Question for converts from Roman Catholicism

[She]

Hi :wave:
I wonder whether any of you can help me in my journey to break with Rome. I was baptised, confirmed and married in the Roman Catholic Church.

Recently, I have read some very disturbing documents written by the Roman Catholic Church, on the subjects of apostasy, heresy and schism. These three 'headaches' seem to apply only to people who were baptised as Roman Catholics.

I would be interested to know how others in my position managed to break away from Rome and become Anglican. Was there a formal dispensation from Rome? Or did you just have a ceremony in the Anglican Church?

I would be grateful to hear of your experiences. Thank you.

[longhair75]

Friend She,

My wife and I left the Roman Church, and a few years later joined the Anglican Church. We did nothing special when we left, we jusy stopped participating in sevices and activities. The hardest thing was to get the Roman diocese to stop sending us the monthly newsletter. ;o}

When we started to attend Saint Andrew's Episcopal we had a discussion with the Rector about our conversion. Our Roman Catholic Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage were recognized as valid by our new church. We were more than welcome as new members.

We attended an Inquirer's class taught by the Deacon, and then at the Bishop's next visit we were fomally Recieved, but this was not mandatory. There are many converts from the Roman church at Saint Andrew's who have not done this. I write a column in our newsletter where I interview new members. Many of them are new converts from Rome.

Recently, I have read some very disturbing documents written by the Roman Catholic Church, on the subjects of apostasy, heresy and schism. These three 'headaches' seem to apply only to people who were baptised as Roman Catholics.

I have read some of these myself, with some amusement. I grant Rome no authority over me. The fact that Rome might see me in apostacy, heresy and/or schism does not concern me at all.

Our break with Rome was filled with anger and acrimony, but I have managed to put that behind me, mostly. We have found Spiritual fulfillment and a welcoming Worship Community at Saint Andrew's that has helped greatly to heal the wounds left by Rome.

Blessings for your journey,

LH75

[Fairbairn]

My hubby was brought up RC, and we have lots of catholics in our church family.

As far as I know, there is no need to remove yourself from your RC congregation. Once a Catholic always a Catholic, and you simply join the ranks of 'lapsed Catholics'. You can return to the RC church at any time (although may be subject to Confession).

There is no need for a ceremony in an Anglican church - your RC baptism and confirmation are recognised in full. In England, the way to become a member of the CofE is simply to attend regularly, and join the electoral role once you qualify. You can get involved in ministries straightaway - talk to the vicar or church wardens to find out where you gifts can best be developed and used.

[TomUK]

I grant Rome no authority over me. The fact that Rome might see me in apostacy, heresy and/or schism does not concern me at all.


Exactly!

[john23237]

If one believes in the branch theory regarding the church catholic, then no one branch has more authority than another and one is free to practice their catholic faith in which ever branch one choses. I chose to be recieved into the Anglican communion as a statement that I was removing myself from the authority of the Holy See of Rome and placing myself under the authority of the ECUSA ( or if you prefer, removing myself from the authority of a Roman Catholic bishop and placing myself under the authority of an Episcopial one). Once this is done, IMHO, any and all documents of Rome on the matter have no bearing upon me. I continue to practice the same basic faith (the "faith once recieved"), but within the context of a church which ,IMHO, sees and lives that faith as Our Lord intended. Please understand, I bear no ill will toward the Holy See of Rome and am, in fact, grateful for that which it taught me. Sadly, a good part of what it taught me led to the logical conclusion that Anglicanism, and not it, was a fuller expression of that catholic faith.

[Tonks]

There is no need for a ceremony in an Anglican church - your RC baptism and confirmation are recognised in full. In England, the way to become a member of the CofE is simply to attend regularly, and join the electoral role once you qualify. You can get involved in ministries straightaway - talk to the vicar or church wardens to find out where you gifts can best be developed and used.

Forgive me as I anticipate asking a dumb question.....but could you (or anyone else) expand upon the above? As such, there is, or can be, no process of conversion where one is received into communion officially? My question is beyond Catholic converts to other Protestant groups as well - and I use the term "Protestant" referring to the AC only for ease. I assume non-Christians are Baptised - or is this optional as well?

I'm trying to learn, more concretely, the ins and outs of Anglicans.

[Fairbairn]

Forgive me as I anticipate asking a dumb question.....but could you (or anyone else) expand upon the above? As such, there is, or can be, no process of conversion where one is received into communion officially? My question is beyond Catholic converts to other Protestant groups as well - and I use the term "Protestant" referring to the AC only for ease. I assume non-Christians are Baptised - or is this optional as well?

I'm trying to learn, more concretely, the ins and outs of Anglicans.

There is no magical day in your life when you become an Anglican. It is a process, with various milestones.

The first step to being an Anglican is to go to church regularly.

If you are not yet baptised, then, after several months this would be a natural committment to make. Baptism opens the door for fully paticipating in the Lord's Supper (with slight fuzziness about the role of confirmation here), and joining the Electoral Roll of the church; if you are already baptised, joining the Electoral Roll would be the only official step to take.

Most members of the church will also make some sort of financial committment too.

[Tonks]

Thanks. I understand the bits WRT Baptism because Rome operates much in the same way (generally) when Trinitarian Christians convert. Understand the fuzziness WRT confirmation.

[No Swansong]

I think my brother John has explained my position well. As far as I can tell it is a matter of authority. I make no distinction between RCC, EO, OC, OO, or the AC as far as validity is concerned.

[cenimo]

She
Recently, I have read some very disturbing documents written by the Roman Catholic Church, on the subjects of apostasy, heresy and schism. These three 'headaches' seem to apply only to people who were baptised as Roman Catholics.

Could you tell us what those documents are or explain a little bit further?

[She]

My hubby was brought up RC, and we have lots of catholics in our church family.
As far as I know, there is no need to remove yourself from your RC congregation. Once a Catholic always a Catholic, and you simply join the ranks of 'lapsed Catholics'. You can return to the RC church at any time (although may be subject to Confession).

It is not spiritually or psychologically helpful for me to be a lapsed catholic. I tried it and it did not work. There was no point.

She
Could you tell us what those documents are or explain a little bit further?

The documents are listed in post #101 in the following link:

http://www.christianforums.com/t3977751&page=11

Thank you all for your help.
:groupray:

[Fairbairn]

It is not spiritually or psychologically helpful for me to be a lapsed catholic. I tried it and it did not work. There was no point.

This is not so much as how you would describe yourself, but how the RCC describes you.

[karen freeinchristman]

Recently, I have read some very disturbing documents written by the Roman Catholic Church, on the subjects of apostasy, heresy and schism. These three 'headaches' seem to apply only to people who were baptised as Roman Catholics.

I would be interested to know how others in my position managed to break away from Rome and become Anglican. Was there a formal dispensation from Rome? Or did you just have a ceremony in the Anglican Church?
.
Judging by the documents you have linked us to, if you left the RC Church to become Anglican, you would be in schism according to the RC Church. You would have to then decide for yourself if your identity finds its source in the Roman Catholic Church, because that is the only place where you would be labelled as being in schism. What do you mean by a formal dispensation? Do you worry about having some kind of official wiping of your name from their books? My big concern when reading those documents is the level of fear and intimidation apparently instilled in susceptible people if they dare leave their denomination. That's what it looks like to me.

[john23237]

She, the documents you have linked are all based on the notion that when one leaves the Roman Catholic Church, one leaves the ONLY truly catholic church founded by Our Lord. IF that were true, they would be, IMHO, correct. It, however, and this is a BIG however, is not true. The Anglican Communion is just as much a part of the Catholic Church as is the See of Rome. If you chose to become fully Anglican, and ,yes, I personally believe that includes being formally received by a bishop into the communion, you have NOT left the Catholic Church, but rather changes membership within it from one branch to another. I hope this helps you.

[john23237]

Do you worry about having some kind of official wiping of your name from their books? My big concern when reading those documents is the level of fear and intimidation apparently instilled in susceptible people if they dare leave their denomination. That's what it looks like to me.

There, Karen, is the real problem most Roman Catholics face in this situation. When one formally joins another church, that individual is automatically excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church ( there is a Latin term for this type of excommunication which the church insists one brings upon one's self by such an action, but for the life of me, I cannot remember the term now). One's name, however, is NOT removed from any membership roll as an excommunicated individual is denied the sacraments of the church, not removed from it's membership. Confused? Well, that is Rome for you. Two thousand years of canon lawyers and that is what you get.

[She]

My big concern when reading those documents is the level of fear and intimidation apparently instilled in susceptible people if they dare leave their denomination. That's what it looks like to me.

Yes, exactly. The more I look into it, the more it appears to have cult-like qualities.

She, the documents you have linked are all based on the notion that when one leaves the Roman Catholic Church, one leaves the ONLY truly catholic church founded by Our Lord. IF that were true, they would be, IMHO, correct. It, however, and this is a BIG however, is not true. The Anglican Communion is just as much a part of the Catholic Church as is the See of Rome. If you chose to become fully Anglican, and ,yes, I personally believe that includes being formally received by a bishop into the communion, you have NOT left the Catholic Church, but rather changes membership within it from one branch to another. I hope this helps you.

Thank you. That is very helpful. I am trying to focus on Jesus NOT the Pope. I've noticed that both Baptism and Confirmation in the RCC and the Anglican Church, focus on Christianity and Christ's Church. The denomination is not mentioned. So that has also been very helpful to know.

[JasonV]

Hello She.

I left the Eastern Orthodox Church (Antiochian) and have found myself in the Anglican Church (Episcopal). Even though Im technically an excommunicated member of the EO (though a quick confession would clear that up methinks), I am still a member of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Unless you renounce Jesus and his teachings, it's not possible to leave. So switching Bishops and rites is hardly going to condemn your soul. Everything else has been said.

Peace.