I need some advice

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t68ware

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I am Protestant (like many of you know by now) but want to be Catholic. Long story as to why I am not…but because of my studies in the Catholic Church, I am having trouble with the interpretations of the Bible that my Protestant minister has. For many, many years I believed like he does, but my studies are showing me the Catholic way to look at the Bible. This is creating a little conflict with my pastor, my wife and I. I don’t want to create a rift, but it seems inevitable. Help!
 
t68ware said:
I am Protestant (like many of you know by now) but want to be Catholic. Long story as to why I am not…but because of my studies in the Catholic Church, I am having trouble with the interpretations of the Bible that my Protestant minister has. For many, many years I believed like he does, but my studies are showing me the Catholic way to look at the Bible. This is creating a little conflict with my pastor, my wife and I. I don’t want to create a rift, but it seems inevitable. Help!
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Dear brother,

Perhaps, you can start reading the book “Rome Sweet Home” by Scott Hahn. He has the same experience as you are, I believe.
 
I would suggest that you go to this site:

ic.net/~erasmus/RAZ478.HTM

It is for a book called “The One Minute Apologist”, written by Dave Armstrong…and who as you will see…is a “former” protestant and now a Catholic… His book gives “Essential Catholic replies to over 60 common protestant claims”… I bought the book, and I found it most interesting and revealing as well as educational…and I am a “cradle Catholic”!!

On this site…there are some examples of “replies”…that you can read and other links. You will probably find some of the answers there, and certainly in his book.

👍
 
Welcome home, I see that you have been given some awesome advice, from what I understand it is going to be an awesome experience for you and you will probably convert a few on your way. I’ll be praying for you and your family (and your Minister).
 
t68ware said:
I am Protestant (like many of you know by now) but want to be Catholic. Long story as to why I am not…but because of my studies in the Catholic Church, I am having trouble with the interpretations of the Bible that my Protestant minister has. For many, many years I believed like he does, but my studies are showing me the Catholic way to look at the Bible. This is creating a little conflict with my pastor, my wife and I. I don’t want to create a rift, but it seems inevitable. Help!
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I have been in a similar situation as well. Basically all of my family is Protestant other than me. what I do is try to focus on the similarities that we share as Christians after all we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. As for the doctrinal differences between me and the rest my family we share our positions and agree to disagree when necessary. Perhaps it is possible for you to take a similar approach with your pastor focus on the fact we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and just tell him your true feelings. Then you can agree to disagree about doctrinal differences when necessary.
Peace
 
If Allah / God guides you to become Catholic and others are not for you doing this it is not good for them if they love you.

If by saying you are creating a rift and you are obeying the commandments, sharing openly listening genuinely and scrutinizing your self, there may not be a lot you can do it maybe more of what your pastor needs to do in his own development, this is out of your control. it is between him and Allah.

Above all put Allah first and man second, Jesus (pbwh) said to do this in Bible.

PS even pagans dont like to lose what brings good to them, i just want Allah / Gods will to be done.

I pray Allah guides you on your journey.
 
yes John but you must also acknowledge that Muslims face similar disagreements as Christians do. Most notably is the debate over who is the rightful successor of Mohammed (peace be upon him) just like Muslims it is not easy for Christians to resolve their differences. I hope that she may become Catholic and find peace.inşallah.
Steven_John said:
If Allah / God guides you to become Catholic and others are not for you doing this it is not good for them if they love you.

If by saying you are creating a rift and you are obeying the commandments, sharing openly listening genuinely and scrutinizing your self, there may not be a lot you can do it maybe more of what your pastor needs to do in his own development, this is out of your control. it is between him and Allah.

Above all put Allah first and man second, Jesus (pbwh) said to do this in Bible.

PS even pagans dont like to lose what brings good to them, i just want Allah / Gods will to be done.

I pray Allah guides you on your journey.
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t68ware said:
I am Protestant (like many of you know by now) but want to be Catholic. Long story as to why I am not…but because of my studies in the Catholic Church, I am having trouble with the interpretations of the Bible that my Protestant minister has. For many, many years I believed like he does, but my studies are showing me the Catholic way to look at the Bible. This is creating a little conflict with my pastor, my wife and I. I don’t want to create a rift, but it seems inevitable. Help!
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Leave you pastor, leave your wife, move to a new state and begin life anew as a Roman Catholic.
 
T68, Please do not leave anyone. It is obvious you love your faith and you love your wife and pastor, otherwise you would not be in conflict.
Your love for your faith has led you into a deeper awareness of the mystery of our Christian faith and has led you to the roots of our faith in the Catholic Church where these mysteries begin to open into the light of a deeper understanding of God’s love.
Perhaps you can ask them for their prayers and blessings as you continue into the mystery of God’s love as it is opening up to you.
Tell them to trust you and the Holy Spirit’s guidance during this journey since there is no fear in our faith in Jesus.
I was away 40 years and returned 3 years ago. I feel so good to be home!.
 
Can you see why they are interpreting as they are? Even if faulty, just let it go. They are not at the same place in their faith journey as you are.

At some point it would be good for you to attend Mass each week-even if this means by yourself. Most churches have Sat. night Mass and several on Sunday.

If you effuse peace in your dealing with family and friends, avoid arguing and always be willing to listen to them, they will have to notice that there is something very special about you that can only be coming from our Lord.

God Bless you in your journey.
 
t68ware said:
I am Protestant (like many of you know by now) but want to be Catholic. Long story as to why I am not…but because of my studies in the Catholic Church, I am having trouble with the interpretations of the Bible that my Protestant minister has. For many, many years I believed like he does, but my studies are showing me the Catholic way to look at the Bible. This is creating a little conflict with my pastor, my wife and I. I don’t want to create a rift, but it seems inevitable. Help!
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You should join RCIA. RCIA will teach you and your spouse what the Church teaches. It is an opportunity for people to learn about the faith without pressure. We don’t do that. Those who do are not teaching with love. All we ask is that you and your spouse stick out the entire course before dropping it or choosing. You probably already know. But your spouse would benefit my reducing her fears about Catholicism. We are a Jesus centered faith. Most of what everyone says is just wrong. There is an offiicial teaching of the Church that can be found on www.usccb.org go to it. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is online there. Also good is www.ewtn.com.

I would look into the Eastern Catholic side for your spouse’s sake. Did you know that 20% of all Catholic priests are married? 1 in 4 American’s are Catholic. 1 in 3 American servicemembers are Catholic. There’s so much to learn and so interesting. But no one expects anyone person to know it all. However the basic core teachings of the Church are not that complicated. They may seem strange, but in the early days of the Church it was considered the norm.
 
vocatio said:
You should join RCIA. RCIA will teach you and your spouse what the Church teaches. It is an opportunity for people to learn about the faith without pressure. We don’t do that. Those who do are not teaching with love. All we ask is that you and your spouse stick out the entire course before dropping it or choosing. You probably already know. But your spouse would benefit my reducing her fears about Catholicism. We are a Jesus centered faith. Most of what everyone says is just wrong. There is an offiicial teaching of the Church that can be found on www.usccb.org go to it. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is online there. Also good is www.ewtn.com.

I would look into the Eastern Catholic side for your spouse’s sake. Did you know that 20% of all Catholic priests are married? 1 in 4 American’s are Catholic. 1 in 3 American servicemembers are Catholic. There’s so much to learn and so interesting. But no one expects anyone person to know it all. However the basic core teachings of the Church are not that complicated. They may seem strange, but in the early days of the Church it was considered the norm.
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I started going to RCIA and at first she was ok with it but after a while it started causing conflict. I stopped going for the sake of marital peace. I have often asked her to go with me, or at least go to Mass with me but she refuses. At one time i was studying to be a United Methodist pastor and she tells me “I married a United Methodist, not a Catholic.” She is very firm about not trying anything Catholic and my kids are off limits too.
 
Aydan said:
yes John but you must also acknowledge that Muslims face similar disagreements as Christians do. Most notably is the debate over who is the rightful successor of Mohammed (peace be upon him) just like Muslims it is not easy for Christians to resolve their differences. I hope that he may become Catholic and find peace.inşallah.
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opps I meant he may become Catholic. Sorry about that!
Aydan said:
yes John but you must also acknowledge that Muslims face similar disagreements as Christians do. Most notably is the debate over who is the rightful successor of Mohammed (peace be upon him) just like Muslims it is not easy for Christians to resolve their differences. I hope that she may become Catholic and find peace.inşallah.
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This is most of what did the trick for me; my leaders couldn’t or wouldn’t even discuss it with me. I took that as a strong sign to go to the Catholic Church and see whether anyone there would talk to me about it. Everyone would. I was impressed.
Don’t be afraid of losing loved ones. Jesus warned us to be prepared for such events and you can get through it. Sometimes they come back.
 
Weslyan I’m assuming by my research. You make this difficult. That like asking a blind man what color is my shirt. Try to add this point next time you ask for help.

coctocatholic.com/forum/
Go read and consider posting at this site. These guys are Catholic…converts. A few of them are ministers or rather were ministers. One lady is currently a minister now and considering the Catholic Church. Some people’s choices cost them family. Our family is also very difficult to deal with too. I was planning on going to Bible school to preach. My FIL was a Bishop or elder before he died. My 2 oldest BIL are preacher…very conservative. I was patient for 17 years waiting for conversion without prodding. My wife too was very anti-Catholic. But I waited. If I had to do this all over again, I’d finish the seminary and become a priest. But I really love my wife. But our conversion was one difficult life changing event that brought us peace. Peace in the midst of chaos. Our family can’t find out about our conversion without it being a zoo of people running in and out of our lives threatening to abandon us. It’s how Satan divides us.

Has your wife read the didache or the early church fathers? There are so many questions. Your best choice is to seek pastoral counsel from your parish priest. If you haven’t you might be pleased to see their abilities in spiritual counseling.
 
vocatio said:
Weslyan I’m assuming by my research. You make this difficult. That like asking a blind man what color is my shirt. Try to add this point next time you ask for help.

coctocatholic.com/forum/
Go read and consider posting at this site. These guys are Catholic…converts. A few of them are ministers or rather were ministers. One lady is currently a minister now and considering the Catholic Church. Some people’s choices cost them family. Our family is also very difficult to deal with too. I was planning on going to Bible school to preach. My FIL was a Bishop or elder before he died. My 2 oldest BIL are preacher…very conservative. I was patient for 17 years waiting for conversion without prodding. My wife too was very anti-Catholic. But I waited. If I had to do this all over again, I’d finish the seminary and become a priest. But I really love my wife. But our conversion was one difficult life changing event that brought us peace. Peace in the midst of chaos. Our family can’t find out about our conversion without it being a zoo of people running in and out of our lives threatening to abandon us. It’s how Satan divides us.

Has your wife read the didache or the early church fathers? There are so many questions. Your best choice is to seek pastoral counsel from your parish priest. If you haven’t you might be pleased to see their abilities in spiritual counseling.
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Yes, I am Wesleyan…good call! I have a degree from a Christian college, was a Bible major and Philosophy minor and I am well versed in Wesleyan theology. I was going to study to be a Methodist pastor then a Wesleyan pastor but work and life interrupted so I never went to seminary. During the past two years, I have done my research and find that I agree more and more with the Catholic church, and when I discuss the didache or the writings of the early church fathers, my pastor tell me they are good to read but they are not the Bible. They believe in sola scriptura and sola fide so much they won’t listen to rational discussion about how the actual Bible was formed. My wife has never read the didache or church fathers and has no desire too. It is frustrating. When I was watching the Holy Father on the internet when he came to America she gave me a hard time about it. It really is difficult.
 
t68ware said:
I am Protestant (like many of you know by now) but want to be Catholic. Long story as to why I am not…but because of my studies in the Catholic Church, I am having trouble with the interpretations of the Bible that my Protestant minister has. For many, many years I believed like he does, but my studies are showing me the Catholic way to look at the Bible. This is creating a little conflict with my pastor, my wife and I. I don’t want to create a rift, but it seems inevitable. Help!
Click to expand...
t68, I have read a couple of Patrick Madrid’s Surprised by Truth series of books with each chapter devoted to the story of a particular convert to the Catholic faith. Each story is very interesting and may be helpful for you and your wife may find some interest in reading about others in the same situation.
 
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