Conversion Criticism

[santodomingo]

As you get to meet more catholics, you´ll start to feel part of the family. Personally I find it comforting to know other catholics who are called the same things as I am for my faith (none of them complimentary). Persecution is a great way to make friends, it also earns you glory in the next life!!

The thing I found most alarming when I converted from protestantism was realizing the state the Catholic Church is in. I had a image of what the True Church of Christ should be, and it didn´t quite match up with what I saw. I saw irreverent liturgies, swearing and blaspheming on the part of practising catholics that nobody else seemed to think was a problem. I heard heresies from the mouths of priests that would make your blood curdle…

That took time to digest! When I found the Old Latin Mass crowd, although they´re obviously not perfect, I found an altogether different Catholic Church, far closer to what I had imagined it should be.

Hope that is useful to you. God bless you.

 

[Silyosha]

I’m very sorry you are having a difficult time! But don’t worry, you are doing the right thing. As another poster said, don’t forget that you will also approach the cross as you get closer to God.
Here is a story to encourage you: In my case, I’m not sure if you would call me a convert–well, actually you wouldn’t–because I was born into an Italian Catholic family and baptised Catholic (for which I’m very grateful). I wasn’t given a very strong spiritual foundation in my immediate family, though; my mom is “searching”, so to speak, and always has been, and my dad didn’t really like the church. But when I became more and more interested in learning about the faith, I wanted to attend EF mass, and lo and behold, my dad started taking me. The guy who used to seem so opposed to the RCC is attending EF mass every week, and he is truly “getting the message”! So, you see, even if you are having trouble, remember that you can always be an inspiration to someone and lead them closer to God. You never know–one of the “friends” giving you trouble about your conversion may stop and think one day about what you are doing and see the good and rightness in it. It could lead to their own learning the truth.
Dominus vobiscum +

 

[cristyd]

I totally understand you. I had a “friend” who told me that probably the Catholic priest is getting points for converting me. I told her that if i could give him points i would and would be happy about it. Some other told me that my Catholic husband is dominating me. My sister told me all priests are pedophiles. Others told me I am doing a mortal sin and i should beg for mercy. Others told me that if i don’t feel good in my own religion and want to change it’s only my fault.
Somehow instead of making me angry their comments were making me laugh and the arguments they gave against were only making me realize how much i wanted.
Why? Because i realized all they were telling me were how to say…STUPID. The priest did not convert me, it was my own decision. Getting points? Where? In heaven? On earth from the Vatican?
My husband married me when i was a non-catholic, just a baptized Christian. My decision came later. I always wanted to be Catholic i just lacked the courage to do it.
To my surprise a lot of my Christian friends told me that the Catholic religion is better but they just don’t want to change as they are used to their religion. But they think i did something beautiful and courageous and right. They told me i did the right thing for me and for my family and for my future children. Very few of my friends were against it. I didn’t even de-friend them or refuse to talk to them. It is their right to think whatever they want. As a Catholic I am not allowed to be angry with them or hate them. I believe hate is waist of time and the only one who suffers is the one who hates. If they choose to belittle me or to shout at me or to tell me stupid things then let them do it and i will listen to them with a smile on my face. Since I am Catholic i feel a great happiness.
And the real Christians who understand me and my feelings are still my friends.

 

[dconklin]

The best things are worth the hard work. It is very cool that you are looking through the history of the Church. You will be an awesome catechist someday!

Your friends may be confused and even angry over their misconceptions. If they a really good friends the will stick with you and may even be moved by your conversion experience.

There are many very good Catholic FB groups out there. I am in one that sends pictures of beautiful churches and another sends a quick meditation. If you would like some of their links, just send me a message.

 

[Catydidd]

I am so very deeply saddened.

Why is it that my “Christian” friends have suddenly gone “on attack”?

This evening I posted a resource from a Catholic website about the timeline of denominations breaking from the Roman Catholic Church on FB and was viciously attacked. I stated it was for “research” purposes and something of interest. They persisted to the point where I deleted the entire post and subsequent messages.

None of them even know about this step in my life yet and I’m already being bashed.

:banghead: :slapfight: :crutches: :blackeye:

I feel very discouraged and abandoned.

While I know my Catholic friends will stand by me through this process I am getting the feeling I am likely to lose 90% of the current support network I have. How is it they feel they can hop from denomination to denomination, skip church, and whine constantly about the church they are in but I can’t post a timeline about religious history???

Has anyone else been through this at some point when they went through the conversion process?

I’m sorry to hear about your problems with your friends. You are welcome here!

 

[HAnne]

You are all so sweet and kind. I went to bed with Brother JD’s words from here floating in my head.

While sleeping I developed amazing clarity.

I woke this morning after 4 hours of sleep :coffeeread: (the 3rd time since I found this forum…I’ve got to stop doing that…lol) and felt immensely better. The Lord interceded once again and my mother called. She’s been the only “negative” family person who’s opinion I give a fig about. We talked for over an hour about my “potential” decision. She’s becoming more supportive and coming around. I’ve found out some truths about her that surprised me. She’s had a very negative experience with the Catholic church and has many, many misconceptions - mostly about how I will be treated as a convert. There is hope on that front.

I’m reserving telling most people for now, aside from the “active” Catholics I know. I hesitate to use devout because most do not consider themselves “devout” just “active”. I’m building a support network here and in other places.

I can’t thank all of you enough for the kindness you have shown me here. It’s kind of funny to me how I’ve always said I was looking for a church “home”. It wasn’t until I began talking to Catholics about my final choice on this matter that one said (and now many of you as well) “Welcome Home”.

You will never know what that means to me but I can tell you from the very bottom of my heart that I am grateful.

 

[ConstantineTG]

As I grow stronger in my faith I hope to be more like you. Right now it is to tender and young that a mere scrape feels like a gaping wound. As I grow more I will likely fall in with your mentality on this. My head longs to but my heart is grieving the loss of friends.

It is so sad today that those who scream from the rooftops about tolerance for themselves will not give tolerance to others.

To tell you the truth, I consider it a tragedy that today in my life I am surrounded by non-Catholics as friends and family. Not even lukewarm Catholics. And a bigger tragedy is that many of my friends back home which I use Facebook to keep in-touch seemingly are converting en masse to Evangelicals.

Maybe its one reason I hang around CAF so much. As much as I butt-heads with other people here, its great to be around like-minded people, even virtually.

 

[rapunzel77]

I am so very deeply saddened.

Why is it that my “Christian” friends have suddenly gone “on attack”?

This evening I posted a resource from a Catholic website about the timeline of denominations breaking from the Roman Catholic Church on FB and was viciously attacked. I stated it was for “research” purposes and something of interest. They persisted to the point where I deleted the entire post and subsequent messages.

None of them even know about this step in my life yet and I’m already being bashed.

:banghead: :slapfight: :crutches: :blackeye:

I feel very discouraged and abandoned.

While I know my Catholic friends will stand by me through this process I am getting the feeling I am likely to lose 90% of the current support network I have. How is it they feel they can hop from denomination to denomination, skip church, and whine constantly about the church they are in but I can’t post a timeline about religious history???

Has anyone else been through this at some point when they went through the conversion process?

I’m sorry you are going through with this. My mom wasn’t happy that I converted either. However, that was nothing compared to when my dad converted. Hang in There . You have friends here on CAF and I hope that you will have a support network where you live. God bless you and may Our Lady’s mantle surround you!

 

[jesuspsr]

Greeting and peace you all.

AHnne welcome home I will be praying for you. I mean no offence when I say, I like hearing the obstacles one faces when converting to the Cathoic Church. I see the Holy Spirit at work. Stay on your course. The Beatitudes (someone correct if I’m wrong) says “Bleesed are you when men reproach you, and persecute you and, spaeking falsely, say all manner of evil against you, for my name sake. Rejoice and exult, because your reward is great in heaven; for so they persecute the prophets who were before you.”

god bless

jesus g

 

[vsedriver]

Welcome home Anne,

it is sad when friends and relatives become difficult to someone who is converting to another religion. In many cases they see it a rejection of them and not a spiritual journey on your part. If you think of them with sympathy and reassure them of your continuing love it will blow over.

Some may never forgive you. I personally believe that those who can’t accept you, feel deep down that you are doing something right and they lack the courage to do it too. After all, to walk away from a religion is to admit you have been wrong, and it is very hard for people to admit they have been wrong about something to which they are deeply attached.

Remember also that the Church is made up of sinners, of people with a wide range of personalities, flaws, and knowledge. Many hold a grudge against the Church because of a slight from one of the Church’s members. This is very sad when this happens. The Church may be infallible the people in it aren’t.

I’m on FB too. I post Catholic ideas and issues. I’ve had run-ins with folks who are diametrically opposed to what the Church teaches. I look at it, not as a confrontation, but as an opportunity to witness. I’ve yet to have had someone unfriend me. I like to think I give them a lot of food for thought.

This forum has been a Godsend for expanding my knowledge of Apologetics. Wish it had been around 30 years ago.

 

[wisdomseeker]

I am so very deeply saddened.

Why is it that my “Christian” friends have suddenly gone “on attack”?

This evening I posted a resource from a Catholic website about the timeline of denominations breaking from the Roman Catholic Church on FB and was viciously attacked. I stated it was for “research” purposes and something of interest. They persisted to the point where I deleted the entire post and subsequent messages.

None of them even know about this step in my life yet and I’m already being bashed.

:banghead: :slapfight: :crutches: :blackeye:

I feel very discouraged and abandoned.

While I know my Catholic friends will stand by me through this process I am getting the feeling I am likely to lose 90% of the current support network I have. How is it they feel they can hop from denomination to denomination, skip church, and whine constantly about the church they are in but I can’t post a timeline about religious history???

Has anyone else been through this at some point when they went through the conversion process?

Just think of this way, when the apostles converted to the teachings of Jesus they were persecuted, jailed and killed. so, you are good by just giving your sufferings to Christ.