are conversions common?

[jezic]

i was just wondering if they were common.

Around here in ND, there are not a whole lot of people that would convert even if they didn't believe what they heard at their sunday services.

Is this the same everywhere?

[sweetpea316]

Umm, from what I know of, it's not real common either...

[theculturewarrior]

Last year, at Easter Vigil, 150,000 people converted to Catholicism. This data is a available from the USCCB.

While it may not look like the Catholic Church is growing in the United States, it is spreading like wild fire in the Third World, and among the "intellectual" elites, especially religious leaders.

[Brother Adam]

Yes, the Church is growing, slowly, in the US. But that is a good thing. Slow means that we aren't 'people' pleasers and it takes some convincing to get people to follow Jesus Christ in the US - we aren't promoting a 'fun' life, and people in the US are wealthy - they don't need God, at least feel the need to follow God as He asks us to.

People in third world countires suffer like we don't. They recognize Christ through the suffering He lived and are more likely to convert.

[Fides_et_Ratio]

My parish welcomes in 10-20 converts at Easter in my experience these past 4 years... I was quite surprised. Granted, only a handful are serious converts and not just converting to marry a spouse... but the grace and the opportunity are there for them all.

[jezic]

i just hope the number increases. There are a lot of protestants dieing to know the real truth.

I just wish they could see it .....

[SRMartin15]

Jezic, im one of those protestants haha.

I was brought up protestant but family never really attended church now I have found Christ and i am ready to make him part of my daily life and what he teaches.

Im speaking to father this sunday and im going to talk to him about starting the process of converting to Catholicism. I am eager to begin my journey toward christ.

Well that was my story in a nutshell, God bless

Sean

[cmotherofpirl]

We have so many converts in our diocese the bishop does the rite of election two Sundays in a row, just to fit all the people in the cathedral.

[sweetpea316]

Wow! That is awesome. :hearts:

[theculturewarrior]

I went to a theological conference, and the speaker asked for a show of hands to see how many of us were Protestant, Orthodox, and Catholic. It was about a third for each. Then he asked us how many of us were converts. Practically everybody raised their hands.

[Didacus]

After reading this thread my questioin is: And what about people leaving the church? Is this common, does it balance out people coming to the church?

[theculturewarrior]

You have to consider that a large number revert, but I don't have stats on that. (The seal of the confessional).

[homeschoolmom]

I think there are two groups of leave-ers... those that leave for nothing (Ie cradle Catholics who just don't go to mass, but still consider themselves Catholics) and those who leave for somewhere else (generally becoming Protestants). Sadly, I've met a LOT of the latter. I think they are less likely to come back. The former group, however, I think many of them do. I don't know any of that kind, though so....


[quote]Then he asked us how many of us were converts. Practically everybody raised their hands.  [/quote]

Whoa... fruit basket upset!

[SRMartin15]

Ill let you guys know how many Convert at my church this coming Easter because i will be part of them , cant wait for that day

God Bless

Sean

[argent_paladin]

I think there are probably about the same number of people leaving the Catholic church in any given year as entering (not including deaths/births). However, the quality of each group, in my opinion, is radically different. Many protestants who convert to Catholicism are very well-read, strong in their prayer life, and active in their churches. And they bring the fire with them when the enter the Church. One need only go to an apologetics conference or hear conversions stories to know this. But those who leave the Church for protestant churches are usually those who don't go to mass or agree with the teachings of the Church anyway. There are many protestant pastors who convert to Catholicism, but very, very few Catholic priests.
So, I think we get the better end of the trade. We get the educated, intelligent, ferverent ones and they get the lethargic dissenters.

[jezic]

that sounds like something that happens.

Though i wish the people that were leaving would stay and find out what they are running away from.

[Didacus]

[quote name='argent_paladin' date='Jul 26 2005, 02:18 AM'][snip]
So, I think we get the better end of the trade. We get the educated, intelligent, ferverent ones and they get the lethargic dissenters.
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I would take that trade any day, even if give up 2:1 or worse!

my mother always said, and I only understood fairly recently why she was so adamnet in saying so, "Those cAhtolics who persists in criticising the papacy and the teachings of the church should just get over it and become protestant."

As i get older, I tend to agree... they seem to be nothing more than disruptive influences and protestants in Catholic clothing.

[theculturewarrior]

I pray that God recall to the unity of the Church all who are straying, with confidence that all roads lead to Rome. If not, we wouldn't be here.

[quote name='Didacus' date='Jul 26 2005, 10:57 AM']I would take that trade any day, even if give up 2:1 or worse!

my mother always said, and I only understood fairly recently why she was so adamnet in saying so, "Those cAhtolics who persists in criticising the papacy and the teachings of the church should just get over it and become protestant."

As i get older, I tend to agree... they seem to be nothing more than disruptive influences and protestants in Catholic clothing.
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