Converting??

[emeraldisle]

I’ve seen posters stating that they converted from protestant church to roman catholic church. I understand that the Bible speaks of conversion as an unbeliever becoming a believer. Are roman catholics then saying that people in the protestant church are unbelievers because they need to convert to the roman catholic church?

 

[vocatio]

Catholics [please drop the pejoritive “Roman” part] believe that we are always converting really. But this is a term used to show a much bigger conversion that actually calls them out of a separated ecclesial community [called such because they do not posses the full 7 sacraments]. I’m one of those so called “Protestans” [my previous faith did defined these and Cahtolics as man made religions - gotta stay in practice for my in-laws] that you speak about here.

 

[ibkc]

This question should really be turned back onto Protestants, especially the more Evangelical types, who actually specifically target Catholics for proselytizing and conversion.

 

[i_have_no_names]

Converting means “turning to”. That’s what my older sister always told me.

 

[thespian12]

No, Catholics are not saying that our Protestant brothers and sisters-in-Christ are unbelievers. Conversion can be thought of as having different dimensions/depths. In the Bible, we witness dramatic instances of conversion (metanoia) from unbeliever to believer. These “big conversions” are like non-Christian to Christian, “raised” Christian to actually choosing the path of a Christian, etc. People who are “raised” Catholic might have a large conversion and still remain Catholic. Someone who might be raised Protestant can have a large conversion and still be Protestant or even convert to Catholicism.

However, as Vocatio mentioned, Catholics believe that metanoia is a daily process.

It is necessary for our salvation. Even after we have “accepted Jesus as our savior” we still have the free will to continue accepting Him, or we can turn and reject Him. Do we choose to love God and therefore through our actions/works live as He intends us to, or do we choose to sin by choosing our own selfish will? Both Catholics and Protestants experience mini-conversions daily when they choose God’s will over their own, although sometimes these “mini-conversions” might be called something else like “acts of love” or “fulfilling your duty as a Christian.” Those titles are just as true, too.

 

[chris_molter]

I think the Church officially only refers to those coming into the Church from non-Christian backgrounds as “converts”, whereas those coming from non-Catholic Christian backgrounds are “coming into full communion” with the Catholic Church.

There is a ‘conversion’ in a sense when someone goes from protestant to catholic, however, in the strictest juridical sense, protestants don’t ‘convert’ to Catholicism.

 

[Publisher]

Catholics [please drop the pejoritive “Roman” part] believe that we are always converting really. But this is a term used to show a much bigger conversion that actually calls them out of a separated ecclesial community [called such because they do not posses the full 7 sacraments]. I’m one of those so called “Protestans” [my previous faith did defined these and Cahtolics as man made religions - gotta stay in practice for my in-laws] that you speak about here.

A serious question. How can “Roman” be pejoritive when many Catholics…like Jimmy B. have 'Roman Catholic" in his signature…I don’t understand why you consider it “pejoritive”…I know there is not a difference, but do you believe that those who define themselves as “Roman Catholic” are not really 'Catholic" because they use “Roman”? If they find nothing wrong with it, why would you seek to “correct” an innocent reference to “Roman Catholic” from a Protestant poster?

This is one of the things I find very frustrating…offense being taken when no offense is meant…simply for the sake of taking offense. It is disturbing…at least to me…it is one more push at divisiveness…IMO. Why look for offense, when no offense is meant?

 

[chris_molter]

A serious question. How can “Roman” be pejoritive when many Catholics…like Jimmy B. have 'Roman Catholic" in his signature…I don’t understand why you consider it “pejoritive”…I know there is not a difference, but do you believe that those who define themselves as “Roman Catholic” are not really 'Catholic" because they use “Roman”? If they find nothing wrong with it, why would you seek to “correct” an innocent reference to “Roman Catholic” from a Protestant poster?

This is one of the things I find very frustrating…offense being taken when no offense is meant…simply for the sake of taking offense. It is disturbing…at least to me…it is one more push at divisiveness…IMO. Why look for offense, when no offense is meant?

The origins of the term “Roman Catholic” go back to the Anglicans not long after the split with Rome to differentiate the Anglicans who considered themselves fully Catholic from the “Romanists” or “Papists” or what have you.

Eventually “Roman Catholic” became common lexicon and is often used by non-Catholics to describe all Catholics (which is inaccurate since only Latin Rite Catholics could really be called Roman Catholics). Many Catholics take offense at the term since they understand the origins of the term to be pejorative. Eastern Rite Catholics would probably be more apt to get a little riled at the term since their patriarchates reside outside Roman/Western jurisdiction.

Honestly, I don’t usually take offense at it (most Catholics I know don’t), since most folks, including Catholics, use it without reference to the insulting origins of the term, but when it’s used as a term to differentiate Catholics from protestants who claim to be Catholics, that’s when it can become contentious.

Heck, there are a lot of Latin Rite parishes that use the term “Roman Catholic” in their name.

 

[emeraldisle]

When a christian in a baptist church moves to a pentecostal church they don’t say they converted. They have simply moved/transfered from one christian church to another. Also when someone goes from the islamic religion or the hindu religion to christianity we say they converted. I just don’t see any reference in the bible of christians in one church converting to another christian church.

A comment was made about evangelical christians seeking to convert people but i understand that they seek to convert people who they believe from bible teaching are not christians. So they are in fact trying to convert unbelievers to become believers.

 

[chris_molter]

I just don’t see any reference in the bible of christians in one church converting to another christian church.

The situation isn’t the same. Non-Catholic ‘churches’ (technically what we call ecclesial communities) do not have the fullness of the Gospel and, by definition, hold to heretical doctrines, therefore are not “Churches” in the proper sense (excepting the Orthodox Churches who DO have valid sacraments and ARE Churches, although they are considered to be in schism from the Holy See). Therefore it’s a kind of “conversion” when one comes from a Lutheran or Pentecostal or Episcopal church into Catholicism as they’re required to disavow any heresies they once believed before being received into full communion.

So you’re right in that they’re not “converting” per se, but the term is easier to use than “coming into full communion”, so it’s commonly used. (kinda like “Roman Catholic” )

 

[i_have_no_names]

When a christian in a baptist church moves to a pentecostal church they don’t say they converted. They have simply moved/transfered from one christian church to another.

Just out of interest, because it’s something I’ve been wondering about, is there really any difference at all between the beliefs of a Baptist, and those of a Pentecostal or a United or whatever Christian?
Well anyway, I know there are some differences between the beliefs of a Catholic and the beliefs of a non-Catholic Christian; maybe that’s why it’s called converting when someone goes from, say, Baptist, to Catholic?
Just my thoughts.

 

[emeraldisle]

Imo the bible teaches that converting means an unbeliever becomes a believer. I find the other explanations that christians convert again and again to be confusing and not bible teaching.

 

[puzzleannie]

I’ve seen posters stating that they converted from protestant church to roman catholic church. I understand that the Bible speaks of conversion as an unbeliever becoming a believer. Are roman catholics then saying that people in the protestant church are unbelievers because they need to convert to the roman catholic church?

actually the term convert is not supposed to apply to a Christian being received into full communion with the Catholic Church, but only to someone undergoing initial conversion and preparing for baptism. Baptized Christians have already undergone the initial conversion, and like all of us, are in a process of continuing conversion. Most RCIA materials for sponsors and catechists make this distinction.

 

[emeraldisle]

I haven’t seen any bible based evidence in this tread that supports the roman catholic view that protestants convert to the roman catholic church. Also where is the bible evidence for the idea that a christian keeps being converted in their christian life. I did a quick search in the bible re the words convert, converted and the bible references refer to unbelievers being converted to believe in Jesus Christ.

So how can a protestant, who is a believer in Jesus Christ convert to the roman catholic church. Is it the case that the roman catholic church is a different faith from the protestant faith?

 

[bengal_fan]

Eventually “Roman Catholic” became common lexicon and is often used by non-Catholics to describe all Catholics (which is inaccurate since only Latin Rite Catholics could really be called Roman Catholics).

roman catholic can be used to describe any Christian in communion with the bishop of rome. it encompasses all 23 rites. have you ever thought that by saying you are the only “catholic” church you offend protestants and orthodox who would consider themselves part of the universal (catholic) Christian church?

roman catholic, i believe, is the proper term. not in an offensive way to those in communion with rome, but in accepting that all Christians belong to the universal (catholic) church.

 

[chris_molter]

I haven’t seen any bible based evidence in this tread that supports the roman catholic view that protestants convert to the roman catholic church. Also where is the bible evidence for the idea that a christian keeps being converted in their christian life. I did a quick search in the bible re the words convert, converted and the bible references refer to unbelievers being converted to believe in Jesus Christ.

So how can a protestant, who is a believer in Jesus Christ convert to the roman catholic church. Is it the case that the roman catholic church is a different faith from the protestant faith?

and you won’t see any because that’s not what the Catholic Church teaches about protestants who come into full communion with her. Like I said, it’s just easier to use the word “convert” than to use the mouthfull “entering into full communion”.

 

[catherineajt]

roman catholic can be used to describe any Christian in communion with the bishop of rome. it encompasses all 23 rites. have you ever thought that by saying you are the only “catholic” church you offend protestants and orthodox who would consider themselves part of the universal (catholic) Christian church?

roman catholic, i believe, is the proper term. not in an offensive way to those in communion with rome, but in accepting that all Christians belong to the universal (catholic) church.

If you asked my priest at the Byzantine Catholic church where I attend, if it is proper to refer to him or our church as “Roman Catholic”, he would say no. We are Eastern Catholics, or simply Catholics, but we are not Roman Catholics. Our traditions and liturgical practices have their roots in Byzantium, not Rome. We are in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, yes, but we are not Roman Catholic.

 

[inthecloud]

So how can a protestant, who is a believer in Jesus Christ convert to the roman catholic church. Is it the case that the roman catholic church is a different faith from the protestant faith?

If you took the care to read some of the post here. Protestants and other Christians who become Catholic are not offically converts in the CC language, they are in full communion.
Converts, in CC language are those who come to the Church form non Christian backgrounds.

And the problem with Roman Catholic is that it only compromises the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. Some protestants believe it or not go for Melkite and Maronite rites too when they become Catholic.

 

[bengal_fan]

If you asked my priest at the Byzantine Catholic church where I attend, if it is proper to refer to him or our church as “Roman Catholic”, he would say no. We are Eastern Catholics, or simply Catholics, but we are not Roman Catholics. Our traditions and liturgical practices have their roots in Byzantium, not Rome. We are in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, yes, but we are not Roman Catholic.

so am i allowed to say that i am a protestant catholic? if this is the reasoning we are using then i would say i am.

anyone who is in communion with rome is a roman catholic. not in a derogatory sense, but in showing your communion with the bishop of rome. i wonder if other eastern churches (orthodox) would say that you were not a member of the roman catholic church? just curious.

i have talked to byzantine catholics (as i used to live near a church) and have attended a few liturgies. when i have asked the question the answer i have gotten was that they use an eastern rite but they are members of the roman catholic church in that they are in communion with the bishop of rome.

i am a protestant catholic.

 

[VWcrazy]

anyone who is in communion with rome is a roman catholic. not in a derogatory sense, but in showing your communion with the bishop of rome. i wonder if other eastern churches (orthodox) would say that you were not a member of the roman catholic church? just curious.

Your definition is not held by others. Roman Catholics are Catholics of the Latin Rite. If you would ask an Eastern Rite Catholic if he were Roman Catholic, they would say they are <insert Rite’s name> Catholic. If he says that he is Roman Catholic, he is doing so just to avoid having to explain the Rite he belongs to and how it is aligned with Rome.

Protestant Catholic??? No such critter!