I am scared to become Catholic

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Is that likely? I am nervous that people might think I am strange wanting to be Catholic.
You may be pleasantly surprised. When I was going through RCIA, I found support in some unlikely places. Two of my friends at work were very supportive. One is a lapsed Catholic who hadn’t attended Mass since it was in Latin. The other friend was finishing up seminary to become a priest in the Episcopal Church. I got lots of prayers and support from them.

I certainly didn’t get any support from my family of origin. It has gotten pretty bad. I met others in RCIA that have similar struggles with family because of their conversions.

Will some people think it strange that you want to become Catholic? Certainly, but there are other adult converts out there. In my archdiocese, there were about 2200 new Catholics this past Easter. You are not alone.
 
I want to be Catholic because I want to get closer with God but I am too scared to choose convert. What if were wrong… What if Catholicism is wrong and I go to hell.
How can that happen? Do you love Jesus? Have you have asked Him into your heard as your Lord and Savior? Didn’t Jesus pay the price for all of your sin debt past, present and future? If so you have nothing to fear. None can pluck you from His hand.
If you want to get closer to Jesus, just jump in and do it. You have nothing to fear.
 
You may be pleasantly surprised. When I was going through RCIA, I found support in some unlikely places. Two of my friends at work were very supportive. One is a lapsed Catholic who hadn’t attended Mass since it was in Latin. The other friend was finishing up seminary to become a priest in the Episcopal Church. I got lots of prayers and support from them.

I certainly didn’t get any support from my family of origin. It has gotten pretty bad. I met others in RCIA that have similar struggles with family because of their conversions.

Will some people think it strange that you want to become Catholic? Certainly, but there are other adult converts out there. In my archdiocese, there were about 2200 new Catholics this past Easter. You are not alone.
Thank you for answer. I meant to say most converts to Catholicism are from Protestant backgrounds. I doubt there many converts that are ex Muslims.
 
As a convert, I went through the same questioning. I was very concerned that if I made the wrong choice I may end up in the wrong place in the afterlife! However once I understood the history of the church it made much more logical sense to become part of the religion of the earliest Christians in the church rather than be part of the religion of people who came 1500+ years later and started “tweaking” things. When I started RCIA, I wasn’t at all sure that I was going to convert. It was a serious time of discernment for me and I prayed a lot about it. As I surrendered to God, it became more and more clear that I was doing the right thing. Good luck with your query. You can always sign up for RCIA to learn more about the church without actually committing to become a baptized Catholic. You can walk away at any time but it would be invaluable for you to start learning about what the church actually teaches. I’ve learned that a lot of what I heard going up from Protestants was not at all what the Church teaches. I also learned that a lot of the things that the church does that Protestants don’t do is either scripturally based or based on tradition. God bless you.
 
FYI

The Catholic Church considers Protestantism, no matter the stripe, no matter the name, as one of The Great Heresies in history.
Thank you for that.

The link does illuminate the key heretical notions of protestantism, specifically:
  • Bible alone
  • Faith alone
  • Private interpretation of scripture
However, in the Catholic faith we do have the bible. It is the same bible too. But we ADD the history, tradition, writings of the saints etc.

We have the same faith too, but we ADD sacraments that were removed.

We have private interpretations of scripture - what this bible verse means to you today, applied to your life etc, but we ADD the authoritative teaching on the church so that the scripture is never twisted into something beyond its true meaning. But it is still meant to apply to you.
 
How can that happen? Do you love Jesus? Have you have asked Him into your heard as your Lord and Savior? Didn’t Jesus pay the price for all of your sin debt past, present and future? If so you have nothing to fear. None can pluck you from His hand.
If you want to get closer to Jesus, just jump in and do it. You have nothing to fear.
A caveat: The only thing that can “pluck us from his hand” is us–by rejecting God’s love through commission of mortal sin(s). I simply want to make it clear that Catholics do not believe in “Once Saved Always Saved.” Jesus will never fail us, but we can majorly fail him through our sins.

By becoming Catholic, acobthompson16 you cannot go to hell because the Catholic faith is faith in Christ. Such fear is planted in many non-Catholics but it is not God who causes such fears–it is Satan who is author of servile fear. Fear of God is to be in awe of his majesty and his great love, not to be afraid that he will pop you into hell at the least infraction. In no way would God send someone to hell for being reconciled to the Church Christ himself founded.
 
Thank you for answer. I meant to say most converts to Catholicism are from Protestant backgrounds. I doubt there many converts that are ex Muslims.
I suggest asking the RCIA director or the pastor if they know of any converts from Islam that you could talk to. I did not come from a Protestant background when I converted. I was born and raised Mormon. Mormonism actually has a lot in common with Islam, so you may even find it beneficial to talk to an ex-Mormon who converted. (Happy to converse via PM if you would like). When I started RCIA, I thought I was very alone as an ex-Mormon converting to Catholicism. I could not have been more wrong. One of the ladies who works at my parish office is an ex-Mormon now Catholic and I had a chance to talk to her. She gave me some great advice.

I suggest checking out the Coming Home Network as they probably have stories from ex-Muslims who converted. There may even be some episodes of the Journey Home where Marcus Grodi has interviewed former Muslims who found their way home to the Catholic Church.

You may need to do some searching, but you can probably find someone who has made a similar journey. You may just need to ask around. There is a Muslim who is a Christian at heart who lives in Saudi Arabia and posts occasionally on the Non-Catholic Religion sub forum. If you check out the threads related to Islam, you can find him.
 
Thank you for that.

The link does illuminate the key heretical notions of protestantism, specifically:
  • Bible alone
  • Faith alone
  • Private interpretation of scripture
However, in the Catholic faith we do have the bible. It is the same bible too. But we ADD the history, tradition, writings of the saints etc.
the NT (27 books) were written in, by, for, and canonized by the Catholic Church. The OT (45 books) were collected and the total 72 books were canonized by the Catholic Church. The canon as we have it today is from Pope Damasus I, at the council of Rome 382 a.d… That’s the canon Jerome used for his Vulgate bible.
F:
We have the same faith too, but we ADD sacraments that were removed.
actually Protestants have bible lite. They removed 7 OT books during the 16th century protestant revolt.
F:
we ADD the authoritative teaching on the church so that the scripture is never twisted into something beyond its true meaning. But it is still meant to apply to you.
true
 
I want to be Catholic because I want to get closer with God but I am too scared to choose convert. What if were wrong… What if Catholicism is wrong and I go to hell. The same goes for protestantism. Is there any absolute proof that the Catholic church is the one true church?
Protestants websites like: gotquestions.org/ and carm.org/ seem to have answers as well as catholic sources do to.
What do I do… I want to convert but what if Its wrong? Is there any absolute proof that the Catholic church is the one true church?
You have every right to be afraid. What’s the rush? What if your fear is actually the result of the Holy Spirit asking you to pause and reflect? Regardless of what information has been posted here and elsewhere, there is absolutely no proof that the Catholic church is the one true church. If there was, you would not be afraid. Do you really think that when you see Jesus that He is going to ask you which church building you visited or were a member of or what man-made rules and traditions you followed? What do you think is the most important thing that Christ taught/teaches us? A lot of people here will not like what I say. Too bad. I love you and care about you. I think this is a very important decision you must make, and not to make hastily. You are asking very important questions, and your heart and mind are in the right place. If the world as we know it ended tonight, I trust that Jesus would know your intention and desire. God Bless You.
 
You have every right to be afraid. What’s the rush? What if your fear is actually the result of the Holy Spirit asking you to pause and reflect? Regardless of what information has been posted here and elsewhere, there is absolutely no proof that the Catholic church is the one true church. If there was, you would not be afraid.
Your assertion is false. He can be afraid, and I understand perfectly his feelings. But his afraid doesn’t mean the Catholic Church is not the True Church, rather only he’s insecure IN HIS FEELINGS. There is OBJECTIVE and abundant information that Catholic Church is the true Church. The historical data, the witnesses of the Apostolic Church and the writings of the Early Church in the first place. I think is quite difficult to say the same respect any protestant church (none of them apostolic, neither universal and not less important, none of them traceable beyond 16th century). These are provable facts. The feelings are feelings and the facts are facts.
To pray is fundamental for spiritual discerment, and to know the historical facts is fundamental in order your discerment to be informed and not emotional and insecure.

jacobthompson16 :
Pray a lot. Study a lot. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all the Truth.
 
The whole idea that one has to choose which church is the one true church or face hell is erroneous. There can only be one church.

The Catholic church already considers you to be part of the church. The question is only how fully you are a part of it.

From the Catechism:

Who belongs to the Catholic Church?

836 "All men are called to this catholic unity of the People of God. . . . And to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by God’s grace to salvation."320

838 "The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."323
 
The whole idea that one has to choose which church is the one true church or face hell is erroneous. There can only be one church.

The Catholic church already considers you to be part of the church. The question is only how fully you are a part of it.
Here’s a few other points we Catholics need to discuss with protestants so that we don’t inadvertantly leave false impressions with any of them.

Example

We don’t want to leave them with the idea they are “in” the Church. That could leave them with the impression they could walk into any Catholic Church and take part in all the sacraments a Catholic can take part in. Can they do that? No

For example

Can a protestant walk off the street and go to confession to a Catholic priest? No
catholic.com/quickquestions/as-a-protestant-who-wishes-to-stay-focused-on-the-lord-may-i-confess-my-sins-to-a-pri

The same is true for the Eucharist…etc etc
To take part “in” the Church they must be brought into the Church.

The reason for this is, Protestants are not "in" the Church.

To prove that point, all a Catholic has to do is ask the questions in reverse.

If Protestants are "in" the Church, then can a Catholic join a protestant church? Absolutely not. The Catholic would have been considered to have left the faith and the Church.
F:
From the Catechism:

Who belongs to the Catholic Church?

836 "All men are called to this catholic unity of the People of God. . . . And to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by God’s grace to salvation."320

838 "The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."323
Being called to Catholic unity doesn’t mean one will respond.

Don’t leave out [837 (Catechism of the Catholic Church - Paragraph # 837) . One way to sin gravely against charity is to divide or remain divided from Our Lord’s Church, the Catholic Church. That’s why the Church and scripture teaches
[846 (Catechism of the Catholic Church - Paragraph # 846) …Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.

One can’t deny that the Catholic Church is that Church. #[34 (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=11997086&postcount=34)

Re: “imperfect communion,”… imperfect communion ≠ “in the Church”

So the real question is, what are the downsides to the one who while baptised, is in this “imperfect” communion?
  • The Great Heresies being in heresy is a huge danger to one’s soul. As an aside, one can’t be a heretic unless baptised 2089 so all those heresies were by baptised people
  • Titus 3:10 “As for a man who is factious ( αἱρετικὸν heretic ), after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.” Paul is talking about the baptised.
  • Romans 16:17-20 ,διχοστασίας (open the links) divisions which wrongly separate people into pointless (groundless) factions / sects…i.e. protestantism. Paul again is talking about the baptised who divide and create sects
The consequences? Galatians 5:19-21 , διχοστασίαςsame Greek word for division found in Rom 16:17 above. The consequences for one who dies in that sin, they will not inherit heaven. [Gal 5:21] Paul again is talking about the baptised who die in any of the sins mentioned won’t be going to heaven.

So Bottomline, It’s Hugely dangerous to one’s soul to be in “Imperfect communion” with the Catholic Church.
 
As for heresies, the Church does not condemn those people who are in “material heresy” - in other words, not knowing that the teachings that they profess are heretical. This includes most modern-day Protestants. This is why we don’t call modern-day Protestants “heretics” (even though their teachings are, according to the Catholic Church, heretical), but “separated brethren”. The idea is that most Protestants (including most Protestant pastors/ministers) are unaware that they have, according to the Church, been misled.

Most so-called “formal heretics”, btw (those who knowingly and obstinately professed beliefs that they knew were heretical), were clegy. Martin Luther was a Catholic priest (Augustinian order), Zwigli was a priest, and so was John Calvin. Arius was a priest, Pelagius was a bishop, etc.

Obviously, God would want you in the One True Church. If you’re interested and you can read at a sufficiently high level, read materials by the so-called Church Fathers describing the Church (btw, I’m not disparaging the education of the OP here - I tried reading Augustine once and struggled to get past the first page). These would have been written before even the Great Schism. As such, the only Church at the time would have been the Catholic Church.

And remember, until the 1500’s in the West (and until around 1100 in the entire world), the words “Catholic” and “Christian” were synonymous. It wasn’t until after the Reformation that Protestants started to claim that Catholics weren’t Christians. There is nothing that irks me more as a Catholic than a fallen-away Catholic saying “I used to be Catholic and now I’m Christian”. Or a Catholic saying “I’m not Christian, I’m Catholic”.

I am a proud to be Catholic - the fullest form of the Christian faith. Jesus is my personal Lord and Savior, but not just that - when I consume Jesus’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, I become His hands, His feet, His eyes, His ears, and His heart to the world. So do we all. We, the Church of God, become the mystical Body of Christ. We are the bride, He is the bridegroom. Our goal? To be Christ to the world, to preach His words, to perform His miracles, to bring the world to Him.

By the way, The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is a form of time-travel into the Last Supper, Passion, Death, and Resurrection, where Jesus sacrificed Himself - we are actually present at the Last Supper, the Passion, Death, and Resurecction all at the same time (the “beloved disciple” in St. John’s gospel is not just St. John the apostle - the “beloved disciple” is the Church, the people of God)!

There are many reasons why to be Catholic. But, honestly, there are many misconceptions in the world about who we are, and it might take you a long time to clear these misconceptions. There are those who believe that we worship the devil (we don’t) or that the Pope is the anti-Christ (he isn’t). There are those that equate “praying to the saints” to mean “worshipping the saints” (we don’t worship the saints - we believe that they’re in Heaven and “praying to the saints” really means “asking the saints for their prayers”). We don’t worship our statues or painted icons.

And the Bible? We decided which Christian writings were divinely inspired and belonged in the New Testament - and which ones did not belong. The Bible itself does not say what belongs in the Bible (the Table of Contents is not part of the Bible), so the idea of sola scriptura primarily falls apart first and foremost on that point - it required Apostolic Tradition (and the magesterium) to determine what was Sacred Scripture in the first place. How can Protestant denominations claim that the Catholic Church had the authority to determine the contents of Sacred Scripture (which they imply by accepting what the Church had determined what was Sacred Scripture) yet think that the Church never had the authority to do proclaim anything else?

Just pray, and continue to learn more. Jesus is drawing you home, but it may be a long journey.
 
You have every right to be afraid. What’s the rush? What if your fear is actually the result of the Holy Spirit asking you to pause and reflect? Regardless of what information has been posted here and elsewhere,** there is absolutely no proof that the Catholic church is the one true church. ** If there was, you would not be afraid. Do you really think that when you see Jesus that He is going to ask you which church building you visited or were a member of or what man-made rules and traditions you followed? What do you think is the most important thing that Christ taught/teaches us? A lot of people here will not like what I say. Too bad. I love you and care about you. I think this is a very important decision you must make, and not to make hastily. You are asking very important questions, and your heart and mind are in the right place. If the world as we know it ended tonight, I trust that Jesus would know your intention and desire. God Bless You.
Is this an infallible statement on your part? Is there any chance you are in error?

And where do you get the idea that we are talking about church buildings? There is a visible Church that Jesus built. Which one is it?
 
As for heresies, the Church does not condemn those people who are in “material heresy” - in other words, not knowing that the teachings that they profess are heretical. This includes most modern-day Protestants.
true, and for clarification, innocent Ignorance , 847 ( not of ones own fault) is the key there if it applies. But the Church also recognizes, ignorance is not always innocent. [1791 (Catechism of the Catholic Church - Paragraph # 1791)

As far as “Most modern day Protestants” today, many of those protestants as we know, are ex Catholics. So
p:
This is why we don’t call modern-day Protestants “heretics” (even though their teachings are, according to the Catholic Church, heretical), but “separated brethren”. The idea is that most Protestants (including most Protestant pastors/ministers) are unaware that they have, according to the Church, been misled.
It’s actually both “seperated bretheren” **& **they are also one of [The Great Heresies (http://www.catholic.com/tracts/the-great-heresies)
p:
Most so-called “formal heretics”, btw (those who knowingly and obstinately professed beliefs that they knew were heretical), were clegy. Martin Luther was a Catholic priest (Augustinian order), Zwigli was a priest, and so was John Calvin. Arius was a priest, Pelagius was a bishop, etc.
Actually there are lots of people today in one of 3 categories
2089
p:
Obviously, God would want you in the One True Church. If you’re interested and you can read at a sufficiently high level, read materials by the so-called Church Fathers describing the Church (btw, I’m not disparaging the education of the OP here - I tried reading Augustine once and struggled to get past the first page). These would have been written before even the Great Schism. As such, the only Church at the time would have been the Catholic Church.
It was definitely the Catholic Church then as it is today #[34 (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=11997086&postcount=34)
p:
There is nothing that irks me more as a Catholic than a fallen-away Catholic saying “I used to be Catholic and now I’m Christian”. Or a Catholic saying “I’m not Christian, I’m Catholic”.
It’s nuts I agree, but a perfect opportunity when we hear it, to set the record straight with that person(s) 😉
p:
Just pray, and continue to learn more. Jesus is drawing you home, but it may be a long journey.
👍
 
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