I really don't know how to track their tradition for one thing and the writings of the eastern church fathers just loses me. Their rituals seem rather odd and I'm not really adverse to it, just think the guy walking around with incense is kind of pointless. I've talked to Catholics and they seem pretty lucid, what I really like is they are rooted and grounded in a tradition that isn't subject to change. The Orthodox I can never really put my finger on what they are talking about, like I say, it just loses me.
I've spent a lot of time with the Fathers of the East and although they are a challenge to understand I do feel a real kinship with many of them. Several of them are considered by the Catholic Church to be Doctors of the Church. But Orthodoxy today is more inscrutable. Their frequent xenophobia and their history of caesaropapism make me content to stay Catholic. I hope and pray that they will open up to unity with Catholics, but I cannot hold my breath that long. By the way, my Catholic church does use incense from time to time, particularly the Sundays between Easter and Pentecost.
I've been browsing the Catechism, still haven't found anything I have a problem with. Protestantism on the other hand seems like it's having a meltdown, their work in exegetical studies and their great revivals are a credit to their history but it's waning. Those seminaries are turning into liberal arts and they seem disinterested in Pastoral ministry. Trying to get to the bottom of their theology is like chasing ghosts in the fog.
Good you have tuned into the CCC.
I think if you become Catholic, it must be because you find something of great value rather than a disappointment with Protestants. The disappointment is fine for a starting impetus but it needs to be replaced by something much more positive when you finally decide. I think you will get there though. And even if you do not become Catholic I do think the look-see will change you in a good way.
Look I really don't have a problem with the Orthodox churches, not really. It's just I don't think I can understand what it is their message and ministry is. Catholicism looks a lot more tenable.
That's good. Orthodoxy should appeal to a Catholic and Catholicism should appeal to an Orthodox. We really do need each other and belong together. If not yet, then in the not too distant future.
You will all of a sudden begin to hear about all sorts of horrible things about the Catholic Church. Friends will try hard to dissuade you from becoming Catholic. About half of those horrible things will be true, the other half fiction. Of the half that is true, half of that is simply inexcusable and nasty stuff, with the other half being amenable to a rational explanation. We can help you through it to separate the fables from the truth and provide perspective. We do have some painful history, starting out with Judas who betrayed the Lord. I suppose I could have started up my own house church as the only way to totally escape the sometimes painful history of Christians, but I think the folks at Westboro tried that and look where it landed them.
I will try to put together a list of people I consider touchstones for my own faith. There are, of course the Doctors of the Church, which you should avail yourself of. But my list is more contemporary, including some folks alive that you could even talk to. You don't have to like them to be Catholic, but I recommend them as they have helped me and I trust them.
So here is a beginning in no particular order (yet):
George Weigel -- biography of pope John Paul II
Avery Dulles -- excellent theologian
Jimmy Akin -- apologist 'Tiptoe thru TULIP'
John Paul II -- theology of the body and encyclicals
Benedict XVI -- books about Jesus
Bishop Robert Barron -- Catholicism series
Msgr. Charles Pope -- thoughtful articles
Fr. George Rutler -- dry and sage commentary
Archbishop Chaput -- pastoral teaching
Germain Grisez -- moral theology
Dr. Dawn Eden -- Theology of the Body
Dr. Ed Peters -- canon law go to guy
Rosalind Moss -- Hebrew Catholic
Al Kresta -- radio host former Protestant
There are so many more to add. These are folks who have helped steer me and who I trust. But I need to add about 50 more names to make it complete. I'm on the road tonight and my resources are mostly at home.
What else? How to find a great Catholic parish? Look for one which has perpetual adoration. For now you don't even have to know what that is, but later on you may want to. My experience is that such a parish is more dynamic than average. Look on masstimes.org to locate such a parish, or for that matter any parish and find a website for it.
And for Catholic books one of the best publishers out there is Ignatius Press.
