Why Are So Many Evangelicals Turning to the Catholic Church?

[Wannano]

I assume you are speaking of the Protestant denomination called the Church of Christ of which there are three different denominations. Can there be more than One True Church? Especially if they teach contradicting dogma. The truth can never be rejected for convenience sake, so yes eventually it becomes the truth or the highway.

There is a great deal of difference between claiming to be the Church and presenting compelling evidence from scripture and history. What scriptural and historic evidence does that group, with which you rub shoulders, present? Can they present writings of that group going back to the apostles? Can they name some of their great teachers going back to the apostles? Do they have apostolic succession? What scriptural evidence do they present demonstrating they are the true Church?

Catholics and the Orthodox can present evidence from scripture, writings back to the apostles, name great teachers and both have apostolic succession. The question is to whom did Christ give the keys of the kingdom naming him Rock on which Christ would build His Church?

You have the wrong assumption and I honestly would have to Google the Church of Christ to know anything about them.

I am interested in that you include the Orthodox as I thought the Catholic Church was the only one.

 

[rcwitness]

This sounds like John Calvin’s teaching that Christ is present spiritually, but not physically. What is the difference between his explanation and the one you presented?

The difference is that we do not regard the bread and wine as “mere” bread and wine after consecration. We believe God sends the Spirit down to radically change them into the substance of Jesus Christ. He is no longer regarded as lowly flesh, but able to move with the Spirit even taking on the form of real food and drink. He displayed the ability to defy physical limits while living among us. He walked on water, passed through locked doors, ascended to heaven, vanished from sight… all by His own power.

I thought that in Catholicism the elements were supposed to change or convert. Isn’t that what transubstantiation means?Yet the accidents (appearance of bread and wine) remain.

Council of Trent:
… CANON VIII.-lf any one saith, that Christ, given in the Eucharist, is eaten spiritually only, and not also sacramentally and really; let him be anathema.

I didn’t say, He is only present spiritually. I said, he is revealed spiritually. This means we don’t witness a change, but express faith and so are nurtured further by faith. He is the incarnated Word from above. He descends by the Holy Spirit and is real flesh also.

There are still miracles occurring every day, but they are not as frequent. If I am told that a miracle (transubstantiation) is occurring every day, then my natural response is to investigate and learn more. I look for scientific evidence to show that this miracle is occurring. If this does happen every time, it could be very easy to prove. If it isn’t so easy to prove, I would think that something special is occurring at each Mass, but that doesn’t include a change in substance.

The nature of the miracle of Mass is not to give proof to the carnal senses, but build up, strengthen and encourage the spiritual.​

 

[Randy_Carson]

This comes from the NCR website: ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/hidden-exodus-catholics-becoming-protestants

"That Catholics are leaving to join evangelical churches because of the church teaching on the Bible is a disgrace. Too few homilists explain the scriptures to their people. Few Catholics read the Bible.

The church needs a massive Bible education program.** The church needs to acknowledge that understanding the Bible is more important than memorizing the catechism.** If we could get Catholics to read the Sunday scripture readings each week before they come to Mass, it would be revolutionary. If you do not read and pray the scriptures, you are not an adult Christian. Catholics who become evangelicals understand this.

From the article:

“Finally, the Pew data shows that two-thirds of Catholics who become Protestants do so before they reach the age of 24. The church must make a preferential option for teenagers and young adults or it will continue to bleed. Programs and liturgies that cater to their needs must take precedence over the complaints of fuddy-duddies and rubrical purists.”

Two-thirds become Protestants BEFORE the age of 24?

That is a telling statistic. :sad_yes:

 

[rcwitness]

Two-thirds become Protestants BEFORE the age of 24?

That is a telling statistic. :sad_yes:

… and what is it telling you?

 

[Randy_Carson]

… and what is it telling you?

And I will first ask you a question:

What is your opinion of the spiritual, intellectual and emotional maturity of people under the age of 24?

 

[rcwitness]

And I will first ask you a question:

What is your opinion of the spiritual, intellectual and emotional maturity of people under the age of 24?

I converted from Evangelical to Catholic at 24. I think it’s a logical age. A few yrs out of the parents home, and or college. The desire to attend worship is on the conscience.

I think at this age, there are serious relationships began, and maybe even a family. How old were you when you married? Many get married around this age.

 

[Randy_Carson]

I converted from Evangelical to Catholic at 24. I think it’s a logical age. A few yrs out of the parents home, and or college. The desire to attend worship is on the conscience.

I think at this age, there are serious relationships began, and maybe even a family. How old were you when you married? Many get married around this age.

1. 

 

[rcwitness]

1. 

I was 29 when we married too… she was 19.

 

[alwayswill]

From the article:

“Finally, the Pew data shows that two-thirds of Catholics who become Protestants do so before they reach the age of 24. The church must make a preferential option for teenagers and young adults or it will continue to bleed. Programs and liturgies that cater to their needs must take precedence over the complaints of fuddy-duddies and rubrical purists.”

Two-thirds become Protestants BEFORE the age of 24?

That is a telling statistic. :sad_yes:

and here is another telling statistic fom the article

"Nor are the people becoming Protestants lazy or lax Christians. In fact, they attend worship services at a higher rate than those who remain Catholic. While 42 percent of Catholics who stay attend services weekly, 63 percent of Catholics who become Protestants go to church every week. That is a 21 percentage-point difference.

Catholics who became Protestant also claim to have a stronger faith now than when they were children or teenagers. Seventy-one percent say their faith is “very strong,” while only 35 percent and 22 percent reported that their faith was very strong when they were children and teenagers, respectively. On the other hand, only 46 percent of those who are still Catholic report their faith as “very strong” today as an adult.

Thus, both as believers and as worshipers, Catholics who become Protestants are statistically better Christians than those who stay Catholic. We are losing the best, not the worst."

ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/hidden-exodus-catholics-becoming-protestants

 

[Reuben_J]

and here is another telling statistic fom the article

"Nor are the people becoming Protestants lazy or lax Christians. In fact, they attend worship services at a higher rate than those who remain Catholic. While 42 percent of Catholics who stay attend services weekly, 63 percent of Catholics who become Protestants go to church every week. That is a 21 percentage-point difference.

Catholics who became Protestant also claim to have a stronger faith now than when they were children or teenagers. Seventy-one percent say their faith is “very strong,” while only 35 percent and 22 percent reported that their faith was very strong when they were children and teenagers, respectively. On the other hand, only 46 percent of those who are still Catholic report their faith as “very strong” today as an adult.

Thus, both as believers and as worshipers, Catholics who become Protestants are statistically better Christians than those who stay Catholic. We are losing the best, not the worst."

Huh. I have seen two fellow Catholics converted to Evangelical and a few Evangelicals converted to Catholicism, those few which I had journeyed together with. From that little personal experience, I can say I have seen this first hand.

If you ask me, the highlighted one is not necessarily true. I am wary about statistic sometimes as it can very much depend on who and what you want to know and the result can be geared toward that.

It is true that those Catholics who decided to become Evangelicals would become stronger Christians; one of the reasons for their conversion is because what they see as a more active church there. They are not necessary the best we have. Everybody has the potential to be good Christians. Here thanks of course to Evangelical, that they find their faith there and become fervent believers as a result.

There is no point in converting and be a worse Christian. But that work both ways. You can say the same for those Evangelicals who turn Catholics.

As noted earlier, and to me it is perhaps worth reflecting on, Evangelicals who turned Catholics, are those who are older and more mature, and find deeper meaning in Catholicism, rather than young Catholics dissatisfied with the laid back style of Catholic worship and most have not understood their own belief who move the opposite direction.

 

[alwayswill]

Huh. I have seen two fellow Catholics converted to Evangelical and a few Evangelicals converted to Catholicism, those few which I had journeyed together with. From that little personal experience, I can say I have seen this first hand.

If you ask me, the highlighted one is not necessarily true. I am wary about statistic sometimes as it can very much depend on who and what you want to know and the result can be geared toward that.

It is true that those Catholics who decided to become Evangelicals would become stronger Christians; one of the reasons for their conversion is because what they see as a more active church there. They are not necessary the best we have. Everybody has the potential to be good Christians. Here thanks of course to Evangelical, that they find their faith there and become fervent believers as a result.

There is no point in converting and be a worse Christian. But that work both ways. You can say the same for those Evangelicals who turn Catholics.

As noted earlier, and to me it is perhaps worth reflecting on, Evangelicals who turned Catholics, are those who are older and more mature, and find deeper meaning in Catholicism, rather than young Catholics dissatisfied with the laid back style of Catholic worship and most have not understood their own belief who move the opposite direction.

the polling method and data used in the NCR came from here:
pewforum.org/2009/04/27/faith-in-flux3/

 

[Reuben_J]

the polling method and data used in the NCR came from here:
pewforum.org/2009/04/27/faith-in-flux3/

Of course, from a study some seven years ago.

What I was saying, sometimes it depends on who you ask. Also it can work both ways.

The Catholic Church has lost quite a lots of Catholics to the Evangelical then. We can know more or less the reason why, especially those concerned with wanting more spiritual satisfaction. There are others who wanted to practice birth control which is against the Church’s teaching.

Admittedly some of it due to the Church complacency as to the reason people do not practice as they should.

Those are useful information for improvement. In my archdiocese, no Catholics have left the Church these few years but instead many have come.

I think I have posted this that about the more than one thousand baptismal candidates underwent baptism during Easter Vigil this year. Out of that many were converts from Protestant churches.

These were big number. Ask any Catholic posters here, they would be able to comprehend the huge logistic for that. Our Easter Vigil nearly took the whole night, finishing well after 11.00 pm what with all the baptism.

What I am trying to say, the Church can reverse those trend of the faithful leaving.

Today our parish and all the parishes nearby are bristling with activities. You have the seminars, youth programs, Bible studies, apologetic, senior citizen gathering and even program of Protestant origin adapted to Catholicism. Parishioners are occupied. Their faith vibrant. They have to come early for mass otherwise there is no seat in the pew and the car park is always full. They have no time to think about leaving. Instead they bring their friends who have not known the faith to come to the church.

So you see, sometimes it can depend on what the churches are doing. But doctrines are another matter altogether. And that I think is more fundamental in deciding why people convert.

 

[jlhargus]

You have the wrong assumption and I honestly would have to Google the Church of Christ to know anything about them.

What is the name of this conservative true church, what scriptural and historic evidence do they have for their claim?

I am interested in that you include the Orthodox as I thought the Catholic Church was the only one.

Christ has only One Bride, One Body which can be easily recognized. Christ is building His One Church on the only apostle He named Rock and gave St Rock alone the keys of the kingdom.

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Huh. I have seen two fellow Catholics converted to Evangelical and a few Evangelicals converted to Catholicism, those few which I had journeyed together with. From that little personal experience, I can say I have seen this first hand.

If you ask me, the highlighted one is not necessarily true. I am wary about statistic sometimes as it can very much depend on who and what you want to know and the result can be geared toward that.

It is true that those Catholics who decided to become Evangelicals would become stronger Christians; one of the reasons for their conversion is because what they see as a more active church there. They are not necessary the best we have. Everybody has the potential to be good Christians. Here thanks of course to Evangelical, that they find their faith there and become fervent believers as a result.

There is no point in converting and be a worse Christian. But that work both ways. You can say the same for those Evangelicals who turn Catholics.

As noted earlier, and to me it is perhaps worth reflecting on, Evangelicals who turned Catholics, are those who are older and more mature, and find deeper meaning in Catholicism, rather than young Catholics dissatisfied with the laid back style of Catholic worship and most have not understood their own belief who move the opposite direction.

I don’t trust the polling.

Article says a very few left the Church because of divorce or morality matters. But how many of these folks being polled would actually be honest about it if they did? If you apply fora annulment now you get totally backlogged because of all the ex-Catholics wanting to come back to the Church thanks to Pope Francis’ ruling on making the annulment process easier.

Similar to the current political presidential polls now. They really can not be trusted because of the Trump factor. Some people are closet Trump supporters and will not openly admit to anyone they are actually voting for the guy. And i dont blame them lol.

Catholics are becoming protestant, and protestants are becoming Catholic. Who really knows what the numbers are?

Overall, people are becoming less religious around the world. And those identifying as Christian of any branch, are attending services less and claiming to be more spiritual and less religious. Protestants, in particular, do not help their cause because of birth control. Catholics do not help their cause with lack of catechesis from within.

 

[Randy_Carson]

and here is another telling statistic fom the article

"Nor are the people becoming Protestants lazy or lax Christians. In fact, they attend worship services at a higher rate than those who remain Catholic. While 42 percent of Catholics who stay attend services weekly, 63 percent of Catholics who become Protestants go to church every week. That is a 21 percentage-point difference.

Wow. I’m shocked. People who decide to join another church actually attend that church.

So, Catholics fall into four categories instead of those initially cited by the article:

1. Catholics who remain Catholic and attend mass regularly.
2. Catholics who remain Catholic and do not attend mass regularly.
3. Catholics who leave the Catholic Church and become unaffiliated “nones”.
4. Catholics who leave the Catholic Church and become really good Protestants.

And what about those cradle Catholics who become Protestants but eventually leave the Protestant ranks and RETURN to the Catholic Church? Do we have statistics on those?

Catholics who became Protestant also claim to have a stronger faith now than when they were children or teenagers. Seventy-one percent say their faith is “very strong,” while only 35 percent and 22 percent reported that their faith was very strong when they were children and teenagers, respectively. On the other hand, only 46 percent of those who are still Catholic report their faith as “very strong” today as an adult.

Thus, both as believers and as worshipers, Catholics who become Protestants are statistically better Christians than those who stay Catholic. We are losing the best, not the worst."

ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/hidden-exodus-catholics-becoming-protestants

The passage you cited states:

“Catholics who became Protestant also claim to have a stronger faith now than when they were children or teenagers.”

Well, duh. What Christian maturing in his or her faith doesn’t?

I’m frequently amused by the former Catholic who claims to have learned all about the Church’s history and theology during the many years their parents sent them to a Catholic grade school.

Finally, the article claims that we are “losing the best” while apparently overlooking the fact that there are millions more faithful Catholics who attend mass weekly (if not daily) than leave to become Protestants.

Moreover, this article (and consequently your rebuttal) does not address the fact that it is not uncommon for Protestant leaders and scholars who have seriously studied scripture, theology and Church history to arrive at the conclusion that Catholicism is the one true Church founded by Jesus.