Q&A - Converting to the Catholic Faith

Converting to the Catholic Faith

02.09.21

 

Question posted by “A.D.”

Hello everyone, this is my first post. I hope to be charitable. If I say something that troubles someone, please know, it isn’t on purpose. I am hear to learn and am quite ignorant on what Catholicism teaches.

I am a Protestant, more specificity, I am a southern baptist. I currently work as a chaplain at a rescue mission to help men recover from drug and alcohol abuse.

I’ve thought about converting many times over the last couple months. Catholicism has a lot that draws me.... architecture, a teaching magisterium, history, and infallibility. It is scary to say that though because Converting would completely change my family life and career though.

My question is this, how does the Catholic Church know and establish its own infallibility? Is choosing to be a catholic a fallible or infallible decision?

Finally, Is there an answer to this question that is not circular and unique to Catholicism that protestants cannot utilize as well.

P.S. - I read and watch a lot of content by Trent Horn. If someone could explain to me where Dr. Sungenis disagrees with Catholic Answers that would be great. Maybe even touch on the Galileo issue? Is their difference of opinion there and does that matter in regards to Christ wanting Catholics to be unified?

Responses by Laurence Gonzaga after each question.

1.       It is scary to say that though because Converting would completely change my family life and career though.

a.      Converting certainly changed all the lives of the Biblical characters who converted to true faith as well. I would say it is worth it, if it really is true, and you have come to that conclusion on your own accord. There are plenty of books on conversion stories of Protestant ministers who became Catholic, leaving a sure and secure career because they know the treasure they found, is worth much more than the comfort and security they leave behind. Check out:

                                                               i.      the Surprised by Truth books for starters

                                                             ii.      the Coming Home Network

                                                           iii.      The Journey Home program on EWTN and Youtube, etc.

2.       How does the Catholic Church know and establish its own infallibility?

a.       I would first start with its own authority, rather than infallibility, while it certainly is infallible. Christ established a Church in Matthew 16:18, the “Rock” on which it was built upon was the Apostle St. Peter, whose name, Kafa, Cephas, Petros, means “Rock”. The Church pre-existed the Bible, because the New Testament books did not even begin to be written until at least 20 years after the death of Christ. So, the Gospel was preached as an oral tradition until then, and by epistle as they started to get written, but the entire canon wasn’t established until centuries later. Therefore, Christ establishes the authority of the Catholic Church. Look at:

                                                               i.      Not by Scripture Alone by Robert Sungenis

                                                             ii.      Jesus, Peter, and the Keys by Scott Butler et al.

                                                           iii.      The Biblical Basis for the Catholic Faith by John Salza

                                                           iv.      The Biblical Basis for the Papacy by John Salza

                                                             v.      The Biblical Basis for Tradition by John Salza

                                                           vi.      By What Authority? by Mark Shea

3.       Is choosing to be a catholic a fallible or infallible decision?

a.       All of man’s choices are fallible, and that includes the choice to become Catholic.

4.       Is there an answer to this question that is not circular and unique to Catholicism that protestants cannot utilize as well.

a.       Even while man is fallible, he can still use reason and logic to reason out the most rational conclusion he can and not just remain where he is, out of convenience or some sense of fatalism that he can never be sure of anything. The most important questions in apologetics, I think, are the doctrines of the reformation, sola scriprura and sola fide. I would suggest you listen to the two debates on this issue:

                                                               i.      Salvation and Scripture Debate on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHM7xVRdh5U

5.       If someone could explain to me where Dr. Sungenis disagrees with Catholic Answers that would be great.

a.       Whether it is Dr. Sungenis, me, Catholic Answers, or the most popular Catholic apologists out there yesterday, today, and the future, we are all fallible with no authority in ourselves. So, the differences in methods and content of our apologetics are not too important. Ultimately, God is the one who will prepare your soul for the seeds of faith, and the messenger is not as important as the message. There are points of information that Dr. Sungenis may disagree on with various apologists out there, but that’s not always a bad thing, as iron sharpens iron, and the disagreements helps to sharpen Catholic apologetics in general.

6.       Maybe even touch on the Galileo issue?

a.       That is a long story. Catholic Answers has a couple of books on the Galileo issue and geocentrism. Dr. Sungenis has several books on geocentrism and one responding to the founder of Catholic Answers, Karl Keating. In my opinion, this issue is of less importance than what’s keeping you from the doors of the Catholic Church. Cross that threshold first, and we can get into geocentrism later.

7.       Is their difference of opinion there and does that matter in regards to Christ wanting Catholics to be unified?

a.       There is a saying, “in essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity”. Some might say Biblical cosmology is a matter of faith, and some say it is not. Dr. Sungenis would say it is a matter of faith, and most other apologists would likely say it is not. That disagreement does not negate the “unity” that is foundational to the principle of Catholic universality.

In closing, if I may suggest, the most important questions that need to be asked are the ones that continue to keep you from the Catholic Church. Let’s look at those if you still have some.

God bless,

Laurence Gonzaga