Catholic Convert Doubting

  • Thread starter Thread starter SetonGirl
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I am so sorry to hear you are doubting. I myself was a convert to Catholicism from Evangelical Protestantism and I myself have experienced doubts. I wondered if alot of what the church was teaching is true. This is why I have made sure to ground myself in Scripture and prayer. Studying the Early Church fathers may help you.

As far as your parish situation, I am also very sorry to hear about that. One of the biggest things that pushes people away from the Catholic Church is liberal priests and catechists. The important thing is to remember what the Church teaches and remember that official teachings are the truth- whether the priest preaches them or not. Start reading teh catechism perhaps. Sorry if it seems like I’m throwing a reading list at you but for me, delving into the deeper aspects of the Catholic faith were a safeguard against doubt. Also, saying the rosary and St. Michael prayer. There is much evil inside the Catholic Church these days but it comes from sinful people. Going back to Protestantism will not help as sinful people who water down the Gospel are found in every church.

I thought about going back to Protestantism but could never seriously consider it. Why? The Eucharist. This is an extraordinary gift!! You couldn’t trade it for the world. Please pray about it and ask God to show the gift of the Eucharist more clearly to you. Feel free to add me as a friend or contact me.

Puella Latina.
 
Then I see other Catholics that have the Eucharist (which at this point, is the only thing I’m clinging to) and they don’t know anything about the Bible or Church teachings.
Emphasis mine.

When it was the darkest, I would picture myself holding on to the bottom of the Crucifix. I could barely see Christ’s nail torn feet. Yet, that was enough to hold me tight. I knew that the bleeding body above me loves me so much that He comes to me personally in Holy Communion.
 
I agree with many of those who have posted already and add my voice to theirs by saying, keep the faith and be true to your daily prayers and especially the rosary and if you have the time pick up some books on the journeys of the saints, eg, st theresa of avila, john of the cross, st theres, the little flower. You will find tremendous inspiration for your journey and grow closer to our lord despite the hickups you are experiencing at the moment. May the peace of Christ be with you always and keep us posted.🙂
 
To those who have responded to my post alleging that I did not consider the matter as being gravely serious, I hold to my comment based on this document from the Vatican. We have a situation of misinterpretation, since I use the standards and language of the Magisterium, and the posters use common english to evaluate my words. 😦

1. Graviora delicta
[172.] *Graviora delicta *against the sanctity of the Most August Sacrifice and Sacrament of the Eucharist are to be handled in accordance with the ‘Norms concerning *graviora delicta *reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’ namely:
a) taking away or retaining the consecrated species for sacrilegious ends, or the throwing them away;
b) the attempted celebration of the liturgical action of the Eucharistic Sacrifice or the simulation of the same;
c) the forbidden concelebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice with ministers of Ecclesial Communities that do not have the apostolic succession nor acknowledge the sacramental dignity of priestly Ordination;
d) the consecration for sacrilegious ends of one matter without the other in the celebration of the Eucharist or even of both outside the celebration of the Eucharist

2. Grave Matters
[173] Although the gravity of a matter is to be judged in accordance with the common teaching of the Church and the norms established by her, objectively to be considered among grave matters is anything that puts at risk the validity and dignity of the Most Holy Eucharist: namely, anything that contravenes what is set out above in nn…

3. Other Abuses
[174] Furthermore, those actions that are brought about which are contrary to the other matters treated elsewhere in this Instruction or in the norms established by law are not to be considered of little account, but are to be numbered among the other abuses to be carefully avoided and corrected.

I ask please that you weigh my words in light of the above teaching and consider that it would fall under #3. As the Church stated, these are to be corrected as far as possible by the Local Ordinary. In this case, we do not know whether or not the Bishop has given the necessary correction, and I doubt that he is going to tell the parishioner.

Furthermore, we have one initial post from a brand new member about whom we have no knowledge or longevity of posting experience. Not saying there is anything amiss, but clergy are a favorite sport of slander in many of these forums, and we do not have the benefit to hear what was truly said. This is why Canon Law spells out the numerous penalties and procedures for any clergy who are accused. See Sections 1300-1400.
 
Welcome SetonGirl!

Consider this; I reconciled to the CC in 02/2002 and the priest who heard my confession (26 years away!) himself was an ultra liberal who has since left the church (including formal excommunion) and joine some ultra-liberal splinter group.

My confession is STILL licit and valid. Christ made the sacraments “priest proof”
 
I don’t at all mind calling God mother at times. There is a feminine principle in God. He/She is really not bounded by our understanding. Maybe in an off-putting way your priest is calling you to greater conversion, love, and unity.

God bless you, Keep pounding up that hill!
Hi Ohana and everyone,
I would just like to say a few words, as I think it is kind of off topic, on the idea of calling God mother and in what respect I think it may or may not be legitimately applied to God. I will offer just a few words based on the thought of St Maximilian Kolbe. First of all, Holy Scripture does describe God’s love for us in terms of a mother’s love for her child in a number of places, for instance, “You shall nurse, carried in her arms, cradled upon her knees; As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you” (Isaias 66: 12-13). Secondly, God himself created mothers and their interiority must have some likeness to God.

In the Trinity, we have God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I think it is unbiblical to call God the Father anything but the Father as he is the origin and source of the Trinity. God the Father begets the Son. The Father is the sole principle of the Son, he begets the Son without a mother. We certainly cannot call God the Son a mother for he is the Son of the Father. Nor is it possible to call Jesus Christ a “she.” What then is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the love by which the Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father. And since love is a special attribute of mothers, Father Kolbe sees that in the very depths of the divine being, there exists a certain motherhood of love, the Holy Spirit, who links the Father and Son with each other in joy and peace. In fact, St Maximilian Kolbe says that the Blessed Virgin Mary, our mother and the mother of Christ, is the embodiment of the Holy Spirit, a quasi-incarnation of the Holy Spirit. Not that the Holy Spirit became incarnated in Mary like the Son of God became incarnated in the womb of Mary and took flesh. But that our Blessed Mother is in a certain sense, a revelation of the Holy Spirit.

God bless, Rich
 
Good reflection, Richca. That was one of St. Therese’s favorite verses!
It is possible the priest was saying things such as you just did, but it may have been considered improper. We do not know the context of his words.

I think the OP seems level-headed and sincere, so if the priest is causing her new faith to be shaken, until she is stronger, I think it is wise to attend mass elsewhere for the time being. She has the advantage of having been well-formed in the faith as a convert, though, so if she closes her ears to it, as one often has to do in these very forums, she should be just fine. 😉
 
Thank you and God bless each of your for your postings and I’m especially grateful to those of you who said you’re praying for me. I feel better than when I wrote the post earlier.

I can’t comment on all the points you’ve all raised but I will do my best. I’ve read all the replies and you all have some good points.

A couple of you suggested spiritual direction. I will look into it but a friend of mine actually tried to find a spiritual director and no one would agree to do it. :-/
It sounds like you are a light in the parish. With your work catechizing, you can teach the truth and fullness of the faith. This will most likely cause the ire of the priest as people ask why he is teaching one thing and you teach another. If what you are teaching is according to the church, stand fast and take the resistance as a sign your work is having an effect. When light is brought into darkness, people who live in darkness will get annoyed.
Thanks! Part of my reason for staying at the parish was to teach so that I could help the kids learn the truth but at the same time, I have to take care of myself too. I actually haven’t had any run-ins with the priest from my teaching - so far!
Do you pray the rosary? If not, I would recommend it as Our Lady, our mother, will help us in our struggles.

I’ll offer some prayers for you. God bless, Rich
Thanks! I used to pray the Rosary more often and I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve waivered on Marian devotion these past couple of months. It was one of the hurdles I had to get past when I converted. But I did get past that and I even developed a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. But I’ve kind of gotten uncomfortable now - - it’s my old mindset. I will try to get back on the Rosary and hope that it helps.
I would try to find a different parish as soon as possible. But do finish your teaching assignment. Don’t pay any attention to either the conservatives or the liberals, both can be way off. Just stick to the truths of the Faith and ignore everything else.
I agree about the conservative/liberal stuff. When the priest really started getting liberal, I reacted by going to a conservative parish for a bit. I got turned off by some of the ultra, more Catholic than the Pope people there. However, I’ve since learned to forget about them. The priest is good at that parish and I’ve been going there on some Saturdays evenings.
What’s the worst that can happen if the “liberal” priest finds out you’re going to Mass elsewhere? He might dismiss you from the position, but then he’s stuck with finding a new catechist. 😃
I actually have no fear of my priest finding out if I attend Mass elsewhere because one of the other Catechism teachers at my parish never attends Mass - - ever (someone told me that she doesn’t go for a personal reason).
We show the love we have for someone by the amount of time we spend thinking of them, but even more so by the amount of time we spend in their presence. I suggest that you go and spend time with our Lord at adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, or before Him in the Tabernacle. All else seems to fade to near insignificance while we contemplate the Son of God. It is the primary place to pray for those in the Church that need prayer.
I know. It’s on my to do list. I used to have more time for Adoration before I changed jobs.
Pray tell …how do you figure ‘women denied equality in the church’…God can be called "mother’…we are all going to end up in Heaven…not serious matters…I doubt seriously that these statements and whatever else heard…were mis interpreted…
Nope, I definitely didn’t misinterpet … he uses “mother” in the Creed every week.
I would say that teaching that everyone is going to end up in heaven IS a serious matter and a grave heresy. It amazes me that I read about so many serious Catholics on these boards rightly concerned with whether they have committed a mortal sin or not, and some pastors have no qualms about preaching in direct opposition to what the Church teaches.:confused:
He adds comments about other diverse faith traditions in the Eucharistic prayers too. I haven’t looked at my Missal lately but I’m pretty sure those aren’t in the prayers since I think diverse faith traditions could be interpreted as Protestant denominations or worse — non-Christian religions.
I am so sorry to hear you are doubting. I myself was a convert to Catholicism from Evangelical Protestantism and I myself have experienced doubts. I wondered if alot of what the church was teaching is true. This is why I have made sure to ground myself in Scripture and prayer. Studying the Early Church fathers may help you.
Yeah, the Church Fathers are definitely on my reading list… I just have to get organized and figure out where to start.
Emphasis mine.
When it was the darkest, I would picture myself holding on to the bottom of the Crucifix. I could barely see Christ’s nail torn feet. Yet, that was enough to hold me tight. I knew that the bleeding body above me loves me so much that He comes to me personally in Holy Communion.
Thanks, that’s a great image!

God bless you all!
 
Hi SetonGirl, I understand and share all of what you said in your post.

You know the Church, with all her modern day issues, is the Truth. Don’t you see, this is why you must stay. It’s not supposed to be easy and likely will likely not get any easier. Although perhaps easier to deal with.

It does get a bit easier to live with the lack of comradery in the “real life” world. Only recently have I begun to realize I am on an island in my Catholicism and this will probably not change. I am learning not to have it eat out my heart and soul. My friends, family and aquaintances do not share my faith in the perspective from which I believe it to be the truth (essentially guided by the Holy Spirit into all Truth). They all believe the Church to be fundementally flawed in many respects. I have to realize I can’t walk away simply because it is difficult and lonely.

We need to bare this cross, and pray often. When we pray, we have friends. They are just somewhat soft-spoken 😉

I truly hope you hangin there. And thanks for sharing; nice to know there are others out there.
 
Well, here we are with the wheat and the tares again… Jesus told us they’d always be there!

It can be very hard to live in a parish where the teaching and preaching isn’t all that accurate. I’ve definitely been there. But in such a case, until your obligations are complete, cling to Jesus as your teacher and pray for your pastor to get better at his job. Offer up your sufferings.

After the school year is over? Make sure you look out for your own soul’s health. You have good reason to look for a parish that does teach you what you need to hear.
 
40.png
SetonGirl:
Nope, I definitely didn’t misinterpet … he uses “mother” in the Creed every week.
As in, “I believe in God, the Mother Almighty…” ??? :eek:

I wish you had been more specific in your OP. However, this is where you need one of those tiny recorders, to let the bishop hear how the entire congregation is being led in this prayer. Many times, proof is in the puddin’ and your bishop needs to hear the proof. So this has continued, even a few weeks after the letter was sent to him? The tapes are micro, about 1"x1.5" and can be put in the mail.
 
http://cdn.aquinasandmore.com/images/items/revised-nicene-creed-holy-card25349lg.jpg

Trying to go back to sleep, but the bizarre wording is playing in my memory:

“I believe in one God, the mother almighty …” ??
“born of the mother before all ages …” ??
“begotten not made, consubstantial with the mother…” ??

I can’t even imagine a priest doing this.

One more suggestion, you need to send your documentation registered mail, return receipt. Offer to bring in necessary equipment to play the enclosed tape for the Bishop, in case they don’t have a similar recorder. These tapes fit into many different models and are rather universal.
 
I didn’t want to give too many details because I can’t imagine many priests do this and I wanted some anonymity. But to elaborate, he says “father and mother” in the Creed. So yes, it’s ludicrous and blasphemous and grates on me when I hear consubstantial with the father and mother. The bishop was made aware of it by my friend. He did use registered mail or something with a tracking number. He actually recorded the Creed one day but I don’t know if he emailed it to the bishop. I’ll ask him. But this heresy has gone on for months after the Bishop was written. Also others have spoken with the priest but he says just to do what your comfortable with. In the Creed, he also changes men to humans. He also changes all the Mass prayers where God is addressed as Lord. He calls him “loving God”.
 
Hi,

Here’s my problem in a nutshell: I’m a convert from Evangelical Protestantism. I was a strong Christian my entire life. I was drawn to Catholicism over a number of years and then had a sudden pull to it 3 years ago at the same time that I discovered EWTN. I immersed myself in reading and discerning things and came to the conclusion that the Catholic Church was the one true Church founded by Jesus. I went through RCIA and became Catholic 2 years ago. I was excited and thankful for the grace of finding the Church. I truly believed everything the Chuch teaches. I was excited about the Eucharist. I started contemplating religious life and/or working for the Church as a teacher or lay minister sometime in the future. The desires of my heart changed for the better and I became a much more peaceful and forgiving person.

Fast forward to today. I feel like I’ve lost my Catholic faith. I feel like I don’t believe much of the Church’s teachings now. I am not doubting God or Christianity in general, just whether or not I should’ve stayed Protestant. I tell you, I truly am shocked at this turn of events. If someone had told me this was going to happen, I would not have believed it could because I know how I felt and I know what I believed up until a couple of months ago. I would’ve staked my life on the Church and its teachings.

I need to figure things out fast because I don’t want to feel like this. I don’t know what the exact cause of this is. I think most of it stems from two things: I have a very liberal priest. He came the parish after I became Catholic. He preaches things contrary to the Church’s teachings. I was enraged when this happened and I planned to find a better parish but then some other conservative people begged me to stay. I stayed. After awhile, I started to try and see things from the liberal priest’s perspective, and then I started to think liberal (by liberal, I probably should say “heretical”). Some of the things he taught were: women are denied equality in the Church, God can be called “mother”, God wants us in heaven so we’re all going to end up there. Stuff like that. Anyway, after flirting with liberalism myself because I didn’t fit in with some of the extremely conservative Catholics (the more Catholic than the Pope types), I came back to my senses and was enraged again that I didn’t quit this parish when I had the chance. Now I am involved in it too much to quit (I teach catechism and I don’t think I can quit it since it’s my duty to keep my word and it’s hard to find teachers).

A friend of mine wrote to the priest to address his heretical ideas but got no response. My friend then wrote to the Bishop and got no response. I think I started to get bitter and doubtful about the faith after seeing that the Bishop doesn’t seem care.

The second thing that may be causing my doubts is that when I see that the majority of the other parishoners are not bothered by my priest’s liberalism. I’ve started to wonder if anyone knows their faith or even cares (I’m generalizing, I know). And then adding further confusion, I joined a group of supposedly conservative Catholics who meet to discuss doctrine and I’m taken aback by some of the things they do and say and it confuses me because I know Protestants that are more clean living than them.

So I guess in a nutshell, I see lots of spiritual fruit from some Protestants and a lot of Evangelical Protestants know the Lord and know their Bible and love the Lord with their whole hearts and they are bearing much fruit despite the fact that they don’t have the Eucharist. Then I see other Catholics that have the Eucharist (which at this point, is the only thing I’m clinging to) and they don’t know anything about the Bible or Church teachings.

I’ve rambled some and I don’t intend any disrespect to anyone here. I’m baring my heart in the hopes that I can get some advice because I’m heart broken about the way my thoughts and beliefs are messed up.

I don’t know who I can talk to about this because I’m ashamed that I feel like this. I alluded to some of this during Confession with a conservative priest but he basically said it’s no wonder I’m mixed up based on the liberal priest stuff. But that Confession was a month ago and I initially felt better after it and now in the past week, I feel worse.

Thanks for listening.😦

And does this happen much? Do Catholic converts ever revert back to Protestantism???
Immerse yourself in scripture, SetonGirl. God will speak through it to your heart and show you the way. Psalm 119:105 says it well - “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” It will help you discern between truth and error and set you in the right direction. Compare everything you are taught with God’s Word. If what is taught is not there or is in conflict with what scripture says, you will know it is false and know what to throw out and what to hold close to your heart.

Wishing you all the best.

Zackeera
 
I must admit that I am a little distressed that inclusive language has been taken from the liturgy. I don’t mean in ridiculous places like the Creed, but in other areas. OK, it is something I can offer up, probably has something to do with my own history, but really, what is the problem with Brothers and Sisters, Human is not a bad compromise, but I hope the church as a whole makes this a legitimate choice for Pastors in their congregations.
 
Immerse yourself in scripture, SetonGirl. God will speak through it to your heart and show you the way. Psalm 119:105 says it well - “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” It will help you discern between truth and error and set you in the right direction. Compare everything you are taught with God’s Word. If what is taught is not there or is in conflict with what scripture says, you will know it is false and know what to throw out and what to hold close to your heart.

Wishing you all the best.

Zackeera
In other words, stay Catholic!
 
just a some lines taken from the vatican 2 document, ewtn has a program based on it if you are interested to watch.

Wherefore the sacred Council establishes the following general norms:

A) General norms
    1. Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop.
  1. In virtue of power conceded by the law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of competent territorial bodies of bishops legitimately established.
  2. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.
You can read the document on line. just google vatican 2 documents on the liturgy.
You might post a copy of this page to the priest and just highlight the relevant part.

all the best. God bless.
 
I didn’t want to give too many details because I can’t imagine many priests do this and I wanted some anonymity. But to elaborate, he says “father and mother” in the Creed. So yes, it’s ludicrous and blasphemous and grates on me when I hear consubstantial with the father and mother. The bishop was made aware of it by my friend. He did use registered mail or something with a tracking number. He actually recorded the Creed one day but I don’t know if he emailed it to the bishop. I’ll ask him. But this heresy has gone on for months after the Bishop was written. Also others have spoken with the priest but he says just to do what your comfortable with. In the Creed, he also changes men to humans. He also changes all the Mass prayers where God is addressed as Lord. He calls him “loving God”.
I think you are ready for the next step–though any sort of response might take a while. Namely, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where the Holy Father used to be the head of under Blessed John-Paul II. They are housed in the Palace of the Holy Office, Vatican City;
Cardinal Prefect: Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller
Secretary: Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, S.J.
 
Hi,

Here’s my problem in a nutshell: I’m a convert from Evangelical Protestantism. I was a strong Christian my entire life. I was drawn to Catholicism over a number of years and then had a sudden pull to it 3 years ago at the same time that I discovered EWTN. I immersed myself in reading and discerning things and came to the conclusion that the Catholic Church was the one true Church founded by Jesus. I went through RCIA and became Catholic 2 years ago. I was excited and thankful for the grace of finding the Church. I truly believed everything the Chuch teaches. I was excited about the Eucharist. I started contemplating religious life and/or working for the Church as a teacher or lay minister sometime in the future. The desires of my heart changed for the better and I became a much more peaceful and forgiving person.

Fast forward to today. I feel like I’ve lost my Catholic faith. I feel like I don’t believe much of the Church’s teachings now. I am not doubting God or Christianity in general, just whether or not I should’ve stayed Protestant. I tell you, I truly am shocked at this turn of events. If someone had told me this was going to happen, I would not have believed it could because I know how I felt and I know what I believed up until a couple of months ago. I would’ve staked my life on the Church and its teachings.

I need to figure things out fast because I don’t want to feel like this. I don’t know what the exact cause of this is. I think most of it stems from two things: I have a very liberal priest. He came the parish after I became Catholic. He preaches things contrary to the Church’s teachings. I was enraged when this happened and I planned to find a better parish but then some other conservative people begged me to stay. I stayed. After awhile, I started to try and see things from the liberal priest’s perspective, and then I started to think liberal (by liberal, I probably should say “heretical”). Some of the things he taught were: women are denied equality in the Church, God can be called “mother”, God wants us in heaven so we’re all going to end up there. Stuff like that. Anyway, after flirting with liberalism myself because I didn’t fit in with some of the extremely conservative Catholics (the more Catholic than the Pope types), I came back to my senses and was enraged again that I didn’t quit this parish when I had the chance. Now I am involved in it too much to quit (I teach catechism and I don’t think I can quit it since it’s my duty to keep my word and it’s hard to find teachers).

A friend of mine wrote to the priest to address his heretical ideas but got no response. My friend then wrote to the Bishop and got no response. I think I started to get bitter and doubtful about the faith after seeing that the Bishop doesn’t seem care.

The second thing that may be causing my doubts is that when I see that the majority of the other parishoners are not bothered by my priest’s liberalism. I’ve started to wonder if anyone knows their faith or even cares (I’m generalizing, I know). And then adding further confusion, I joined a group of supposedly conservative Catholics who meet to discuss doctrine and I’m taken aback by some of the things they do and say and it confuses me because I know Protestants that are more clean living than them.

So I guess in a nutshell, I see lots of spiritual fruit from some Protestants and a lot of Evangelical Protestants know the Lord and know their Bible and love the Lord with their whole hearts and they are bearing much fruit despite the fact that they don’t have the Eucharist. Then I see other Catholics that have the Eucharist (which at this point, is the only thing I’m clinging to) and they don’t know anything about the Bible or Church teachings.

I’ve rambled some and I don’t intend any disrespect to anyone here. I’m baring my heart in the hopes that I can get some advice because I’m heart broken about the way my thoughts and beliefs are messed up.

I don’t know who I can talk to about this because I’m ashamed that I feel like this. I alluded to some of this during Confession with a conservative priest but he basically said it’s no wonder I’m mixed up based on the liberal priest stuff. But that Confession was a month ago and I initially felt better after it and now in the past week, I feel worse.

Thanks for listening.😦

And does this happen much? Do Catholic converts ever revert back to Protestantism???
Hello fellow convert,
I also converted to the Catholic Church 2 years ago from evangelical protestantism. I experienced something similar in that the first CC i attended had a priest teaching liberal albeit implicit vs. explicit teachings in some of his homilies. I simply went to a different church. I admit that I wish many times our priests gave more time to the liturgy of the Word as far as the homily goes but quit honestly can’t understand why a liberal priest could shake your faith in the church, surely before becoming Catholic you were catechized and know who founded this church you belong to.Theologically and doctrinally how could you return to church so radically different unless you are divided on many such issues as the baptism, Eucharist, Justification, Tradition, Apostolic Succession, Mary etc. My advice for you is to find some Catholics who are (to use some good old evangelical lingo) on fire for the Lord. Fellowship and most importantly prayer…
We all go through valleys… Read Mother Teresa’s biography.

In Christ
.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top