10 Common Catholic Stereotypes, Myths, and Misconceptions
There are lots of wrong ideas about the Catholic Church out there. Are you guilty of believing any of these 10 very common Catholic stereotypes, myths, or misconceptions?
Two years ago, I read a book that would change my perspective on Christianity forever: Surprised by Truth* by Patrick Madrid.
While it (and all of the research I did afterward) wasn’t enough to fully convert me to Catholicism, it did poke some pretty big holes in everything I was taught growing up as a Protestant, and it exposed lots of stereotypes about Catholics that I’d heard.
Things I was so sure of before — basic tenets of my faith — were suddenly glaringly wrong.
It was a pretty tumultuous time, as I reevaluated everything I’d believed my whole life. It was the start of something big, and it was the start of the series you’re reading now.
(You can read the whole series here, if you’re interested.)
Now, two years later, I’m still not fully convinced that Catholic Christianity has it all right. But I’m not convinced they don’t either.
What I do know is that much of what people believe about Catholics and the Catholic church simply isn’t true. Lots of what people “know” aren’t facts — they are Catholic stereotypes that don’t hold up when we dig just a big deeper.
And today, I’d like to set the record straight.
Are you guilty of believing any of these Catholic stereotypes and myths?
*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure statement for additional information.
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A Few Things to Keep in Mind Before We Begin…
1. This post is about official Catholic belief — not what Catholics do in the privacy of their own homes.
What a religion officially teaches and how the people put it into practice are two entirely different things. In this post, I want to replace Catholic stereotypes with accurate information. This post is only meant to talk about what Catholicism actually officially teaches — not what people actually do in the privacy of their own homes or in their local churches.
(There will always be individual people messing things up in every religion)
2. This post is just an introduction to Catholic stereotypes, myths, and misconceptions.
This post is not meant to be an exhaustive guide to everything the Catholic Church teaches and misconceptions about it. That’d be waaaaay too long for a single blog post! It’s simply an overview of 10 of the most common stereotypes about Catholics and their beliefs.
Please see the links below each point to read about each issue more in depth. There are some really great posts in the rest of this series, and they explain these Catholic myths in ways a simple paragraph or two cannot adequately cover.
Want to Explore Catholic Stereotypes in More Depth?
I have a free guide that will help you do just that!
“10 Common Catholic Church Myths that Critics Believe” contains all the Catholic stereotypes from this article so you can print them out, refer back to them, and share them with others.
Plus – it even includes 5 bonus myths not included in this article!
If you are looking for information to help you share with non-Catholic family members OR if you’re thinking about becoming Catholic but you still have some questions about Catholic misconceptions — this is a fantastic resource to have on hand.
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Alright, let’s dive in!
10 Common Catholic Stereotypes, Myths, and Misconceptions
Myth #1: Catholics Aren’t Christians
Actually, Catholics consider themselves to be the original Christians, who are doing their best to hold to the same beliefs and traditions that the church held to in the first century.
According to Catholics, Catholics and Protestants are all Christians, and both Catholics and Protestants can go to Heaven. The Protestant denominations are simply off-shoots of Catholicism (or of other denominations) that branched off over various disagreements about what the Catholic Church was teaching.
Whether Catholics have held fast to the right teachings throughout the ages or whether they veered off and the Protestant denominations got us back on track — that’s something I’m still trying to discover.
This is a big Catholic myth to kick off this post: Even though Catholic stereotype #1 says that Catholics aren’t Christians, the truth is that Catholics are doing their best to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ (and isn’t that one of the things that makes a Christian a Christian?).
Myth #2: The Catholic Church Abandoned the Bible for Man-Made Traditions
While the Catholic Church does have many traditions that aren’t explicitly found in the Bible, so does every church (and so do you, in your home). Traditions themselves aren’t bad. It’s only when we prioritize them over God himself or when they take us farther away from God instead of drawing us near that they cause problems.
One reason that the Catholic Church has so many traditions is that the first century apostles didn’t write down absolutely every single thing they taught. In fact, John 21:25 tells us,
“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
Catholics do their best to value and uphold both the written and oral teachings that were passed down from the apostles. Protestants look to the written teachings (the Bible) only.
The Catholic Church still highly prioritizes Scripture. It just isn’t their only source of information (and nowhere in the Scriptures does it tell us it should be).
Catholic stereotype #2 tells us that Catholics abandoned the Bible, but the truth is that Catholics use the Bible along with written and oral traditions.
For more on this topic, I’d highly recommend my post Who Has the Ultimate Authority? A Biblical Look at Sola Scriptura. You can also find the explanations for many common Catholic traditions in Why Do Catholics…? Honest Answers to Your Burning Questions.
Myth #3: Catholics Worship Mary / Saints / Statues
It’s easy to see how some Catholic stereotypes (like this one) got started, but again, it really is just another of many misconceptions about the Catholic Church.
Catholics do not worship Mary or statues; they worship God alone.
Instead, they “venerate” Mary, which, according to Google, is just a fancy word for “regard with great respect.” Similar to how we would show great honor or respect to a King or Queen, without actually worshiping them, Catholics hold Mary and other saints in high esteem as good examples of how to live a faithful life.
Yes, to Protestants, the practices definitely look like worship, and it’s easy to understand why this Catholic myth is still around. But since worship is an attitude of the heart, I don’t think you can “accidentally” worship someone and not know it. If Catholics’ hearts are in the right place — and they only want to show honor — then it’s not worship.
And it’s the same with statues as well. Catholics don’t worship statues. Instead, they are used as decorations to help Catholics remember people who have gone before, similar to how you might put pictures of your friends and family on your wall, or even a baseball card collection you may have had as a kid.
You look at them, you remember them, but you certainly don’t worship them.
They’re just decorations or teaching instruments meant to inspire faith.
Sure, Catholics might have statues and talk about saints who lived a long time ago. But contrary to Catholic stereotype #3, the truth is that Catholics honor Mary and other examples of faith (even with statues!) while saving their worship for God alone.
*For more information on this, don’t miss my post Do Catholics Worship Mary, Saints or Statues?
Myth #4: Catholics Believe People are Saved by Works
The Catholic Church does NOT teach that people are saved by their works. In fact, the catechism of the Catholic Church actually specifically forbids this notion.
Rather, the Catholic Churches basically teaches that, “If you call yourself a Christian, but you don’t act like it, maybe you’re not really a Christian after all.” Or, “Yes, God saves you through faith, but it’s a living faith that naturally produces good works.”
This Catholic teaching is actually 100% Biblical (here are plenty of Bible verses that support it), and is even taught by some highly respected Protestant/non-denominational pastors, including the most Godly man I’ve ever heard speak, Francis Chan.
This widespread Catholic stereotype #4 says that Catholics believe they can get to Heaven by earning it through good works. The truth is that Catholics see good works as the Spirit-inspired fruit of a heart saved by God’s grace alone.
*For a more in-depth look at this topic, please see my other posts Is Faith Alone Enough? and Are You a Christian? Are you Sure?
Myth #5: The Catholic Church Added Books to the Bible
The books that are currently in the Catholic Bible are the same books that the church has recognized as being in the Bible for centuries. It wasn’t until the 16th century that Martin Luther and the Reformers moved them to the appendix, before they were ultimately taken out.
(For the record, Martin Luther wanted to remove James, Hebrew, Jude and Revelations as well, but was unsuccessful. The books that he did remove are called Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, and Baruch.)
Whether or not the additional books should have been left in or taken out — I don’t know. I wasn’t there. Guess you have to ask yourself if the early church could have been wrong for 1700 years and the Reformers knew better than the earlier Christians did.
Either way, I’ve read through all these additional books, and there really isn’t much surprising in them. They read like pretty typical Old Testament books. There are a few verses about praying for the dead, but other than that, I don’t recall reading anything that stuck out as especially “Catholic.”
This Catholic stereotype #5 is a doozy because the truth is actually the opposite — one man decided to take out some books that had been in the Bible for over a thousand years.
*For more information, don’t miss my post on Martin Luther, the history of the Catholic Church, and the Bible books issue.
Myth #6: Catholic Priests Can’t Be Married
(Some) Priests are married! Some even have children and grandchildren. (This happens when a man is already married and a priest in a different denomination and then converts to Catholicism later.)
And of those who become priests the usual way and aren’t allowed to get married–not all of them even want to be. Priests know what they’re signing up for. No one is making them be a priest. They have a choice between God and a wife, and it is their choice to make. No one is forcing them to choose one or the other.
Catholic stereotype #6 is in fact the general rule — but the bigger truth is that the path of some Catholic priests does allow them to marry a woman. And those who don’t often consider themselves to be married to the church, the Bride of Christ.
*For more information, read my post on priests, the Pope and confession.
Myth #7: Catholics Recrucify Jesus at Mass
I haven’t heard this Catholic misconception in real life, but apparently it’s popular. Catholics do not re-crucify Jesus at Mass.
Instead, they believe that Jesus and the crucifixion occur outside the limits of time (because God can do cool stuff like that), and so when they celebrate Mass, they are only making the sacrifice (which has already occurred) “present” on the altar.
While Catholic stereotype #7 imagines Catholics as recrucifying Jesus at Mass, the truth is that Catholics believe they are making the eternal reality present in our non-eternal timeline at Mass.
*For a very interesting and in-depth look at the Eucharist, be sure to check out my post Is the Eucharist Really Just a Symbol? 5 Convincing Proofs that Say that It’s Not.
Myth #8: Catholics Believe Only Catholics Can Go to Heaven
While Catholics do believe their religion is the one true religion and the ordinary (most common) means of bringing people to salvation, it is a common Catholic misconception that they believe this is the only way. Instead, they recognize that God can use any means He wants to to bring people to Himself, including those other than the Catholic church, especially if the person has never had the opportunity or knowledge to join the church.
They believe that Protestants who have no reason to suspect their beliefs are incorrect can go to Heaven, as well as Protestants who were planning to convert before death but hadn’t done so yet.
Furthermore, Catholics do not believe you can say with 100% certainty who will go to Heaven (though you can have a good idea) simply because God is judge and we are not — and who are we to presume to know His thoughts?
Even though Catholic stereotype #8 imagines Catholics as very close-minded about the salvation of others, the truth is that Catholic teaching leaves lots of room for God’s grace to work in every single person’s salvation.
Myth #9: Catholic Priests are Child Molesters
Yes, the Catholic church has had huge and horrible scandals in which some priests were molesting children. This was absolutely awful and shameful, and they will have to stand before Jesus for what they did. That part is not one of the myths about the Catholic Church.
But if you look at the statistics, only a very small minority of priests were involved, and it isn’t really fair to blame the entire Church or dismiss the Church’s core teachings for what a few did. Scandals like this happen in EVERY church and in every city. That doesn’t make everyone guilty of the crimes of a few, and it does NOT mean that innocent Catholic priests deserve negative treatment today because of this stereotype.
It is heartbreaking that Catholic stereotype #9 does have some truth to it — some Catholic priests have molested children. But the truth is that the vast number of priests are men who serve God humbly and who shepherd their flock instead of harming the sheep.
*For more information, be sure to check out my series post on priests, the pope and confession.
Myth #10: The Catholic Church is Anti-Women
The church isn’t anti-anyone. They do believe birth control is morally wrong — the same thing every denomination believed until 1930. But when pretty much every other denomination began to change its mind, the Catholic church held its ground on this teaching. They continue to teach the same thing today, even when this gets interpreted as an “anti-woman” Catholic misconception.
The Catholic church also doesn’t allow women to be priests, which has upset many. But if you look at their rate of women in non-priest leadership positions, it is WAY higher than average. The Catholic church may not do things the “feminist” way, but they do hold women in very high esteem, even referring to them as the “crown of creation.” That’s pretty special if you ask me 🙂
So while Catholic stereotype #10 paints the Catholic church as an “anti-woman” institution, the truth is that many women are in leadership positions in the Catholic church, and the Catholic church holds women in very high regard.
Like I said earlier, the intent of this post is ONLY to dispel a few stereotypes about Catholics so that, going forward, your thoughts and opinions aren’t swayed by misinformation. I’m not trying to convert or persuade, just to present you with some information about Protestant and Catholic beliefs so YOU can make an informed decision of your own. 🙂
Ready for more? You can read through the rest of the posts in this Catholic vs Protestant series here OR see what I ended up deciding in my latest Catholic update post here.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on these Catholic stereotypes and myths, or others you’ve heard! Leave me a note (or a book 🙂 ) in the comments section below!
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Ready for More?
Honestly, these 10 stereotypes are just the start. Download the print version to get a handy guide you can refer to later or share with others AND get 5 bonus Catholic myths that aren’t included in this article!
I’m trying to find the words to express what I’m thinking about this article, and it’s not easy. I was raised Catholic, and I never understood everything that was being “taught”. I think the more appropriate word is indoctrinated. Where is it written that the Pope is infalliable? Why would Jesus even consider becoming a sacrafice for man’s sins AGAIN after HE died 2000 years ago to do just that. The mere suggestion is blashpmey. Oh who said that Catholics do not worship Mary or pray to the Saints? Explain the various “Feast Days” and how about making Novenas??? And while we’re on the subject of the Bible–What’s wrong with the original 66 Books??–YES the Catholic did add at least 12 Books to Scripture–Just who is Tobit or Sirach? Sounds more like someone who should be in a Sci-Fi flick. I could go on and on, but these are just a few of my thoughts—And I did it all without Coffee!!
Would be interested in your reply–If you have one that is!
lol on “did it all without coffee!” Impressive 🙂
To understand where I am coming from, you should know my background as well. I am not Catholic, was not raised Catholic, never attended Catholic school and have been attending Mass less than a year (and I still don’t know what happens at it because I have two very little ones who keep me from paying attention! lol) I am not sharing what I was “indoctrinated” to believe, or sharing what I’ve always been taught. I’m not even trying to convince people one way or the other. What happened was I raised Baptist, married into a Catholic family, realized that much of what I was taught was unscriptural, and am now on a search for the truth, trying to be as unbiased as possible and using the Bible and history as my sources.
To begin to answer your questions:
*Yes, there is Scriptural basis for the Pope’s infallibility, and we will cover that February 25th.
*Catholics do NOT recrucify Jesus (as I stated in the myths), and you can find out more about the Eucharist in my latest post series Is the Eucharist Really Just a Symbol?. I really hope you’ll read it–lots of food for thought!
*We will discuss Mary and the Saints more in depth on March 4th, but for now I will assure you they are NOT meant to be worshiped. Saints days are just a day of remembrance, like a “birthday” — the day you celebrate your existence, but you certainly aren’t worshiped.
*The extra books were not added in, but rather taken out. We will discuss this on February 18th.
This post was not to answer every question. (This whole SERIES isn’t meant to answer EVERY question) Just to remove a few difficulties before we proceed with each of the topics more in depth. I hope you’ll check back for the thorough answers in their time. You can find a list of all of them on the Letting God Lead: My Journey Through Protestant and Catholic Belief Series Main Page. Hope that helps at least a little!
i have never seen a Catholic married priest. Do they really exist?
lol. I’ve never seen one myself either. But then I’ve never met the president either 🙂 I believe they have to be married first, and then become a priest later. And it’s only in some parts of Catholicism? I’m sketchy on the details. lol
They are common in the Eastern part of Catholics and also all Orthodox.
They have to be married first, even before they become deacons. Actually there are a few in the USA (mostly convert ministers from Protestant areas; Anglican, Lutheran, etc.
There was ONE exception to that rule that I know of, and I mentioned this in another comment (buried within all) that one married priest was ‘allowed’ under a very special dispensation from the pope to marry again. This was because he had many children who were very young when his wife died. Never heard of any other case.
In those eastern parts, those that go into the monastery are consecrated into a life of celibacy and can become priests, and the bishops are chosen from amidst this group.
We must understand that the full celibate mode of the Latin Rite is a ‘disciplinary’ and not ‘doctrinal’ law. The Church could change it at anytime to be more like its eastern counterpart, but chooses the higher calling to imitate Jesus and St Paul’s calling into a celibate life serving the people of God.
Look up Fr. Dwight Longenecker. He is one of them and is a very active and excellent Catholic writer on current events.
Thanks for the clarification!
Should have given his blog, instead of the Facebook. Ooops.
Here it is:
http://dwightlongenecker.com/
Yep. Eastern Rite priests are married.
These are married men who are ordained to the priesthood.
Eastern Rite monks are celibate, and their bishops are chosen mainly from among monks.
If an Eastern Rite priest’s wife should die, however, then he is returned to the celibate state and is not permitted to remarry.
The same is true of Latin Rite Catholic permanent deacons: they are married men who are ordained to the diaconate. If their wives should die, they cannot remarry.
So both Eastern and Western Rite Catholics respect celibacy. It’s just that the emphasis is different.
I also second Fr. Dwight Longenecker’s writings!
I know one who converted to Anglican because he wanted to marry a Catholic girl. He then could go back and convert to Catholicism again. Her mother refused to attend the ceremony.
That’s awkward… lol.
Yes, they do exist. Only the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church forbids married men from the priesthood. The other 20+ rites of the Catholic Church do allow married men to become priest. In all of the rites a priest many not get married.
I love this post. Looking forward to seeing more from you. I have to say that I am a Catholic. I teach PSR. I teach second grade. This is when the kids are prepared for First Communion. I love teaching them how to pray and what we believe. One of my kids actually asked me if we worship Mary. I had to explain to him what we do. I told them that we love Mary like our mother. That Jesus gave us her as a example of how we are to live. And I told them that we don’t worship her. But we are supposed to follow her example. We say the Hail Mary like we call a friend and ask them to be there for us. Pope John Paul II wrote a amazing paper on the Rosary and why we pray it. And how it brings us closer to Jesus and God and a relationship with him. God bless you and your family. And keep up the wonderful posts.
Those are great analogies. Thanks for sharing 🙂
So this whole idea of Mary somehow achieving sinless status begs the questions: Why would God put this sinless girl into the ‘dirty’ vessel of her mother Ann’s womb? I really didn’t like the word dirty used here, as I don’t believe a virgin’s womb can be dirty, but it was a word used in a comment above as relating to Jesus in Mary’s womb. Also, building on that, if Mary was sinless, why wouldn’t God just use her as the sinless ransom lamb who could atone for the whole world?
That I have no idea. I personally am not convinced that Mary was sinless, although if she were, it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. God is certainly capable. Whether or not He chose to do that — I don’t know. But I don’t see how it really makes a huge difference either way so I’m not worried about it.
But Catholics pray to Mary and the saints and that is not in the Bible. I also have a huge problem with the whole burying of st joseph and demanding his ransom with a sold house.
Actually, praying to Saints IS in the Bible. We’ll dive into that topic more in depth on March 4th. And as for the burying of St. Joseph–it’s okay to have a problem with that. It’s not official church teaching; it’s an old wives tale–no basis in church teaching. Don’t worry 🙂
The burying a St Joseph statue is not an authentic Catholic practice it is a superstition and should be avoided at all costs. There are more proper ways to enlist St. Joseph’s intercession.
Thanks for the official word on the matter!
Thanks for that, Father– wholeheartedly agreed.
I’m Catholic, too, and that sort of thing gets on my nerves, not least because it makes the faith that I love and that I had to rediscover look stupid, for dumbing down its integrity and profundity.
Simply because one is raised Catholic, went to Catholic school, and “ticks all the right Catholic boxes” doesn’t mean that one is authentically Catholic– one is only authentically a Catholic when one chooses to be and keeps consistently choosing to be. Catholics also understand that conversion is ongoing, and that God is a God of second chances.
There’s nothing wrong with praying to St. Joseph, of course, to help sell your house and whatever else, but even when Catholics pray for something, we reality check it with “in Jesus’s name” or “only according to Your Will, O Lord.” In asking a saint to help us, we also learn to love God as He is, just as every saint does. We pray not just when we want something, but so we learn to love God above all things and seek Him only.
I was cradle Catholic and now at the ripe ole age of 50, I am beginning to fully understand my faith. If everyone was as open minded and prudent as you, this world would be a better place. You are spot on here and I look forward to your future post.
Upon my marriage 21 years ago, my wife joined the Catholic church only to return to the Protestant faith several years later. We both love Christ and I pray for us to be in the Catholic faith together once again. I used the religion split, as an opportunity to challenge and push myself to understand my faith. I feel responsible because in the beginning I was not faithful Catholic. Just going to church on Sunday’s and Holy Days does not make a true Catholic, nor will you reap the fullness and glory that can be bestowed upon you when you emerse yourself in the faith of the Catholic church.
God has used me in many ways since opening my eyes and heart. I am very sad when Protestants and Catholics degrade one another. We are truly brothers and sisters in the same church, I wish more people could understand this.
On one more side note….I do not miss Mass (even try to go daily now) but I often join my wife and in-laws at their protestant faith celebrations. I enjoy watching and participating in their style of worship. However the Beauty of the Catholic faith has me forever.
Needless to say I am a much better example today than I was the first 10 years of our marriage.
Was there a reason she went back? And that’s incredible that you go to Mass that often!
My wife grew up Cumberland Presbyterian and is a 3rd grade school teacher
and cheer leading coach by trade. Her childhood experience in the church
was awesome for her. Our children used to go to both churches for a
while, then solely the Catholic church. Children’s classes at the Catholic
church were much more classroom style (NOT FUN) as they would say. This
was too much for my wife as she always loved going to Sunday school and it
was tearing at her heart when our kids were not enthusiastic to go to
Catholic children’s formation.
She is diligent in her assessment and thought, and upon myself prayerfully
considering the situation seeing her in turmoil was too much. I told her
that her walk with Christ was more important than anything and that she
needed to do whatever she needed to keep her fire for Christ burning.
Well…….I got what I was afraid of, but you know what happened to me
upon her leaving……soooooooo.
This is a story that is far from over. My wife and I have a very vibrant
and wonderful walk. We eat breakfast every morning together and usually do
a devotional of some sort. 90% of our conversation these days is about our
formation or our children’s formation, which by the way 2 are protestant
and the youngest is Catholic with me, sounds crazy doesn’t it?
Not that crazy. 🙂 And I completely understand. It breaks my heart to see my kids not love church. Sitting through Mass is NOT the same as going to Sunday School. Especially right after we switched churches and my son didn’t know why. (We didn’t want to get into all the ins and outs of theology with someone not even in school yet)
Myth #2 – I like the article but the author clearly does not understand Tradition. The Word of God was given to the Catholic Church in two forms: Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. Holy Tradition is equal to Holy Scripture. I highly suggest that the author and others read the wonderful book Tradition and the Church by Rev. Msgr. George Agius (see link below). A regular traditions (t) can be changed. However, Holy Tradition is dogma and is guarded by the Holy Spirit, thus Holy Tradition cannot be changed, even by a Pope.
Well then. Thanks for such an uplifting and edifying comment… I actually did know this, but my point with this series (and especially this post in particular) is not to present every piece of information, but simply to share some of the things I have been learning as a non-Catholic searching for the truth. This post simply serves to dispel a few misconceptions and provide a teaser for several much more in-depth articles I am currently working on sharing over the following couple of months. The post on Traditions is scheduled for March 25, and I’ll talk much more in-depth about it then.
Myth k#6 – For the last 2,000 years there has always been married Catholic priest. Only the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church forbids married men from the priesthood. In all rites of the Catholic Church a priest may not get married after being ordained.
Hey, just wanted to add that in regards to Myth #6, about married priests — don’t forget that there are married priests in the Eastern Rites of Catholicism. Actually, the discipline of celibacy has been “mandated” only in the Roman/Latin rite of the Church.
And in terms of #9, priests as child molesters, the largest percentage of clerical pedophiles are among the Baptist (married) ministers. But I won’t dig out the dirt — the same points you brought up about Catholic priests can apply to Protestant ministers, as sadly there are weeds among the wheat but we cannot generalize that all priests or ministers are bad just because some are.
Agreed!
Actually, Tim, Eastern Rite Catholicism respects celibacy, too: Eastern Rite monks are celibate (and their bishops are chosen mostly from among them).
So both Rites of the Catholic Church respect the discipline of celibacy, only that the emphasis is a little different in each.
Furthermore, Latin Rite Catholicism does have married clergy: permanent deacons.
The rule for married clergy in both Rites are similar, if not the same: what happens is that a married man is ordained; a man, once ordained, may not marry (former Protestant ministers who are married who are permitted to be ordained Catholic priests are allowed a dispensation under those rubrics). A married man, ordained to the priesthood or permanent diaconate, whose wife dies cannot remarry, and is returned to the celibate state.
Indeed, you are correct about the Eastern Rites’ respect of celibacy — I never denied that. However, you are mistaken about married Latin Rite priests — they exist. They are exceptions but many who were married clergy from Anglicanism, Presbyterianism and even Lutheranism have been ordained Latin Rite Catholic priests. Try to look it up online.
I am a cradle Catholic, but come from a family that converted to the Catholic faith approximately 45 years ago. My grandmother, the matriarch of the family, was raised in the Pentecostal and Holiness traditions, which are very far from Catholicism, but out of an intense conversion and love for Jesus she asked Him the scary question for not only Protestants but even some Catholics “Lord, what is Your true Church?” He replied with the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Keep in mind that my grandmother came from a town and currently lived in rural Alabama where 0 Catholics could be found. She had only heard about the Catholic Church at tent revivals and how the Church was the “Whore of Babylon” mentioned in Revelations. She was utterly horrified at Jesus’ answer, and said “No, Lord I cannot join the Catholic Church!” She recounts feeling His sweet Holy Spirit being lifted out of her, and she begged to have it replaced. She only felt the presence of God again when she agreed to become Catholic. She contacted a priest in a town about 20 miles away and attended her very first Mass the next Sunday; this happened before Vatican II. The chanting, the incense, the whole Mass made no sense to her and she was completely horrified…yet again. Upon leaving the church the priest asked her what she thought about the Mass, and she told him that she did not feel Jesus at all. The priest chimed back with “Next time bring Him with you.” My grandmother was steaming and instead of staying away from the Church she started instruction and as she study and broken open God’s Holy Word she found many of our traditions to be rooted in scripture and her heart was turned. She made a complete transformation. She is old now, and lives the life of a dedicated lay person; offering up her prayers for the community and the good of the whole Church. To this day she will tell you that after she came to full realization of what took place at the Holy Mass, and to the full realization of what the Church truly teaches she knows that Jesus’ true Church is the Holy Roman Catholic Church. God Bless you on your journey as you proceed through this. May the Peace of our Risen Lord and the prayers of His virgin Mother be with you.
I can completely understand her trepidation. I wasn’t raised to believe the Catholic Church was the “whore of Babylon,” but all of the traditions do seem pretty strange to a newcomer!
My girlfriend of four years has gone to Mass countless times with me. We go together pretty much every Saturday evening at the Vigil Mass and she still has no idea what’s going on. I’ve never really explained much other than the real presence and why she can’t receive Holy Communion, but other than that I’ll admit I’ve been pretty lax. Maybe by following this series I’ll be able to help explain more from an outsiders point of view. Again thank you for your work.
Hopefully we’ll ALL be able to understand and explain things a little better after reading this series! Why don’t you invite her to read it along with you too, and then you can discuss? 🙂
I am trying to imagine the look on your grandmother’s face upon the revelation she received. Must have been an interesting one. Sweet story, Preston.
Excellent work on this! I am Catholic, and studying for a master’s level catechist certificate through my diocese, and I am VERY impressed! Here’s some trivia on #6: the biological father of one of the priests assigned to my parish is a priest as well. Here’s what happened: when the son was studying in seminary prior to ordination, his father was widowed. While the son finished his studies, the father felt a call, so he prayed and discerned…and after the son was ordained and established and would no longer be in need of the more intensive support we recieve from our parents before we hit adulthood, off his father went to the seminary too! So, you’re right – it can happen!
Again, excellent work! I will look forward to reading your future articles!
So they do exist! lol. and thanks, Katherine!