What Does Becoming Catholic Entail?

[dan1el]

I am a non-denominational Christian; I would like to know what the implications of becoming a Catholic really are.

What I really want to know is: Do I have to agree with you on every single point of your doctrine to become part of the Catholic Church?

 

[wardrandolph]

Hello.You do have to accept the “Dogma”(infalible teachings)of the Church.There are some things that you do not have to believe.May I suggest a visit to EWTN.com .They have some valuble free info.Prayers for you.

 

[Chirpa]

May I also suggest that if you can, you attend a weekend call Cursillo and or Cum Christo. These are special weekends that are sponsored by the Catholic Church. These weekends can also be helpful in learning more about the Faith. I have attended several of these special weekends over the past 20 years. As you continue in your Faith journey you will begin to grow in areas of the Faith that right now you may not understand or believe in. Another program which would be benefitical to you is the RCIA program; it is specifically designed for those interested in becoming Catholic and may help you to understand more of the Church’s teachings. Most parishes require people who want to become Catholic to take this program.
God Bless you!

 

[Danuska]

Have a look at the Creed that we, Catholics, recite during the Mass, and the basics will be there (that is not the translation I am familiar with, but that is the one I found on the net): There are some things that we have some freedom with - but this is basic.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

 

[Pug]

If you are already baptized, consider that affirming this below is part of the rite for joining the Church, if I properly recall:

I believe and profess all that the Holy Catholic Church believes, teaches and proclaims to be revealed by God.

Even so, joining the Church is not a doctrine exam and A plus memorization is not required to become Catholic. A person continues to learn and find out more as they travel down the road.

 

[Cat]

I am a non-denominational Christian; I would like to know what the implications of becoming a Catholic really are.

What I really want to know is: Do I have to agree with you on every single point of your doctrine to become part of the Catholic Church?

I converted to Catholicism from evangelical Protestantism four years ago.

What you have to accept is that the Catholic Church is THE Authority that Jesus Christ established here on this earth. The Bible is NOT the Authority. The Church is.

The Church is not a spiritual esoteric thing that all Christians automatically become part of when they accept Jesus into their heart. The Church is a real, tangible organization with Christ as the Head and the Pope and Magisterium as His human representatives…

Once you’ve accepted this truth, all the rest falls into place. If the Church says it, I believe it, that settles it, because the Church speaks for God, and if God says it, I believe it, and that settles it. (If you are an evangelical Protestant, that will sound familiar to you.)

 

[dan1el]

I converted to Catholicism from evangelical Protestantism four years ago.

What you have to accept is that the Catholic Church is THE Authority that Jesus Christ established here on this earth. The Bible is NOT the Authority. The Church is.

The Church is not a spiritual esoteric thing that all Christians automatically become part of when they accept Jesus into their heart. The Church is a real, tangible organization with Christ as the Head and the Pope and Magisterium as His human representatives…

Once you’ve accepted this truth, all the rest falls into place. If the Church says it, I believe it, that settles it, because the Church speaks for God, and if God says it, I believe it, and that settles it. (If you are an evangelical Protestant, that will sound familiar to you.)

Hmm, that is, if I wanted to be like the church, this is what I would do: “…considering the outcome of their faith…”, which I don’t.
I would keep 1 Th 5:21 preferrably.
I would never say the RCA was the authority on the earth! LOL
If Jesus is the Word, how is the Word of God not the final authority in the minds of the authorities??

 

[Journeying]

The Bible is NOT the Authority. The Church is.

I think it maybe more correct to say that Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition have *equal *authority. The Church has authority to elucidate and explain doctrine, but she does not have the authority to contradict her own Sacred Scripture.

 

[muffinmojo]

I converted from nondenominational protestantism as well, and I struggled with many things in my conversion, especially Marian dogma.

Now I have 2 rosaries, a picture of the Blessed Mother near my bed, and am comfortable saying Hail Marys and Hail, Holy Queens.

If you genuinely want to be Catholic and believe as the Church teaches, but just struggle with your own conscience, you should still go forward with RCIA. However, you should refrain from making your profession of faith or baptism until you have aligned your views with those of the Church.

You can disagree with non-essential doctrines as long as you do not deny Church authority or actively show division to non-Catholics. This would include the death penalty, economic policy, and so on, but not the belief that contraception, abortion, euthenasia, homosexual ‘marriage’, liturgical abuse, etc are wrong, that Christ is the only God, and so on. As someone else said; the Creeds.

 

[dan1el]

I converted from nondenominational protestantism as well, and I struggled with many things in my conversion, especially Marian dogma.

Now I have 2 rosaries, a picture of the Blessed Mother near my bed, and am comfortable saying Hail Marys and Hail, Holy Queens.

If you genuinely want to be Catholic and believe as the Church teaches, but just struggle with your own conscience, you should still go forward with RCIA. However, you should refrain from making your profession of faith or baptism until you have aligned your views with those of the Church.

You can disagree with non-essential doctrines as long as you do not deny Church authority or actively show division to non-Catholics. This would include the death penalty, economic policy, and so on, but not the belief that contraception, abortion, euthenasia, homosexual ‘marriage’, liturgical abuse, etc are wrong, that Christ is the only God, and so on. As someone else said; the Creeds.

I agree with the creeds, but definitely not that the church is the final authority. If this were so, Peter wouldn’t have been corrected for his hypocrisy in Gal 2:11, and the church would’ve all gone to hell. There are times even the institution is in need of correction. The body is self-ministering. To say you are infallible is foolishness.

 

[Matariel]

I agree with the creeds, but definitely not that the church is the final authority. If this were so, Peter wouldn’t have been corrected for his hypocrisy in Gal 2:11, and the church would’ve all gone to hell. There are times even the institution is in need of correction.

Dan1el, you know I already thoroughly rebutted this, and that the Galatians passage in no way contradicts the Catholic doctrine of Papal Infallibilty.

Christ instructed the Church to preach everything he taught (Matt. 28:19–20) and promised the protection of the Holy Spirit to “guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). That mandate and that promise guarantee the Church will never fall away from his teachings (Matt. 16:18, 1 Tim. 3:15), even if individual Catholics might.
Cyprian of Carthage, writing about 256, put it this way, “Would the heretics dare to come to the very Seat of Peter whence apostolic faith is derived and whither no errors can come?” (Letters 59 [55], 14). In the fifth century, Augustine succinctly captured the ancient attitude when he remarked, “Rome has spoken; the case is closed!” (Sermons 131, 10).

The problem, in Galatians, was Peter’s actions, not his teaching. Paul acknowledged that Peter very well knew the correct teaching (Gal. 2:12–13). The problem was that he wasn’t living up to his own teaching. Thus, in this instance, Peter was not doing any teaching; much less was he solemnly defining a matter of faith or morals.

You say the Church would’ve gone to Hell?

That’s basically saying the Body of Christ would’ve gone to Hell.

The body is self-ministering. To say you are infallible is foolishness.

Did I say I, Matariel, am infallible? Heavens, no.

 

[dan1el]

You in no way thoroughly rebutted anything, you gave me a few mealy-mouthed teachings of yours, and that was all.

Your basic answer was this: “The Holy Spirit will not let the Church teach false doctrine”
This argument was already proven wrong, since Peter taught by example the church to go astray. I am certain the Holy Spirit was TRYING to talk with him, but he didn’t follow until he was openly rebuked by Paul.

You thoroughly rebutted nothing.

 

[Matariel]

You in no way thoroughly rebutted anything, you gave me a few mealy-mouthed teachings of yours, and that was all.

Why are you so venomous? I was just telling you that you are misunderstanding the Catholic doctrine, because it’s odvious that the Galatians passage in no way contradicts it. Anyone without complete bias can clearly see it.

Your basic answer was this: “The Holy Spirit will not let the Church teach false doctrine”

You truncated it. There is more to it than that.

This argument was already proven wrong, since Peter taught by example the church to go astray.

This in no way contradicts Papal Infalliblity. Why did you become so vemonous all the sudden? I didn’t mean to insult you or anything. If I did, I’m sorry, but geez…

I am certain the Holy Spirit was TRYING to talk with him, but he didn’t follow until he was openly rebuked by Paul.

You thoroughly rebutted nothing.

Even my father, who thinks the Catholic Church is corrupted like you, admits this passage in no way contradicts the Catholic Church’s doctrine on this issue.

 

[dan1el]

I’m sorry, brother, this is why I am not going to stay on these forums discussing things which are not really in service to Christ, but rather to my ego “you see, I proved him wrong!” which is flesh, not spirit.

“and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers”

Regardless, papal infallibility means he cannot issue a teaching which is incorrect.
Peter, by his actions, already issued a teaching which was incorrect.
I am not saying that the RCC is corrupt, but that this word of yours has no place in the Kingdom of Heaven.

How can you separate an action from a teaching ? Peter followed a spirit which was not the spirit of God through the Judaizing believers’ words, and thereby went astray, which then led the believers astray as well. Peter, your first pope, erred in thought and action, and led others to err in thought and action - and none of the “magisterium” John and James and who ever else was there - corrected him!!!

What man could say that he is inerrant? Even Paul said,
“For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.” meaning, he is capable of committing errors - even error in doctrine, if he was to get into the flesh, since ALL doctrinal error issues either from ignorance of from the flesh desiring to have attention and receive praise Gal 6:13.

But, if after this, you choose to keep your thoughts the same, that is not my issue; in the end, you belong to God - not me - and I need to move on.

God bless.

 

[1ke]

Do I have to agree with you on every single point of your doctrine to become part of the Catholic Church?

Yes.

 

[adrift]

Regardless, papal infallibility means he cannot issue a teaching which is incorrect.
Peter, by his actions, already issued a teaching which was incorrect.
I am not saying that the RCC is corrupt, but that this word of yours has no place in the Kingdom of Heaven.

How can you separate an action from a teaching ? Peter followed a spirit which was not the spirit of God through the Judaizing believers’ words, and thereby went astray, which then led the believers astray as well. Peter, your first pope, erred in thought and action, and led others to err in thought and action - and none of the “magisterium” John and James and who ever else was there - corrected him!!!

What man could say that he is inerrant? Even Paul said,
“For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.” meaning, he is capable of committing errors - even error in doctrine, if he was to get into the flesh, since ALL doctrinal error issues either from ignorance of from the flesh desiring to have attention and receive praise Gal 6:13.

But, if after this, you choose to keep your thoughts the same, that is not my issue; in the end, you belong to God - not me - and I need to move on.

God bless.

You have a misunderstanding of infallibility and you don’t seem inclined to learn what the Catholic Church teaches as opposed to what you think it teaches.

 

[rick43235]

Do I have to agree with you on every single point of your doctrine to become part of the Catholic Church?

Yes.

Is this what most Catholics believe? Absolutely not! (Not in my experience anyway.)

 

[Matariel]

Is this what most Catholics believe? Absolutely not! (Not in my experience anyway.)

If you don’t believe the things which have been infallibly set forth in the Magisterium, then you’re technically a “dissident”-- i.e., a heretic. And if you take Communion, you are professing a unity that doesn’t exist (besides recieving the Eucharist unworthily).

 

[jmcrae]

Regardless, papal infallibility means he cannot issue a teaching which is incorrect.

We Catholics are not in the habit of inventing our own definitions of terms.

What Papal Infallibility refers to is a document that was put out by the first Vatican Council, back in the 1800s, which defines the parameters of the Pope’s powers.

One of those powers is, if he makes a doctrinal or moral statement ex cathedra while using a phrase like “I define” or “I declare” then (and only then) we can know that this statement comes from God, and is infallible.

Apart from that, the Pope is just like everyone else, apart from the fact that he’s in charge, and we are to obey him the same way we obey our bosses, our parents, and police officers - meaning, we do as he tells us to do, unless it is either impossible or known to be immoral.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

I am a non-denominational Christian; I would like to know what the implications of becoming a Catholic really are.

What I really want to know is: Do I have to agree with you on every single point of your doctrine to become part of the Catholic Church?

Here is a comprehensive list of Catholic Dogma. Dogma must be believed if a person wishes to honestly call themselves Catholic. Most of it you should agree with already.

The website also has some other excellent articles that will help you understand the whys and wherefores of those matters of faith which you have not previously been taught in your non-denominational faith community. The author of that website is a convert from Protestantism. His testimony is very moving.