Rome Sweet Home: A possible convert, thanks to this book

[Roger_Buck]

Whoa … it is very moving to hear how this book has helped create conversions.

Read this long ago as a convert from the New Age, rather than Protestantism. So its arguments were not that germane to my situation, but hearing all this makes me better appreciate its power and pray that it can better reach others from this background.

PS. The last post above mine is very beautiful too.

 

[twf]

Perhaps. I’m not quite ready to leave my roots yet. I have the open-mindedness of Scott and the reservations of Kimberly. Even as a Confessional Lutheran, I love the Catholic Tradition and the Church herself, but I do have many things to work out. Like Kimberly, I can definitely see this ending up in years of research and contemplation (although she often ran from the research), but I highly doubt I will experience a Dark Night of the Soul being as I am much more receptive to the Church than she was. As was said many times in the book, I must follow my conscience to the best of my ability, and make the decision one way or another with my whole heart. Honestly speaking, it’s the history of corruption and undeniably evil popes of the past that is my biggest stumbling block; not my only stumbling block, but the biggest.

There have been evil Protestants as well. Is your issue is more around how those God has given authority could end up so wicked? Much of the popular accounts are exaggerated in any regard, but let’s take it at face value. If so, this shouldnt be a surprise- a few thoughts to consider:
-God gave us the gift of free will. No matter how much grace and honour he showers upon us, we always have the ability to choose evil.
-Jesus Himself chose 12 apostles and granted them honour and authority, such as the power of binding and loosing, yet one chose to betray him.
-For any Christian who accepts the Old Testament, the role and authority of the Jewish high priest can’t be denied. Yet what do we see in the Gospel? The high priest Caiaphas condemned the Christ to death, yet, by virtue of his office still spoke “by the Holy Spirit”. His authority and office endured even as he betrayed his God. (See John 11).
-Jesus condemned the Pharisees’ actions, yet He commanded His disciples to obey them. Why? Despite their lack of personal holiness they taught with real God given authority (“for they sit on the chair of Moses” - see Matthew 23:1-2)

Priestly ministry in the Church is an extension of Christ’s own ministry. It depends not on the holiness of the sinful minister but rather upon Christ Himself. This is true for all priests including the Pope.​

 

[JimG]

I read this book as a lifelong Catholic. I liked the way it was laid out with alternating chapters by Scott and Kimberly. It helped me to understand their thought process along the journey. What really seemed ironic to me is that the thing which sort of started them along the way to Catholicism was Kimberly’s study of the issue of contraception.

 

[AKDee]

Rome Sweet Home (and the talk on his conversion that Scott Hahn did that is available to listen to on YouTube) had an influence on my conversion as well. God bless you on your journey.