Son has left the faith

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What drew me back into the church was the question of authority. With many evangelical churches, like Baptists, we have so much in common. But it was their more peripheral beliefs that would always drive me away. Their lack of the anchor of apostolic tradition allows tragic drift into unorthodox beliefs. Like rejecting the real presence in communion - not seriously doubted for the first 1500 years of the church. Implicit in much Protestant belief systems is accepting that somehow, true Christian belief died for 1200+ years until Luther arrived. But Jesus said, Lo, I will be with you ALWAYS… In rejecting the magisterium, we can set ourselves up as little popes and inject too much of our own views into a belief system, thus opening a door to serious, if well intentioned, error. The recent-ness of Protestant theology drove me home. Pray for him and affirm any deepening of his holiness. The closer he gets to God, the more he will long for the fullness of truth - and we know where that is.
 
anrmenchaca47 said:
Well, today I felt like a failure.
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You’re not a failure, sir. ☹️ God knows that you did the best you could and that you will do what is best in the future. Look at it on the bright side: he’s leaving for another Christian denomination instead of something like atheism or neo-paganism.

Another member said that you’ll have to delve into their beliefs to try to get him to come home, and I’d agree. Baptists are big on scripture, so maybe you can start with Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32 since Protestants reject the deuterocanonical books(sp?). They’re also into personal interpretation of scripture, so you may also be able to try 2 Peter 1:20-21 and Acts 8: 30-31.

Praying for the intercession of St. Joseph foster father of Jesus and for the Holy Spirit to animate you. 🙏
 
I think he will be back and from what i’ve seen some of the best Catholics are those that came from a protestant faith.point him to some of our apologetics.
this should be a warning though for other Catholic fathers to constantly pray with the kids and attend mass. God bless and of course your in my prayers. be patient and pray
 
A lot of people have come back to the church, and he may be one of them!
 
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I’m in the family of Protestants & they are happy with me being Catholic.

I can’t tell you what to do because I’m a convert so I can’t experience the “Catholic family” yet since I’m single & no kids but I’m very happy with my family.
 
anrmenchaca47 said:
I tried to make him understand that he did in fact choose, he choose when he was confirmed.
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You might want to undwind that when you talk next time. Confirmation simply completes the Sacraments of Initiation. In fact, in many places over the centuries little kids, even infants, are Confirmed. One does not suddenly become un-Catholic because they are not Confirmed.

You will likely not win going apologetic point for point.
anrmenchaca47 said:
I truly feel that he is doing all this for a girl he’s stuck on
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Maybe, maybe not. It could be that some non-Catholic did a great job of evangelizing. We Catholics are often terrible at evangelizing, especially in our own families.

Read “Forming Intentional Disciples” before you talk to him next time. It might be an eye opener.

Just love him. Don’t debate, just love him.
 
i feel very bad for you

perhaps someday your son will come home to Mother Church

suggest to him that he watch Marcus Grodi or Dr Scott Han on ewtn or CAF’s own Trent Horne

he probably won’t but you’ll’ve at least planted a seed that may bear fruit someday
 
You should not feel that you are a failure.
Your son in choosing to be baptized into the Baptist Church.
Pray that he eventually comes back to the Catholic Church. 🙏
 
Don’t feel you are a failure. Just pray for him. I left the Church for 22 years to be what I called a “fundamentalist atheist”. I’m sure my poor mother prayed all that time for me to return, she never nagged me or berated me for it. Guess what, her prayers were answered and I returned to the Church 21 years ago in 1997. She got to live to see me return, so her prayers were answered… when God thought the time was right, and she was very happy. Your son has free will, alas you have to accept that he won’t alway use it the way you’d like.

Just pray, let God handle it. He will in His own good time.
 
Why dont you give him books by baptists who are now catholic or have him watch on video testimonies of former anti catholic baptist pastors who are now catholic.there are tons available on the internet,including at chnetwork.org.
 
I gave him a book by Karl Keating “Fundamentalism vs Catholicism” but apparently he’s never read it.
 
Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on “Romanism” by “Bible Christians” (Ignatius Press, 1988)

It’s been 30 years

My favorite part about wiki is how they described Keating’s focus on Serious Catholics voter guide.

I don’t read any voter guide at all.
 
People, I know you all mean well, but slamming him with apologetics books will likely backfire.

Imagine that you just signed up to sell Herbalife, would my sending you links to “Betting on Zero” or the FTC judgement against the company or the world of other counter-Herbalife/counter-MLM information really make you want to listen to me?

Pray. Prayer is the most powerful thing you can do. Get on your knees, have masses said, pray for him. Love him. Read the books/etc yourself so you can give answers to common objections, listen to Catholic Answers Live call in shows, there are years and years of mp3s you can listen to.
 
That book has a confrontational, oppositional tone. Stick with love, stick with learning and becoming an evangelist.
 
Just pray for him. He may well end up eventually coming back, especially if things don’t work out with the girl he’s stuck on.

I know it’s rough, but at least he will still be a Christian, as opposed to an atheist, a non-Christian, or a member of some cult.
 
anrmenchaca47 said:
I gave him a book by Karl Keating “Fundamentalism vs Catholicism” but apparently he’s never read it.
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I don’t think this literature is likely to get him to move on this. In fact it could have a negative impact. He may see his switch as “romantic” as he is doing it for the love of a woman. Much like George VI gave up the crown for Wallis Simpson, he is giving up the Catholic faith for this gal.
 
Cruciferi said:
You can accept it but I wouldn’t embrace it. Leaving the Church is a very serious matter.

If it were my son, I’d be totally honest with him:
  • You’re making the wrong decision and I won’t condone it.
  • If you’re doing this for girl, well, that’s just silly.
  • Don’t bring up this subject unless you want the Catholic rebuttal.
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And all of this would be fine and would be what I’d expect a good Catholic parent to say, But you’d still love him, and be glad he was at least still following and accepting Christ Jesus. At least, I hope you would feel that way.
 
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