What was your biggest obstacle to Catholicism?

[St_Pancake]

By the time I wandered into the Catholic Church, I was already in a doctrinal quandary with the Baptist Church of my youth. Specifically, I did not believe in once saved always saved, I believed that Jesus meant to literally eat his body and drink his blood and I believed that baptism was a necessity. If I had done nothing but stay where I was, I would be in disagreement with what my church taught.

I remembered a few months into RCIA, during a meeting with the coordinator of adult education, asking what happens if I get to the end and still have the Marian doctrines as a sticking point. As far as I was concerned, they weren’t important. They presented no conflict with the gospel and were superfluous doctrine.

His answer was that I needed to pray for understanding on the issues and see what happened. He said if I came to the end and still questioned those, the decision was mine. I could either accept them or accept that the church was correct and had the authority to proclaim such, or I could walk away.

By the time I got to the end, I was comfortable with the doctrines and came into the church happily. If I had not been confirmed on that Easter Vigil, and had gone back to the Baptist Church, I would have doctrinal disagreements with where I thought they had it wrong.

 

[TheSeeker2014]

speaking of marian devotions i really want to get that book this summer called Behold your Mother by tim Staples… I heard it is the best book out there to proof Marian devotion with scriptures

Either case I want to read it anyway to see more view points on marian devotions

 

[Della]

Hi ptisme,
Probably three main ones at this time.
– Marian dogmas
– Family opposition (spouse and siblings)
– Baby baptism versus believer’s baptism

I am not saying the Church is wrong. I am just saying I struggle with them.

– Marian dogmas:
For example: The Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn, then, O most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

To me, that sounds like it goes beyond honoring Mary and flirts with worship, but like I said, that’s just me. I always respect the Catholic position but I am an honest person and that is how I feel.
.
However, I actually caught myself saying the ‘Hail Mary’ a few weeks ago when there were tornadoes in my immediate area, and I felt comforted during the storm by that. Maybe I am progressing in that area.

– Family opposition:
My spouse is adamantly opposed to Catholicism. We come from Protestant families who have been Protestant for several centuries (probably since Reformation days). She has lots of misconceptions. I am working on them little by little. There may be a ray of hope, though.

For example, she likes Marco Rubio from Florida as a candidate for president. She asked me what religion he belonged to. I said he used to be Mormon but he is now a Catholic. She smiled and said, “I bet you like* that*, don’t you”.

– Baby Baptism:
I feel more comfortable with my faith tradition’s stance. It involves a Baby Dedication instead of baptism as a baby, which is mainly a ceremony in which the parents pledge to raise their child in the Christian faith. Then, when the child has reached the age of accountability and can reason for himself/herself, they can be baptized when they have a spiritual awakening that draws them to Christ in such a way that they desire to be baptized of their own free will like the people did with John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

Those are my biggest obstacles currently. Thanks for asking. I didn’t want to mention anything earlier because I didn’t want to potentially influence anyone’s vote in the poll.

Hi Tommy, if you read my conversion story you know what obstacles I faced, so I won’t go into all that here. I just wanted to say that if you start threads about the obstacles you face I’ll gladly contribute my thoughts on each one. God bless you and yours this Easter Season.

 

[SAVINGRACE]

I am considering Catholism…

My biggest problem to cover come is the Church and “rules” sin stuff.
Example of many
**Missing Mass = sin but claim they do not have a Sabbeth… If it was not a sabbeth, then it would not be sin missing it? They claim to have no Sabbeth because we are not law bound by the OT. It was fulfilled. ok fine, but how would missing Mass = sin then?
**
I get the script bound on earth bound in heaven loose on earth loose in heaven…
I get the authority stuff…

But I also get we are not to add to God’s words and to do so is dangerous.

I am sure I’ll figure it out eventually. I do agree with almost all of Catholic Dotrine so I am not far.

It was what SDAs have said in the past too… but I found this site that compared what St. Paul said vs Ellen G White and proved her as a false prophet.
evangelicaloutreach.org/white.htm

We attend Sunday Mass because "Catholics worship on the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week (Sunday, the eighth day); the day when God said “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3); the day when Christ rose from the dead; the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles (Day of Pentecost).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “The Church celebrates the day of Christ’s Resurrection on the ‘eighth day,’ Sunday, which is rightly called the Lord’s Day” (CCC 2191).

The early Church did not move the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. Instead “The Sabbath, which represented the completion of the first creation,has been replaced by Sunday, which recalls the new creation inaugurated by the Resurrection of Christ” (CCC 2190). Sunday is the day Catholics are bound to keep, not Saturday.

We see evidence of this in Scripture:

On the first day of the week when we gathered to break bread, Paul spoke to them because he was going to leave on the next day, and he kept on speaking until midnight (Acts 20:7).

On the first day of the week each of you should set aside and save whatever one can afford, so that collections will not be going on when I come (1 Cor. 16:2).

Let no one, then, pass judgment on you in matters of food and drink or with regard to a festival or new moon or Sabbath (Col. 2:16)." (catholic.com)

 

[wmscott]

Hello all,
This is addressed mainly to former Protestants who decided to become Catholic.

I am seriously considering Catholicism but still have a few stumbling blocks. I was just curious if they are common obstacles or unique ones.

Hi Tommy, I usually see that Marian Doctrines were the biggest stumbling blocks by quite few converts and those who just cant make the leap, for me, coming from a Southern Baptist background I really did not have any issues with the Blessed Mother. My biggie was the graven images thing.

It took me a while to understand it and once the Holy Spirit opened my eyes it was full steam ahead to becoming catholic.

 

[SAVINGRACE]

speaking of marian devotions i really want to get that book this summer called Behold your Mother by tim Staples… I heard it is the best book out there to proof Marian devotion with scriptures

Either case I want to read it anyway to see more view points on marian devotions

PLEASE check out this short video below, Mary was a big obstacle for me too. This video instantly erased my doubts on Mary, her role and how it is supported in Sacred Scripture. After reading numerous books on Mary which only confused me even more, this video was like a veil being lifted from my eyes.

youtube.com/watch?v=kUdYeYy3NQA

 

[Tommy999]

PLEASE check out this short video below, Mary was a big obstacle for me too. This video instantly erased my doubts on Mary, her role and how it is supported in Sacred Scripture. After reading numerous books on Mary which only confused me even more, this video was like a veil being lifted from my eyes.

youtube.com/watch?v=kUdYeYy3NQA

I viewed that, SAVINGRACE. It did :thumbsup:help. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[Reuben_J]

Hi ptisme,
Probably three main ones at this time.
– Marian dogmas
– Family opposition (spouse and siblings)
– Baby baptism versus believer’s baptism

I am not saying the Church is wrong. I am just saying I struggle with them.

– Marian dogmas:
For example: The Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn, then, O most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

To me, that sounds like it goes beyond honoring Mary and flirts with worship, but like I said, that’s just me. I always respect the Catholic position but I am an honest person and that is how I feel.
.
However, I actually caught myself saying the ‘Hail Mary’ a few weeks ago when there were tornadoes in my immediate area, and I felt comforted during the storm by that. Maybe I am progressing in that area.

Now that you mentioned it. Me too, and I am born Catholic!

I was not convinced that this was a right prayer. I understand why when we prayed the Hail Mary, it is an intercession prayer but Hail Holy Queen … You are our hope … Turn your eyes of mercy … These should belonged to God only. …

I couldn’t remember how I got over it. Perhaps over the years as we conducted ministry prayers at homes or public locations where the Rosary was included in our services. You were getting used to it.

Now of course I understood why. This is unique, but with Mary too, it is a relationship as we can have a relationship with Jesus. Then it fall into place for me. I know what kind of relationship I have with Mary - she is not God but a mother of Jesus and being one, like other saints in heaven, she can be my intercessor. Hers is even greater, being the mother of our Lord. How Jesus loves her and how he gave her to us.

I know then who she is for me. I acknowledge that she is in heaven and a Queen, if Jesus is King; for the Queen in the Davidic tradition is the Queen Mother, not his wife. And if the saints can pray for me, so can too can Mary. My prayer is therefore as if I am talking to her, not to God. One can implore somebody to pray to us, and the word we use when requesting that somebody may be quite flattering. There is no different when we request Mary whom we know.

God bless.

Reuben.

 

[ptisme]

I viewed that, SAVINGRACE. It did :thumbsup:help. Thanks for sharing that.

Tommy, I didn’t realize your wife was anti-Catholic. Did you read Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn? Sounds like his wife nearly divorced him when he converted. You story reminds me a bit of what he went through. Best wishes to you and your family whatever you decide to do… PT

 

[Tommy999]

Tommy, I didn’t realize your wife was anti-Catholic. Did you read Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn? Sounds like his wife nearly divorced him when he converted. You story reminds me a bit of what he went through. Best wishes to you and your family whatever you decide to do… PT

Yes, there are a number of similarities in my situation to his, based on what I saw in his Coming Home show testimony I saw on YouTube.

My wife has threatened to leave me if I converted. However, that discussion was a few months ago and things have calmed down a little since then. I am praying for her and am being patient and understanding with her while letting her know that my interest in Catholicism still persists.

 

[ptisme]

Yes, there are a number of similarities in my situation to his, based on what I saw in his Coming Home show testimony I saw on YouTube.

My wife has threatened to leave me if I converted. However, that discussion was a few months ago and things have calmed down a little since then. I am praying for her and am being patient and understanding with her while letting her know that my interest in Catholicism still persists.

You’re going about this the right way. Only God’s grace can soften somebody’s heart. Keep praying my friend!

 

[TheSeeker2014]

Tommy, I didn’t realize your wife was anti-Catholic. Did you read Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn? Sounds like his wife nearly divorced him when he converted. You story reminds me a bit of what he went through. Best wishes to you and your family whatever you decide to do… PT

Yes, there are a number of similarities in my situation to his, based on what I saw in his Coming Home show testimony I saw on YouTube.

My wife has threatened to leave me if I converted. However, that discussion was a few months ago and things have calmed down a little since then. I am praying for her and am being patient and understanding with her while letting her know that my interest in Catholicism still persists.

From my experience, majority of Protestants believe a Catholic can be saved by Christ…

And you are not leaving Jesus…
Why would a prostant be upset of a convert to Catholism otherwise?
(I understand why they would be upset for the small number of protestants that view Catholism as the beast/mark)

 

[HelenRose]

Hello all,
This is addressed mainly to former Protestants who decided to become Catholic.

I am seriously considering Catholicism but still have a few stumbling blocks. I was just curious if they are common obstacles or unique ones.

My biggest obstacle was a misunderstanding of what the Catholic Church taught. In some of the cases the misunderstanding were false things like “worshiping idols” worshiping Mary" other misunderstandings were not understanding the rationale behind the more difficult teachings such as the teaching about birth control.

I became a Catholic with a reservation about birth control and since I had had a hysterectomy for medical reasons this teaching did not affect me personally.

After studying the rationale about this an other teachings that I had misunderstood, my appreciation for the wisdom of the Church has greatly increased.

I suppose I did not come into the Church fully knowing and accepting everything. I did come into the Church with the attitude that I am open to learning not only “what” the teachings are but “why” they are taught.

I have come to believe that the Church is very old and very very wise. She has weathered many storms and has seen the effects of sin on souls and on society. She knows and understands but because so many of the lessons have come from experience it is very hard to understand Her message. Time and love are the paths that lead to this understanding. It is a matter of trust. I don’t always understand but I have come to trust Her wisdom.

It is a life long journey.

 

[Della]

From my experience, majority of Protestants believe a Catholic can be saved by Christ…

And you are not leaving Jesus…
Why would a prostant be upset of a convert to Catholism otherwise?
(I understand why they would be upset for the small number of protestants that view Catholism as the beast/mark)

You raise some good issues. When I was a young child we were Episcopalian–a more liberal-minded denomination doesn’t exist on the planet. And yet, my parents wouldn’t let me have a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus because, as they told me, “It’s a Catholic picture.” There’s an underlying bias amongst many Protestants, not all of them Fundamentalists, that the Catholic Church is some kind of foreign/odd entity that isn’t quite “right.” If asked they couldn’t have explained their objections to my having that picture nor why they didn’t want me to be influenced by it. They’d have been shocked at the idea that they were bigoted/biased against anyone.

The answer doesn’t lie in cool reason but in malign spiritual forces that we humans are often blind to that make us feel queasy about the very things we ought to be attracted to. G. K. Chesterton wrote that once a man starts being fair to the Catholic faith, it is not long before he is attracted to it. The devil doesn’t want that so he works to make people dislike the Church or even actively hate her precisely so they won’t look into her teachings nor receive the graces God gives us through her sacraments.

 

[ptisme]

From my experience, majority of Protestants believe a Catholic can be saved by Christ…

And you are not leaving Jesus…
Why would a prostant be upset of a convert to Catholism otherwise?
(I understand why they would be upset for the small number of protestants that view Catholism as the beast/mark)

Because many Protestants falsely believe that Catholics take their eye off Christ by focusing on things such as Mary. Where they miss the boat is everything about Mary isn’t to detract from Christ but take him further into focus.

For instance, many of our Christian brothers and sisters believe the rosary to be a set of beads that we worship. If they took the time to investigate they would see with each decade of the rosary we are taught to focus on a different aspect of the life of Christ, depending on the day:

rosary-center.org/howto.htm#loaded

 

[Techno2000]

I am not saying the Church is wrong. I am just saying I struggle with them.

– Marian dogmas:
For example: The Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn, then, O most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

To me, that sounds like it goes beyond honoring Mary and flirts with worship, but like I said, that’s just me. I always respect the Catholic position but I am an honest person and that is how I feel.
.
However, I actually caught myself saying the ‘Hail Mary’ a few weeks ago when there were tornadoes in my immediate area, and I felt comforted during the storm by that. Maybe I am progressing in that area.

“Jesus Christ Himself revealed to Blessed Veronica of Binasco,
that, He is more pleased in seeing His Mother compassionated than
Himself.” He said to her: ‘My daughter, tears shed for My Passion are
dear to Me; but as I loved My Mother Mary with an immense love, the
meditation on the torments which She endured at My death is even
more agreeable to Me.’

fatima.org/essentials/requests/devotion_of_seven_sorrows.pdf

 

[Della]

Because many Protestants falsely believe that Catholics take their eye off Christ by focusing on things such as Mary. Where they miss the boat is everything about Mary isn’t to detract from Christ but take him further into focus.

Yes, the Marian doctrines/dogmas tell us essential things about Christ and God’s salvific plan. :yup: None of them are meant solely to laud Mary, although they do that, as well. Rather, they are meant to define some aspect of Christ’s nature, his mission and his redemption. Those who look into them with this understanding, which is the mind of the Church, find them to be reasonable and enriching to their faith.

For instance, many of our Christian brothers and sisters believe the rosary to be a set of beads that we worship. If they took the time to investigate they would see with each decade of the rosary we are taught to focus on a different aspect of the life of Christ, depending on the day:

rosary-center.org/howto.htm#loaded

The rosary began as a way for lay people to join in spirit with the religious who recited the Divine Office. The 150 Hail Marys were prayed in lieu of the 150 Psalms, which were recited/sung in Latin by religous brothers/sisters. Being a biblical prayer, the Hail Mary recounts the moment of the Incarnation of Jesus and the Visitation to St. Elisabeth as related to us by St. Luke. The only addition to the bibilcal verses of the Hail Mary being the invocation for Mary’s intercession. The Communion of Saints, which upholds this invocation, was believed and practiced in the early Church, and then solidified, so to speak, in the Creeds. Other prayers, such as the Our Father beginning each decade and Apostles Creed before the decades, the Hail Holy Queen at the end, and other prayers were added later over the centuries. In every way it is biblical, ancient, and perfectly licit and beneficial to all believers.

As to the Hail Holy Queen prayer, it is biblical, but it is drawn from references that many Protestants overlook or simply don’t connect to Mary or to the Incarnation. This is due to the paring down of beliefs that followed the reformation with each new split in Protestantism, that took people’s understanding farther and farther from the beliefs and practices of the ancient Church. For many modern Protestants understanding or accepting this truth can be hard, but, in a nutshell, history shows that that is what happened.

 

[IdiNaPut]

My biggest obstacle is family opposition- like all too many people a lot of persistent rumours and myths about the Church exist. Some of my family are atheist and mock all religious beliefs too.

My second obstacle is being too scared to step inside a Catholic Church for some stupid reason.

 

[Denise1957]

My second obstacle is being too scared to step inside a Catholic Church for some stupid reason.

I can relate to this. I had been in Catholic churches before as a tourist in the UK, but it was scary to attend my first Mass in the Catholic church in my own neighborhood, which I’d either walked or driven past a few thousand times. When I first went in for Mass, it was like going to a foreign country, where the customs were different, and I was a foreigner. But that was soon changed when a friendly parishioner welcomed me after I asked her about where to sit. The Mass was so peaceful and Christ-centered. Of course I went back.

G.K. Chesterton writes about this in his book, ‘The Catholic Church and Conversion,’
which is an excellent book, and I would recommend it to anyone considering conversion to Catholicism.

 

[Techno2000]

To me, that sounds like it goes beyond honoring Mary and flirts with worship, but like I said, that’s just me. I always respect the Catholic position but I am an honest person and that is how I feel.
.

Confided by Our Lord to Berthe Petit: “Teach souls to love the Heart of My Mother pierced by the very sorrow which pierced Mine.” [Dec. 25, 1909]

catholictradition.org/Two-Hearts/sorrowful-mother.htm