Protestants and Anglicans! I Need Your Opinion

[Matariel]

I’m seriously considering becoming a part of the Catholic Church. My beliefs are becoming more and more synonymous with them, and I believe history bears their claims.

But I don’t necessarily want to become Catholic at this point in my life! I’m a traditional Anglican and I love my Church, although it is consumed in scandal.

Anyway, could all Protestants and Anglicans who see this give me their best reasons why I should not become Catholic or that I am wrong?

Specifically, wrong on:

Papal Authority

Unicity and Catholicity of the Church

Episcopal Authority

Eucharist

Marian doctrines

Please, Protestants and fellow Anglicans, I want to hear your best reasons. I’m not going to argue, just take into consideration your points of view.

Perhaps I am wrong.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

I’m seriously considering becoming a part of the Catholic Church. My beliefs are becoming more and more synonymous with them, and I believe history bears their claims.

But I don’t necessarily want to become Catholic at this point in my life! I’m a traditional Anglican and I love my Church, although it is consumed in scandal.

Anyway, could all Protestants and Anglicans who see this give me their best reasons why I should not become Catholic or that I am wrong?

Specifically, wrong on:

Papal Authority

Unicity and Catholicity of the Church

Episcopal Authority

Eucharist

Marian doctrines

Please, Protestants and fellow Anglicans, I want to hear your best reasons. I’m not going to argue, just take into consideration your points of view.

Perhaps I am wrong.

Why not find a sympathetic Anglican priest, & an equally sympathetic Catholic priest ? People like that would - surely ? - be far better equipped to give you the kind of help you need. There are things it is much easier to say face to face than by computer.​

 

[Matariel]

Why not find a sympathetic Anglican priest, & an equally sympathetic Catholic priest ? People like that would - surely ? - be far better equipped to give you the kind of help you need. There are things it is much easier to say face to face than by computer.​

I guess that’s a good point, I was just grasping for support from the Anglican and Protestant sides. I just want to know why I’m wrong, so I can examine it and see if I agree…

 

[emeraldcoast]

I guess that’s a good point, I was just grasping for support from the Anglican and Protestant sides. I just want to know why I’m wrong, so I can examine it and see if I agree…

Why do you think that you are wrong?

God Bless!

 

[YADA]

I guess that’s a good point, I was just grasping for support from the Anglican and Protestant sides. I just want to know why I’m wrong, so I can examine it and see if I agree…

Well consider this from a ‘former’ protestant …

Perhaps you are not wrong …

If that is the case …

There is no time in your life*** like the present***

In all seriousness;

I hope you get the information you need to determine the direction your faith life is taking you … Pax Christe

 

[1ke]

Former Episcopalian here…

I became convinced of that authority of the Church. It’s all downhill from there. You are not wrong, and I urge you to consider that knowing the Truth and failing to act on it is worse than not knowing it at all.

 

[TriuneUnity]

I’m seriously considering becoming a part of the Catholic Church. My beliefs are becoming more and more synonymous with them, and I believe history bears their claims.

But I don’t necessarily want to become Catholic at this point in my life! I’m a traditional Anglican and I love my Church, although it is consumed in scandal.

Anyway, could all Protestants and Anglicans who see this give me their best reasons why I should not become Catholic or that I am wrong?

Specifically, wrong on:

Papal Authority

Unicity and Catholicity of the Church

Episcopal Authority

Eucharist

Marian doctrines

Please, Protestants and fellow Anglicans, I want to hear your best reasons. I’m not going to argue, just take into consideration your points of view.

Perhaps I am wrong.

Before I answer your question, Matariel, could you clarify to which Anglican church you belong? Is it the Episcopal Church USA, one of the more traditional Continuing Anglican denominations?

 

[Matariel]

Well consider this from a ‘former’ protestant …

Perhaps you are not wrong …

If that is the case …

There is no time in your life*** like the present***

In all seriousness;

I hope you get the information you need to determine the direction your faith life is taking you … Pax Christe

Thanks! How encouraging.

 

[Matariel]

Former Episcopalian here…

I became convinced of that authority of the Church. It’s all downhill from there.

Yes, it is. But there is a lot of pressure on me by parents and friends to remain Anglican (or go back to being Protestant). I’m already pushing it by being Anglican.

And, I’ve told my father why I believe what I’m starting to believe, and it doesn’t convince him. That makes me think, am I overlooking something?

You are not wrong, and I urge you to consider that knowing the Truth and failing to act on it is worse than not knowing it at all.

I have to be absolutely sure to move one. I have reservations.

 

[LilyM]

I’m thinking there must be an Anglican version of the RCIA process that Catholics go through - something that gives structured catechesis on the Anglican faith to those who are thinking of converting (in the case of RCIA also to those Catholics who feel they’re not knowledgeable enough).

I’d go through both RCIA and the Anglican version if possible - so that you can thoroughly compare and contrast. I’m sure RCIA is totally without any obligation to convert at the end, and the Anglican version would have to similarly be no-strings.

 

[Matariel]

I’m thinking there must be an Anglican version of the RCIA process that Catholics go through - something that gives structured catechesis on the Anglican faith to those who are thinking of converting (in the case of RCIA also to those Catholics who feel they’re not knowledgeable enough).

I’d go through both RCIA and the Anglican version if possible - so that you can thoroughly compare and contrast. I’m sure RCIA is totally without any obligation to convert at the end, and the Anglican version would have to similarly be no-strings.

Thanks, Lily M, but I went to Anglican Formation (Anglican version of RCIA) when I was confirmed at age 17. I’m 19 now. I remember a large portion was dominated by the Eucharist, Sacraments, and how Works of Supererogation ae false, and an addition of Roman Christians. However, Rome was always held in high regard, and my priest and bishop calls him the Patriach of the West.

I also took RCIA. It was headed by a nun, and it wasn’t doctrinally in-depth, and there were several errors (at one point, the nun said that the Pope must sit in a special Chair in order to make infallible proniouncements, and that liturgical rubrics could be altered at any time by the priest, and that Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion were expected at every service, calling them “Eucharistic Ministers.”

I also attended Roman Mass. It was somewhat less beautiful and “high-church” as the Anglican Mass. But that must be a local thing.

All in all, I’ve experienced both Anglican Formation and RCIA. But I’m still not sure…

 

[Matariel]

Why do you think that you are wrong?

God Bless!

Because history and “the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church” thing, and the nature of the Church portrayed in the Bible make it look that way…

God Bless!

 

[Matariel]

Before I answer your question, Matariel, could you clarify to which Anglican church you belong? Is it the Episcopal Church USA, one of the more traditional Continuing Anglican denominations?

A traditional Anglican diocese connected with the Ugandan Anglican Church. CANA, I think.

 

[masuwerte]

Matariel,

I’m a cradle Episcopalian happily married to a wonderful woman who happens to be Roman Catholic. I take my wife and our young son to Mass every week. I just don’t believe everything Catholicism teaches, and it would be dishonest of me to act like I do. To be accepted into the Catholic Church, you’ll have to say something like, “I believe and profess everything the Catholic Churches believes and teaches to be true.”

For myself, I’d rather be part of a Church that doesn’t claim to know everything or to be incapable of error. No Episcopalian would ever make that claim about our Church. It forces me to take responsibility for myself, to think for myself.

Have you read the Catechism in the back of the Book of Common Prayer? Please do if you haven’t. Then compare it with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Good luck to you.

 

[masuwerte]

Because history and “the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church” thing, and the nature of the Church portrayed in the Bible make it look that way…

God Bless!

Do you think the Catholic Church’s teachings never change? Some Catholics on this board will no doubt tell you that they don’t, or that the CC’s teachings on matters of faith and morals never change, but that requires some mental and semantic gymnastics I’m not capable of.

 

[YADA]

Thanks! How encouraging.

You are welcome, Matariel …

A walk of faith is the most important walk of our life and the journey never ends …

Even if you believe you have found the Truth …

The great mysteries will continue to deepen and awaken your soul …

Until the last breath in this life and the first breath in the next

Within catholic Circles we call this the Mystagogia.

Mystagogia is a Greek word for understanding the mysteries [primarily the sacraments]. Mystagogia is the continuous process through which we deepen our faith through living that faith and responding to our baptismal call to be a "priest, prophet and king". To spread the Good News of Salvation.

Our lives need to reflect what we learn from the cradle [of our Christian Life] to the grave.

 

[Matariel]

Do you think the Catholic Church’s teachings never change? Some Catholics on this board will no doubt tell you that they don’t, or that the CC’s teachings on matters of faith and morals never change, but that requires some mental and semantic gymnastics I’m not capable of.

Could you explain this further, and elaborate? What changes?

Just wondering.

These are just the replies to the OP that I was looking for.

 

[Matariel]

Thanks YADA!

Were you a cradle Catholic, or did you have a Protestant background?

If so, what was your convincing issue, and what was your hardest doctrine to swallow?

 

[masuwerte]

Just for instance, the Catholic Church used to teach that only Catholics would go to heaven. Now they teach that many non-Catholics and possibly non-Christians might.

They used to teach that the Catholic spouse in a mixed marriage had a duty to work for the conversion of the non-Catholic spouse. They no longer teach that.

They currently teach that civil governments must protect their citizens’ right to freedom of religion. They didn’t used to teach that.

There’s also the issue of the use of castrati.

And there are plenty of other examples. A Catholic might tell me I don’t really understand their teaching, or say that these are not matters of faith or morals, but I would disagree.

 

[Matariel]

Just for instance, the Catholic Church used to teach that only Catholics would go to heaven. Now they teach that many non-Catholics and possibly non-Christians might.

Oh, I used to think this was an issue, but it really isn’t. All they did was clarify that people can be mystically a member of the Church via Baptism, invincible ignorance, etc…
That seems to be a good answer to me.

They used to teach that the Catholic spouse in a mixed marriage had a duty to work for the conversion of the non-Catholic spouse. They no longer teach that.

I’m less sure about this one. Did it use to be a part of the Magisterium, or, ex-cathedra teaching? Or was in just disciplinary? Catholics, please help answer this one.

They currently teach that civil governments must protect their citizens’ right to freedom of religion. They didn’t used to teach that.

Huh? That’s not a contradiction of an earlier teaching though.

There’s also the issue of the use of castrati.

Do you mean of castration? The Roman Church I think has always taught that it is not right, unless for health/medical reasons.

And there are plenty of other examples. A Catholic might tell me I don’t really understand their teaching, or say that these are not matters of faith or morals, but I would disagree.

Catholics, please examine these and post an answer please.