Why I left the Anglican Church & why I want to be Catholic

[_Gemma]

Hi, I’m Gemma, I’m 20 years old and from Sydney, Australia.

I was brought up to believe in God by British parents who are baptized Anglicans (church of England) but never attended church.

I started reading the Bible when I was 19 and started going to church soon after. I went to an Anglican church.
I did things like youth group, Bible study and met with the women’s minister regularly to discuss Christianity and faith.

What I learnt was that the Anglican church is falling apart, In Australia apparently the Church here is completely different to the church in England, and different churches believe different things.
Some Anglicans don’t believe in Heaven or Hell, they believe that when you die you just ‘sleep’ in the ground until your body is resurrected. Some Anglicans believe you’ll go to a holding place when you die or you’ll just go straight to Heaven.
Some Anglicans think that you can get salvation by faith alone yet my Women’s minister believed people in our congregation were going to Hell because they didn’t read the bible enough.
They wouldn’t baptize me. Baptism in my church was all about being a member of that particular church and you had to go to church every Sunday for a few years before you get baptized. Baptism didn’t mean anything anyway apparently, you can just go to heaven by your faith (but go to hell for not going to church or reading the bible enough?)
Many people there also believed Catholics were going to hell and looking at images of Jesus, Mary, Angels, Saints or any other religious imagery was forbidden. The people in my church aren’t big on helping the poor, sick or anyone in the community.
After 6 months I decided to leave my church. I never really fitted in and I never gained anything from it. I felt closer to God praying at home then I did there.

As I’ve grown in my faith since reading the Bible I’ve read about the lives of the Saints. Their lives and stories have been really inspirational to me. I’ve been inspired to spend my life helping others. I’m studying Social Work and am looking to do volunteer work in my area to help people. I’ve just contacted a charity in my area (run by the local Catholic Parish) to see what volunteer opportunities they have available and I’m just waiting to hear back.

I’m looking at becoming Catholic. The Anglican church didn’t make any sense to me and there are too many other Protestant denominations.

If anyone has any advice for me that would be great. Or anything to say at all

~ I just want to say that if Anglicans read this I’m not trying to be rude or offensive I’m just saying what happened in my church and why I left.

 

[indiancatholic]

I request you to please come in the Catholic Church .
We believe in the faith received by the apostles from God the Son directly and handed
down through the magisterium of the church .The catholic church is universal in the worldly sense and the morality and theology and philosophy is so vast and deep that you would feel blessed.

 

[Fan_of_Trent]

I second the previous comment. Holy Mother Church, founded by Jesus Christ Himself, awaits you with open arms.

First things first, begin the process of RCIA (Rite of Catholic Initiation of Adults) or at least take the first step by contacting your local Roman Catholic Parish. All the best.

Pax Tecum…

J.M.J.

 

[Todd_Easton]

I suggest you contact (telephone) the parish office of your local Catholic church this week, Monday through Friday, during normal office hours and let them know you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith with the intention of perhaps become a Catholic and see if they offer a pre-Catechumenate meeting that fits your schedule.

Here’s a link to the webpages of the Catechumenate Office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, www.rcia.org.au/index.php It offers some general info about how to become a Catholic, including local telephone numbers.

 

[aicirt]

My friend recently converted. Her RCIA instructor suggested she read CATHOLICISM FOR DUMMIES. It is very good and highly recommended. And do sign up for RCIA instruction too.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Welcome! :extrahappy:

I’m reading a really good book, Catholicism by Fr. Robert Barron. It discusses several fundamental aspects of our faith in a really interesting way. I think you would enjoy it.

 

[_Gemma]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I’m looking into RCIA and will talk to my local Catholic church.