Why I Am Still an Evangelical Protestant [And Not Roman Catholic]

Chris Castaldo ^ | March 15th, 2013 | Chris Castaldo

[Gamecock]

The election of Pope Francis has the world’s attention. It is fascinating to read the array of perspectives. Political pundits and cultural exegetes, with more or less knowledge of Catholicism, have expressed their opinions concerning the meaning and future prospects of this pope. But what about former Catholics, those of us who were raised Catholic and now identify with evangelical Protestantism? What are we saying? I can’t speak for others, but I’ll tell you what is on my mind.

My Upbringing in Catholicism

Hardly a week goes by in which I don’t receive an email from a Catholic reader of my blog expressing that he or she is praying for me to “come home” to the Catholic Church. On the whole, I find them to be incredibly genuine and therefore it is easy for me to give a sincere “thank you.” Over the last week, as I have participated in several interviews about the conclave and papal selection, my inbox has seen many such appeals. In what follows I would like to share with my Catholic friends the fundamental reason why I am an evangelical Protestant.

To start with, I should say that my experience growing up Catholic was exceedingly positive. Owing largely to the ministry of our parish priest, Monsignor Tom, I grew to love the Catholic tradition. I loved the grandeur of the sanctuary with its carved wood, arched windows, and stained glass. I loved the deep, resonate amalgam of voices confessing the Nicene Creed and the honesty and humility expressed in the kyrie: “Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.” I loved simple things, like braiding cruciform-shaped palm leaves for Easter.

Oh, what I wouldn’t give for one more Knights of Columbus dinner, with trays of pasta fra diavolo, risotto parmigiano, and pignoli nut cookies prepared by my uncles. These were the occasions in which boys became men, learning how to eat for God’s glory.

I vividly recall our confirmation retreat at the nearby Cenacle. In the tranquil surrounding of a Marian grotto we learned stories of heroic saints like Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs who stared down lions in the name of Christ. Dominick, my best friend, suggested that I choose Saint Jude as my personal saint since Jude was the Saint of “lost causes.” Despite our juvenile banter, we were challenged to be courageous for God.

I enjoyed watching reruns of Archbishop Fulton Sheen with his long flowing cape and clever quips, marveled during Lent at the seemingly endless number of recipes we had for preparing tuna fish, and took great pleasure in walking to the altar with my family during Mass to present the gifts of wine and bread. This was my identity—a member of the Catholic Church—and I loved it.

But I had to leave.

Why an Evangelical Protestant?

Having written an entire volume on the reasons why I (and other Catholics) have decided to leave the Catholic Church for Protestant pastures—my book Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic—I will not retell my story here. Instead, I would like to put my finger on the fundamental reason why Rome is not my religious home. The leading edge of this reason is perhaps best expressed by John Bunyan in chapter three of his Pilgrim’s Progress. It is the climactic point when the faithful protagonist of his story, “Christian,” comes to the cross of Jesus and has his burden of guilt removed once and for all.

Christian ran till he came to a hill; upon it stood a cross, and a little below was a tomb. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up to the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the tomb, where it fell in, and I saw it no more. Then said Christian with a happy heart, “He hath given me rest by His sorrow, and life by His death.” Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked, therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the water down his cheeks.

In my humble opinion, the above vision is the centerpiece of evangelical Protestantism. Through the preaching of the gospel, God removes the burden of guilt and shame from our shoulders and sends it into the grave, where it disappears, never to be seen again. As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our sins from us. And moving toward the Celestial City from one’s initial encounter of the cross, Christian and all who share his name do so as children of God whose identities are permanently marked by this salvation. Precisely because we have died to self and now live anew in our resurrected Lord, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Such assurance is God’s gift to his children and serves as the driving force of our lives.

This lesson came into focus for me last month. A buddy invited me to his home to talk with his Catholic colleague who is struggling with religious guilt, feeling that he is never quite acceptable to the Father. This colleague described his experience in his Catholic parish as “salvation on probation,” a relationship with God that depended upon his ability to observe the precepts of the church (i.e., abstaining from meat on Lenten Fridays, holy days of obligation, auricular confession). Therefore, despite his best efforts, our friend bemoaned the fact that it was only a matter of time before he fell short of the church’s expectations and thus lost his eternal hope.

In response to our friend, I asked whether he had children. With great enthusiasm he proceeded to explain how much he enjoys his kids, attending all of their basketball games, going on vacations, and delighting in conversation about their future hopes and dreams. “Do they ever disappoint you,” I asked. “Of course; they are sinners like their mother,” he said with a smile. I then asked, “And when that happens, does it potentially terminate your relationship? Are they in jeopardy of losing their status as your children and being rejected from your family?” “You mean like a ‘mortal’ sin,” he responded? I could see he was starting to get my point. A long pause followed and finally our friend looked up with eyes full of tears and confessed, “I guess I’m secure as a child of God.”

My Current Relationship to Catholicism

I light of such evangelical Protestant commitments, is there any sense in which I appreciate Catholicism today? Let me answer the question like this. Most people who come from a Catholic background will probably identify with my sentiment, while those who weren’t raised Catholic probably won’t. It’s the kind of affection you have for that eccentric cousin whom you see once a year at Christmas. Despite your common upbringing, the two of you are now entirely different. He runs marathons, TiVo’s professional wrestling, enjoys dancing the polka, and somehow always manages to perform his Bob Dylan impersonation when the family is assembled. However, as first cousins, you have a deep, abiding affection for one another. Despite your differences, you share a common history that reaches back to your earliest memories, on the basis of which you possess a relationship that is deeper and richer than words can express. So it is for many of us who were raised Catholic. We disagree with much of Catholic faith, but these differences can’t erase the positive, Christ-honoring memories which we continue to cherish.

This is where my pursuit of Christ has led. I identify with the evangelical Protestant tradition because I believe that its approach to biblical authority and the gospel best reflects the will of God as revealed in Scripture. Insofar as the term “evangelical” describes such a person, despite its negative connotations and flaws, I hope to live accordingly, comporting myself and relating to others—including my Catholic family and friends—with the character of Christ. And I hope that what you read from this blog will serve you toward that end.

[Elsie]

Romans 3:10
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

(Your 'tradition' may vary...)

[Elsie]

Romans 3:10
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

(Your 'tradition' may vary...)

[af_vet_1981]

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil.

[Elsie]

Man has become like one of us; knowing good and evil.

[presently no screen name]

There are a few posters here who I rarely if ever read, and posts like yours simply reinforce the wisdom in that decision.

Truth hurts for those deceived as they use their wisdom to coddle themselves for temporary relief but there is no lasting peace without God/Truth. Truth is not going anywhere as It always was and always will be and those born again will live with TRUTH forever.

[dsc]

“Resorting to ad hominem attacks and attributing motive (bigotry!) in lieu of an argument is a sign of desperation, but in light of the evidence this kind of response indicates it applies to the accuser.”

Once one gets through the nonsense, the semantic content of that sentence reduces to, “So’s your old lady.”

The remark to which it refers is not an ad hominem attack, nor does it attribute motive. It is, however, an accurate description of your modus operandi—which is to say, of your actions.

The Holy Father is a man who temporarily occupies a post within the Church. Quote whom you may, it remains a fact that the sinful men who commit the actions we’re discussing are acting without the sanction of the Church and against her teachings.

Your refusal to admit what is before your eyes is not heroic, or even principled, but only obdurate.

“In the eyes of the traditionalist wing of the Church, however, Kennedy should have been asking the Pope for forgiveness. The Vatican’s official newspaper L’Osservatore Romano reported Kennedy’s death, praising his work on civil rights and fighting poverty, but noted that his record was marred by his stance on abortion.”
http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1919064,00.html

“The subsequent response from a papal aide offering Benedict’s prayers for his health, according to a veteran ambassador to the Holy See, was likely of a pro forma nature. Such letters are typically handled either by the office of the sostituto, the No. 2 official in the Secretary of State’s office or by the Pope’s private secretary. “It’s very rare to have a letter with the Pope’s own signature,” says the diplomatic source. In any case, coming in July, it was clearly not a response to Kennedy’s death.”
http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1919651,00.html

Just so people aren’t further confused, though, let’s look at the blessing that the Holy Father conveyed to the dying Ted Kennedy.

“He (Pope Benedict) was saddened to know of your illness, and has asked me to assure you of his concern and his spiritual closeness. He is particularly grateful for your promise of prayers for him and for the needs of the universal Church.

“The Holy Father has read the letter which you entrusted to President Barack Obama, who kindly presented it to him during their recent meeting. His Holiness prays that in the days ahead you may be sustained in faith and hope, and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God our merciful Father. He invokes upon you the consolation and peace promised by the Risen Savior to all who share in His sufferings and trust in His promise of eternal life.

“Commending you and the members of your family to the loving intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Father cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of wisdom, comfort and strength in the Lord.”

No reasonable person would interpret that boilerplate response to a request for prayers as condoning Kennedy’s many crimes. On the contrary, the Holy Father prays that Kennedy will be granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God our merciful Father.” IOW, that Kennedy will repent before it’s too late.

The Holy Father decided that honey would have a better chance of working than bile. Pope (emeritus) Benedict is very wise.

[daniel1212]

The remark to which it refers is not an ad hominem attack, nor does it attribute motive. It is, however, an accurate description of your modus operandi—which is to say, of your actions.

My "actions" consist of stating substantiated facts and what is before my eyes versus your simply denials, and yet charge me with a refusal to admit what is before your eyes due being stubborn, which is an ad hominem attack that attributes an unwarranted unwillingness to yield, on other words, what some call bigotry, which charge is often resorted to by RCs when faced with facts that impugn Rome.

The Holy Father is a man who temporarily occupies a post within the Church. Quote whom you may, it remains a fact that the sinful men who commit the actions we’re discussing are acting without the sanction of the Church and against her teachings.

Quote yourself as you may, but you are simply denying the fact that as actions show what one believes, Rome is sanctioning liberal Catholicism by refusing for decades, among other things, to excommunicate even notorious public RCs who openly deny basic RC moral teaching. And which traditionalist RCs demand. Denying this does not make it go away.

Your refusal to admit what is before your eyes is not heroic, or even principled, but only obdurate.

Are you talking to yourself or your church?

In the eyes of the traditionalist wing of the Church, however, Kennedy should have been asking the Pope for forgiveness.

But which was not how Ted - whose hands were red with the blood of the babies whose blood he shed, as well as deaths caused by sodomites, whose "rights" he supported - was treated by Rome.

The subsequent response from a papal aide offering Benedict’s prayers for his health, according to a veteran ambassador to the Holy See, was likely of a pro forma nature. Such letters are typically handled either by the office of the sostituto, the No. 2 official in the Secretary of State’s office or by the Pope’s private secretary. “It’s very rare to have a letter with the Pope’s own signature,” says the diplomatic source. In any case, coming in July, it was clearly not a response to Kennedy’s death.”

Of course it was not a response to his death - he has yet to die - but it was in response to Ted's letter to the pope, and expresses the pope's personal interaction with its contents, response. and regardless of the nature of the letter, in which there is no repentance or request for forgiveness expressed, just the generic "fallen short through human failings" concession, whiler impudently asserting, "I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith."

And rather than rebuke, the response expresses none and instead it expresses the pope's appreciation for Ted's prayers (not quite "lifting up holy hands") and giving his apostolic blessing.

Thus all you can do is plead the postulated pro forma nature of a response hand-delivered in July by President Obama, which interacts with its contents as relying the popes response, versus something like a formal official signed reply. Yet the fact is that the latter is what is lacking, and the former is what we have, along with a church funeral, thus interpreting in practical terms what Rome means by its formal teaching!

The hearers of truth look for the interpretation by how the teachers of it apply it in their own lives.

His Holiness prays that in the days ahead you may be sustained in faith and hope,...

No reasonable person would interpret that boilerplate response to a request for prayers as condoning Kennedy’s many crimes. On the contrary, the Holy Father prays that Kennedy will be granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God our merciful Father.” IOW, that Kennedy will repent before it’s too late.

Rather, that is an interpretation which is required because the leader of the Christian world" is thankful for the prayers of a man in mortal sin, whom he hopes will be sustained in faith, and is unwilling to make it clear that Kennedy is a damned + destitute sinner on his unholy way to Hell.

You think this boilerplate nuanced prayer is going to convict a politician who thinks he never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of his faith? He would thus easily see himself as being in surrender to the will of God, sharing in Christ's sufferings.

Instead your interpretation implicitly indicts the pope of counting a prohomosexual murderer as a member of the church, expressly commending him for his prayers while not being able or willing to express his disapproval of Ted in any clear manner!

The Holy Father decided that honey would have a better chance of working than bile. Pope (emeritus) Benedict is very wise.

Rather, wisdom is seeing how the apostles deal with leaders. (Acts (Acts 4:1-22; 24:22-24) The fact that RC must resort to this type of spin simply reveals the moral impotence of Rome, and her implicit sanction of liberal RCs as being members.

[dsc]

Wow. I am gobsmacked.

You just set yourself up as the superior of a scholarly, saintly, deeply learned man—Pope Benedict XVI—and you even presume to lecture him on how he should have discharged his duties.

It’s astounding. And not because of his office; just mano a mano, heads up.

[Elsie]

My "actions" consist of stating substantiated facts...

Most people, if led by a very wise man, should be able to recognize this.

To have to EXPLAIN it to them indicates quite a lot about their logic handling abilities.

[Elsie]

You just set yourself up as the superior of a scholarly, saintly, deeply learned man—Pope Benedict XVI—and you even presume to lecture him on how he should have discharged his duties.

You just set yourself up as the superior of a scholarly, saintly, deeply learned man—daniel212—and you even presume to lecture him and yet provide NO data to give any weight to your accusations.

[daniel1212]

You just set yourself up as the superior of a scholarly, saintly, deeply learned man—Pope Benedict XVI—and you even presume to lecture him on how he should have discharged his duties.

You set yourself up as the mind reader of Pope Benedict (besides me), and reject the Scriptures as superior telling him he should have discharged his duties (if he was even a NT pastor).

...and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15)

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:12-13)

"I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. (1 Corinthians 10:20) But you and the pope would.

It’s astounding. And not because of his office; just mano a mano, heads up.

More desperation in the light of damning evidence

[daniel1212]

To have to EXPLAIN it to them indicates quite a lot about their logic handling abilities.

And then when attempting damage control, decades of treating one prohomosexual proabortion notorious public sinner (among many) as a member, and the commendation of the prayers of this man in mortal sin, a standard blessing to him that mentioned prays for joyful surrender to Christ (not James tearful repentance) is made out to be an call to repentance.

And with gutsy mindreading attributing "wisdom" to that which expects a politician who had the audacity to claim to the pope that he "always tried to be a faithful Catholic," who "never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith" (perhaps based upon what Rome's response to him indicated that real faith was), to see this boilerplate prayer as calling him to Biblical repentance.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:8-10)

The Lord "saw people's faith, and by her overall actions, or non-actions -which have many TRCs it seems longing for the days and worldly means of the Inquisitions, and some even separating into Catholic sects - is what the multitudes of mini Teddy Ks see as constituting what Rome really believes.

[Elsie]

"always tried to be a faithful Catholic,"

Except for that little incident about a trinket removed from a dead man...

https://www.google.com/search?q=pope+francis+theft+of+rosary+crucifix&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&rlz=1I7ADRA_enUS475

[dsc]

“You just set yourself up as the superior of a scholarly, saintly, deeply learned man—daniel212”

If someone who was not a participant on FR were to say such a thing, I would think they were insane.

Of course, I would never think—much less say—that of anyone who posts here.

[pax_et_bonum]

A word to the wise for all my Protestant and Catholic brothers and sisters:

Luke 9:49-50 “49And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us”

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Amen.

[Elsie]

If someone who was not a participant on FR were to say such a thing, I would think they were insane.

IMHO (for what THAT's worth!), you have strange thoughts.

I would think that someone who thinks them must have good reason to do so.

[Elsie]

Sorry; oh pingless one...

[Elsie]

A word to the wise for all my Protestant and Catholic brothers and sisters:

And now; A few words from our Catholic brothers...

....that only those who are delegated by hierarchical authority are able to have this authority to cast out demons.

 

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Ah... the good ol' days!!

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https://www.ewtn.com/library/NEWAGE/EXORPROT.TXT

[Elsie]

You might be interested in the above...

[Elsie]

Can they count on you; or will my data be all they get to see?

2 1/2 months and no reply.

I guess that...

They CAN'T count on you; and my data be all they get to see!