The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism: The Converts

Catholic Exchange ^ | July 2, 2007 | David Hartline

[NYer]

It started with Scott Hahn and it is still going strong.  The number of prominent Protestant clergy and theologians coming to the Catholic Church has been nothing short of remarkable.  Priests like Father Dwight Longenecker and Father Alvin Kimel are new to the Church and they bring a lot of enthusiasm, scholarship and wit and humor with them.  Father Longenecker might be the only priest who is a graduate of the admittedly anti-Catholic institute of higher learning, Bob Jones University.  Deacon Alex Jones, a former pastor in a prominent African-American Pentacostalist Church in Detroit left behind a vibrant, growing congregation.  However, the pull of Catholicism's 2,000 year-old history and her ability to weather many storms was too much for Deacon Jones.  He now travels around the country telling his conversion story.  In addition, there have been prominent theologians and university scholars like Dr Francis Beckwith, who very recently was the head of the Evangelical Theological Society.  He came home to the Church in April.  The aftershocks from his reversion to Catholicism (he was born into the faith but later left the Church for Evangelicalism during his teenage years in the heyday of the "Jesus Movement,") still are being felt.  He followed Joshua Hochschild who surprised many in the theological world when he recently converted to Catholicism.

In my book The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism, I note that while many in the media, even some Catholics, are focused on those who have left the Church, few have noticed the significance of so many prominent members of other faiths who have come home to Rome.  It should be noted that many who left the Catholic Faith, usually for a non-denominational mega church, often can't give a theological reason.  They can only say that they enjoy the liveliness and entertainment that a mega church often provides.  It is most encouraging that Catholicism is getting the crème of the crop from other churches.  Entry into the Church for these converts is usually made after a long, difficult journey to come to terms with something that they never thought possible.  For some, like Scott Hahn and Father Dwight Longenecker, the Faith they once mocked is the Faith they have changed their lives and alienated family and friends to join, a decision not taken lightly. 

Often, it is an attempt to better understand Catholicism in order to disprove it that leads to conversion, when they simply could not come up with anything to dispute the key tenets of Catholicism: Scripture and Tradition, the Sacraments, Apostolic Tradition and the role of Mary.  They found themselves falling into the trap that the eminent Pharisee Gamaliel warned about in Acts 5:33-39. They might be fighting against God.

Many of the former converts, some of whom were admitted anti-Catholics, have now become prominent defenders of the faith.  Dr. Scott Hahn is a mainstay at Franciscan University and is often seen on EWTN.  As a matter of fact there are so many converts and reverts coming home to the Church that one of the most popular shows on EWTN is The Journey Home, hosted by Marcus Grodi.  Besides clergy and scholars there are hundreds of thousands who have entered the Church in recent years. This past Easter, it was announced that over 100,000 people came into the Church, just in the United States.  While bloggers and Catholic apologists Mark Shea and Jimmy Akin came into the Church some time ago, Aimee Milburn and Gerald Augustinus along with twin brothers David Bennett and Jonathan Bennett have chronicled their recent journeys into the Church via their blogs.  It is a truly remarkable story that often gets little media attention.  If the converts keep coming, the Tiber is going to get mighty crowded.  Indeed, the tide is turning!

[AnAmericanMother]

I think that's quite true.

Catholics used to NEVER proselytize -- you had to come to them. Now they're out and about a good deal more than they used to be - especially EWTN and the internet.

I mean, when the Vatican has a website, you know the whole computer idea has arrived . . . < G >

[Tax-chick]

LOL! It’s a whole new world.

Back in Oklahoma, shortly after we got our DSL connection, we had our priest over for supper. My husband asked if he wanted to do anything on the computer, since we had this cool new gizmo, and Father said, “I want to see the Vatican site!”

[AnAmericanMother]

Funny!

Around the time of the death of JPII of blessed memory, the Vatican completely revamped and updated the website and its servers (they got swamped anyway).

But it is a very informative and useful updating. Now you can tour a good part of the Vatican Museums, and all kinds of other interesting things.

[Kathy Ann]

I’m not sure if I fully understand what that means. Sorry! )~;

But I thank you for your welcome and find this site to have some cool posters on it.

I was raised in a Protestant church and my whole life has been in one until now and there is no question whatsoever in my mind about where I have received the most nourishment.

Emotions and ‘feel goods’ last only so long. I desire and receive food that sustains me long after the music has stopped.

[Salvation]

Welcome home. I think more and more people are following in your path.

[Salvation]

Welcome home! We love it when converts check in on threads like this. God bless you!

[Salvation]

Glad you stayed. Since there are numerous Catholic Churches, we can always find one where we can identify with the priest and the type of service.

[Salvation]

Glad you stayed. Since there are numerous Catholic Churches, we can always find one where we can identify with the priest and the manner of Mass.

There that makes more sense!

[Rytwyng]

So many people have wondered what the Church would do about the priest shortage. How incredible it would be if the ranks were swelled by the ministers of other denominations.

....most of whom are married!

[Rytwyng]

They could not follow the Magestirum of the Church. They needed contraception and most importantly, the divorce and remarriage direction was to tough too follow. ...It is why they search for years finding those Churches that are “permissive...

In my 20+ years in the Evangelical world, I have found that the percentage of ex-Catholics who went Protestant for the above reasons, is exceedingly small.

If anything it's the opposite: they're attracted to Evangelical Protestantism because that's whose actually teaching the Bible and biblical living. The Catholic church, by contrast, has really dropped the ball on Scripture teaching, despite St. Jerome's admonition ("Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ").

As for contraception, (a) it isn't clear from the scriptures alone, but nevertheless (b) I do seem to encounter more non-contracepting, large, natural families in the Evangelical world than I do among Catholics... why is that?

[tiki]

, "Only the Holy Spirit could have done this in your lives. Welcome home."

I missed this when it was posted. I especially like this line.

[tiki]

Amen.

[tiki]

Why am I not surprised that you got no reply?

[Kathy Ann]

Please add me to your ping list. I’ve no experience with that stuff so if you need something from me in order to do it please let me know.

[Aquinasfan]

It should be noted that many who left the Catholic Faith, usually for a non-denominational mega church, often can't give a theological reason. They can only say that they enjoy the liveliness and entertainment that a mega church often provides.

All I can think of is Nirvana's line, "here we are now/ entertain us."

[sitetest]

Dear Kathy Ann,

Welcome to Free Republic!

sitetest

[Maximilian]

I do seem to encounter more non-contracepting, large, natural families in the Evangelical world than I do among Catholics... why is that?

There is a sizable group of Protestants who appear to me to be ahead of the curve on the fundamental issue of male/female roles, what is sometimes called "complementarianism." Understanding and then living this basic principle is a necessary precursor to having "large, natural families."

Unfortunately, this whole concept has been lost in the Catholic Church for the past 40 years. Catholics have been divided into 2 groups: the liberals who are busy contracepting, fornicating, etc, without qualms; and the "conservatives" who have followed JPII's lead into the quagmire of "mutual submission."

The only Catholics who follow the Biblical mandate for male/female roles are Traditional Catholics who have rejected the modernistic changes that have happened in the last 40 years since Vatican II.

Since Traditional Catholics are a small percentage of the overall Catholic population, what you've observed regarding evangelical Christians versus Catholics is not too surprising. If one attends Mass at a Catholic Church that uses the "New Mass," one is unlikely to see any "large, natural families." If one attends Mass at the traditional Latin rite, in contrast, virtually every family there will be a "large, natural family."

[NYer]

all have their eyes on Jesus.

It's good to have your eyes on Jesus; it is better, however, to have Him on your tongue. He said: "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you cannot have life within you".

[Jaded]

Of the ex-Catholics I know, there is one in particular who stands out. She is currently a born again Evangelical. She church shops fairly regularly. She’s recently divorced she sees that divorce as a sign from God. She’s stated repeatedly that she will never marry again because doing so would jeopardize her financial freedom but it would be okay with God if she just shacked up. She has a grown daughter who has children. She as a mother an a Christian has counseled this daughter to contracept with our with out her husband’s knowledge and to open an account and stash money because she’ll eventually end up divorced anyway. (this is the daughter’s second marriage)

So much for true Christian witness.

Most other ex-Catholics I know are ex-Catholics because they cannot live with the Magisterium and got tired of being cafeteria Catholics.

[Kimberly GG]

Interesting article, but more interesting thread. And after reading through it, all I can say is that this former born again Christian is both thrilled and relieved to no longer have the need to be affiliated with ANY religious organization, church, etc.

I use to see things through such a narrow, self-righteous and arrogant focus. It’s so comforting to have finally moved forward and beyond the confines, resting in the peace and understanding that God is so much bigger.