Church, while the ex-ministers are full of love for Jesus Chirst.

Ave Maria!

jpaul

 

[water]

More than anything else, the ex-priests are full of hate against the Church, while the ex-ministers are full of love for Jesus Chirst.
jpaul

similar observation in lay persons for ex-Catholics and ex-nonCatholics.

 

[Montalban]

Hello,

I recently ordered a volume entitled ‘‘Far From Rome, Near To God’’
which told the stories of fifty Catholic priests who had converted to Protestantism. Content aside, i was wondering if anyone knew of any existing Catholic rebuttals to the arguments against the Faith made in this book.

Thanks.

How do we know the content, in order to give a rebuttal?

 

[Philthy]

As a former Baptist, I can honestly say that I had no comprehension of the cost or price of everyday sin to my soul, let alone those extraordinary sins that we may fall into, that we as Catholics call mortal sin. We had this idea, although not really one that was explicitly taught ver batem, that sin was not something that a true Christian sought out but that it was nonetheless covered and not to be fretted over. But what lies behind that, and is therefore dangerous, is the fact that sin destroys the soul and that fact (or what needs to happen to remedy this) is not really ever addressed satisfactorily.

Even if we believed that by faith alone all our sins, past, present and future, were already forgiven at the moment of spiritual awakening, (or the born again experience of faith in Christ) what we failed to grasp was that all sin, whether of the flesh or of the soul, destroys the soul, irregardless of the “eternal punishment of hell” issue.

I could never quite understand how, if my sins were mainly spiritual in nature, and not the typical sins of the flesh, how was the death of my body going to remedy the decay of my soul? How was I going to instantly be transformed into a sinless being when a lifetime was not producing the desired result? I knew that Satan’s sin was purely spiritual, his body had nothing to do with his fall. What was going to keep me from my propensity toward spiritual sin after the death of my body?

This is something that always bothered me, even though I could not articulate it without causing great concern in those around me. You see, my conscience was telling me that something else needed to happen, but my theology didn’t require it. And to be honest, living a life that was pleasing to God was always stressed, and being transformed into the image of Christ was believed and taught, but we were very careful to not say it was required apart from faith alone, for salvation.

So, my soul was becoming polluted and destroyed by sin, and my theology told me not to worry, my faith in Christ’s atonement alone was sufficient. Needless to say, I don’t believe that dangerous doctrine anymore, and have found what Christ had intended for me from the beginning, a means to cleanse my soul from the affects of sin along with the future salvation of the whole person, all being done through Christ’s precious blood and the grace he bestows through repentance and reconciliation.

Excellent post Jeanette! One of the ways a well educated n-C explained away the consequence of sin (in the context of a discussion of Purgatory) is that sin resides in the flesh and when our souls are separated from out bodies all our sin is separated as well. Your observations of Satan’s purely spiritual sin solidly refutes such a notion. Thanks again

 

[Jeanette_L]

Peace and all-good!

Ex-Fundamentalist Protestant turned Catholic faithful - David B. Currie in his book **“Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic” *states: * “Evangelicals start their study of soteriology with the Pauline epistles. They relegate all the rest of the Bible to being a footnote to Paul, including the teaching of Jesus.”

It’s nothing but a born again Marcionite heresy!

Ave Maria!

jpaul

It is true and it is very sad, because to be in the middle of it, you don’t see it, you have to step outside.

I didn’t have that understanding of my own view of the Christian faith until I started studying the Christian faith through the centuries from the beginning up to the present, and had to come to terms with the fact that there were just too many Scriptures that I, as a Bible Christian, was all too willing to overlook in order to sustain the theology I had been taught and was convinced beyond any doubt to be true. It was a rude awakening, a terrible irony, and one no life long Christian wants to face, unless they come to believe there may be consequences in not doing so.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

It is true and it is very sad, because to be in the middle of it, you don’t see it, you have to step outside.

I didn’t have that understanding of my own view of the Christian faith until I started studying the Christian faith through the centuries from the beginning up to the present, and had to come to terms with the fact that there were just too many Scriptures that I, as a Bible Christian, was all too willing to overlook in order to sustain the theology I had been taught and was convinced beyond any doubt to be true. It was a rude awakening, a terrible irony, and one no life long Christian wants to face, unless they come to believe there may be consequences in not doing so.

Exactly! I can’t count the number of verses that got “explained away” in order to keep a tight hold on the pet doctrines of “eternal security” and “works don’t mean anything.”

A friend of mine is also a Baptist-turned-Catholic, and a couple of years ago (while I was still Baptist myself) she said something about certain Baptist doctrines not being Biblical. I was afraid at the time to ask which ones, since I knew I wouldn’t agree with her, anyway. I thought (at the time) surely she must have listened to “some other spirit” or she would still be Baptist.

 

[Jeanette_L]

Exactly! I can’t count the number of verses that got “explained away” in order to keep a tight hold on the pet doctrines of “eternal security” and “works don’t mean anything.”

A friend of mine is also a Baptist-turned-Catholic, and a couple of years ago (while I was still Baptist myself) she said something about certain Baptist doctrines not being Biblical. I was afraid at the time to ask which ones, since I knew I wouldn’t agree with her, anyway. I thought (at the time) surely she must have listened to “some other spirit” or she would still be Baptist.

It’s funny how it’s always everyone else who is following a different “spirit”, isn’t it? No matter who you talk to, it’s the other person who’s being deceived.

It comes down to this: which views have been consistant from the beginning? If you are diligent and really want to know the truth of it, you can easily study the earliest Christian writings and find out. You can then follow the teachings through the centuries. But you have to be ready to deal with what you find.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

It’s funny how it’s always everyone else who is following a different “spirit”, isn’t it? No matter who you talk to, it’s the other person who’s being deceived.

What’s really funny is the PM conversation I had a few years ago with a Nazarene. We were discussing our concern for these poor, delusional ladies we knew from various Protestant backgrounds who had converted to the RCC. She entered the Church at Easter this year, and I’m just about there. We laugh about that conversation now.

It comes down to this: which views have been consistant from the beginning? If you are diligent and really want to know the truth of it, you can easily study the earliest Christian writings and find out. You can then follow the teachings through the centuries. But you have to be ready to deal with what you find.

Darn those ECFs and their undeniably Catholic theology! That was one of my “rugs” - discovering that the earliest Christians weren’t really Baptists.

 

[Jeanette_L]

Darn those ECFs and their undeniably Catholic theology! That was one of my “rugs” - discovering that the earliest Christians weren’t really Baptists.

Most Baptists (and other Evangelicals/Fundamentalist) would read them (ECFs) and swear they weren’t really Christians either, even if they were the only ones around!

And I don’t want to sound flip, you know. I understand all too well the fear involved in such a discovery and not wanting on any level to go there. I wish everyone the courage to just ask for guidance, even if it means the worst case scenario is true.

 

[Michael_Francis]

Off topic posts and posts that led to a derailment of this thread have been culled.

Please stick to Catholic Conversion Stories.

The discussion of Catholic Vs Baptist soteriology can now be found here.
MF

 

[Ani_Ibi]

And I don’t want to sound flip, you know. I understand all too well the fear involved in such a discovery and not wanting on any level to go there. I wish everyone the courage to just ask for guidance, even if it means the worst case scenario is true.

Out of curiosity, did you find that the teachings you were most afraid of were the teachings you resisted the most? Were there teachings which instilled fear in you as to the possibility of them being true? If so, which ones? What form did your resistance/fear take? Thank you.

 

[Janet_S]

Hello,

I recently ordered a volume entitled ‘‘Far From Rome, Near To God’’
which told the stories of fifty Catholic priests who had converted to Protestantism. Content aside, i was wondering if anyone knew of any existing Catholic rebuttals to the arguments against the Faith made in this book.

Thanks.

I don’t know of any books that contain rebuttals specifically for the book you mention, but your post does remind me of something I read in Surprised by Truth 2 (page 82). This is a challenge issued by Fr Ray Ryland (a Catholic convert from the Episcopal faith) to his Episcopal friends:

Show me one Roman Catholic who has really understood his Faith, devoutly practiced it, loved the Church, and never dreamed of leaving it, yet who, through serious study, discovered that the Episcopal Church is in fact the one true Church, the Church that Jesus Christ established, the Church that has been entrusted with the fullness of Christ’s truth and means of grace, the Church that Jesus Christ has authorized to speak authoritatively and even infallibly in His name. Show me a Catholic like that who was therefore compelled by the direction of the Holy Spirit to enter the Episcopal Church. Show me just one Catholic convert to the Episcopal Church of whom all this is true.

I issue this challenge serenely, knowing it will never be met.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

I don’t know of any books that contain rebuttals specifically for the book you mention, but your post does remind me of something I read in Surprised by Truth 2 (page 82). This is a challenge issued by Fr Ray Ryland (a Catholic convert from the Episcopal faith) to his Episcopal friends:

Show me one Roman Catholic who has really understood his Faith, devoutly practiced it, loved the Church, and never dreamed of leaving it, yet who, through serious study, discovered that the Episcopal Church is in fact the one true Church, the Church that Jesus Christ established, the Church that has been entrusted with the fullness of Christ’s truth and means of grace, the Church that Jesus Christ has authorized to speak authoritatively and even infallibly in His name. Show me a Catholic like that who was therefore compelled by the direction of the Holy Spirit to enter the Episcopal Church. Show me just one Catholic convert to the Episcopal Church of whom all this is true.

Oooh, that’s good. I think you could put that challenge to someone of ANY non-Catholic faith. I have the first volume of Surprised By Truth. I need to get the others. I do love a good conversion story.

 

[Janet_S]

Oooh, that’s good. I think you could put that challenge to someone of ANY non-Catholic faith. I have the first volume of Surprised By Truth. I need to get the others. I do love a good conversion story.

I think you’re right–we could put that challenge to any non-Catholic, and no one would meet it.

Now that I think about it, the Surprised by Truth books (or any of the Catholic conversion story books) would be good rebuttals to the book Far from Rome, Near to God. Just compare the reasons why Catholics leave the Church to the reasons why Protestants come into the Church. I think you’ll see there’s a big difference in their worldviews.

But like Fr Ray said, I can’t imagine how anyone who truly understood and loved the Catholic faith could leave it for any other non-Catholic Christian denomination. I know I never could.

 

[jpaul]

It is true and it is very sad, because to be in the middle of it, you don’t see it, you have to step outside.

I didn’t have that understanding of my own view of the Christian faith until I started studying the Christian faith through the centuries from the beginning up to the present, and had to come to terms with the fact that there were just too many Scriptures that I, as a Bible Christian, was all too willing to overlook in order to sustain the theology I had been taught and was convinced beyond any doubt to be true. It was a rude awakening, a terrible irony, and one no life long Christian wants to face, unless they come to believe there may be consequences in not doing so.

Amen. All glory be to our God!

jpaul

 

[jpaul]

I think you’re right–we could put that challenge to any non-Catholic, and no one would meet it.

Now that I think about it, the Surprised by Truth books (or any of the Catholic conversion story books) would be good rebuttals to the book Far from Rome, Near to God. Just compare the reasons why Catholics leave the Church to the reasons why Protestants come into the Church. I think you’ll see there’s a big difference in their worldviews.

But like Fr Ray said, I can’t imagine how anyone who truly understood and loved the Catholic faith could leave it for any other non-Catholic Christian denomination. I know I never could.

Janet S,

Peace and all-good!

I like the books **Surprised by Truth **by Patrick Madrid; **Rome Sweet Home **by Dr. Scott Hahn; **Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic **by David B. Currie, etc. And I shared them to my friends to read.

There are also many good conversion stories available in the internet by searching: catholic convert.

The recent conversion to the Catholic Church of Dr. Francis Beckwith will be a great addition to the long list.

Many more Protestant brothers and sisters will be coming home to the one true Church of Christ.

All glory be to our God!

Ave Maria!

jpaul