In these propaganda pieces NYer keeps putting out I never read about one key aspect of these "conversions". All I read about is someone from another denomination joined the catholic denomination.
No mention if they are Christian or how they came to know Christ.
I can't tell you how many articles I've read about identifying with the catholic church; but very, very few, if any, where anyone identifies as a Christian.
There is a difference.
Because there isn't a conversion. Catholicism does not guarantee regeneration, consequently, the overwhelming majority of RCs are unregenerate. And there is nothing worse than being unregenerate but thinking you can mix works and faith and offer up something to God that will please Him.
Gal 9:30 - 32 explains the RC dilemma very well ...
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith;
31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.
32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
Yesterday I read about a Catholic couple who were not doing well, the husband tried to do more church things and wanted to become a Deacon. Somehow they ended up Baptist but he got to be a Deacon there. I have read of Lutherans becoming Catholic and Methodists becoming Orthodox, and Catholics becoming Lutheran and they each claim they never heard God’s word, or felt His presence at the former denomination. Each tells how they knew they were “home” in their new denomination. I think a lot of churches are failing to really meet the spiritual needs of their members. I think we all have some work to do in our homes and in our churches.
In other words, it was edited from what was undoubtedly a much longer interview, for a secular publication.
I wish people would understand the realities of journalism. You know very well that Deacon Hall didn't just say the 4 or 5 sentences which show up as direct quotes. He probably talked to the reporter, Alan Burke, for an hour or more-- showing him around the church, talking about his relationship to Jesus Christ, his attraction to the Catholic Faith, the wonderful faith story that every convert has about God's plan for salvation and the grace that has been given him, to have a role in that plan.
A reporter inevitably selects what he wants --- maybe 4 or 5 sentences --- and leaves 99% of the interview on the cutting room floor.
Do you understand that?
I was thinking the same thing as I read that.
Because it is self evident. We are Catholics! Translation: We are the first christians! We came to membership in the Body of Christ through Baptism, oftentimes when we were infants. We came to know our christian faith through the weekly readings at Sunday mass and through our liturgical calendar which annually follows ALL the events in the life of Christ.