Did you convert/revert because Catholic.com website or Catholic Answers Live?

[mikeanayaus]

Well, this website definitely played a part in my coming to the Catholic Church. I was baptized Catholic but raised in the “Apostolic” denomination. I gave up on Christianity for a while, but eventually realized that even though I was going through problems, God was always there for me. So when I decided to come back to Christ, I researched what Catholics believed versus what the Apostolic church taught, and I found that the Catholic Church was the true church of Christ. The two biggest influences in my realization were the Baltimore Catechism and this website.

 

[anamchara]

I nearly did not convert due to a very traditional Catholic website I was on for a while.:nope: I found the people to be very rude and were only interested in shoving dogma down throats and name calling. If it wasn’t for a very dear priest and a really nice Sister I doubt I would have ever converted.

Having said that. The Catholic message board I was on was not CAF I now wish I had come here instead. The moderators here are mature adults and this has been a breath of fresh air for me. In my opinion they remain the most objective I’ve ever witnessed in forums.

 

[Holly3278]

I didn’t convert soley because of the Catholic.com website or Catholic Answers Live. However, the Catholic.com website did play a significant role in my conversion to Catholicism from a non-Catholic Christian religion, namely Protestantism.

 

[calchiquita]

Well, the Catholic.com website was a great place to find answers to questions I had (as was NewAdvent.org). You should know that one reason I even was looking to see what Catholics believe was seeing a friend live out his Catholic faith, not that he was a saint, but you could tell he cared what God thought of his actions and was not afraid to express his gratitude to God for each day. I was just curious, not thinking of converting at all, but while looking up references, specifically John 6, the Holy Spirit took over as if to say “You know, you believe that the Eucharist is the Real Presence. The Catholic church is where to find that.” Even though it was a year and a half before I could come into full communion, from that moment I considered myself Catholic and would not participate in communion in any other church.

 

[YADA]

Sorry I was unable to vote, as none of the options pertain to me… There would have to have been just a “No” option…

Technically speaking; a Christian from another faith tradition [non Catholic] does not “convert” to Catholicism. They already have a valid baptism. Being already a Christian, they profess to accept and follow the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Thanks for sharing your stories…

 

[Brian_C]

Yes, I converted from Southern Baptist and this site was a big reason. I had become more interested in the Church Fathers and early Christianity. That along with the loss of many of my Sicilian Catholic family members over the past decade had me thining of the possibility. One day I typed in Catholic.com and came here. I think I was expecting the Vatican or something.

I spent many days reading through the topics out on the main site and started ordering books from the shop. I couldn’t believe how similar Catholic doctrine was to what I personally believed about salvation. Additionally, I got the proper explaination of the various devotions as well as the role of tradition. I wasn’t sure I’d ever actually go through it. But the final tipping point was the death of JPII. I couldn’t get it out of my head that conversion is what I NEEDED! Soon after I got in touch with the RCIA co-ordinator at my current parish and here I am, proud Catholic!

 

[LilyM]

I actually reverted before finding CAF, but it is SO wonderful to be in a mostly lovely group of like-minded supportive and faith-filled folks (not that I agree with all of y’all about every detail of course, but vive le difference!)

 

[Socio_Momma]

:yup:
It definitely helped me in the process of reverting back to the Church & it helped my husband too. We found both when we were on our journey home. I now offer both as resources for anyone looking to learn more about Catholicism. It has helped so many:thumbsup:

 

[LSK]

Not because of CAF but finding the website has certainly helped me to grow spiritually and emotionally as a Catholic. I tell people all the time my spiritual director can be found on Catholic Answers!

 

[AdvanceAlways]

Catholic.com certainly helped me revert to Catholicism. It drove me away from my liberal views on how the church should be and helped bring my faith back, and instilled in me the Orthodoxy of our Catholic Church.

 

[sasafr]

I responded “yes” to the poll but it was more complicated then that, I had already started the converstion process when I found the forums and catholic.com, They have helped me during this time. My only wish is that i had found this sooner.

 

[MDomashinski]

How about Re-Evangelized/Strengthened/Rock-i-fied/Confirmed?

Been a practicing Cathloic since birth. Looking for answers all my life. Thank you for helping!

 

[Katie1723]

I reverted because God thumped me on the back of my head and said “get thee to church”. CAF was an added benefit.
Kathy

 

[Jesus1]

This site has helped me out a lot, though, in terms of defending my faith, actually more with “cafeteria” Catholics, than with Protestants; I’ve actually experienced more hostility from “cafeteria” Catholics than from Protestants.

I know how you feel. When I came back into the Catholic Church through a friend that introduced me to Scott Hahn and Catholic Answers, I was sooo excited to share my newfound Biblical discoveries with other Catholics. I shared them with one of the people that was in charge of teaching the youth at the Catholic Church. I thought he would be jumping up and down too, but, well, actually, it wasn’t that way. He started questioning the things that I was saying, and by the end of it, well, we just were never invited to come back down and help out. It was very confusing for me for a very long time. I tried to find out what a mortal and venial sin was, and some of the people that I asked would hem and haw, and so finally I cornered a probably confused visiting priest and asked him to explain the difference between a mortal and venial sin - I just didn’t know, and I wanted to make sure I was confessing everything serious. When I learned that missing Mass on Sunday was a mortal sin, I went to confess it, and was told that it wasn’t a mortal sin. I came out of the confessional feeling like I was walking on my head. Catholic Answers was and has been such a God-send to me when I have these questions. They keet me grounded, and when I was being attacked by cafeteria Catholics in positions of authority, and they were trying to discredit my beliefs, I knew that I had a place to come for help in discerning and staying strong in the Church’s teachings during my formative years. Plus, they also helped me learn how to witness to others that had questions like myself

 

[katy]

Jesus1,
YOur experiences on coming into the church parallel mine, but mine were 20 years earlier. I finally gave up for 10 years, thinking that the Catholic Church was not what I had thought it was. When I became miserable enough to back to Confession, lo and behold I also realized that there were the CAF and EWTN where I could find what I had given up on. Also I found a parish in my town that takes the faith seriously and not just as a fund raising club. Alleluia, Amen.

 

[tamccrackine]

It was early in my reversion process in which I found CA forums. And I can’t be more grateful for it because I’ve learned so much since I joined four years ago. I’m always amazed at what I learn here and I just truly enjoy reading through alot of these threads.

 

[Jesus1]

I reverted because God thumped me on the back of my head and said “get thee to church”. CAF was an added benefit.
Kathy

Ha ha! I have to laugh, because when God was bringing me back into the Catholic Faith, I was invited to go to a Latin Mass. As I was reading along in English at such beautiful and profound prayers, every line of the Mass being something that you can meditate on for the rest of your life, we got to the part where we say “Oh Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof, but only say the word, and my SOUL shall be healed!” At that very moment, I tell people that God took a spiritual 2 x 4, and hit me over the head, and said Excuse Me!!! You have a soul!!! that needs to be taken care of! At that point, along with a miscarriage shortly after, I got very serious about taking care of my soul. I see it now as a garden that I need to water with God’s Word and the Mass and spiritual readings, and I need to weed - keep learning the Truth so that I can pull out the weeds as soon as they appear to try to choke out my joy and life, and hope in Heaven.

It is so refreshing to know that God is doing the same with others.

God bless you so much for sharing that with us. I have to laugh since God did the same for me

 

[Jesus1]

Jesus1,
YOur experiences on coming into the church parallel mine, but mine were 20 years earlier. I finally gave up for 10 years, thinking that the Catholic Church was not what I had thought it was. When I became miserable enough to back to Confession, lo and behold I also realized that there were the CAF and EWTN where I could find what I had given up on. Also I found a parish in my town that takes the faith seriously and not just as a fund raising club. Alleluia, Amen.

Praise God that you kept looking! I know. One day as I was watching my young sons attach themselves to a friend’s leg as he was trying to walk through our house, I realized that I was going to do the same with God. Whenever I see something or hear something now that I don’t understand, I just spiritually attach myself to God’s leg and tell Him I’m not leaving until He tells me what is going on and gives me the right answers.

Amazing how fast He helps me (ps just kidding God!)

 

[RWMorris]

I converted from Anglicanism. When the Episcopal Church consecrated a gay bishop that was the last straw. I came home and have been happy ever since!

 

[Jesus1]

Catholic.com certainly helped me revert to Catholicism. It drove me away from my liberal views on how the church should be and helped bring my faith back, and instilled in me the Orthodoxy of our Catholic Church.

I praise God that you are discerning a vocation! Awesome - as my younger children would say
One of the ways that God has taught me to pray, is to ask Him to open the doors that need to be open, and shut the doors that need to be shut. So, pray that as you are making the discernment process, and keep praying it some more. Then, start making the plans that need to be made on your part of checking out the different orders. If some of the doors close, leave them alone, unless you feel God telling you to push a little. Then, you can be at peace because you know that God is answering your prayers. Whenever we do that, we always know that however things turn out, we will always be blest because we are in God’s perfect will.

Hope this helps