I am currently a Baptist who is thinking of converting to Catholicism. What is involved in this? What should I do and whom should I see? Also, I have always been taught that Catholics are taught to fear God. Is this true?

-- Kerrie Burch (madklb@hvi.net), August 11, 1999

Answers

Kerrie,

I'm sad to see that you are thinking of coverting to Romanism. I suggest you read the works of Martin Luther including, but not limited to, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church & The Bondage of the Will.

Roman Catholics were once taught to fear God. No more. Now they are taught a touchy-feely, ecumenical, lovey-dovey message.

You might want to check out my questions on this site such as "John Paul II is a Modernist" & "Did Cardinal W. Teach Universal Salvation."

-- Steve Jackson (SteveJ100@hotmail.com), August 11, 1999.

Actually, anyone who does NOT teach to fear the Lord is a false teacher. Even in the New Covenant, we are told to fear God as in to hold him in extreme awe and respect. Check out Revelations 14:7, Philippians 2:12, 2 Corinthians 5:11 and Luke 12:5 in which Jesus says, "Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.".

-- David Bowerman (dbowerman@blazenet.net), August 11, 1999.

Dear Kerrie,

Contact me at the e-mail address below and I can answer your questions.

I think you'll find that, despite her many detractors, the Catholic Church lives up to her claim to be the Church established by Jesus.

-- David Palm (djpalm64@yahoo.com), August 11, 1999.

Kerrie - Welcome to the fold of the Church. Remember as the first two posts indicate " Send you out among wolves " David has offered a gentle path which I hope you accept. +Peace+

-- jean bouchardRC (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), August 14, 1999.

Kerrie, I have a webpage devoted to Genuine Catholic Information for Honest Seekers, which includes many links to conversion stories. Feel free to write me, too.

-- Lane Core Jr. (elcore@sgi.net), August 14, 1999.

Hi Kerrie,

The Scriptures say "Seek and you shall find, Knock and it shall be opened to you..." Ask God to guide you on this path and He will lead you. I would suggest hat you start wit your prayer life. take a look at what it is now and how you may improve on it, speak to God He is listening. Then begin to attend Mass, you can visit several different churches in your area. When you find one you are comfortable in ask about "inquiry" or RCIA. Later if you will come back and tell us how you are doing there are some materials I can suggest.

May Christ be with you.

-- Br. Rich S.F.O. (repsfo@prodigy.net), August 18, 1999.

Kerry:

welcome home!!!!!!!!

i'm praying for you since the moment i read your message.

enrique

-- enrique ortiz (eaortiz2@yahoo.com), August 20, 1999.

I see from the other answers that you will have very good, strong, warm and cosy support in your jornay back to our Family. Trust the people here, they are the best you could find in Catholic orientation today. The very fact that you came here for orientation shows the mercy The Lord has had with you (and with every one of us, of course).

But I really feel sad about you having received your first response here from one of our other separeted brothers (which, it seems, refuses this brothership to everyone that does not worship Martin Luther more than the Christ Himself, at the same time as he refuses to behave as a good guest in a catholic site). As for the discussions concerning Steve, I refer you to the other threads in this site, specially the one called "Was Martin Luther an Heretic?", where much of the misundertandings between protestant and catholic are dealt with quite magnificently by Dave.

As to what is involved, the process normally consist in the following steps:

1. Study the Catholic Doctrine. You should get a good spiritual director, preferably a good old priest, and prepare yourself to accept the teachings of the Church of Christ. This will involve a lot of reading, some class-taking etc. Don4t be deceived, that will not be easy, the paths of the Lord are sometimes obscure and there are lots of things that must be very well meditated as to one get a real understanting. But good will plus the Grace of God suffice for it.

2. Once you feel you understand and accept all of that, you can enter the Catholic Church. If you were validly baptized, this means simply reciting the Creed in a simple ceremony; if not, you must receive the Baptism; it is usual in such cases (admission of an adult member to the Church) to the candidate to be administered the Sacrament of Confirmation at the same time.

Be sure to get a GOOD spiritual director, because (Alas!) in these times there are many wolfs in sheep hides. Normally, a combination of sound doctrinal/theological/philosophical formation, strong Marian devotion and strong communion with the Pope are good signs of suitable director. Beware of priests who say things like "you know, the Pope is a nice fellow, but he realy doesn4t know what the world really is all about nowadays..."

As for the fear of God, I refer you to the discussion on this theme in another thread of this site. In my opinion (which I learnt from a priest being cannonized), the core of the "Fear of God" is the fear we as good sons should feel of hurting such a loving father (the "first date" analogy found in the other thread is remarkably accurate from my point of view).

Good Luck, and may the Holy Ghost ease your path!

-- Atila Belloquim (atila@choose.com.br), September 06, 1999.