Has anyone have converted from OC to RC and why, please share your experience

[BerhaneSelassie]

I have met Russian Orthodox old believers that not only say Catholic baptisms are invalid, but all non Russian Orthodox (old believer) baptisms are invalid

 

[dcointin]

Dear sister Bev,

There are a few old threads like this one in the past, with (name removed by moderator)ut from many who came into the Catholic Chruch from Orthodoxy. Try to do a search. I’ll do the same and see if I come up with anything.

I came into the Catholic Church from Coptic Orthodoxy about six years ago. I come from the Oriental Tradition, not the Eastern Tradition, so my experience may not be what you’re looking for. In any case, here is a link to my testimony:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=202141

Blessings,
Marduk

Mardukm - may I ask what part of the world you live in, and if you’re a member of an Eastern parish or a Roman one?

 

[cristyd]

Ladies and gentlemen, I would appreciate advice on this matter for at the moment I’m rather torn on what to do. I have became a Christian about 5 years ago and attended my husband’s Evangelical church. In time I became uphappy with many things that were taught there and decided to investigate other options, leading me to Orthodox Church. I attended there and studied EO for the last 6 months(however, I was not a catechumen and wasn’t baptized there yet) and there are some things I was very conflicted about ergo my move into direction of RC. I’m curious if anyone here converted/made move from OC to RC and what were the reasons.
Please do not think that I’m trying to say bad things reg Orthodox folks in general. I just want to share what I, personally, have experienced.

1. I felt like OC is very much divided along ethnic lines-in my town there are 2 Orthodox churches-Russian and Greek. When I first went to Russian church(I’m originally from Ukraine but I haven’t lived there since I was very young so I’m rather Americanized)I was met with cold suspicion and icy glances. I do not mean to sound dramatic but noone spoke to me, not even say hello, and even though I could tell people looking at me, noone approached me, making me feel totally out of place. When I went to Greek church, where I have been attending liturgy for the last 5 months, everyone was much more welcoming but its crystal clear that it is a Greek church and their activities and groups center around their Greek heritage. Nothing wrong with that in general but if you are not Greek, you may feel a bit out of place like I did. And Russian Orthodox there consider themselves to be in”the true faith” while Greek ones are considered more “liberal” and not as devoute.
2. I felt like folks that I’ve encountered in OC are very anti-Catholic(at least in my church). I always thought that RC were to be considered our brothers/sisters in Christ but if you listen to our priest, RC is “outside one true church” and they are not really considered practicing “true faith” and are “heretical shism”. When I mentioned to my priest that I didn’t see why that was since RC teachings are the closest to OC, he looked like he swallowed a lemon. I still don’t understand why baptisms outside OC are not considered valid(that’s what I was told by my priest) and it makes no sense to me.
3. And I guess the biggest reason of all-it seemed like a lot of doctrine is not clearly defined in OC. I was told regarding several things that OC doesn’t really have a position on “whatever”. I also met plenty of folks there who don’t even think there is heaven and hell, and that everyone will be forgiven and will go to heaven. I could go on but I’m wondering if anyone had the same experiences and doubts. I have met some very good and devout Orchodox ladies and gentlemen so please don’t think that I’m trying to smear anything OC, I just wanted to share my experiences.
   God bless
   Bev

hello

I have converted from OC to RC last year. The mai reasons are the ones listen in your 1 and 2 points. However i i don’t agree with point 3. There is definitely a heaven and hell in the OC.

My parents are both religions: my father is OC and my mother is RC. I was raised to respect both religion and i was baptised orthodox like my fahter. However i always liked my mother’s religion and in the end i decided to listen to my heart.

What i didn’t like in the OC:
-OC is very much divided along ethnic lines. In the RC when you go to a different country you can always enter a Catholic Church and you will know what happens durring the mass. When i left my country a few years ago i had major issues in finding an orthodox Church in the my new country. I found a russian one but since i was greek-orthodox i didn’t feel good in it.
-OC in my country is kind of intolerant. I was told in school by the priest that the Catholic religion is not right. I was told in school by the religion teacher that “the catholics did murders” while nobody ever died for the OC. My sister was told that our parents will go hell because they are not both in OC. I was told by my orthodox priest that RC is the “cult of death”. When i was small the other children were looking differently at me when i told them my mother is catholic. I was always angry to see it in their expresions.
-the orhtodox priests i knew where kind of too pushy. They wanted us to do things because they said so but without explaining. I was told that i ask too many questions, i was forced to take communion even if i didn’t want to, i was told that i don’t need to understand but only to obey and do what i am supposed to do.
When i went to the Catholic priest and told him i want to change to RC he told me to ask him as many questions as i want and talk to him about anything i want. He never pushed me into doing anything. He waited until i was ready.
The main reason for me going to RC is because i think it takes more care that we understand why we must love God and not just “if you don’t believe you will go to hell”

This is just my oppinion and my experience.

 

[Bev17243]

hello

I have converted from OC to RC last year. The mai reasons are the ones listen in your 1 and 2 points. However i i don’t agree with point 3. There is definitely a heaven and hell in the OC.

My parents are both religions: my father is OC and my mother is RC. I was raised to respect both religion and i was baptised orthodox like my fahter. However i always liked my mother’s religion and in the end i decided to listen to my heart.

What i didn’t like in the OC:
-OC is very much divided along ethnic lines. In the RC when you go to a different country you can always enter a Catholic Church and you will know what happens durring the mass. When i left my country a few years ago i had major issues in finding an orthodox Church in the my new country. I found a russian one but since i was greek-orthodox i didn’t feel good in it.
-OC in my country is kind of intolerant. I was told in school by the priest that the Catholic religion is not right. I was told in school by the religion teacher that “the catholics did murders” while nobody ever died for the OC. My sister was told that our parents will go hell because they are not both in OC. I was told by my orthodox priest that RC is the “cult of death”. When i was small the other children were looking differently at me when i told them my mother is catholic. I was always angry to see it in their expresions.
-the orhtodox priests i knew where kind of too pushy. They wanted us to do things because they said so but without explaining. I was told that i ask too many questions, i was forced to take communion even if i didn’t want to, **i was told that i don’t need to understand but only to obey and do what i am supposed to do.**When i went to the Catholic priest and told him i want to change to RC he told me to ask him as many questions as i want and talk to him about anything i want. He never pushed me into doing anything. He waited until i was ready.
The main reason for me going to RC is because i think it takes more care that we understand why we must love God and not just “if you don’t believe you will go to hell”

This is just my oppinion and my experience.

that’s one of the things that i’ve experienced as well. I was told several times by OC priest not to question but just believe. But to me, to believe you have to understand first, no?
I didn’t mean that OC teaches that there is no heaven or hell, just that its explained in a very vague terms and when i asked a priest about it, he said that OC doesn’t really have an “official” position on it. And yes, i have met several OC peope who think that everyone will be saved and noone will go to hell.

 

[mardukm]

Dear brother Dcointin,

Mardukm - may I ask what part of the world you live in, and if you’re a member of an Eastern parish or a Roman one?

I am a Southern California native born and bred. After the death of my father, I inherited the family business and have found myself in constant geographical flux. My ancestral ties are in Assyut, Egypt, where I reside about six months out of the year (though that’s not a continuous stretch of time). I came into the Catholic communion after a spiritual crises while in Assyut, so I am registered in a Coptic Catholic parish in Assyut.

I am not registered in a parish here in Southern California. I attend St. Mary’s Coptic Catholic Church as time permits, but I mostly attend Latin Catholic parishes while in Southern California due to geographical convenience.

That is all I feel comfortable divulging about my personal information. I’m a pretty private person. Sorry.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[Little_Boy_Lost]

That is all I feel comfortable divulging about my personal information. I’m a pretty private person. Sorry.

Blessings,
Marduk

Cool. Thanks for sharing marduk. No worries. I attended St. Mary’s Once about a year ago. I have never been to a coptic orthodox liturgy. Would you say St. Mary’s is pretty similar to a coptic orthodox liturgy?

 

[FredM]

I studied for a MA at a well know Catholic Seminary. While there I took a course on Eastern Christianity taught by a Melkite priest. We visited several eastern churches, an OCA seminary and an Armenian seminary. We were invited to sit in on a class at the Orthodox seminary. When the professor (priest) found out we were Roman Catholics he was rude and hostile towards us. On the other hand the warmest reception was at the Armenian seminary.

There are many different attitudes among the Eastern Catholics as well.

My suggestion is to attend 3 or 4 different RC parishes and then spend some time at the one you are most comfortable with. But be aware that catholics will not likely rush up to you, hog tie you and drag you off to the coffee hour the way evangelicals will. We tend to respect those that wish to come and go quietly. You might want to linger after mass until others have left then as you leave to shake they pastor’s hand tell him briefly why you are there.

Most people like the RCIA program as a way to get to know things without an obligation at the end. You may want to check it out as it give you a small group to be part of.

Pray and be patient. Let God lead.

Fred

 

[dcointin]

Dear brother Dcointin,

I am a Southern California native born and bred. After the death of my father, I inherited the family business and have found myself in constant geographical flux. My ancestral ties are in Assyut, Egypt, where I reside about six months out of the year (though that’s not a continuous stretch of time). I came into the Catholic communion after a spiritual crises while in Assyut, so I am registered in a Coptic Catholic parish in Assyut.

I am not registered in a parish here in Southern California. I attend St. Mary’s Coptic Catholic Church as time permits, but I mostly attend Latin Catholic parishes while in Southern California due to geographical convenience.

That is all I feel comfortable divulging about my personal information. I’m a pretty private person. Sorry.

Blessings,
Marduk

Thanks! I didn’t mean to pry into your personal life, I was just curious if your experience was in the east or west (or both). One issue I’d like to hear your opinion on is the Novus Ordo liturgy. I attend mass with my girlfriend about half the time, and I’ve struggled with that. Take care,

Don

 

[mardukm]

Dear brother Don,

Thanks! I didn’t mean to pry into your personal life, I was just curious if your experience was in the east or west (or both). One issue I’d like to hear your opinion on is the Novus Ordo liturgy. I attend mass with my girlfriend about half the time, and I’ve struggled with that. Take care,

Sorry I missed responding to this earlier (as it is, there are numerous threads that I have yet to respond to, and these threads keep popping up in the issue of the papacy - my pet pieve - so I’m irresistably drawn to address those first).

I don’t know if I’m the best person to ask about this. When I came into the Catholic Church, I had expected the Latin Liturgy to be somewhat different from what I was used to. Truth to tell, I was exposed to the NO Liturgy first, so I always thought that was the norm.

I did not feel a bit inclined to compare and contrast the Latin Liturgy with the Coptic Liturgy, because I expected them to be different. When I first saw the priest facing the people during the Offering, I just chalked it up as one of the differences I would and should expect. I don’t see it as a sacrilege, like some traditional Catholics. People receiving in the hand? I’m too busy focusing on my immediate connection with the Lord as I approach Him to notice what other people do. I don’t even understand how complainers have the wherewithal to notice and judge what others are doing - shouldn’t they have their complete attention on the Lord? Guitars? Drums? Like I said, I expected it to be different. Mixing of the sexes? I didn’t see a problem with whole families worshipping together.

I’ve never encountered a “clown mass,” nor any of the horror stories that certain traditional Catholics like to sensationalize as becoming “the norm” in the Latin Church as a whole. Every NO mass I’ve been to has been reverential. I went to a few “Children’s masses” due to my time constraints. I thought it was great to see kids deeply involved and focused on the Mass. The solemnity that I am used to was not there, but I understood it was for the kids, and was not the norm.

Admittedly, I’ve never been to an EF Mass.

Admittedly, I’m not a reactionary person. It’s in my nature to look for and think of the best about whatever I encounter, not to immediately assess and criticize.

When I go to Mass, I go for one thing and one thing alone - the Eucharist. Everything in the Liturgy is geared towards preparation for that summit of the Mass. I’m not there for the music. I’m not there for the homily. I’m not there for the smells and bells. While these are all helpful to prepare oneself, they don’t define the Mass. I’m there to receive the Lord. The Presence of the Lord is the greatest beauty in the Mass, and far surpasses anything that could possibly be regarded as pleasing to our senses. I recognize and accept that some or many people need that sensory (name removed by moderator)ut. I’m just not one of those people.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[Monica4316]

Hi,

I was baptized Russian Orthodox as a child, then became Protestant when I found my own faith in God, and then later on became Catholic.

I have nothing against the Orthodox Church… and I sometimes attend the Eastern Catholic liturgy and it’s just like the Orthodox liturgy. However the reason I became Catholic is because I felt God leading me there and because of doctrine.

There are a lot of questions that I had, but they were answered, the more I prayed and researched… for example, the EO say that the Catholic Church changed the Creed by adding the Filioque, but actually what I found out is that while in Greek the Filioque sounds heretical, in Latin it does not. In Latin, it’s just a clarification to fight a heresy that was going on at the time. But back then, the Eastern churches that spoke Greek saw it as something heretical because they were looking at the Greek translation. To the Romans, it wasn’t wrong.

**However, I suggest doing research and praying… for all I know, I could be wrong. It’s best not to be too influenced by what people say in this thread, but just pray as much as you can, seek the truth sincerely, and find good sources to look up information. **

Also it might help to go to Eucharistic Adoration

God bless

 

[Monica4316]

Dear brother Don,

Sorry I missed responding to this earlier (as it is, there are numerous threads that I have yet to respond to, and these threads keep popping up in the issue of the papacy - my pet pieve - so I’m irresistably drawn to address those first).

I don’t know if I’m the best person to ask about this. When I came into the Catholic Church, I had expected the Latin Liturgy to be somewhat different from what I was used to. Truth to tell, I was exposed to the NO Liturgy first, so I always thought that was the norm.

I did not feel a bit inclined to compare and contrast the Latin Liturgy with the Coptic Liturgy, because I expected them to be different. When I first saw the priest facing the people during the Offering, I just chalked it up as one of the differences I would and should expect. I don’t see it as a sacrilege, like some traditional Catholics. People receiving in the hand? I’m too busy focusing on my immediate connection with the Lord as I approach Him to notice what other people do. I don’t even understand how complainers have the wherewithal to notice and judge what others are doing - shouldn’t they have their complete attention on the Lord? Guitars? Drums? Like I said, I expected it to be different. Mixing of the sexes? I didn’t see a problem with whole families worshipping together.

I’ve never encountered a “clown mass,” nor any of the horror stories that certain traditional Catholics like to sensationalize as becoming “the norm” in the Latin Church as a whole. Every NO mass I’ve been to has been reverential. I went to a few “Children’s masses” due to my time constraints. I thought it was great to see kids deeply involved and focused on the Mass. The solemnity that I am used to was not there, but I understood it was for the kids, and was not the norm.

Admittedly, I’ve never been to an EF Mass.

Admittedly, I’m not a reactionary person. It’s in my nature to look for and think of the best about whatever I encounter, not to immediately assess and criticize.

When I go to Mass, I go for one thing and one thing alone - the Eucharist. Everything in the Liturgy is geared towards preparation for that summit of the Mass. I’m not there for the music. I’m not there for the homily. I’m not there for the smells and bells. While these are all helpful to prepare oneself, they don’t define the Mass. I’m there to receive the Lord. The Presence of the Lord is the greatest beauty in the Mass, and far surpasses anything that could possibly be regarded as pleasing to our senses. I recognize and accept that some or many people need that sensory (name removed by moderator)ut. I’m just not one of those people.

Blessings,
Marduk

I have often seen Orthodox posters comment on how the Novus Ordo Mass has been “Protestantized”, etc. I just wanted to say, if someone thinks so, - there is also the Eastern Catholic Divine Liturgy (just like the Orthodox) and the Latin Mass. I attend the Latin Mass and I love it, it is reverent and beautiful and I couldn’t have asked for a better Mass

 

[waterbender]

I’m curious if anyone here converted/made move from OC to RC and what were the reasons.

1. I felt like OC is very much divided along ethnic lines-in my town
2. I felt like folks that I’ve encountered in OC are very anti-Catholic
3. And I guess the biggest reason of all-it seemed like a lot of doctrine is not clearly defined in OC.
   God bless
   Bev

Bev,

I’m a convert (can I say that? I feel like I just “leveled up”, not converted!) from Orthodoxy to Roman Catholicisim.

I was raised orthodox, in a strict household and never really received any teaching of my faith. Parish life was centered around liturgy, Feast days and festivals. Your points above, 1, 2, snd 3, are what I experienced growing up Orthodox, but I have to say I experience the same problems in my Roman Catholic parishes too. Yet, point no. 2 stood out the most for me. 1054 schisim - or “the falling away of the Bishop of Rome with the rest of the Bishops” was what I was taught was what made Orthodoxy so special and Romans so prideful and in schisim with the rest of the “original” Church.

After much historical research I found that all of the Bishops in the Catholic Church (Antioch, Alexandria, Rome, Jerusalem, Constantinople…) were pretty much fine until the Creed was made and “the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son”, a line taken directly from scripture in the book of the Revelation of Jesus to John. That, and the 12th C. enforcement of the Church’s decree that priests should remain unmarried once they became a priest… leading to the Great Schisim, which I was not taught at all of in that light.

Anyway, I also appreciate the Orientalisms and the Jewish tradition that there is always a head disciple / big brother / no. 1 lineage disciple in every generation under a Rabbi. It is only logical that of all the patriarchs’ lineages in the Catholic Church as a whole, the lineage of bishops from Peter would be the “big brother / no. 1 disciple” lineage, therefore making his job of leadership among his brothers logical to me.

I appreciate the fullness and very polite way the Roman Catholic Church has opened its doors to me. I feel comfortable and happy in this rite because it treats me with more respect as a follower of Jesus Christ than what I perceived to have received from my former rite. I still love Orthodoxy! I wish only peace and great faith for all Catholics of all rites.

 

[Frank_J]

Hello,

Here are two web sites that you need to look at before you list your statement on not knowing any Catholic group still doing this. I live near one of the ones listed here so you get to know them. I have visited one of their Churches here in Massachusetts in a place called Still River.

catholicism.org/category/outside-the-church-there-is-no-salvation

saintbenedict.com/

I meant-“i don’t see Catholic folks doing this to EO NOW”. I know that was plenty of hostility on both sides in the past so my point was, that i tend to find this kind of attitude unbecoming since i believe there is so much we can learn from each other.

Have a good day.

 

[josephback]

I left the evangelical organization and started to attend a Russian Orthodox Church. The people were friendly and the service was great, but then I had a period of turmoil and started questioning their views on the Pope. You’ll find different levels of belief in every Church, but ultimately it is only what we call the ‘Roman Catholic Church’ that has all four marks of the true Church. It is One(under the Pope), Holy(in its teachings), Catholic(universal and worldwide), and Apostolic(descended from the Apostles). The Orthodox Church is not truly one(except for a loose unity), or catholic(worldwide). So that’s what I have to say.

 

[RyanBlack]

Bev,

I’m a convert (can I say that? I feel like I just “leveled up”, not converted!) from Orthodoxy to Roman Catholicisim.

I was raised orthodox, in a strict household and never really received any teaching of my faith. Parish life was centered around liturgy, Feast days and festivals. Your points above, 1, 2, snd 3, are what I experienced growing up Orthodox, but I have to say I experience the same problems in my Roman Catholic parishes too. Yet, point no. 2 stood out the most for me. 1054 schisim - or “the falling away of the Bishop of Rome with the rest of the Bishops” was what I was taught was what made Orthodoxy so special and Romans so prideful and in schisim with the rest of the “original” Church.

After much historical research I found that all of the Bishops in the Catholic Church (Antioch, Alexandria, Rome, Jerusalem, Constantinople…) were pretty much fine until the Creed was made and “the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son”, a line taken directly from scripture in the book of the Revelation of Jesus to John. That, and the 12th C. enforcement of the Church’s decree that priests should remain unmarried once they became a priest… leading to the Great Schisim, which I was not taught at all of in that light.

Anyway, I also appreciate the Orientalisms and the Jewish tradition that there is always a head disciple / big brother / no. 1 lineage disciple in every generation under a Rabbi. It is only logical that of all the patriarchs’ lineages in the Catholic Church as a whole, the lineage of bishops from Peter would be the “big brother / no. 1 disciple” lineage, therefore making his job of leadership among his brothers logical to me.

I appreciate the fullness and very polite way the Roman Catholic Church has opened its doors to me. I feel comfortable and happy in this rite because it treats me with more respect as a follower of Jesus Christ than what I perceived to have received from my former rite. I still love Orthodoxy! I wish only peace and great faith for all Catholics of all rites.

Would you please provide the scriptural citation?

Thank you,

Ryan

 

[RyanBlack]

I left the evangelical organization and started to attend a Russian Orthodox Church. The people were friendly and the service was great, but then I had a period of turmoil and started questioning their views on the Pope. You’ll find different levels of belief in every Church, but ultimately it is only what we call the ‘Roman Catholic Church’ that has all four marks of the true Church. It is One(under the Pope), Holy(in its teachings), Catholic(universal and worldwide), and Apostolic(descended from the Apostles). The Orthodox Church is not truly one(except for a loose unity), or catholic(worldwide). So that’s what I have to say.

Please don’t limit the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church to the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is a communion of 23 Churches, of which the Roman Catholic Church is one.

 

[thirddec]

i took it to mean that Christ established Peter supremacy, and since Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, he was the first Pop, no? Ergo his statement that Christ established the See of Rome. At least that’s how i understood his statement

Excuse my niavety on this but isn’t the See of Rome as meaning someone form the roman diocese being Pope very outdated now as the Pope can come from anyplace in theWorld now but to show he is now in authority he sits in the Papal palace in Rome.
Was JPII a ROMAN ?

 

[josephback]

Please don’t limit the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church to the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is a communion of 23 Churches, of which the Roman Catholic Church is one.

Sorry. I guess I commited a common mistake. I just think of the Catholic Church as one monolithic entity.Yes it is a collection of Churches…-under the Pope.

 

[waterbender]

@ RyanBlack

pet peev: instead of quoting or directly talking to a previous poster, in this case me, you’ve reposted my entire post. Here’s your answer to your request for the scripture reference in the book of the Revelation of Jesus to John that clarifies that the Holy Ghost PROCEEDS from the Father AND the Son:

Revelation 22:1
“Then he showed me the river of the water of life…flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb…”

Rev. 1 - 7 of Chapter 22 describes the holy Spirit as a “river of Life” that supports the ‘tree of life’ (his Church), which produces twelve kinds of fruit, all year around.

 

[Biedrik]

Excuse my niavety on this but isn’t the See of Rome as meaning someone form the roman diocese being Pope very outdated now as the Pope can come from anyplace in theWorld now but to show he is now in authority he sits in the Papal palace in Rome.
Was JPII a ROMAN ?

Errr…I don’t think anyone ever required that the Pope be a Roman. It’s the See of Rome because…well it’s the diocese of Rome. It’s where the Pope is situated. It doesn’t mean that he himself comes from that place. Simply that he is the bishop of the See of Rome.