Cons of Becoming a Catholic Christian

[Cyril_Of_Canada]

I’ve been sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ to my friends, family and co-workers for about twenty-five years. The toughest thing in Catholicism is the task set forth by Jesus to share the Goods News to everyone in this day and age. There are so many different arguments against religious people, against Christians, against Catholics, and against Catholics faithful to God. It’s hard to compete against “you are saved as long as you proclaim Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior”. Why would anyone want to be Catholic if that is all it takes to get to Heaven. There are so many bogus arguments out there, its hard to keep track of them all.

It’s not easy to compete with a religion that doesn’t teach accountability for a person’s actions----all you need to is believe, and no one can pluck you out of Jesus’ hand!
Okay. I hope you sense my slight sarcasm after the dash, but first of all, catholics have a lot to deal with starting with many misconceptions about them as well as the gospel they teach.

 

[Paganus]

Hi CAF!

Let’s make a list of cons of becoming and being a Catholic Christian!

Realizing all of the wonderful things that your non-Catholic friends are missing in their lives!

 

[Rosebud77]

Quite seriously, all the hardships the Bible describes for God’s followers, in both the Old and New Testaments, are realized much more for Catholics than for other Christians.

I don’t know where to begin?

“Blessed are you when all men persecute and revile you, and speak all evil…”

“I have come to bring not peace, but a sword…”

“The world will hate you…”

**Having lived half my life as a Protestant and half Catholic, I I’ve seen it over and over - there’s just no comparison.

What’s Catholics receive especially is contempt** - the attitude that our religion is disdainful and beneath the dignity of intelligent and decent human beings. We get this from other Christians as much as from the world.

We also get lies - any lies can be told about Catholics, and repeated long after they’ve been disproven. Again, by fellow Christians as much as the world.

My experience is quite the opposite to yours, I have had my head cut off many many times as a Christian no matter what church I am in. Actually far less now here in Catholic Ireland as a Catholic… of course I have a woeful ( NOT!) tendency to stick my neck out when I see injustice but even so…

:yup:

 

[Rosebud77]

It’s very much more difficult for converts, IMO. If you are brought up in a practising Catholic family and follow their rules, you are less likely to have the complicated previous lives that we converts have had.

For me, very little difference.

 

[Rosebud77]

One big con in my book: a single lifetime is simply not enough time to even get a handle on the wealth of spiritual riches (Saints’ lives and writings, devotions, traditions, theology, and so on) that the Catholic Church offers.

Little of that interests me. Living the faith is the centre. Not what others live and write…Prayer not books…The Bible is written in my heart.

 

[Rosebud77]

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)

Cold yes. You can walk in for Mass, walk out,without a word or nod from anyone. Totally impersonal but that I do understand and knowing why makes it OK. Mass is not a social occasion…

Never ever got challenged re being saved oh yes, the US pastor in the supermarket queue that time! And I responded with words of Jesus that amazed him.

The loneliest time for me was at University, Church of England. I would get up very early to go to the mid week communion service, They had breakfast after, and i hoped for friendship. But they all were all in cliques and no one spoke to me and they all looked so happy together!

 

[Reuben_J]

Perhaps the biggest cons in Catholicism is that it is very difficult to live out and to follow.

I just don’t know where to start but probably Protestants would say it better, like:

• We have to baptize our infants.
• We can’t just simply baptize converts; they have to undergo RCIA. Some left during that duration and we lose them. Some Protestant churches baptize people on the spot.
• We have to go to mass on Sundays and the days that the Church decides on.
• We have to go for Confession for our sins and how embarrassing that could be. How simple it is just to confess to God and nobody has to know.
• We cannot receive Holy Communion if we haven’t confessed our mortal sin. How embarrassing is it to sit on the pew during Holy Communion with prying eyes raining on us wondering what sins we have committed.
• We have to fast on certain season of the year and to forego meat on Fridays depriving man of his favorite food.
• We have to make the sign of the cross when we pray and how embarrassing that could be, especially if you are a child in a boarding school eating your food in the canteen. How you wish that you could just pray like your Protestant friends and nobody knows you are doing it.
• There are so many do’s and don’ts; we do not just limit them to the essentials. In fact all are essentials in Catholicism. How nice it would be just to believe in Jesus and that’s all to it.
• And when we pray - it has to be long because there are so many people to pray to, dead or alive.
• We are required to obey the Pope.
• We are disallowed to practice artificial birth control
• We are not allowed to divorce.
• It is difficult to become priests even when we want to because we have to be celibate. What is a man without sex?

So I think there are many cons in Catholicism; it is amazing that we are still willing to hang on. But wait, probably we have been warned about it but didn’t pay attention.

 

[redbaron162]

Perhaps the biggest cons in Catholicism is that it is very difficult to live out and to follow.

I just don’t know where to start but probably Protestants would say it better, like:

• We have to baptize our infants.
• We can’t just simply baptize converts; they have to undergo RCIA. Some left during that duration and we lose them. Some Protestant churches baptize people on the spot.
• We have to go to mass on Sundays and the days that the Church decides on.
• We have to go for Confession for our sins and how embarrassing that could be. How simple it is just to confess to God and nobody has to know.
• We cannot receive Holy Communion if we haven’t confessed our mortal sin. How embarrassing is it to sit on the pew during Holy Communion with prying eyes raining on us wondering what sins we have committed.
• We have to fast on certain season of the year and to forego meat on Fridays depriving man of his favorite food.
• We have to make the sign of the cross when we pray and how embarrassing that could be, especially if you are a child in a boarding school eating your food in the canteen. How you wish that you could just pray like your Protestant friends and nobody knows you are doing it.
• There are so many do’s and don’ts; we do not just limit them to the essentials. In fact all are essentials in Catholicism. How nice it would be just to believe in Jesus and that’s all to it.
• And when we pray - it has to be long because there are so many people to pray to, dead or alive.
• We are required to obey the Pope.
• We are disallowed to practice artificial birth control
• We are not allowed to divorce.
• It is difficult to become priests even when we want to because we have to be celibate. What is a man without sex?

So I think there are many cons in Catholicism; it is amazing that we are still willing to hang on. But wait, probably we have been warned about it but didn’t pay attention.

As a convert I look at this list as a great source of JOY. Allow me to rephrase your points.

• We get to baptize our infants like the early church did.
• We don’t just simply baptize converts; they have to undergo RCIA. Some left during that duration and we lose them. Some Protestant churches baptize people on the spot. However this is not fair to them as they may not really understand what they are doing or taking on. By requiring a period of discernment we enable them to get a better understanding of the faith.
• We get to go to mass on Sundays and the days that the Church decides on. What a joy!
• We get to go for Confession for our sins and how embarrassing that could be. How simple it is just to confess to God and nobody has to know. However one cannot know if your sins were forgiven that way and we know for an absolute fact that our sins were.
• We cannot receive Holy Communion if we haven’t confessed our mortal sin. How embarrassing is it to sit on the pew during Holy Communion with prying eyes raining on us wondering what sins we have committed. But how much more embarrassing to offend God by receiving inappropriately. The Church keeps us from compounding our sin by receiving inappropriately.
• We get to fast on certain season of the year and to forego meat on Fridays depriving man of his favorite food. What a joy it is to make a sacrifice for God considering all he sacrificed for us.
• We get to make the sign of the cross when we pray and how wonderful that could be, especially if you are a child in a boarding school eating your food in the canteen. How you wish that you could just pray like your Protestant friends and nobody knows you are doing it. But how much better it is to be a witness for Christ and courageously reaffirm your baptism vows in the Sign of the Cross.
• There are so many do’s and don’ts; we do not just limit them to the essentials. In fact all are essentials in Catholicism. How nice it would be just to believe in Jesus and that’s all to it. However how much greater is it to have the fullness of faith and get to experience all the manifold wonders of the faith.
• And when we pray - it can to be long because there are so many wonderful friends to pray to in heaven
• We get to obey the Pope and have the assurance of true doctrine, instead of following a random fallible pastor who may or may not be right.
• We are disallowed to practice artificial birth control and thus we get to enjoy the fruits of the marital act as God intended
• We are not allowed to divorce. (To be fair neither are protestants biblically speaking, Jesus was quite clear that divorce is not allowed) Instead we get to enjoy the sacrament of marriage as we should and never give up on our marriage
• It is difficult to become priests even when we want to because we have to be celibate. What is a man without sex? He is a man who gets to fully invest himself in his ministry as St. Paul recommends. Of course you can still be a married Deacon or active lay person who is deeply involved in ministry of a different kind in keeping with your primary vocation of marriage.

 

[Reuben_J]

As a convert I look at this list as a great source of JOY. Allow me to rephrase your points.

• We get to baptize our infants like the early church did.
• We don’t just simply baptize converts; they have to undergo RCIA. Some left during that duration and we lose them. Some Protestant churches baptize people on the spot. However this is not fair to them as they may not really understand what they are doing or taking on. By requiring a period of discernment we enable them to get a better understanding of the faith.
• We get to go to mass on Sundays and the days that the Church decides on. What a joy!
• We get to go for Confession for our sins and how embarrassing that could be. How simple it is just to confess to God and nobody has to know. However one cannot know if your sins were forgiven that way and we know for an absolute fact that our sins were.
• We cannot receive Holy Communion if we haven’t confessed our mortal sin. How embarrassing is it to sit on the pew during Holy Communion with prying eyes raining on us wondering what sins we have committed. But how much more embarrassing to offend God by receiving inappropriately. The Church keeps us from compounding our sin by receiving inappropriately.
• We get to fast on certain season of the year and to forego meat on Fridays depriving man of his favorite food. What a joy it is to make a sacrifice for God considering all he sacrificed for us.
• We get to make the sign of the cross when we pray and how wonderful that could be, especially if you are a child in a boarding school eating your food in the canteen. How you wish that you could just pray like your Protestant friends and nobody knows you are doing it. But how much better it is to be a witness for Christ and courageously reaffirm your baptism vows in the Sign of the Cross.
• There are so many do’s and don’ts; we do not just limit them to the essentials. In fact all are essentials in Catholicism. How nice it would be just to believe in Jesus and that’s all to it. However how much greater is it to have the fullness of faith and get to experience all the manifold wonders of the faith.
• And when we pray - it can to be long because there are so many wonderful friends to pray to in heaven
• We get to obey the Pope and have the assurance of true doctrine, instead of following a random fallible pastor who may or may not be right.
• We are disallowed to practice artificial birth control and thus we get to enjoy the fruits of the marital act as God intended
• We are not allowed to divorce. (To be fair neither are protestants biblically speaking, Jesus was quite clear that divorce is not allowed) Instead we get to enjoy the sacrament of marriage as we should and never give up on our marriage
• It is difficult to become priests even when we want to because we have to be celibate. What is a man without sex? He is a man who gets to fully invest himself in his ministry as St. Paul recommends. Of course you can still be a married Deacon or active lay person who is deeply involved in ministry of a different kind in keeping with your primary vocation of marriage.

Thanks for the encouraging response.

God bless.

 

[RedBasket]

Rosebud77:
The head chopping also comes from other Catholics.

 

[Rosebud77]

A priest once talked about how Catholics/Protestants whine about how ‘cold’ the church seem compared to Protestants’ (you know how they welcome you in and treat you really nicely). He said that your family don’t welcome you and fuss about every time you come back home

it’s a silly response which annoyed the protestants there

There is though a balance

Soon after I moved here,I went to Mass locally. Midweek, and few there.

NOT ONE PERSON spoke to me, as we walked out and across the yard.

Later I was at a different church, same parish, and arrived as mass was just over.A lady stopped to chat and then the priest came out and we talked. It was a warm and needed welcome.

How we welcome the “stranger at the gate” matters. Should not rely on you participating in events etc. It is Church that is central . And yes,I have always smiled, greeted folk and made time for them. Met some lovely people that way.

 

[anon90438963]

I, too, found Reuben J’s list of “cons” interesting because I found my source of delight and gratefulness in all of them. And I’m not simply saying this to “promote” Catholicism. I’ve come a long way, struggled with some of these along the way, and have come to find that the Church, after all, is very very wise! She is an expert on human nature.

I’ll address just one. I used to really grumble at the fact that I had to go to Mass on Sunday or confess it as a sin! How unfair, I thought: why should I be commanded to go to Mass on a beautiful Sunday morning when I could just as easily walk in nature and praise God there! Well, my more adult understanding now clearly sees that human nature is such that if I weren’t commanded to attend Mass on the Lord’s Day I would soon never go to Mass except, perhaps Easter and Christmas or the like. Because there are many, many Sundays when, honestly, I’d really prefer not to go on an emotional/feeling level at least. Once there is a loop-hole in a commandment, human nature will take it and run with it. God in his wisdom knows we absolutely NEED to be fed on His Word and Body and Blood once a week or our spiritual life withers–He is a Good Doctor, prescribing and insisting on what our human nature would rather not do. Makes total sense to me!

Look around you. When people no longer see Sunday as the day to rest and worship God, what does it become? Just another day in a string of days, a string of years, a mindless blob of passing time with God something people just can’t fit into their busy schedules.