dairygirl4u2c Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 (edited) Thought I could let you guy's comment. A letter from a former seminarian: A little about me. I was brought up in a Roman Catholic family in Ireland. My parents taught me to live a good life, say my prayers and attend mass every Sunday. I believed in God but I didn’t know Him personally. Conscious of my sinfulness, I hoped that God would accept me into Heaven if I did enough good to others. It was like balancing the accounts, hoping that my credits (good deeds) would cancel my debits (my sins). Even worse, one wrong sin and I would be in hell forever. I tried to live the best life and do my best to please God. I decided to become a Roman Catholic priest when I was eleven years of age. The desire to be right with Him became the focus of my life. I knew I was a sinner and that I needed to be saved from my sin. I wanted to know His forgiveness, but how? Training for the Priesthood After checking different religious organizations, I finally decided to join the Society of Missions to Africa (SMA). They live together in small communities in different parts of the world converting pagans to the Roman religion. I entered the Roman Catholic Seminary to train for the priesthood. During my two-year stay in the seminary, I learned much about religion but there was nothing to ease my guilty conscience. I attended mass daily and heard many homilies that were focused on pleasing God by doing good works and for us to use psychology to help people. Not once did I hear how to be forgiven! I asked serious questions to the priests but they could not show me a rationale basis for much of the religious rituals in the Roman Catholic religion. I was also told that I had to go to confession to a priest to be forgiven. I would be set for a few weeks until the guilt and worry came back. I was not truly forgiven. Eventually I left the Roman religion. Yet at that time I still did not know forgiveness of my sins. When I came to London I met a man who told me how to know God and how to be forgiven for my sinful nature. He gave me a leaflet that emphasized the need to trust in Jesus Christ alone. I read this leaflet many times yet I did not find peace with God. I began studying as a nurse and met some students who seemed to really know God. I attended their church, Trinity Road Chapel, in London. I was impressed by the way they prayed because it was evident that they knew God in a personal and intimate way. I had never heard anything like it. I knew deep down that these people were genuine Christians. I asked many questions and began to attend church services regularly. My Conversion I was listening to a Sunday service on Radio 4 one morning. The sermon was about the Good Samaritan. The preacher spoke of Jesus Christ as the Good Samaritan, who comes to save us in our wretched sinful state. The preacher urged the listeners to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sin. Right there and then I knelt down in my room and prayed, “O God, I know that you have sent your Son Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners. Will you save me? I trust in Christ alone and ask that you would come into my life by the power of your Holy Spirit and make me new.” As soon as I opened my eyes a deep sense of peace came over me. At that moment I knew that I was a Christian and truly forgiven. I was baptised at Trinity Road Chapel in London in September 1998. After my baptism I struggled with temptations and trials, but the Lord was my constant refuge and my fellowship with Him blossomed. I would do not care to argue the semantics of whether or not I am "saved". That depends on how you define the word. But I do know now that I am saved in that I am forgiven and the peace of God fills my heart, and I enjoy the fellowship of many Christian brothers and sisters. I am especially thankful to one man from our church who helped me study the Bible over a two-year period, teaching me about the Lord and his glorious work in creation and salvation for the forgiveness of sins once and for all through the cross of Jesus. On my first visit to Ireland, I did not know of any Christian church, so I went to Mass with my parents. I realised that the priest each and every week begged God to forgive the people of their sins. I left the Roman church for good. I pray that many Roman Catholics would pray to the Lord to lead them to the truth. The Lord promises that those who seek Him with all their hearts will find Him. My friend, if you want to know how to be freed from the guilt of your sins and be truly forgiven, I encourage you to turn to Jesus Christ by faith. Trust in Him alone! Please do not delay another moment! Seek Him with all your heart, and you will find Him and be forgiven, just as He promised. Edited February 16, 2004 by dairygirl4u2c
Theologian in Training Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 That man, is a poorly taught and catechized Catholic. Since, from the sound of it, he entered during the pendulum swing to the left after Vatican II, he was only affirmed through psycho-spiritual babble and began to see the sacrament of confession not as a means of grace, but rather as a means of feeling better. It is no wonder he left, he clearly did not know the love of God, and was so consumed with his own unworthiness and sin, that he failed to see the bigger picture. My question is, why didn't he read his bible when he was a seminarian? Didn't he have biblical exegesis? I am sorry but it seems that since this man was so racked with guilt, and could not fathom a God who could forgive him, he left the full for the half. Pray for him..and all seminarians God Bless
phatcatholic Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 how do these people go thru the seminary and become priests and are STILL so unaware of what Catholicism really teaches? testimonies like this freakin amaze me. every time i read one of these i see how the author was blatantly ignorant of Catholic teaching. Conscious of my sinfulness, I hoped that God would accept me into Heaven if I did enough good to others. It was like balancing the accounts, hoping that my credits (good deeds) would cancel my debits (my sins). NOT orthodox catholicism Even worse, one wrong sin and I would be in hell forever. NOT orthodox catholicism I learned much about religion but there was nothing to ease my guilty conscience. are you serious!?!? heard many homilies that were focused on pleasing God by doing good works and for us to use psychology to help people. Not once did I hear how to be forgiven! NOT orthodox catholicism I asked serious questions to the priests but they could not show me a rationale basis for much of the religious rituals in the Roman Catholic religion. that does not mean that the "rationale basis for much of the religious rituals" does not exist! who was this guy hangin out w/ anyway? I would be set for a few weeks until the guilt and worry came back. I was not truly forgiven. NOT orthodox catholicism. btw, that revolving door effect is his problem, not the Church's and of course, his ignorance of Catholicism contributes greatly to the rest of his blabbering. sorry, this testimonies really get to me. pax christi, phatcatholic
jmjtina Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 It's a website dedicated to "saving Catholics". they believe in Sola Scriptura. Everything they are saying, believe is not even true. No wonder this guy (and the site) is kinda off......no way off. justforcatholics.org http://www.justforcatholics.org/test05.htm I'll pray for him and the site.
Oik Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 I don't really beieve that this "testimony" is authentic. Hello, what happened to confession, if this guy was really catholic, he'd have known about it.
Dave Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 To add to what's already been said . . . These ex-Catholics who say they never knew God personally while in the Catholic Church fail to see that that's their own fault and not the Church's!
cmotherofpirl Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 (edited) How sad. Another person who never actually paid attention. I always love it when they tell Catholics to read the bible. What do they think we hear at every single Mass every single Sunday. Edited February 16, 2004 by cmotherofpirl
jmjtina Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 the guy who has the "testimony" is Gearoid Marley http://www.justforcatholics.org/test05.htm
Laudate_Dominum Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 (edited) What tiresome heresy. These kind of testimonies are almost meaningless to me. I've met protestants with stories like this and the people are almost always totally ignorant of Catholicism. Heck, I have a sister who is protestant and has a story like this. Since I grew up with her I know it's b.s. She was never catechised, neither of us new beans about Catholicism, we went to Mass because our mom made us go, we didn't know or care anything about it. Then she stopped going entirely and had no religion at all for years, eventually she was evangelized by prots and joined their church and now has a conversion from Catholicism story. Oh please! And I've met plenty of ignorant, lukewarm protestants in my day. I've met baptists who don't know beans about their religion or the Bible. I couldn't even begin to count the number of protestant I've met who basically live secular lives. Dudes who do drugs, look at porn and live with their girlfriend but are "saved" so they don't worry about it. I don't think these kind of stories prove anything, they are cheap little pot shots against the Church. I have no respect for organizations that slang these "testimonies" for the sake of smearing the Church. Edited February 16, 2004 by Laudate_Dominum
Jake Huether Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 I honestly thought I was reading the autobiography of Luther...
Laudate_Dominum Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 I honestly thought I was reading the autobiography of Luther... LOL!
Oik Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 I think my last post was curt, I'm sorry for that. I did check out the website and it is unfortunate that this man could not see the Truth, but reather was pulled into lies. As a matter of fact, his whole site is dedicated to "saving" Catholics. I'll say, the most fallacious of all is his dissention. He claims to know the Truth. The problem is that he is a "bible-believing, evangelical," using HIS OWN authority to judge what is right and wrong. Best thing is to pray for people that attack the Truth.
PedroX Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 Did anyone else get the impression that English was not his first language? Also, what's with the Society for Missions to Africa? Anybody have info on them? peace...
Ellenita Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 The Society of African Missions runs the church I go to, they appoint the priest though he is answerable to the Bishop of the diocese. It was established because there was a growing African community living in the local area. The church draws people from all cultural backgrounds and is a vibrant community. The priest is a Dominican, and he is wonderful; a most gracious, gentle teacher - I feel very privileged doing RCIA classes with him and, I might add, I'm getting a very good grounding in orthodox teaching!
Silverbug Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 Wow--it never ceases to amaze me. No matter how many people were raised Catholic, and then leave the church, the replies are the same. "testimonies like this freakin amaze me. every time i read one of these i see how the author was blatantly ignorant of Catholic teaching."-Phatcatholic "they believe in Sola Scriptura. Everything they are saying, believe is not even true. No wonder this guy (and the site) is kinda off......no way off. "-jmjtina "I don't really beieve that this "testimony" is authentic."-oik "These ex-Catholics who say they never knew God personally while in the Catholic Church fail to see that that's their own fault and not the Church's! "-Dave "How sad. Another person who never actually paid attention"'-cmotherofpirl "the people are almost always totally ignorant of Catholicism"-Laudate_Dominum If this same guy had posted the opposite testimony, and he had"found the light" that the Catholic Church was the true church, everyone would be praising his name. But suddenly, when he turns away, then he had NO CLUE what he was talking about in the first place. The amount of catholics testimonies i have seen about them coming out of the Catholic Church, you guys must be the only "enlightened ones" that understand what the "real" meaning of the Catholic faith is. I find it hard to believe that so many are so quick to judge, and demean, and disregard someone. I have read, on many different message boards, and websites, MANY people from all walks of life, all areas of the country, with the same story about turning from the church--but then all of them must not have known what their religion really was, or fully understood it.
Dave Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 Well, Silverbug, you may not like hearing that those who leave the Church often do so because they're ignorant, but it's true! They may never have cracked open of Bible, or their parents may not have been good examples of living the faith. These people become easy prey for non-Catholics, and when they hear that Catholics worship Mary, that they worship the Pope, that they believe they have to work their way to heaven, that they think they're resacrificing Christ each day in the Mass, and lots of other false ideas, they fall for them hook, line, and sinker! None of what we've said is judgmental; it's just the truth, and the truth hurts. Also, judging from what you've said, Silverbug, I'm getting the impression that you're an ex-Catholic. Is that impression correct or not?
Laudate_Dominum Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 Wow--it never ceases to amaze me. No matter how many people were raised Catholic, and then leave the church, the replies are the same. "testimonies like this freakin amaze me. every time i read one of these i see how the author was blatantly ignorant of Catholic teaching."-Phatcatholic "they believe in Sola Scriptura. Everything they are saying, believe is not even true. No wonder this guy (and the site) is kinda off......no way off. "-jmjtina "I don't really beieve that this "testimony" is authentic."-oik "These ex-Catholics who say they never knew God personally while in the Catholic Church fail to see that that's their own fault and not the Church's! "-Dave "How sad. Another person who never actually paid attention"'-cmotherofpirl "the people are almost always totally ignorant of Catholicism"-Laudate_Dominum If this same guy had posted the opposite testimony, and he had"found the light" that the Catholic Church was the true church, everyone would be praising his name. But suddenly, when he turns away, then he had NO CLUE what he was talking about in the first place. The amount of catholics testimonies i have seen about them coming out of the Catholic Church, you guys must be the only "enlightened ones" that understand what the "real" meaning of the Catholic faith is. I find it hard to believe that so many are so quick to judge, and demean, and disregard someone. I have read, on many different message boards, and websites, MANY people from all walks of life, all areas of the country, with the same story about turning from the church--but then all of them must not have known what their religion really was, or fully understood it. Well, considering the vast majority of these "testimonies" I've ever come accross do not authentically represent Catholicism I'd say these are valid reactions. In case you aren't aware there has been a mass exodus of protestants into the Catholic Church going on for quite some time. I know of hundreds of highly trained, knowledgable former protestant ministers. I know of ministers who have converted with their whole congregation etc.. And if you read the majority of these testimonies you will notice a huge differece. These are not derrogatory, inflammatory and ignorant slams against protestantism, but the testimony of honest, truth-seeking individuals who were led by God and by reason to the Catholic Church and were not rejected protestantism out of resentment or any other emotional reasons or reasons of ignorance. Quite the contrary, most of the ministers resisted this conversion as much as possible because it was a huge sacrifice and cost much persecution for them to become Catholic. It's annoying and painful to read testimony after testimony of people who were never living the Faith acting as if they know all about it. If someone is truly living the Catholic spiritual life and liturgical life they would never be satisfied with protestantism.
Sammy Blaze Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 Hello SIlverbug!! May the peace and love of Christ be with you brother, or sister. I hope you stick around here at phatmass and learn about Catholic beliefs as well as beliefs from many educated protestants that post here, so as you won't make judgements based on first impressions as well. You'll find many conversions stories here as well, from protestantism to Catholicism. I have experienced many services from several denominations, loved them all. However, rekindling my faith a few years ago, I've continued to actually learn what the Church truly teaches, and I wouldn't exchange my conviction in Christ for anything. I'm sure you are equally strong in your convictions, we can grow and learn together in our faith journey.....hope to see you around here! Pax Christi, ~S.
dUSt Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 Wow--it never ceases to amaze me. No matter how many people were raised Catholic, and then leave the church, the replies are the same. May the love of Christ be with you Silverbug. The problem we have is not people leaving the Church for legitimate reasons, because that's on them. The problem is when people leave the Church without even knowing anything about Catholic theology in the first place. If they want to leave the Church because they like the "fellowship" in other Churches, then so be it--just don't start misrepresenting the Church you left. From his testimony, it's obvious he didn't have a firm understanding of Catholic theology, so why does he try to pass it off as if he did? That's the problem we have. If a Baptist converted to Catholicism, and then started spreading lies about his former Baptist faith, I wouldn't have much respect for him either. God bless.
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