ECT Why shouldn't I convert from Evangelical Protestant to Catholic?

Padre Kinsey

New member
Evangelical pastor to Anglican priest? Spectacular. Thank you very much for your post.
I did look at the Anglican Church at one point and attended a few services. I liked the liturgy and fellowship, but the tell tale for me was the Anglican vicars who joined the Catholic Church and took their congregations with them. Looking into this in more detail I discovered the problems within the church with the role of women as priests/bishops and same sex marriage, amongst others.
Whilst I love my Anglican brothers and sisters, I felt the organisation is too liberal and sits uncomfortably with me against what I read in scripture.
I am intetested in your conversion experience, how have you dealt with the issues I mention?
God bless you


The liberal momentum within the Anglican churches in the US, Canada, and England were troubling for me as well, as I am orthodox in my interpretation of scripture and church tradition and politically conservative. For me, the answer was the GAFCON movement within the Anglican Communion, which represents the majority of Anglicans worldwide, and is committed to orthodox Anglicanism. In America, a new Anglican province has been in formation, the Anglican Church in North America, as a reaction from the GAFCON realignment to the liberal nature of the Episcopal Church in the US.
I see a very clear path forward for global Anglicanism which will include a realignment and break with the Episcopal Church in the US and a possible break with the traditional Church of England and the establishment of a new province there as well, which has already begun. It is unfortunate that it requires such drastic change, however it is also important to remember that the Anglican Communion is over 80 million members strong, and that the liberal population only accounts for a few million of them from the western churches, unfortunately they are a very vocal and financially influential few. My hope and prayer is that as the orthodox majority of the Anglican Communion continues to establish itself as independent from the liberals, we will find avenues to continue developing higher levels of communion with the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions.
 

chrysostom

Well-known member
Hall of Fame
For me Anglicanism retains the global church feel, allows for commonality and connection to both the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, and remains within the necessary line of apostolic succession.

I have trouble with this statement
the Orthodox are closer to us than any of the others
 

RichRock

BANNED
Banned
The liberal momentum within the Anglican churches in the US, Canada, and England were troubling for me as well, as I am orthodox in my interpretation of scripture and church tradition and politically conservative. For me, the answer was the GAFCON movement within the Anglican Communion, which represents the majority of Anglicans worldwide, and is committed to orthodox Anglicanism. In America, a new Anglican province has been in formation, the Anglican Church in North America, as a reaction from the GAFCON realignment to the liberal nature of the Episcopal Church in the US.
I see a very clear path forward for global Anglicanism which will include a realignment and break with the Episcopal Church in the US and a possible break with the traditional Church of England and the establishment of a new province there as well, which has already begun. It is unfortunate that it requires such drastic change, however it is also important to remember that the Anglican Communion is over 80 million members strong, and that the liberal population only accounts for a few million of them from the western churches, unfortunately they are a very vocal and financially influential few. My hope and prayer is that as the orthodox majority of the Anglican Communion continues to establish itself as independent from the liberals, we will find avenues to continue developing higher levels of communion with the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions.


Thank you for taking the time to explain your position. Interesting to see your view within the church and I respect your campaign against liberalism.
If however, liberalism continues to dominate and you see no way forward in future, the Catholic Church would welcome you into the priesthood.(and your marriage if married) and would also welcome your congregation :)



I pray that the liberal element of the Anglican Church decreases in strength.
 

RichRock

BANNED
Banned
There has been a switching of priests and congregations from Anglican to Catholic here in the UK for several years now. Here's a news item from couple of years ago highlighting one switch of 3 bishops and 7 priests...with another 50 on the way.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12260569

'More Anglican priests to join Catholic Church

Three former Anglican bishops were ordained as Catholic priests on 15 January

Women Bishops Controversy

Seven Anglican priests and 300 members of six congregations are to join a new section of the Catholic Church, the Catholic Diocese of Brentwood says.The move involves three parishes in Essex, and three in east London.It is the largest known influx to date into the Ordinariate, which Pope Benedict established for Church of England members unhappy over issues such as the ordination of women.
Three former Anglican bishops have been appointed to lead the Ordinariate.Ordinariates allow Anglicans opposed to developments including women bishops, gay clergy and same-sex blessings to convert to Rome while maintaining some of their traditions.
The Bishop of Brentwood, the Right Reverend Thomas McMahon, told BBC Essex the Anglicans were unhappy about the church's general move away from the traditions it once shared with Catholics, but described the decision as "a very big move"."They relinquish their present post, a very big thing, leaving some of their people which brings heartache, into a fairly unknown future, as this ordinariate has only just been brought up.

“Start Quote

I hope in some cases the Church of England will be generous and there will be some sharing of Anglican premises”Father Keith Newton"It calls for huge faith and huge trust because the future isn't that certain," he said.Three vicars in Chelmsford, Hockley and Benfleet are among those men being trained to become Catholic deacons. A seventh retired Anglican vicar is also converting.
The Vatican will allow them to maintain a distinct religious identity and spiritual heritage within the Ordinariate.The Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, said he was disappointed that 300 members in Essex were converting to Catholicism."Although I'm sorry these people are going, I do respect their decision," he told BBC Essex."But it is a small group of people. The Church of England remains the church for everyone."According to a timetable set by the Roman Catholic bishops of England and Wales, former Anglican clergy and groups of worshippers wishing to enter the Ordinariate will be enrolled as candidates at the beginning of Lent in early March.They will subsequently be received into the Roman Catholic Church and confirmed. This is likely to take place during Holy Week (17-23 April).Where the new congregations will worship has yet to be decided
."It will be on a case-by-case basis," said Father Keith Newton, the former Anglican bishop who now heads the Ordinariate."I hope in some cases the Church of England will be generous and there will be some sharing of Anglican premises. But I think normally our groups will be worshipping in Catholic churches," he added.However, that does not mean that worshippers of the Ordinariate will be "mingled in" with Catholic congregations.Funded by donations"They will have a special service in their own right," said Bishop McMahon.The Ordinariate will be funded initially by donations but its priests will not receive a salary, as they did in the Anglican church."We are hoping they will find some part-time work as chaplains in schools and hospitals," said Bishop McMahon. "We have already had some offers from charities."Former Anglican bishops Andrew Burnham, Keith Newton and John Broadhurst were ordained into the group at Westminster Cathedral on 15 January.At the time Father Newton estimated that about 50 Anglican clergy might join the Roman Catholic church - along with some members of their congregations.'
 

annabenedetti

like marbles on glass
There has been a switching of priests and congregations from Anglican to Catholic here in the UK for several years now...

Over here they call them Anglican Use parishes, and like your source states, they're able to retain their liturgy which is quite beautiful.

I do think, since a celibate priesthood is a discipline and can be changed, that at some point in the future if they're going to allow married Anglican priests into the Church, that Church discipline will allow for some sort of dispensation for the Catholic priesthood.
 

chrysostom

Well-known member
Hall of Fame
Over here they call them Anglican Use parishes, and like your source states, they're able to retain their liturgy which is quite beautiful.

I do think, since a celibate priesthood is a discipline and can be changed, that at some point in the future if they're going to allow married Anglican priests into the Church, that Church discipline will allow for some sort of dispensation for the Catholic priesthood.

so the liberals think
 

RichRock

BANNED
Banned
Have you read any of Scott Hahn's books on Doubleday? They are fantasic. I have read them all. They are great:
  • First Comes Love
  • Hail, Holy Queen
  • The Lamb's Supper
  • Letter and Spirit
  • Lord, Have Mercy
  • Many Are Called
  • Angels and Saints

I'll be adding them to my reading list, thank you :)
 

Cruciform

New member
Again, where are the Bible verses that show the apostles bowing down to statues of Mary and the saints? How about verses about them praying to them?
  • First, your demand here merely begs the question in favor of the 16th-century Protestant notion of sola scriptura, a doctrinal invention that is itself nowhere taught in "Scripture alone," and which therefore simply refutes itself.
  • Second, your comments proceed from a basic ignorance of the reality of doctrinal development throughout the history of Christ's one historic Church.
  • Third, the testimony of Divine Revelation regarding the religious use of sacred objects and images in worship and devotion is outlined here and here. Also, the testimony of God's Word concerning the invocation of the intercession of past Saints can be seen here, here, and here.
Any verses on New Testament priests forgiving people their sins?
Addressed here, here, and here.



Gaudium de veritate,

Cruciform
+T+
 

Totton Linnet

New member
Silver Subscriber
I have been Evangelical Protestant most of my life, even spending some time living in a fulltime religious community.

The more I researched the origin of the bible and the history of my faith, the more I discovered the Catholic Church.

I am taking steps towards joining the Catholic Church and my question is this....'Why shouldn't I?'

I am not asking because I doubt my journey, I am asking because I haven't come across a good enough reason NOT to join.

Each side, for and against may debate, I look forward to reading each side's responses.

So, why shouldn't I convert to the Catholic Church?

*
If you were an Evangelical [and I must doubt it] your evangelical message would have been "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

This is not the RCC message.
 

Cruciform

New member
If you were an Evangelical [and I must doubt it] your evangelical message would have been "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." This is not the RCC message.
Merely a Straw Man Fallacy on your part. I say precisely that ("Believe in Jesus, and be saved") to people whenever I share the Catholic faith. Of course, then their very next question is, "What does 'believing' involve?" Then we go on to a great many other biblical texts. (You didn't think the verse you cited is the only verse in the Bible that relates to salvation, did you?)



Gaudium de veritate,

Cruciform
+T+
 

Totton Linnet

New member
Silver Subscriber
Merely a Straw Man Fallacy on your part. I say precisely that ("Believe in Jesus, and be saved") to people whenever I share the Catholic faith. Of course, then their very next question is, "What does 'believing' involve?" Then we go on to a great many other biblical texts. (You didn't think the verse you cited is the only verse in the Bible that relates to salvation, did you?)



Gaudium de veritate,

Cruciform
+T+
*
You are now speaking as a catholic so what else do you say is needful to be saved? explain what believing involves.
 
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