Cons of Becoming a Catholic Christian

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Tommy999 said:
I have a great deal of respect for Catholics and at times I could see myself becoming one.

Pros:
  • It is the branch of Christianity most connected to the Early Church Fathers, in my view.
  • It is logical that Peter was ‘The Rock’ spoken of by Jesus, not just faith in Jesus.
  • Confession sounds like a very practical and healing sacrament.
  • I can assent to Transubstantiation in the Eucharist where it is not just a symbol.
  • Rich Tradition dating back thousands of years where they fill in the big gap between the apostles and the Protestant Reformation.
  • I believe that salvation is a lifelong process like running a race as Apostle Paul says, not a one-time event, although a spiritual awakening or kick-start by accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord “Billy Graham” style is an honorable way to come to faith in Jesus.
  • I can assent to Purgatory.
  • I believe that the Virgin Mary deserves honor and all people should call her “Blessed”.
  • I can assent to asking Mary and the saints to pray for me and others, although I prefer to pray to Jesus directly.
Cons:
  • Catholicism seems very bureaucratic to me, where all the rule-keeping could potentially become tedious and take precedence over one’s personal relationship with Christ. For example, no meat on Fridays, can’t miss a Mass or you’ve committed a mortal sin, etc.The Catechism, or Catholic Owners’ manual as I call it, is huge.
Based on all the rules, I now understand why there are so many “scrupulous” Catholics. I had never heard of that term before as an evangelical.
  • Most Catholics I know (not all) at work and elsewhere are very secular-acting and seem to leave their faith at the door. For example, I know a guy who makes sure to walk around on Ash Wednesday afternoon showing off his ashes to everyone but then cusses up a storm and tells some of the dirtiest jokes in the office the rest of the time.
On the other hand, most of the Catholics I have interacted with on CAF seem to be sincere Christians and the “real deal”, so to speak. I have a lot of respect and admiration for them. I just haven’t run into many in real life face-to-face dealings, which makes me wonder if the “good Catholics” are in the minority.
  • I think some Catholics over-emphasize the role of Mary, almost regarding her like she is the 4th person of the Trinity and praying to her as if she has powers that only Jesus has.
  • I prefer to baptize children when they reach the age of accountability when they can understand what it is, not as babies, although I can assent to infant baptism and I understand the arguments for it.
  • I find the ultra-traditionalist Catholics to be scary and off-putting. It seems like they act like theirs is the only right way to do things, and some don’t even consider Protestants like me to be brothers in Christ. It’s as if their mindset is still in the 1500s in the time of Luther. I am concerned that if these type of people are the majority, I wouldn’t like Catholicism very much and would wind up back where I’m at now, so why leave?
I apologize for rambling on and on. As I said before, I have mixed feelings about Catholicism but it is mostly positive. I love Catholic Answers Live and other EWTN shows. I really like Dr Ray and some of the local Catholic programming on Catholic radio where I live.
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I think this is a very balanced and very fair post.
 
Con…it’s hard to live this life and function in “the world”. I come from an atheist background and while Christ’s yoke is indeed light compared to Mosaic law…it’s still heavier than nothing.

I’m still proudly and faithfully Catholic, even when I suck at it though. 😉
 
Here are some for me. They are not any problems with the Faith, because that makes sense, just some difficulties being Catholic in this day and age.
  1. The Internet can be a very depressing place. Not that it isn’t depressing for everybody, but, being a honest to goodness believing Catholic just adds to the list of depressing things. I try never to click on the comment sections another.
  2. Orthodox Catholics are few and far in between, especially if they are young. All of my Catholic friends are in different states.
  3. Catholic schools, which, speaking from experience, the majority of which are factories that are good at churning out poorly catechized Catholics which, in some sense, is worse than sending them to public school because they can just use the “I went to Catholic schools for 14 years” thing to justify themselves.
  4. Catholics, mainly on the Internet, who see satanism, communism, etc. in every little thing. I get that they are well-intentioned, but, by calling every form of entertainment that is not classical literature or music morally corrosive, they drive people away and give people scruples. I know, there is a lot of garbage to sift through these days, but, not everything has an agenda and, just because it doesn’t outright teach a moral, it doesn’t mean that is it peddles evil. A long-time poster even lapsed because of this attitude from other posters on CAF and it annoys me to no end.
  5. I really cannot stand when people use the word “conservative” as synonymous with orthodox. The word conservative carries so many connotations that can confuse people when, in reality, Catholicism does not neatly align with any political party and allows for a lot of negotiable issues. As far as I’m concerned, there is neither “liberal” nor “conservative” Catholics, just orthodox and heterodox ones.
 
The main one that springs to mind is my husband’s main reason for not becoming Catholic, that very little would be expected of him apart from turning up every Sunday and sitting in a pew. Of course non-Catholics won’t see the mass the same way as a Catholic who appreciates the beauty of the Eucharist but I think this is a con for those who feel like they need a very active faith and feel this would be a struggle in the Catholic church.
 
if a protestant or aetheist or anyone for that questions me about my faith

I always say " I believe in one Holy catholic and apostolic church "

that’s all you have to say
 
ConfusedLucy said:
The main one that springs to mind is my husband’s main reason for not becoming Catholic, that very little would be expected of him apart from turning up every Sunday and sitting in a pew. Of course non-Catholics won’t see the mass the same way as a Catholic who appreciates the beauty of the Eucharist but I think this is a con for those who feel like they need a very active faith and feel this would be a struggle in the Catholic church.
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but how would he know what is expected if he is not Catholic?
 
adamhovey1988 said:
I don’t feel Catholic churches are cold. My priest is very warm, friendly Nigerian man. NOW, try going to a Protestant church as a Catholic in the south. They aren’t exactly going to treat you well (you’re not really “saved”, after all, and please note, I do not mean this for all Protestants, some are very tolerant of my Catholicism)
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I think I understand what posters are saying re"cold" after previous threads. Anglican services eg Morning Prayer and evensong, are communal. Sing together unity physically, outreach to others. Mass is not like that and nor actually were the early morning communion services I used to love with just a few.

They were you see like mass can be. Each to Jesus, each praying and listening. No outreach to others in that intensity.

As I wrote elsewhere, there is mass and after mass…

To many it all seems impersonal which they see as cold. Needs to be seen as prayer.

I once startled an epsic preacher on a forum by saying in frustration at something he wrote that we do nto go to heaven as a parish but as individuals…

Of course we are united in prayer… all faces though turned to God and not to each other. But it is a different unity.

Hope I have managed to explain that; it was hard for me at times at first, but then I am a true solitary and now I cannot cope physiically with being at mass I understand more and find the presence of others a barrier.

So whether the priest is friendly or not might make it seem worse.

It is that we tend not to greet each other as we enter church quietly and kneel to pray. hence the irritation when folk chat etc… i

AFTER mass is different altogether, then there is sharing and being wth likeminded people…
 
7_Sorrows said:
but how would he know what is expected if he is not Catholic?
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What I mean is at his church they are expected to be in a small group and to be continuously learning about their faith and supporting and praying for the other small group members. They do Bible study every week and there are additional events throughout the year which neither of us have found to be readily available in Catholic churches.

In a Catholic church he would just be required to turn up once a week and no one would know what kind of faith he really has. He worries without the support and expectation of fellow Christians he would become lukewarm.
 
Tommy999 said:
I have a great deal of respect for Catholics and at times I could see myself becoming one.

Pros:
  • It is the branch of Christianity most connected to the Early Church Fathers, in my view.
  • It is logical that Peter was ‘The Rock’ spoken of by Jesus, not just faith in Jesus.
  • Confession sounds like a very practical and healing sacrament.
  • I can assent to Transubstantiation in the Eucharist where it is not just a symbol.
  • Rich Tradition dating back thousands of years where they fill in the big gap between the apostles and the Protestant Reformation.
  • I believe that salvation is a lifelong process like running a race as Apostle Paul says, not a one-time event, although a spiritual awakening or kick-start by accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord “Billy Graham” style is an honorable way to come to faith in Jesus.
  • I can assent to Purgatory.
  • I believe that the Virgin Mary deserves honor and all people should call her “Blessed”.
  • I can assent to asking Mary and the saints to pray for me and others, although I prefer to pray to Jesus directly.
Cons:
  • Catholicism seems very bureaucratic to me, where all the rule-keeping could potentially become tedious and take precedence over one’s personal relationship with Christ. For example, no meat on Fridays, can’t miss a Mass or you’ve committed a mortal sin, etc.The Catechism, or Catholic Owners’ manual as I call it, is huge.
Based on all the rules, I now understand why there are so many “scrupulous” Catholics. I had never heard of that term before as an evangelical.
  • Most Catholics I know (not all) at work and elsewhere are very secular-acting and seem to leave their faith at the door. For example, I know a guy who makes sure to walk around on Ash Wednesday afternoon showing off his ashes to everyone but then cusses up a storm and tells some of the dirtiest jokes in the office the rest of the time.
On the other hand, most of the Catholics I have interacted with on CAF seem to be sincere Christians and the “real deal”, so to speak. I have a lot of respect and admiration for them. I just haven’t run into many in real life face-to-face dealings, which makes me wonder if the “good Catholics” are in the minority.
  • I think some Catholics over-emphasize the role of Mary, almost regarding her like she is the 4th person of the Trinity and praying to her as if she has powers that only Jesus has.
  • I prefer to baptize children when they reach the age of accountability when they can understand what it is, not as babies, although I can assent to infant baptism and I understand the arguments for it.
  • I find the ultra-traditionalist Catholics to be scary and off-putting. It seems like they act like theirs is the only right way to do things, and some don’t even consider Protestants like me to be brothers in Christ. It’s as if their mindset is still in the 1500s in the time of Luther. I am concerned that if these type of people are the majority, I wouldn’t like Catholicism very much and would wind up back where I’m at now, so why leave?
I apologize for rambling on and on. As I said before, I have mixed feelings about Catholicism but it is mostly positive. I love Catholic Answers Live and other EWTN shows. I really like Dr Ray and some of the local Catholic programming on Catholic radio where I live.
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Ultra-traditionalists, Protestant or Catholics scare me.

I am not a homeschooling housewife and mother so I look like one of those feminists they despise.
 
ConfusedLucy said:
What I mean is at his church they are expected to be in a small group and to be continuously learning about their faith and supporting and praying for the other small group members. They do Bible study every week and there are additional events throughout the year which neither of us have found to be readily available in Catholic churches.

In a Catholic church he would just be required to turn up once a week and no one would know what kind of faith he really has. He worries without the support and expectation of fellow Christians he would become lukewarm.
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he worries it would be difficult to remain accountable?
 
I have similar issues with overly intense Marian devotion and uberTrads of a certain vein.

But about the, very little is expected of you thing, which keeps popping up, among regularly practicing Catholics, my experience is that, if they are anything like me, God, through Catholicism, has placed terrible (in a good way, a Biblical way} amounts of responsibility on them.

I do not want to divulge my biography too much, but I am taking on an awful lot right now, not out of the goodness of my heart, because I know that is seriously lacking, but because I have this…like…I hate this term…calling, and I wonder whether I would do any of this if God didn’t make me Catholic.

Actually, if I had to say the hardest thing about Catholicism, it would be how hard and all encompassing and life demanding it is.

God is a very intense friend…I have been told that so am I, so, maybe we should get along.
 
  • Catholics who take everything too seriously and don’t have a sense of humour.
  • Sometimes Mass is difficult for me because of my health conditions.
  • the biggest con to being Catholic is me, because I am a miserable sinner. And I feel unworthy. Ok all that Catholic guilt. 🙂
  • I think sometimes we are a little too formal at Mass and need to loosen up abit. I can be like this because of years of practice. Going through the motions and not feeling anything. And then feeling bad about it. I actually feel guilty if I am feeling sick and can not stand when everyone else does. It’s all that psychological peer pressure to perform.
  • Sometimes one can feel alone as a Catholic in the world.
  • also, i think we can do a better job of mentoring people. I don’t think homilies do much to meantor people. People learn more by doing.
 
7_Sorrows said:
he worries it would be difficult to remain accountable?
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With the impersonal culture in most of the churches he has seen me go to and lack of activities, yes. I feel this a bit but I am trying to have an active prayer life to make up for it.
 
Cons:
Annulments
Hatred from people of other faiths
Feeling like I am always falling short as a Christian
No real Bible study groups in churches

But the pros soooooo outweigh the cons!
 
Growing up Southern Baptist and just recently converting to the Catholic Church I understand a lot of these Cons, especially family members who think you may be going to hell. But a common Con I see is the lack of Bible studies, which is true, but what is stopping us from approaching someone at our parishes and starting a Bible study or mens/women’s group?
 
qmitchell30 said:
Growing up Southern Baptist and just recently converting to the Catholic Church I understand a lot of these Cons, especially family members who think you may be going to hell. But a common Con I see is the lack of Bible studies, which is true, but what is stopping us from approaching someone at our parishes and starting a Bible study or mens/women’s group?
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I agree. I also came from a Baptist background and I wish we had Bible studies in our Parish.
 
qmitchell30 said:
Growing up Southern Baptist and just recently converting to the Catholic Church I understand a lot of these Cons, especially family members who think you may be going to hell. But a common Con I see is the lack of Bible studies, which is true, but what is stopping us from approaching someone at our parishes and starting a Bible study or mens/women’s group?
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Can’t speak for everyone but for me it’s lack of interest/enthusiasm. The older retired folk have their own stuff and aren’t keen on evenings, others are busy with work and family. I sometimes go to my husbands Bible study.
 
qmitchell30 said:
Growing up Southern Baptist and just recently converting to the Catholic Church I understand a lot of these Cons, especially family members who think you may be going to hell. But a common Con I see is the lack of Bible studies, which is true, but what is stopping us from approaching someone at our parishes and starting a Bible study or mens/women’s group?
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Wow Baptist to Catholic!? Did you come on your own? Wow that’s so amazing regardless.

In my reasearch, the real reason why Bible studies are shunned is because we worship the John 1 God. That’s also the same reason why the Church is so firm on the Trinity. Why such the big deal as long as people accept Christ? Well again it’s because they want us worshipping the correct God of John 1. In Genesis the the creator rests on the 7th day. But in truth God never stops working. Thus the Son works on the 7th day because the Son is the ‘true image’ of his Father in heaven; "if you’ve seen me, then you’ve seen the Father’. This statement alone ‘over-rules’ a LARGE amount of scripture in the Old Testament, However, that over-rideen OT scripture is still true, without error, and the still word of God (something God wants to be there for various reasons).

For example, Esther is a book that doesnt mention God once and may not testify to Christ at all, but God wants it to be there for various reasons, and might be intended for a certain audience that doesnt concern Church layity, but is critically important teachings for the highest orders of Church and State.

Anyhow, Catholics (like all Christians and Traditional Protestants through history) have ALWAYS followed of preference of the NT first allowing it to override anything in the OT (thats what makes us Christians after all!). The idea of the OT and NT being EQUAL in preference is a modern American Evangelical falsehood that came from Jewish thought.

Legalities aside, almost any act the Catholic Church does is basically what all Christians have done through history and the vast majority worlwide still do today - INCLUDING traditional Protestants (NOT Evangelical/Pentecostal who I no longer consider Protestant).

About 85% of Christians worldwide perform infant water baptism. Its only a small world minority of Chrtians that do not - the lions share being in America and Africa taking on an Islamic style age of accountability fabrication. The majority of Christians worldwide have confession, ‘communion’, no bans on alchohol, an apocrypha etc etc. I’m trying to basically say as an American Baptist you were VERY far outside of basic ‘Christianity’ in almost all aspects and it’s a miracle you came home to the Church that Christ Founded Himself. Are you in Rome? YES you now are - Romans 1:7
 
SnoopSword said:
Wow Baptist to Catholic!? Did you come on your own? Wow that’s so amazing regardless.

In my reasearch, the real reason why Bible studies are shunned is because we worship the John 1 God. That’s also the same reason why the Church is so firm on the Trinity. Why such the big deal as long as people accept Christ? Well again it’s because they want us worshipping the correct God of John 1. In Genesis the the creator rests on the 7th day. But in truth God never stops working. Thus the Son works on the 7th day because the Son is the ‘true image’ of his Father in heaven; "if you’ve seen me, then you’ve seen the Father’. This statement alone ‘over-rules’ a LARGE amount of scripture in the Old Testament, However, that over-rideen OT scripture is still true, without error, and the still word of God (something God wants to be there for various reasons).

For example, Esther is a book that doesnt mention God once and may not testify to Christ at all, but God wants it to be there for various reasons, and might be intended for a certain audience that doesnt concern Church layity, but is critically important teachings for the highest orders of Church and State.

Anyhow, Catholics (like all Christians and Traditional Protestants through history) have ALWAYS followed of preference of the NT first allowing it to override anything in the OT (thats what makes us Christians after all!). The idea of the OT and NT being EQUAL in preference is a modern American Evangelical falsehood that came from Jewish thought.

Legalities aside, almost any act the Catholic Church does is basically what all Christians have done through history and the vast majority worlwide still do today - INCLUDING traditional Protestants (NOT Evangelical/Pentecostal who I no longer consider Protestant).

About 85% of Christians worldwide perform infant water baptism. Its only a small world minority of Chrtians that do not - the lions share being in America and Africa taking on an Islamic style age of accountability fabrication. The majority of Christians worldwide have confession, ‘communion’, no bans on alchohol, an apocrypha etc etc. I’m trying to basically say as an American Baptist you were VERY far outside of basic ‘Christianity’ in almost all aspects and it’s a miracle you came home to the Church that Christ Founded Himself. Are you in Rome? YES you now are - Romans 1:7
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It was by God’s grace that I was able to look through history without a Baptist perspective and see how Christianity has always been, and that it was not the Baptist beliefs. I was even more blessed that my wife was willing to listen and make the journey with me. I didn’t grow up rwally knowing Catholics, and the ones I did know usually were Catholic by name but did not live out the faith.
Which leads to another Con, which all the good Catholics tend to get viewed by the works of the few that just claim to be Catholic. That is what I continually face when speaking to Baptist family members and friends.
 
Cons for me included:

Being treated like a pariah at work for a while because my baptist employers thought I had joined a non-Christian cult. (that did change with time)

Realizing that there were a lot more expectations on Catholics than on protestants in terms of church attendance, good works, confession, mortification and especially avoidance of mortal sin- no more “once saved, always saved” mentality. And that it’s harder- and that I can’t go back now that I know the truth. Not that I would (usually…) but it’s a big commitment.

Attending alone. No one in my family is Catholic besides one cousin who lives clear on the other coast of the country.

It delayed my marriage significantly because my fiance was married formerly and we had to go through the annulment process, then marriage prep.

The absolute ban on birth control.
 
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