Question for former Protestants -- What was the major obstacle you had to overcome to become Catholic?

[Denise1957]

Thanks for relating your experiences in the AoG. It sounds like the AoG is indeed a bit more tolerant now, for the most part. The sad part, regarding my family, is that my Dad and his brothers wanted nothing to do with Christianity, or religion of any kind, as adults, since their experience growing up was so harsh - since there was a great emphasis on punishment if they did something wrong. But then this was sometimes the case with Catholics families as well.

I’ve yet to see any Catholic parish that’s puritanical, and I’ve visited a lot of different parishes in my city, but then I live in a very liberal west coast city. The friendliest church I ever attended, ironically enough, was an SSPX chapel. Some of them had some seriously nutty ideas, but they were friendly and knew how to have fun. I occasionally attend an FSSP parish (mostly I attend the OF), where I can hear the best sermons around. They’re amazing, really.

I just want to mention that it’s not my intention to put down the AoG at all; rather I’m just relating family experiences. I really appreciate that Tommy has been so charitable and humble - which is unusual around here - for non-Catholics.

 

[Della]

I just want to mention that it’s not my intention to put down the AoG at all; rather I’m just relating family experiences.

I hear you. I learned a great deal while a member of the AoG–how to make my way around the Bible, personal prayer, being firm about core beliefs, dedicating myself to serving Christ, etc. And I knew some truly holy people whose hearts were on fire for God. It was wanting in much the same way as my Episcopal Church had been–and you can’t get a greater difference between the AoG and the ECUSA. Neither one could, in the end, satisfy my deepest longing to be one with Christ. In both cases it was, for me, like being married to decent men, but not the right men, if that makes any sense.

I really appreciate that Tommy has been so charitable and humble - which is unusual around here - for non-Catholics.

Amen to that! Sadly, all too often we get non-Catholics who come on CAF to accuse Catholics or challenge Catholics as Christian rather than respectually ask questions and seek clarification. We deeply appreciate your open-mindedness and desire to understand Catholic beliefs and practices, Tommy.

Some of our Catholic people can be obnixious and rude, too, of course. Thankfully our moderators do a good job of nipping that sort of behavior in the bud.

 

[chero23]

Am working my way through all the Journey Home archives.

I think it is because most ex-Catholics feel that they have been saved (and many times are told this from whatever religion they have converted to) from the evils of Catholicism. That is why they do not say thanks for their upbringing.

But this is my belief and idea. I was always taught respect your upbringing, your beliefs, your ancestors. Let’s say for any reason a person leaves and has an issue with the Church, ok God bless them, but where it gets me irritated is when they say, all Catholics are ignorant.

One time I met my girlfriends SDA pastor, and he said, I come from Guatemala and there I was a Catholic, but when I got here I saw the light and I saw that my ancestors were ignorant. I told him, Sir you are an idiot. That is family ,they are dead, you should be respecting them not trashing. He didn’t say anything after I said that.

 

[EnglishTeacher]

I don’t see why a person can’t just confess his sins directly to God through Christ in the quietness of his living room or while he is driving in his car alone, etc, as I have done.

Why can’t a person baptize himself? Lay his hands on his own head to ordain himself a minister, or to confirm himself? Anoint himself with oil when he is sick? (You get the picture. )

Jesus Christ specifically gave this ministry to his apostles and to their successors : * “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” --John 20:22-23*. The reason we confess our sins to God through his servant the priest, is because that is how our Lord set it up. He gave us a Church–not a “just me and Jesus” type of deal.

The healing, the peace, and the freedom that come from knowing, beyond any doubt, that Christ has forgiven your sins, are one of the best things about being Catholic. I used to be a Protestant, too; and I can tell you that there is no comparison to the sacrament of Reconciliation–reciting your sins in your living room or car just doesn’t cut it.

 

[codefro]

Hello all,
This thread is directed to Catholics who used to be Protestants who are happy you converted to Catholicism. I wanted to see if you could briefly share the following for my benefit.

Background:
I’m an evangelical Christian who has felt an intermittent tug in my spirit toward Catholicism since May of this year after I started listening to Catholic Answers. At this point I am still an inquirer and cannot promise I will ever make it to RCIA because I still struggle with certain Catholic beliefs, but I haven’t ruled it out because I have deep and abiding respect for the Catholic Church.

I love the Lord with all my heart and want to serve and live for Him daily. I am happy in my current faith tradition but feel something is missing but I can’t put my finger on it.

Questions:

1. What were your main hurdles to becoming Catholic?
2. How did you overcome Question 1?
3. Outside of the Eucharist, which I know is a major difference, how was your spiritual journey enhanced through Catholicism?
4. Name a couple of positive traits of your previous Protestant faith tradition that you miss or look back on fondly.

Feel free to answer one or all of these questions. My only request is that your answers be fairly concise if at all possible because I have A D D and have trouble concentrating on super lengthy replies. Much appreciated. :tiphat:

P.S. I am especially interested in questions #1 and #2 most of all.

1. The main issue I had to tackle, yet also the most attractive aspect of the church was the veneration of the Saints, especially Mary. Being a Protestant it is drilled into you to only pray to Jesus, to the extent that not many Protestants really address the Father or Holy Ghost as often. Protestants are brainwashed very early on that Catholics worship the saints the same way God is to be worshipped. So even though I found the statues, the imagery, the devotion very beautiful, I was afraid of it. I didn’t want to go to Hell. Yet, grappling it intellectually was the first step. I basically had to dive right in at some point, knowing that if the Catholic Church is who she says she is that she cannot lead me into error with this devotion to the saints.
2. As I said, through intellectual understanding first. I read books, looked through websites. I think I can be thankful for individuals such as Bl. Cardinal Newman and Scott Hahn who were staunch Protestants and yet, developed a profound Marian devotion upon their entry into the Church. I trusted their judgement and that helped me to take the final step and dive in. I started first with the rosary. It was very hard, and yet wonderful. There was a war between my emotions and my intellect when I first started the Rosary. Yet, Mary won that battle as she always does.
3. I was Evangelical and then Anglican (of the Anglo-Catholic persuasion). The magisterium and her teaching enhanced my faith in that it protects me from error.

4.I missed the Anglican liturgy and daily offices. I am part of the Ordinariate though so now I get to keep them. So now I miss nothing.

 

[Duane1966]

Why can’t a person baptize himself? Lay his hands on his own head to ordain himself a minister, or to confirm himself? Anoint himself with oil when he is sick? (You get the picture. )

Jesus Christ specifically gave this ministry to his apostles and to their successors : * “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” --John 20:22-23*. The reason we confess our sins to God through his servant the priest, is because that is how our Lord set it up. He gave us a Church–not a “just me and Jesus” type of deal.

The healing, the peace, and the freedom that come from knowing, beyond any doubt, that Christ has forgiven your sins, are one of the best things about being Catholic. I used to be a Protestant, too; and I can tell you that there is no comparison to the sacrament of Reconciliation–reciting your sins in your living room or car just doesn’t cut it.

The older I get, the more I appreciate and love the gift that Jesus gave us in the Sacrament of Confession.

 

[Duane1966]

1. The main issue I had to tackle, yet also the most attractive aspect of the church was the veneration of the Saints, especially Mary. Being a Protestant it is drilled into you to only pray to Jesus, to the extent that not many Protestants really address the Father or Holy Ghost as often. Protestants are brainwashed very early on that Catholics worship the saints the same way God is to be worshipped. So even though I found the statues, the imagery, the devotion very beautiful, I was afraid of it. I didn’t want to go to Hell. Yet, grappling it intellectually was the first step. I basically had to dive right in at some point, knowing that if the Catholic Church is who she says she is that she cannot lead me into error with this devotion to the saints.
2. As I said, through intellectual understanding first. I read books, looked through websites. I think I can be thankful for individuals such as Bl. Cardinal Newman and Scott Hahn who were staunch Protestants and yet, developed a profound Marian devotion upon their entry into the Church. I trusted their judgement and that helped me to take the final step and dive in. I started first with the rosary. It was very hard, and yet wonderful. There was a war between my emotions and my intellect when I first started the Rosary. Yet, Mary won that battle as she always does.
3. I was Evangelical and then Anglican (of the Anglo-Catholic persuasion). The magisterium and her teaching enhanced my faith in that it protects me from error.

4.I missed the Anglican liturgy and daily offices. I am part of the Ordinariate though so now I get to keep them. So now I miss nothing.

HAHA. Good for you.

 

[Tommy999]

Thanks to all who responded. I can tell many of you shared from your own life experience and I found it enlightening and helpful.

 

[thequeen]

Will Be praying that your wife sees the truth about Catholocism Over twenty years ago I had the same misconceptions as your wife I grew up in the Church of God of prophecy which was to a pentecostal denonination that came out of Cleveland Tennessee Eventually I decided to buy a Catholic Catechism and compare it to the bible and I learned that every doctine taught by the Catholic Church is biblical I eventually got private instruction from a very knowledgable priest who was in his early seventies at the time and the rest is history. The only reason that I had to go through private instruction was because there was no rcia in my parish at the time. I guess my main hurdle was my loss of some friends who thought I had backslid my family eventually came to accept my Conversion to Catholicism after they met the priest who took me through my instruction however my mother who is no longer with us refused to give up my baptism record from when I was around thirteen so The priest had to baptize me conditionally

 

[guanophore]

I feel an almost constant tug towards Catholicism that I can’t explain, sort of like the beating drums in the movie **Jumanji ** in the mid-1990’s, if anyone rememb ers that one.

Yes!

Perhaps for now study. prayer, and dialogue at CAF is the best way to respond to the tug?

I feel it is the Holy Spirit who is at work, but then I ask myself, “If this is the Holy Spirit that is leading me, why would He wait this long to lead me away from something that has been such an integral part of my life?”. I find it a bit scary. After all, I am 56.

Oh yes. Do you have a chance to watch The Journey Home? It is never to “late” to move deeper into Christ.

Plus, my wife has made it plain that she would break up with me if I ever became Catholic, which is another big obstacle for me because I love her very much. She has distorted views of Catholicsm that I am trying to lovingly correct.

God has called us to peace.

It doesn't help that most Catholics we know are not very good examples of what a Catholic should be. Most get drunk easily and have cuss mouths, yet act holy on Ash Wednesday and all the other Catholic holidays and then revert back the rest of the time. I sometimes ask myself if the same will happen to me if I become Catholic. My wife sees these people and says, "Look at them. They're Catholic. Do you want to be like *them*?"

I can tell by your posts tht this would not happen.

 

[guanophore]

I hear you. I learned a great deal while a member of the AoG–how to make my way around the Bible, personal prayer, being firm about core beliefs, dedicating myself to serving Christ, etc. And I knew some truly holy people whose hearts were on fire for God.

This was my experience with the AoG as well, plus the gifts of the HS! I learned a lot, though it was hard for me as a very stoic Catholic to learn conversational prayer.

 

[guanophore]

Why can’t a person baptize himself? Lay his hands on his own head to ordain himself a minister, or to confirm himself? Anoint himself with oil when he is sick? (You get the picture. )

Jesus Christ specifically gave this ministry to his apostles and to their successors : * “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” --John 20:22-23*. The reason we confess our sins to God through his servant the priest, is because that is how our Lord set it up. He gave us a Church–not a “just me and Jesus” type of deal.

The healing, the peace, and the freedom that come from knowing, beyond any doubt, that Christ has forgiven your sins, are one of the best things about being Catholic. I used to be a Protestant, too; and I can tell you that there is no comparison to the sacrament of Reconciliation–reciting your sins in your living room or car just doesn’t cut it.

I think there is another element that is lost when the Sacrament is abandoned, and that is, as you say, healing - specifically in the area of shame and guilt. Shame is such an integral part of Satan’s desire to keep us in bondage to our sins.

 

[Duane1966]

Tommy,

I have posted a link to a Journey Home radio program. If you have the time the whole program is fascinating. If not, about 5 or 10 minutes from the end, this convert talks about the first time he went to Confession, what he thought it would be, and what it ended up being. Hope you can give it a listen.

ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?pgnu=8&SeriesID=-6892289 #221 Dr. David Anders

 

[Tommy999]

Tommy,

I have posted a link to a Journey Home radio program. If you have the time the whole program is fascinating. If not, about 5 or 10 minutes from the end, this convert talks about the first time he went to Confession, what he thought it would be, and what it ended up being. Hope you can give it a listen.

ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?pgnu=8&SeriesID=-6892289 #221 Dr. David Anders

Thanks, Duane1966. I just listened to the last 10 minutes where Dr Anders talked about his first Confession experience. Very interesting – enough so that I think I will listen to the rest of the audio later on this weekend. Ironically, I was born and raised a Presbyterian like Dr Anders before moving on to AOG in my early adulthood.

 

[Della]

This was my experience with the AoG as well, plus the gifts of the HS! I learned a lot, though it was hard for me as a very stoic Catholic to learn conversational prayer.

I’ve found that conversational prayer flows naturally with a solid base of formal prayer. Formal prayer can be a “springboard.” Often, when I am praying the Liturgy of the Hours, something in one of the Psalms or readings will hit me and I’ll talk to God about it after doing the Office. Another good way to enter into conversational prayer is to read a passage from Scripture, such as from the daily Mass readings, and meditate on it, and then talk to God about how it impacts my life and needs, and the lives and needs of others. It should be natural–like talking to a good friend over coffee. Conversational prayer has a form just as formal prayer does, it’s just that those who have practiced for a while forget about the form from doing it so often. You may find Lectio Divina helpful, as well:google.com/search?q=lectio+divina&gws_rd=ssl.

 

[Miriam1947]

Hello, Isca. I am also 56. . I heard that the Catholic Mass is basically the same in all countries, whether it be England or Italy. Has heat been your experience, also?

To 1newcatholic, it’s like you were reading my mail.

I struggle to varying degrees with your points 1-4, mainly #3 and #4, along with the requirement to confess to a priest as opposed to confessing directly to God through Christ.

I realize priests are godly men who do the Lord’s work, especially in the areas of administering the sacraments, accountability via the confessional, counseling, proclaiming God’s Word, etc, but I don’t see why a person can’t just confess his sins directly to God through Christ in the quietness of his living room or while he is driving in his car alone, etc, as I have done.

I realize there is a God and I am not Him so I might be wrong, but these are long-held and strong beliefs that are not easily undone. ]I would never want to start RCIA unless I was “All In”, so to speak.

/QUOTE]

RCIA is a discernment process. You can go through as often as you like and never become Catholic. There is no pressure to join. You will learn a lot about the Church.

 

[Miriam1947]

The beautiful, fun, loving ALCOHOL-FREE fellowship and socializing! As I said, I still have an extremely difficult time watching Christians–CHRISTIANS!–who have everything through Christ!–using a drug made from fermented plants!–to enhance their pleasure in this earthly life. This makes no sense to me. We have plenty of beautiful things on this earth to enjoy without messing with our brain cells by using a drug. **And please, Catholics, don’t try to tell me how Jesus endorsed drinking at the wedding of Cana. That was then, this is now. Different times, different customs. **
.

Cat, you sound so self-righteous and sanctimonious here. Not good, not good at all. I am a Catholic who enjoys a touch of the grape. I’m sorry you have such an issue with it.

What is it like for you at a Catholic function? Do you sit with a frown upon your face because those terrible Catholics are drinking an alcoholic beverage?

Please don’t take this wrong but I am truly amazed at your attitude.

ETA: I posted this before I saw Cat that you wanted no remarks about it. Sorry, you said it, I am remarking about it.

 

[Cat]

Cat, you sound so self-righteous and sanctimonious here. Not good, not good at all. I am a Catholic who enjoys a touch of the grape. I’m sorry you have such an issue with it.

What is it like for you at a Catholic function? Do you sit with a frown upon your face because those terrible Catholics are drinking an alcoholic beverage?

Please don’t take this wrong but I am truly amazed at your attitude.

ETA: I posted this before I saw Cat that you wanted no remarks about it. Sorry, you said it, I am remarking about it.

I asked for no comments because I want the OP’s excellent topic to stay on track. Yes, I “remarked about it” (alcohol use by Christians) because the OP asked us several questions about our obstacles to becoming Catholic, and I answered his questions truthfully.

I think it would be on-topic to state that I still feel uncomfortable when Catholics (or anyone) are drinking in a church function. I handle it when Christians are drinking in a restaurant, but it’s very hard for me to see alcohol use in a church or at a church function. We usually choose not to attend Catholic social functions–we don’t feel comfortable with the smell and use of alcohol.

You are “amazed by our attitude.” Many Evangelical Protestants, especially Protestants with a Pentecostal background like the OP, are “amazed” that Catholics drink. I can testify truthfully, from 47 years of personal experience, that one reason why many Evangelical Protestants will never enter a Catholic Church or get involved with Catholics in a close fellowship is alcohol use by Catholics. This is a major obstacle for Evangelical Protestants.

You don’t have to agree, but I hope you will at least get to a place where you will stop calling teetotaling Evangelical Protestants and ex-Evangelical Protestants like me and my husband, “self-righteous” and “sanctimonious”. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are a multitude of good reasons for Christians to choose to never drink alcohol except for medicinal purposes.

 

[Duane1966]

I asked for no comments because I want the OP’s excellent topic to stay on track. Yes, I “remarked about it” (alcohol use by Christians) because the OP asked us several questions about our obstacles to becoming Catholic, and I answered his questions truthfully.

I think it would be on-topic to state that I still feel uncomfortably when Catholics (or anyone) are drinking in a church function. I handle it when Christians are drinking in a restaurant, but it’s very hard for me to see alcohol use in a church or at a church function. We usually choose not to attend Catholic social functions–we don’t feel comfortable with the smell and use of alcohol.

You are “amazed by our attitude.” Many Evangelical Protestants, especially Protestants with a Pentecostal background like the OP, are “amazed” that Catholics drink. I can testify truthfully, from 47 years of personal experience, that one reason why many Evangelical Protestants will never enter a Catholic Church or get involved with Catholics in a close fellowship is alcohol use by Catholics. This is a major obstacle for Evangelical Protestants.

You don’t have to agree, but I hope you will at least get to a place where you will stop calling teetotaling Evangelical Protestants and ex-Evangelical Protestants like me and my husband, “self-righteous” and “sanctimonious”. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are a multitude of good reasons for Christians to choose to never drink alcohol except for medicinal purposes.

Well stated. Though I personally do not agree with you, there are many Catholics who would agree with you 100%. I know that St. John Vianney, and other Saints that held to your point of view.

 

[Miriam1947]

I asked for no comments because I want the OP’s excellent topic to stay on track. Yes, I “remarked about it” (alcohol use by Christians) because the OP asked us several questions about our obstacles to becoming Catholic, and I answered his questions truthfully.

I think it would be on-topic to state that I still feel uncomfortable when Catholics (or anyone) are drinking in a church function. I handle it when Christians are drinking in a restaurant, but it’s very hard for me to see alcohol use in a church or at a church function. We usually choose not to attend Catholic social functions–we don’t feel comfortable with the smell and use of alcohol.

You are “amazed by our attitude.” Many Evangelical Protestants, especially Protestants with a Pentecostal background like the OP, are “amazed” that Catholics drink. I can testify truthfully, from 47 years of personal experience, that one reason why many Evangelical Protestants will never enter a Catholic Church or get involved with Catholics in a close fellowship is alcohol use by Catholics. This is a major obstacle for Evangelical Protestants.

You don’t have to agree, but I hope you will at least get to a place where you will stop calling teetotaling Evangelical Protestants and ex-Evangelical Protestants like me and my husband, “self-righteous” and “sanctimonious”. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are a multitude of good reasons for Christians to choose to never drink alcohol except for medicinal purposes.

I am not calling teetotaling Evangelical Protestants and ex-Evangelical Protestants like you and your husband, “self-righteous” and “sanctimonious”.

I am talking about what you wrote and how it sounds. You are completely free to drink or not as you wish. I have many friends who do not drink, it is no problem for them or me.