Why Catholics become Protestants

[Brooklyn Knight]

I disagree with both points. I think the oft stated "Catholics not properly catichised" is a cop out. It s an excuse to dismiss those who have left and to not face up to the problems in the church.

He does say "in my experience,' and honestly, it's not.

I went to a parochial school and then to a private Catholic High School. In both, I was never given the Bible or the Catechism to read. I was given a Bible in both but it was never read in class. There were no Bible studies. I did not learn of the Catechism until I was a borderline agnostic/atheist back in college when I was 20-21. What they did do was pump we with information regarding other Christian branches, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism...we even had to read books about Native Americans and talk about being one with nature, how killing a deer is similar to taking a step on a blade of grass.

Here's the book if you're interested.

Of course the basics were covered: Jesus, the Trinity, Mary, the Apostles, Stations of the Cross, Easter, Christmas, the Sacraments, the Beatitudes, venial/mortal/grave sins, a few Saints here and there, why we should tend to the sick and poor. But a reason as to why the Church is the Bride of Christ, scrutinizing, analyzing, explaining why things may have happened in the Bible, further elaborating why the Church sits on current issues the way it did before and the way it does today, all that Catholic goodness...fell to the wayside.

Show them a website for the Skeptic's Annotated Bible, and I wouldn't be too surprised if a good 60-80% not only question Christianity but question if God exists in the first place, and it's not their fault, they are ignorant of the Holy Book.

On your second point that many leave because of "lifestyle choices" I also find in my experience as being misguided. Most that I have known who have left, is because they are hungry for the Spirit, they are hungry for Christ. When I hear a bad homily, I almost want to call the Priest aside and ask him if he knows Jesus.

There are a plethora of reasons why people leave the Church, and not all of them leave because they seek the Holy Spirit.

 

[Fantine]

The basic of the article is the Pew Research organization, not the NCR.

The article was very interesting. One thing that struck me is that, just as these Protestant converts are more devout in their new religion, Protestants who convert to Catholicism are more 'orthodox' than rank and file Catholics.

Another thing that struck me is that Catholics who become Protestants leave for spiritual nourishment, it appears (from my experience) that Protestants who become Catholics do so for doctrinal issues.

I was surprised that most who become Protestants do so before age 24. Looking at college stats (5% of college students attend church services) it seems as if most young people are not interested in organized religion at all.

It does seem that, at least here in the Bible Belt, evangelical churches do a better job holding their kids through college than Catholic churches do. The Catholic Campus Ministry group in our town is composed almost entirely of Hispanic young people (which goes back to my observation about family cohesiveness and culture) and hardly any Anglos.

And I do think that that's because the evangelical churches are more into spiritual nourishment.

But I don't know what the solution is, because tinkering with things to attract one group will alienate another. Maybe there just isn't any "one size fits all" religion (and yes, I hear your protests, "There shouldn't be a one size fits all religion--you should wear Catholicism even if it's saggy, baggy, too tight, too long, too short, etc.") Well, it ain't happening, obviously.

 

[steve_bakr]

The missionary work of the majority of Protestant churches are targeted on Catholics rather than non-Christians. They justify this because they don't consider Catholics to be Christians. They are very good at going after the less educated Catholics, who really know very little about the Catholic faith. A little "real" Catholic education can go a long way in preventing such conversions.

Spiritual nourishment it is not! The so-called spiritual nourishment in most Protestant churches is little more than a quick emotional high from loud Christian rock music, sometimes with a little wild dancing, and fire and brimstone preaching that the rapture may happen any minute. In the end all the jumping, singing, and pounding preaching do little for their souls. The Holy Sacraments are true spiritual nourishment!

In my experience another reason Catholics convert to Protestantism is because protestantism is easy. You walk up to the front of the church, kneel down, accept Jesus as your personal personal savior, and you are SAAAAAAAVED. As a believer your salvation is assured. And since they are now following Faith Alone there no more need for Good Works, they just do whatever in the hell they like because they have been "Saved in the blood of Jesus!". In short, a lot of such conversions are rooted in Christian lazyness.

Ran

As someone who spent the major part of his life as a Protestant, I would have to respectfully disagree with some of your assessments of evangelical Protestant churches. My experience is that--while we may not be in agreement with them on certain issues--they take their life in Christ very seriously. Many of them, like Calvary Chapel and the evangelical free church, send missionaries all over the world. They are also generally pro-life and take Bible study very seriously. I would disagree with the mischaracterization that evangelical Protestants "can do whatever they want." This is no more true than the mischaracterization that Catholics can do whatever we like because we have Confession. In short, we should not under-estimate the draw of Protestant churches for people searching for spiritual nourishment. BTW, evangelical churches, to my knowledge, don't specifically target Catholics, but rather anyone who is "not saved."

Having said that, keep in mind that a lot of evangelical Christians convert to Catholicism--although admittedly not as many as Catholics who convert to evangelical Christianity. I am a convert. One of my sponsors is a convert from Calvary Chapel, and my other sponsor is a cradle Catholic who attended Calvary Chapel for many years and returned to the Catholic Church. IMO, the main draw that the Catholic Church has on these types of evangelical Protestants--including yours truly--is the Eucharist.

It would have been nice to see in the article some numbers for those people who convert to Catholicism and their reasons for doing so.

One last note, I do find that it is a bit more difficult to be a Catholic than a Protestant.

I hope this adds something to the topic of conversation,
Steve

 

[steve_bakr]

I started a thread called "Why people convert to Catholicism" and would appreciate your input to that thread.

Thank you,
Steve

 

[benedictaoo]

My favor quote in this article (for those who think a "smaller more faithful Chruch" is a good idea:

"... both as believers and as worshipers, Catholics who become Protestants are statistically better Christians than those who stay Catholic. We are losing the best, not the worst."

The hidden exodus: Catholics becoming Protestants | National Catholic Reporter

I both agree and disagree Charlie. The good Catholics are just disgusted and fed up of all the bull but if they were really good they would stick it out cuz where else they are gonna go?

Its either this Church or none.

 

[Fantine]

I both agree and disagree Charlie. The good Catholics are just disgusted and fed up of all the bull but if they were really good they would stick it out cuz where else they are gonna go?

Its either this Church or none.

Almost all leave before they are 24. If that is the case, they were probably baptized as infants. They probably have about as much allegiance to their particular church as they do to that sweater that Aunt Jennifer gave them for Christmas. They didn't pick it out, they didn't choose it.

And they don't see it as you do.

They may not believe there's a one true one size fits all Church.

 

[BBCath]

I both agree and disagree Charlie. The good Catholics are just disgusted and fed up of all the bull but if they were really good they would stick it out cuz where else they are gonna go?

Its either this Church or none.

Not to derail the thread, but this attitude, especially the bolded, is one of the reasons that I question whether I want to convert to Catholicism.

As a protestant, I find some of the generalizations made by Catholics on this board about people like me extremely insulting. It's a major "turn-off" to the faith and makes me think "if this is what showing the love of Christ means in the Catholic faith, I don't want any part of it!"

There is nothing wrong with an "emotional high" while attending protestant churches. That's how the Holy Spirit manifests inside of some people. I felt the same while attending mass during the consecration of the bread and wine. To claim or infer that this "emotional high" is hollow or without meaning is absolutely ludicrous!

Whenever I see the protestant-bashing posts thinly disguised as so-called facts, I really have to pray for unity of all Christians as well as ask God to quell the anger I feel whenever I read this nonsense!

 

[ranpleasant]

As someone who spent the major part of his life as a Protestant, I would have to respectfully disagree with some of your assessments of evangelical Protestant churches. My experience is that--while we may not be in agreement with them on certain issues--they take their life in Christ very seriously. Many of them, like Calvary Chapel and the evangelical free church, send missionaries all over the world. They are also generally pro-life and take Bible study very seriously. I would disagree with the mischaracterization that evangelical Protestants "can do whatever they want." This is no more true than the mischaracterization that Catholics can do whatever we like because we have Confession. In short, we should not under-estimate the draw of Protestant churches for people searching for spiritual nourishment. BTW, evangelical churches, to my knowledge, don't specifically target Catholics, but rather anyone who is "not saved."

Having said that, keep in mind that a lot of evangelical Christians convert to Catholicism--although admittedly not as many as Catholics who convert to evangelical Christianity. I am a convert. One of my sponsors is a convert from Calvary Chapel, and my other sponsor is a cradle Catholic who attended Calvary Chapel for many years and returned to the Catholic Church. IMO, the main draw that the Catholic Church has on these types of evangelical Protestants--including yours truly--is the Eucharist.

It would have been nice to see in the article some numbers for those people who convert to Catholicism and their reasons for doing so.

One last note, I do find that it is a bit more difficult to be a Catholic than a Protestant.

I hope this adds something to the topic of conversation,
Steve

Thanks for sharing you personal experiences. It adds balance to the disucssion.

Ran

 

[ranpleasant]

In this case they did choose a statistically measurable indicator - weekly church attendance.

Asking someone about weekly church attendance is asking them to give you a subjective answer. Personally denial is always a factor. In other words, you really don't know what someone did on a give Sunday. Much better to have objective data you messured and observed yourself.

Ran

 

[steve_bakr]

Not to derail the thread, but this attitude, especially the bolded, is one of the reasons that I question whether I want to convert to Catholicism.

As a protestant, I find some of the generalizations made by Catholics on this board about people like me extremely insulting. It's a major "turn-off" to the faith and makes me think "if this is what showing the love of Christ means in the Catholic faith, I don't want any part of it!"

There is nothing wrong with an "emotional high" while attending protestant churches. That's how the Holy Spirit manifests inside of some people. I felt the same while attending mass during the consecration of the bread and wine. To claim or infer that this "emotional high" is hollow or without meaning is absolutely ludicrous!

Whenever I see the protestant-bashing posts thinly disguised as so-called facts, I really have to pray for unity of all Christians as well as ask God to quell the anger I feel whenever I read this nonsense!

Don't let anything or anyone deter you from embracing the Catholic faith.

 

[BBCath]

Don't let anything or anyone deter you from embracing the Catholic faith.

I know, but its just so hard sometimes.

I do have to remind myself that we are all human driven off of emotion and in that sense, we all err.

...which is why faith and dependence on Jesus is so important because if we were dependent on man alone, we all would be "up the creek".

 

[Lady Bug]

Maybe they think that they have to work so hard in order to remain saved. If God's love is unconditional, maybe they think that they shouldn't have to go through blood, sweat, and tears in order for God to say they can enter Heaven...I'm saying that is what THEY may be thinking, that's all.

 

[christseeker45]

I can see what your saying. Like what's the use here we got Christ dying for us but we still have to work our way in type of thing

 

[Diane_Windsor]

My favor quote in this article (for those who think a "smaller more faithful Chruch" is a good idea:

"... both as believers and as worshipers, Catholics who become Protestants are statistically better Christians than those who stay Catholic. We are losing the best, not the worst."

The hidden exodus: Catholics becoming Protestants | National Catholic Reporter

"better Christians"?? What in the wide world does that even mean? Either a person is a Christian or they are not ~ it's not a competition.

 

[MikeK]

The missionary work of the majority of Protestant churches are targeted on Catholics rather than non-Christians.

Do you have a source to back that up? It contradicts what I've seen locally. Our local protestant communities seem to devote most of their misionary work to helping the poor around the world. I have never experienced any of them actively seeking to convert Catholics. They are sometimes good apologists for their own faith, and sometimes able to counter Catholic talking points in a compelling way, but that is not where they spend most of their efforts.

 

[MikeK]

"better Christians"?? What in the wide world does that even mean? Either a person is a Christian or they are not ~ it's not a competition.

I think it's fair to say that some Christians are better than other Christians regardless of their stripe. I certainly think its fair to say that Saint Kolbe was a better Catholic than Joseph Goebbels was.

 

[benedictaoo]

I disagree with both points. I think the oft stated "Catholics not properly catichised" is a cop out. It s an excuse to dismiss those who have left and to not face up to the problems in the church.

I agree. There are serious reasons why people leave, those who are catechized. Now there are some who leave for dumb reasons, like we worship Mary.

But there are serious problems and Catholics for the most part live in denial about that and why Catholics are hostile towards their own church. and for how many leave for a Prot denomination, that many more don't go anywhere. they remain Catholic but very disconnected and jaded, feeling as if we can not trust the men who run the Church.

On your second point that many leave because of "lifestyle choices" I also find in my experience as being misguided. Most that I have known who have left, is because they are hungry for the Spirit, they are hungry for Christ. When I hear a bad homily, I almost want to call the Priest aside and ask him if he knows Jesus.

I think that is bogus. they may leave for that reason but there ins't anything in Catholic spirituality that is missing. The visible church is in crisis but Catholic spirituality is not lacking. There is a lack of catechizing and lack of understanding the faith itself if a Catholic didn't get this and had to go outside the faith to get it.

You can get "fed" elsewhere but let's face it, following Christ is no day in the park and the Churches that make it out to be that it is, is superficial. IMO.

 

[benedictaoo]

Almost all leave before they are 24. If that is the case, they were probably baptized as infants. They probably have about as much allegiance to their particular church as they do to that sweater that Aunt Jennifer gave them for Christmas. They didn't pick it out, they didn't choose it.

And they don't see it as you do.

They may not believe there's a one true one size fits all Church.

well the young ones, yeah... who wasn't raised to know the faith... who was dragged to church on Sunday and lived a secular life the rest of the week. Yeah, they leave and some will eventually come back and some won't. Speaking for myself and other extremely knowledgeable ones, there is no other choice. Its this or nothing.

I have said and will always say, Catholics make the worse Catholics... Christians make the worse Christians. Using the two as synonymous. Bottom line, we suck, we suck at living it, passing it on to our kids, spreading it to others. Society is what makes it really hard these days to live it and pass it on but we are who society is. the majority of all Christians everywhere are in it for them. IMO. what I think.

 

[benedictaoo]

I know, but its just so hard sometimes.

I do have to remind myself that we are all human driven off of emotion and in that sense, we all err.

...which is why faith and dependence on Jesus is so important because if we were dependent on man alone, we all would be "up the creek".

Excuse me but- I did not bash Protestants churches. The Catholic Church is the Church that Jesus founded, not Martin Luther or pastor Joe but Jesus. And it is what it is.

I, me, speaking for me, because I "know too much", so to speak, can not ignore that this Church is Christ's and just becuase the going gets rough, like Peter, where am I gonna go? To the Lutheran church? when I know that they have a valid baptism but there is much error also taught? I'm gonna go there? uh, no, I don't think so...

There's was no bashing involved, I know the error taught in other faiths and there is no way I could be part of what I know is error. yes there is truth but there is also error mixed in. Why would I embrace what I know is error?

So for me, being totally fed up with the state of affairs the Vatican is in, it poses a dilemma for me and if you feel you can not be Catholic because you can not accept that this is the Church Jesus founded and the others are break always from this one Church, then I'm sorry but please do not project your inability to accept that fact on me.

I'm not going to be the scape goat or the punching bag for people's issues they have with Catholicism. The issue you have is with the fact that the Catholic Church is the one true Church. Its not with me, so please do not put that on me. thank you. We can not water down facts of the faith because it offends you.

 

[BBCath]

Excuse me but- I did not bash Protestants churches. The Catholic Church is the Church that Jesus founded, not Martin Luther or pastor Joe but Jesus. And it is what it is.

I, me, speaking for me, because I "know too much", so to speak, can not ignore that this Church is Christ's and just becuase the going gets rough, like Peter, where am I gonna go? To the Lutheran church? when I know that they have a valid baptism but there is much error also taught? I'm gonna go there? uh, no, I don't think so...

There's was no bashing involved, I know the error taught in other faiths and there is no way I could be part of what I know is error. yes there is truth but there is also error mixed in. Why would I embrace what I know is error?

So for me, being totally fed up with the state of affairs the Vatican is in, it poses a dilemma for me and if you feel you can not be Catholic because you can not accept that this is the Church Jesus founded and the others are break always from this one Church, then I'm sorry but please do not project your inability to accept that fact on me. -

I'm not going to be the scape goat or the punching bag for people's issues they have with Catholicism. The issue you have is with the fact that the Catholic Church is the one true Church. Its not with me, so please do not put that on me. thank you. We can not water down facts of the faith because it offends you.

You can get huffy all that you want, but the bottom line is your earlier post as well as this post was demeaning to protestants, IMO.

For what it's worth, my post was not specifically geared towards you - it was due to some Catholics that love to bash and make fun of the way some protestants worship.

I do apologize if you felt like a punching bag - that was not my intention.

However, I would ask that when you address your fellow Christians, that you speak to them in love. The tone of your posts do not appear to reflect that, IN MY OPINION.