Questions on converting to Catholicism

[Enchanted13]

As a side note, I couldn’t help but notice when she talked about baptism not being necessary for salvation but it being a symbol that the “Baptist” church doesn’t even really believe in baptism despite it being in the name of the church.

 

[AKDee]

Enchanted13- Stand strong. I work for a devout Baptist couple and when I first began my conversion process you could practically hear them hiss when I walked in the door. They were convinced I was joining a cult, and ceasing to be Christian. My boss gave me a copy of “Kingdom of the Cults” to read. But over time they have both mellowed. My boss told me that he no longer considers Catholicism a cult and that he believes I am a Christian. Mrs. Boss, whom I always had great theological and Biblical discussions with prior to my conversion, had stopped for a while but now we have great discussions and I help to set her straight on things she finds problematic (such as Confession to a priest). Stay strong and let the way your life changes for Christ be your witness for your grandma.

 

[Reuben_J]

I had my first RCIA session and it went great. We had a rather productive introductory session, and the entire RCIA team seemed to be both knowledgeable and friendly.

However, I did finally decide to tell my grandmother about my intention to convert to Catholicism, and needless to say she wasn’t too thrilled about it. It wasn’t as bad as I thought (she didn’t disown me) but when I first told her she was shocked and had nothing else to say. However she called me the next day to point my attention to two Bible verses, Matthew 23:9 as well as I Timothy 2:5, saying that I better start going to a “good King James Bible believing Baptist church” if I want to live right by God. She also said that she talked to the pastor of her church about this, and he gave her those verses to give to me and he apparently gave me a stern warning about following the path of the devil and “praying to Mary and the Saints INSTEAD OF praying to the Lord” and she mentioned that he referred to idolatry and hellfire and how I need to read the Bible instead of the words of men, although the Bible is ultimately what led me to my decision. Of course, she told me to throw my Catholic Bible out and get a King James Bible despite many Protestants even admitting the problems with that translation. She said she still loved me and she was praying for me to get back to the “right side” and away from “paganism and idolatry.”

I can feel for your grandmother. Parents and grandparents are devastated when they realize their children leave their faith. At least you have finally told her. It seemed she sort of having a last ditch effort to ‘save’ you for you to change your mind.

Be extra nice and loving to her. Grandparents have big soft spot for their grandchildren, she may not be much different inside. Perhaps emotion is running quite high now, so do not argue or try to justify your decision, wait until things cool down a bit, if a discussion about it deem necessary.

At least you know that they are wrong about Catholicism (worshipping Mary?). Have a great time at your RCIA classes.

God bless.