Jesuit Fr. Thomas J. Reese, former editor in chief of America, a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University in Washington, has done a deep dive into the Pew Forum’s U. S. Religious Landscape Survey to reveal that one out of every ten Americans is a former Catholic and that one out of three people who were raised Catholic no longer identifies as Catholic. Of those who have left the Catholic Church, half have become Protestant and half become unaffiliated with religion.
Why are Catholics leaving to affiliate with Protestant churches? Sadly, not because of doctrine:
The data shows that disagreement over specific doctrines is not the main reason Catholics become Protestants. We also have lots of survey data showing that many Catholics who stay disagree with specific church teachings. Despite what theologians and bishops think, doctrine is not that important either to those who become Protestant or to those who stay Catholic.
People are not becoming Protestants because they disagree with specific Catholic teachings; people are leaving because the church does not meet their spiritual needs and they find Protestant worship service better.
It seems the mitigating factor in the decision to move from Catholicism is feelings and not truth:
…those who are leaving the church for Protestant churches are more interested in spiritual nourishment than doctrinal issues. Tinkering with the wording of the creed at Mass is not going to help. No one except the Vatican and the bishops cares whether Jesus is “one in being” with the Father or “consubstantial” with the Father. That the hierarchy thinks this is important shows how out of it they are. While the hierarchy worries about literal translations of the Latin text, people are longing for liturgies that touch the heart and emotions. More creativity with the liturgy is needed, and that means more flexibility must be allowed. If you build it, they will come; if you do not, they will find it elsewhere.
Im 16 years old Irish i was baptised a catholic but i follow the Protestant religon there is some thing about it that i like but i cant point it out .one of the resons to why i self converted is that the local catholic Church priest was very disrespectful and was generally against anything and everything so for awhile i avoided church and over time i began to learn more about protestants and became intrested in the Denomination.
Any ex-Catholic out there who would like to engage in an ecumenical dialogue on any Catholic doctrine with charity and love for a fellow Christian, one subject at a time, be my guest. For a start if any of you would like to dialogue the Eucharist, let’s do it.
Give your personal email so we can dialogue better.
I would like to make A suggestion if you can geta Catholic to have a conversion experience in a Protestant setting the odds are very strong you will help him out of the bondage of popery. Most Protestant churches have dynamic youth programs, vibrant Wednesday and Sunday evening services, and friendly small-group bible studies. In addition, they host special crusades, seminars and concerts. At the invitation of a Protestant friend, a Catholic may begin attending one or more of these events while still going to Sunday Mass at his local parish.
Most Protestant services proclaim a simple gospel: repent from sin and follow Christ in faith. They stress the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus and the reward of eternal life. Most of the Catholics who attend these services are not accustomed to hearing such direct challenges to abandon sin and follow Christ. As a result, many Catholics experience a genuine conversion.
Studies show about five out of ten people adopt the beliefs of the denomination where they have their conversion. This percentage is even higher for those who had profound conversions or charismatic experiences that were provided by Protestants. Protestant pastors, evangelists, youth leaders, and lay ministers are acutely aware that conversion experiences in Protestant settings often lead to a Protestant faith and church membership. I know I was one!
I do think that ex roman Catholics like myself who are now protestants (15 Million of us in the United States alone) are more authentically protestant than many cradle Protestants because we searched for and found the truth like the reformers of the 16th century. I also think that the reasons and the principles of the Protestant Reformation have not been taught to many cradle Protestants in recent years perhaps in the name of Ecumenism which I think was a detraction by Rome to subvert again the truths of the glorious Protestant Reformation.
Roman Catholics are taught and I also believed that the Protestant Reformation was a rebellion solely against authority of the Roman magesterium and the pope. I left the Roman catholic church at first as a rebellion against papal authority and what I saw as abuse of that authority. However as I studied the Protestant Reformation and Protestantism I began to see another picture. I began to understand the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura and began to see that being Protestant was not just a protest but a stand for the truth of the Gospel alone and the authority of scripture alone. I now believe as a Presbyterian that we Protestants should dare not compromise the Gospel by sweeping the Reformation under the rug. The Gospel is too important.”
I have become a true Protestant in every way in recent years. It is also why I openly renounce Roman Catholicism as did the Reformers. It is why I openly renounce the pope of Rome as they did and why I now believe the Roman catholic church is an apostate church. It is why I openly declare my self a Reformed Protestant and I am thankful that by the amazing grace of God I am now a Presbyterian. I work to give testimony to the true Faith, the Reformed faith and the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“If a Roman Catholic was converted they would naturally move away from it’s teachings.” David I agree with you here also and it is exactly why I left ..at first as a rejection of the papacy….then I learned more and by the grace of God had “a true Protestant conversion” very much like John Calvin described of himself. The Romanists have a man made religion designed by the papacy for over 1500 years. It is a false Christian sect which distorts the true Gospel.
The Romanists have a man made religion designed by the papacy for over 1500 years. Those man made traditions I list below and also why I am no longer a Roman catholic but a Reformed Protestant. I hope others may read this and be guided out of the bondage of popery as I was.
Was the Protestant Reformation necessary? I believe so. The communication and purity of the Gospel was at stake. Amidst all the conciliation’s going on today, we need to keep this in mind: things have not changed that much.”
It is why I left the Roman catholic church and why I am now a Reformed Protestant. It is why I am now a Communing member of the Presbyterian church.
I left the Roman catholic church like the reformers did. I rejected the notion of the pope as head of the church and having some magical abilities above others. I rejected the notion of the roman catholic priesthood as did the reformers and their supposed magical ability to change a bread wafer and wine into the actual physical body and blood of Christ at the Roman catholic worship they call the mass .which denies Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary for all who place their faith in Him alone.
Don, I read the suggested readings you made on Determinism, Causality, Monergism, and Synergism.
I am more in line with a Calvinistic monergism theology. It is most mainline Protestant which is where I am theologically.
For your info:
It is through the authority the infallible Catholic Church whose members assembled and protected from error the canons of what is today known as the Bible which ALL Protestants are beneficiaries.
Dudley,
While I may understand your position, I disagree regarding the Roman Catholic Church. I believe in the payment made by Christ on the cross and submit to Him as Lord. Yet I attend a local catholic church. I consider you my brother just I would another catholic who believes and proclaims Christ as his Lord and Savior. Credo catholics who have grown up with the liturgical mass can often take it for granted. However, the gospel of Jesus is presented at every mass and recited during the Nicene Creed. Almost the entire mass is a prayer to our Father in heaven. Those with questions about the Roman church should check out Catholic.com. On that site, they have a forum where a person can pose questions to the staff. As Paul writes in 1 Cor 12, we are many parts but one body. To our Lord be the glory forever.
The Presbyterian Church USA voted on May 10 to allow the ordination of “gay and lesbian” ministers and lay leaders. The change to the denomination’s constitution was made last summer but had to be ratified by a majority of the 173 regional presbyteries. This happened when the Twin Cities presbytery meeting in Minneapolis became the 87th presbytery to approve the measure (“Presbyterian Church Votes,” Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2011).
Dudley,
Welcome to the family. Now a joint heir with our Savior.
Thank you for a kind reply.
May I recommend one of the best books on this subject. I have read and reread this 6 times now and always receive value from it.
~~~~”Chosen But Free” by Dr. Norman Geisler. ~~~ Dr. Geisler writes from a Reformed Theological position, (a Calvinist) as are most Presbyterians and he is also the President of Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina.
You will be the benefactor if you do.
I can say in similarity to King Agrippa, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Calvinist. Many Baptist are Calvinist, just not hyper Calvinist.
Here in is the primary distinction; The “Reformed” have done so out of the heresy of Rome, we Biblicists hold that there has always been a remnant that has not bowed the knee to Baal as the Catholic Church has and is still does. Our reforming is from original, and present sin in our selves. We believe we can recognize and ask God’s help and forgiveness in dealing with it. Interesting that their claimed Catholic father, Augustine, is the same one many Reformed fellas claim. Odd bedfellows.
I am not familiar with how far along you are in doctrine but let me suggest 4 that will aid you immensely once you have a grasp of them. Determinism, Causality, Monergism, and Synergism.
There is a great gulf between many Calvinist as witnessed between Spurgeon and Pink, or Shedd and Sproul. Do not be afraid to read all. Study to show thyself approved of God.
Lord bless you sir.
don
Don,
I also liked your story. The wonderful thing for me about being Protestant now is the Protestant doctrine of Justification and knowing I can not save myself….its Crists one time sacrifice on Calvary that saves me….as a catholic I was always working to gain salvation and never knew I was saved by placing faith in Him alone , the son of man.
There is one more thing we need to keep very clear about faith: it is not something worthy of merit that earns us justification. It is connects us with Christ’s righteousness, but does not earn us Christ’s righteousness. Faith is an act, but it is not a work. In other words, God doesn’t give justification because of any value in your faith–because your faith is a such a great thing that it deserves reward–but because it is how you are united to Christ.
Dudley
Dudley,
Good post. I have a similar story. I was a active member of the Redford Presbyterian Church in Redford Michigan (which was close to the Grand River, 5 mile and Lahser intersection.) and never heard how I was a sinner and that a provision for my sins was made for me through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Fortunately for me Gods grace lead me to be invited to a real gospel proclaiming, Christ exalting church where I was confronted with my sin nature, my sins personal and my lost condition. I thank God always for his wooing and leading and provision in having a Church that had a desire and burden for lost individuals such as myself. Unlike the “reformed” position I was told I had the personal responsibility and opportunity to accept the payment for my sin- sins., I found out I needed to turn from my wicked ways (repent) and follow Christ. Like King Agrippa, I resisted through pride for a season. I also have not been the poster child for Christ but He has been exactly what He offered and glory to God He “sealed me unto the day of redemption” Now through His love I am kept safe, corrected as needed through the Holy Spirit and forgiven as promised.
Furthermore, with all the changing of Bible words and the definitions thereof, and through many a new translation, it has never altered the greatest offer that “whosoever (one of those changed word definitions) shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” And, “whosoever will may come (will, personal…may- not forced) The offer is universal, the application is selective. I know this is contrary to the reformed position but it is what is written with the absence of redefined terms. All means all, not all the elect, whosoever means anyone. You see the difference is in the attributes of God. He is Sovereign, all knowing, all powerful, and all loving. To elevate His sovereignty above his benevolence contradicts His statements of of who he is. He states God is love, that attribute is qualified as His essence. How can he be all loving if in fact he choose some above others? How would that work with your children? Again the offer is universal but the application is selective through belief. In closing, if He commands all men everywhere to “repent” and they are not able to due to his choice what does that say to His justice.
I deliberately did not mention a specific church as salvation is of the Lord not a denomination, or theology. It is through Him and Him alone we are offered and can find peace with Him. I am a Christian through a relationship with Christ and a biblicists through conviction.
God bless you sir.
i
What more can I say/ Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.
I am an ex Roman catholic who by Gods grace was made one of the elect and am now a Reformed Protestant. I am now a Presbyterian ..but when I was disallusioned with the RCC in 2006 it was Protestant friends who reached out to me and invited me to attend Sunday service with them…from that point on the rest is a story of becoming aware of the true Gospel and eventually being born again and finally making my way to make an affirmation of faith as Presbyterian…I am now a avowed Protestant because my journey had me experience as did Calvin “a true Protestant conversion” I think only an ex Roman catholic who has converted to Protestant in this manner I describe can understand what I am saying.I now experience a Jesus that I never knew in the Catholic church.I have a personal relationship with Christ because we Presbyterians have a Christ centered Gospel.The Catholic has never really known a Christ centered Gospel…..I know I did not untill I became a Protestant and a Presbyterian…
I left the Roman Church because they were pushing left wing politics instead doing the mass, I found other objections after I left, Luther tried to work with Pope Leo on reform and got a death warrant for his efforts, had Leo listened to Luther you would have fewer denominations today, Leo did a great diservice to the body of Christ by rejecting the reasonable reforms asked by Luther
To say never might be exaggeration. But as I think about people who have left our church, doctrine was never the cause. Feelings dominate hands down. People want contemporary worship far more than sound doctrinally pure teaching or preaching. Mars Hill and Rob Bell prove that. In this climate we find critics of the unorthodox receive more vilification than the deviant does. We ignore catechesis and hire worship bands to please or be contemporary and relevant and where does it get us.
Sirs, what must I DO to be saved?
……… Join a church …… or Start A Band (Brad Paisley)
SURVEY SAYS: ~~~~~~~ “Believe” (on the LORD JESUS CHRIST)
Top rated answer!
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
“Good Day”