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Becoming Catholic
OSV.com ^ | 03-28-19 | Msgr. Charles Pope

Posted on 03/30/2019 8:12:59 AM PDT by Salvation

Becoming Catholic


Msgr. Charles Pope

Question: I had reason to hope my niece was going to convert to the Catholic faith. But there were so many obstacles the Church set up that discouraged her. She was asked to go to classes, and they told her that her marriage was not valid and she would need an annulment. Further, it was necessary to wait until Easter, etc. The nearby evangelical church set up no such obstacles, and she was able to join at once and be considered a member. I hear so much talk of evangelization today, but I share my niece’s frustration. Can we not streamline this process?

Name withheld

Answer: There is a kind of appealing simplicity that you describe in many Protestant denominations. But there are problems with the approach that should give us pause. Ultimately evangelization is more about conversion than mere membership. We are summoned to embrace the saving teaching of the Lord and to walk according to it.

Because adults make informed decisions, the Church considers it important to teach them the fundamentals of the Faith so that they can know what it is they are agreeing to when they enter the Church. Although some of the Scriptures portray an almost instant, on-the-spot baptism, the consensus in the early Church shifted to a lengthy, three-year period of instruction (called the catechumenate) prior to baptism. This likely was because of the insight that quick conversions often led to quick departures or a falling away when the true demands of discipleship became known.

Instructions are most insisted upon for those who are unbaptized. In the case of those who are baptized and come from different Protestant denominations, the length and content of instructions will depend on their background. It is up to the discretion of the pastor who discerns with each individual what is needed. It is certainly not required for those already baptized to “wait until next Easter.”

The concerns about a person’s marital status are rooted in the very words and teachings of Jesus himself. He teaches without ambiguity that for a person to marry, then divorce and enter another marriage, puts them in an ongoing state of adultery in the “new” marriage (cf. Mt 5:32; Mt 19:1-9; Mk 10:11-12; Lk 16:18, etc). He adds rather firmly, “What God has joined together, let no one divide” (Mt 19:9).

It will be further noted that when the Lord was evangelizing the woman at the well, he brought her to a moment of conversion, and she asked for the gift of faith. But the Lord Jesus saw fit to first raise with her the fact that she had been married five times and was now living with a man outside of marriage. Her conversion would not be complete or adequate until she was willing to live chastely. Then the graces could flow.

For reasons of their own, many Protestant denominations have decided to practically overlook such passages. But the Catholic Church takes the Lord’s teaching on these matters rather seriously, as he clearly intended that we should. In some cases, after an investigation based on evidence, the Church may use its power to bind and loose, to indicate that the previous marriage was not “what God has joined,” and it recognizes the first marriage as null. A person’s current marriage then can be blessed and recognized. But we simply cannot set the Lord’s words aside as if they were of little importance.

Thus some conversions to the Catholic faith will take some time to be faithful to the teachings of the Lord and the nature of true conversion. It is worth the diligence required.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: bornagain; catholic; protestant
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To: Elsie
If the SDA and everyone else live a healthy lifestyle, then we WILL do better health wise and we WILL live longer.

The information you seek in support of those claims might be found here:

Loma Linda University

The radio program I listen to here in the Charlotte area on 870AM from 9-9:30 is called “CHIP Healthy by Choice” with host Charles Mills. Good stuff!

If you’re interested, more information about the program can be found online. Here is one site:

CHIP: Healthy for a Lifetime

As background, I became interested in “food as medicine” a few years ago when my dogs began to develop health issues. Their health and mine improved when I put what I learned into practice.

Last summer the vets discovered a tumor in my girl’s nasal cavity and I have been learning about it and other diseases and how God has given us what we need to beat such things with our diet and lifestyle choices.

For example, Cancer Tutor is non-religious website that has been extremely helpful.

And, if you are truly interested in better health and longevity, you will be happy to discover the CHIP health program, which puts into practical use the knowledge God has given us.

That program can be found here:

Complete Health Improvement Program

1,401 posted on 04/20/2019 9:02:51 AM PDT by GBA (Beliefs => Reality. Change your mind > Change your world.)
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To: Elsie

Yes, I have been lucky and blessed to have known some amazingly bright, though often unassuming, people. The Random Swan Factor was one of many such oracles.


1,402 posted on 04/20/2019 9:09:02 AM PDT by GBA (Beliefs => Reality. Change your mind > Change your world.)
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To: Elsie
The details of His story are still being written.

But, yes, these times we’re living in, and what is and Who is to come, have been spoken of in the OT and New.

As one who wanders, I like maps. And though I am often lost among the lost, I like knowing where I am.

As hobbies go? Once I truly believed the Bible is real, trying to figure out where we are in the story we were born into became an irresistible hobby for me.

The world made no sense until after 9/11 when the book The Harbinger gave me a better pair of starter goggles to “see” it with.

And then, for me, the messages in True Life In God have been the Godsend it claims to be.

Now? No worries...! God’s got this.

1,403 posted on 04/20/2019 9:59:47 AM PDT by GBA (Beliefs => Reality. Change your mind > Change your world.)
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To: Elsie
“But, how many of them have a SAVIOR?”

I don’t know. How many will say: “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?”

I have no idea how many or who they are, but even though I don’t fully understand His answer, we know what He will say in response, right?

These are unuaual times. We are bold and arrogant in our indifference towards Him and we can be equally creative making Him look just like us.

And many feel justified in waging war against brethren for having Biblical eye splinters, when their own vision is just as scaly? I wonder if these among those He doesn’t know?

1,404 posted on 04/20/2019 10:33:14 AM PDT by GBA (Beliefs => Reality. Change your mind > Change your world.)
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To: Elsie
Fwiw, here is a thoughtful and fully Protestant answer to the question, “Should our day of worship be Saturday or Sunday?”
From Sabbath to Sunday
I offer this “as is” and, as with all things, “Your mileage may vary”.
1,405 posted on 04/20/2019 10:42:28 AM PDT by GBA (Beliefs => Reality. Change your mind > Change your world.)
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To: Elsie

“Lots of words there to simply paraphrase what has been known for centuries:”

Thanks to the Christ’s Church. The Catholic Church. As Christ promised in Scripture....

“hell will not prevail against it”...
“...eat this...”

HAPPY EASTER...HE IS RISEN !!


1,406 posted on 04/21/2019 9:29:21 AM PDT by rbmillerjr
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To: imardmd1
Watch and pray for salvific understanding.

May everyone watch and pray for salvific understanding.

  • Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
  • For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
  • Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
  • Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
  • And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.


Mark, Catholic chapter thirteen, Protestant verses thirty three to thirty seven,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James

1,407 posted on 04/21/2019 12:25:56 PM PDT by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began)
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To: rbmillerjr

Typical Catholic snark, and on Easter to boot!


1,408 posted on 04/21/2019 12:28:06 PM PDT by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: af_vet_1981
The time that one is saved is when he/she becomes convinced of the promise of Jesus to save one from sin, from Satan, from self, and from the world system, and turns to Him believing wholly and solely on the power of His Shed Bllod to accomplish it without delay.

Waiting for Him to come before He will act is not salvific faith. NOW is the time.

1,409 posted on 04/21/2019 3:09:37 PM PDT by imardmd1 (Fiat Lux)
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To: rbmillerjr
“hell will not prevail against it”...

Yet we are warned to come out of her.

I wonder just what 'her' was being referred to?

1,410 posted on 04/21/2019 3:55:48 PM PDT by Elsie
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To: imardmd1
Waiting for Him to come before He will act is not salvific faith. NOW is the time.

Now is always the time, now and forever; every day upon rising up and laying down, forever. Watching is not for extra credit. It is a commandment and a warning.

  • And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
  • Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
  • Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
  • Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
  • He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
  • He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.


Revelation, Catholic chapter three, Protestant verses one to six,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James


    There are four classes of servants in the next passage:
  1. Those found watching
  2. Those who assaulted fellow servants, partied, and became drunk
  3. Those who knew the Messiah's commandments, but did not keep them
  4. Those who did not know the Messiah's commandments, and did not keep them.


Were these servants saved at the beginning, or at the end, of their service?

  • Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
  • Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
  • For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
  • Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
  • And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he
  • Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
  • And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
  • And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
  • Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
  • Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
  • And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
  • Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
  • Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
  • But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
  • The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
  • And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
  • But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luke, Catholic chapter twelve, Protestant verses thirty two to forty eight ,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James

1,411 posted on 04/21/2019 4:19:38 PM PDT by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began)
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To: af_vet_1981
Were these servants saved at the beginning, or at the end, of their service?

Be careful here, my FRiend. It seems as though you are going to make an object lesson of this passage. Such a passage has only one meaning. I have a pretty good ide of who these "servants" are, but before I disclose that, I want to know who you think these "servants" are. What is your interpretation? Is this passage plain-literal or figurative-literal, or ae you planning on allegorizing this selected passage?

It's up to you, now. Let's have your view, what approach you are using, and why.

1,412 posted on 04/21/2019 5:22:27 PM PDT by imardmd1 (Fiat Lux)
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To: af_vet_1981
BTW, I appreciate your attempt to make these verses a bit easier to read, still recognizing the phrase or sentence divisions, but without letting the numbering system get in the way of the flow of thought.

Bit for my old eyes, you might consider making the citation text at least one size larger. And for me, it is not necessary for you to keep on stating that, while much of the scholarship was conducted under the authority of the Crown, James Stuart had no part in the actual process of assembling and printing the product of the appointed committees. Just giving the citation as Book, chapter, verse, and Bible version will be sufficient. I am well aware of the history of the various versions and of their underlying original language texforms.

1,413 posted on 04/21/2019 5:39:26 PM PDT by imardmd1 (Fiat Lux)
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To: imardmd1
The Messiah called them "little flock." Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

The Messiah goes on to describe the servants from the greatest (role of the Apostle) to the least (the ignorant). They were all servants. Excluding the Gentiles from being servants of the LORD essentially excludes them from the Gospel. Hence I include as servants all those who belong to the one holy catholic and apostolic Church, which the Apostle to the Gentiles made clear are grafted into the good olive tree (Israel).

  • I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
  • And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
  • For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
  • For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
  • So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

    ...

  • And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

  • In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;


Romans, Catholic chapter, Protestant verses one to five,
Second Timothy, Catholic chapter, Protestant verses twenty four to twenty five,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James

1,414 posted on 04/21/2019 5:48:53 PM PDT by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began)
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To: af_vet_1981

So, in the Luke 12:36-48, you think the Jesus was referring to Himself as somewhere in time being this lord who is at the center of the parable?


1,415 posted on 04/21/2019 6:11:04 PM PDT by imardmd1 (Fiat Lux)
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To: boatbums

My grandfather was a dairyman; and, while the fields generally let him take Saturday as a Sabbath of some rest from plowing, cultivating, and harvest (plus the winter fallow time), and the Lord’s Day for church meeting, the critters did not have the same Sabbath or worship hours. So . . . I guess my Dad did not want to be a constant nursemaid to cows. So He got into the ministering trade, and then guess what? He didn’t have any Sabbath Days or Lord’s Days free to himself either—a nursemaid to a whole congregation!


1,416 posted on 04/21/2019 6:30:12 PM PDT by imardmd1 (Fiat Lux)
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To: imardmd1
So, in the Luke 12:36-48, you think the Jesus was referring to Himself as somewhere in time being this lord who is at the center of the parable?

Yes, Jesus is the "Son of man."

  • Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
  • For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
  • Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
  • Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
  • And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.


Mark, Catholic chapter thirteen, Protestant verses thirty three to thirty seven,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James
Underlines my own

1,417 posted on 04/21/2019 6:41:00 PM PDT by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began)
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To: af_vet_1981
There are different kinds of servants and different kinds of lords. Don't get them mixed up. Yes, I believe that it is Jesus the returning Messiah in Luke 12:36-48, but don't mix it up with the Mark 13 passage. That would be a mistake.

Let me ask another question:

In Luke 12:36-37, Jesus tells of the return of the lord.

36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 36 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
So my question is, What wedding is He (Jesus) coming away from to look over his estate? Where is the estate, amd who are his servants?>
1,418 posted on 04/21/2019 9:07:52 PM PDT by imardmd1 (Fiat Lux)
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To: Salvation

There were two catechumens and ten candidates received into the Church during our Easter Vigil Mass at Holy Spirit Parish. Amen! Alleluia!


1,419 posted on 04/22/2019 7:10:16 AM PDT by rwa265
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To: imardmd1
There are different kinds of servants and different kinds of lords. Don't get them mixed up. Yes, I believe that it is Jesus the returning Messiah in Luke 12:36-48, but don't mix it up with the Mark 13 passage. That would be a mistake.

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

  • I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
  • With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
  • Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
  • There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
  • One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
  • One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
  • But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.


Ephesians, Catholic chapter four, Protestant verses one to seven,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James


So my question is, What wedding is He (Jesus) coming away from to look over his estate? Where is the estate, and who are his servants?

  1. He did not say, or the writer(s) did not record it. Instead, He emphasized watching so as to avoid the three levels of punishment.
  2. The Messiah is seated at the right hand of the Father. From there He will unloose for departure to judge the living and the dead.
  3. His servants in the parable were His Apostles and disciples, the little flock. They received authority from Him to go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things He commanded them. By extension, all who believe and are baptized are His servants and should watch (their behavior) for His return.

1,420 posted on 04/22/2019 6:23:46 PM PDT by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began)
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