Connecting with Disenfranchised Roman Catholics

For many disenfranchised Roman Catholics, an evangelical Protestant church is probably the last place they'd expect to experience the familiarity and comfort of ritual, yet I believe this is exactly what an increasing number of former Catholics are discovering.  Why do I say this?  Because it's exactly what's happening within my own church and several other congregations I'm aware of.  My hunch is that this is far more common than many realize.

There are undoubtedly many reasons why Catholics fall out of fellowship with the church. For some, it may have been the decision to marry outside of the Church, or the experience of a painful divorce.  For others, it may have been the way they were treated by certain parishioners or one of the priests.  Yet, despite their "reasons", they eventually found themselves outside the faith community which was once home.

As the years went by, and when their desire for spiritual things began to grow, they often started exploring what options might be available to them.  Many ended up visiting one or more Protestant churches.  Sometimes these were disappointing experiences (the reasons for which would constitute a separate post), but many times they were just the opposite.  What these former Catholics encountered was a vibrant, highly personal and enthusiastic expression of faith they had never seen before.  This was thrilling, and they ended up integrating into those congregations.

In today's rapidly changing postmodern world, I've become convinced that people are both longing and looking for something different -- often, something older, wiser, stronger -- something ancient.  Strange as it may seem to some, the sights, sounds, and substance of the faith and practice of the ancient Church is increasingly showing up in evangelical Protestant churches. And it's not just born-and-bred evangelicals who are eating this up -- it's an increasing number of disenfranchised Catholics, who enjoy the liturgical prayers, the elevated emphasis on the Eucharistic and who even feel free enough to make the sign of the cross during worship.

As a evangelical Protestant pastor who himself is engulfed in this amazing phenomenon, I frequently find myself wondering what else I might do to extend the hand of invitation and welcome to the disenfranchised Catholics in my community.  I strongly delineate, by the way, between "disenfranchised" Catholics and "non-practicing" Catholics.  When it comes to the later, I have always encouraged such to re-engage their faith and practice at their local Roman Catholic parish.  When this happens within my own city, I always sing the praises of the local RC parish and the priests there -- with whom I have the privilege of being in relationship.

In old-school evangelical churches, one continues to hear an abundance of "Catholic-bashing."  But times have already begun to change, and my prayer is that a new day is indeed dawning within our Lord's Church, where former "Catholics" and, in a sense, former "Protestants" are now worshiping together... and loving it.

 

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Photo credit: © Dieter Hawlan, iStockphoto.com

Comments

[Carl N.]

I live in New England so Roman Catholicism is quite large. I know those who are 'non-practicing', those who are geniunely in love with Jesus and fiercely devoted to Catholicism and then there are the disenfranchised.

Out of all the brothers and sisters in Christ that I know who have grown up catholic but have been disenfranchised and are now protestant are usually the most anti-catholic, them and protestants from my Grandparent's generation.

Even though my personality tends to shy away from ritualistic spirituality and liturgical expressions of faith I have a deep respect for it and have a growing attraction towards it.

This phenomenon is also true within my congregation. During advent(and this coming holy week) we kind of created our own liturgy but there was a mild concern that this style of worship might cause a negative reaction among those who have left catholicism. My hope would be that it might redeem any memories and emotions within the disenfranchised catholic (or atleast be a start).

...I still haven't heard (in my memory)a former catholic speak about their former denomination with a high degree of respect.

[Carl Holmes]

Bring them in, welcome them. Evangelicals, Emergents and Protestants alike all have something to learn from Catholics. The importance of liturgical worship, advent and other such notions need to be explored.

We need to knock down the walls where people are afraid of embracing these new things because they might be "catholic". They are the farthest thing from. They are simply exploring new ways to come into the presence of Jesus and to experience him in new and exiting ways. We NEED that!

[Chris]

Carl,

When you made the following observation, it really seemed to ring true:

"...brothers and sisters in Christ that I know who have grown up catholic but have been disenfranchised and are now protestant are usually the most anti-catholic"

This is a phenomenon that, although quite common, I wasn't thinking of when I wrote this post. There was another point you made which may have been the most important:

"We need to knock down the walls where people are afraid of embracing these new things because they might be 'catholic'. " (emphasis mine)

I couldn't agree with you more. Fear is a huge obstacle to overcome, especially among evangelicals who were raised on the "Catholics aren't Christian" diet, fed to them by many fundamentalists.

I remain hopeful, though. And am glad for your comment posts here. Keep it up!

Blessings,

Chris

[Carl N.]

Thank you. Just for clarification, that second quote was from another brother named Carl.

I also find it interesting that some protestants are joining roman catholicism as well. I wonder what disenfranchised catholics think about that.

[Chris]

Carl,

Hmmm. "What do disenfranchised catholics think about the fact that some protestants are joining roman catholicism?" Maybe one or two of them will chime in and tell us!!

My hunch is that they are totally mystified by the phenomenon. What's your hunch?

- Chris

[Carl Holmes]

Just spitballing here a little bit Chris, and I appreciate the question.

It is for the same reason. Liturgical worship. Something about it is so centering and clarifying spiritually that they decide to visit a Catholic church and figure it out. Some stay our of a longing for such things. I believe this is why protestant churches, in part, are beginning to embrace some of that worship. This is where a lot of "emergent" churches get it and others do not.

What severely lacks in most protestant churches is a sense of divine rhythm. By that I mean taking specific, measured time out of our day, our week, our year to specifically and concentratedly focus on an aspect of Christ. Things such as Lent serve as a focus point for such things. And, when you are focusing on something as a group (a chuch) you find so much more focus and comrodarie knowing you are going through it together.

I guess in summation a lot of evangelicals have given up the contemplative side of spirituality. Catholocism gives some of that back to a person, teaches them how to go about it, and it gives a grounding presence to those who go about it. That is not a bad thing. Now, when they begin to experience the theological differences between the two discord will ensue. Most protestants that I know who have "gone Catholic" have come back within a year or so. I am almost sure you wanted me to go off in that tangent, but I digress.

[Carl Holmes]

Man, I think I answered Carl N's query... I am so confused.

Anyway, that was my two cents worth. Carl Holmes's that is!

[Frank Emanuel]

Nice post. I also have quite a few former Roman Catholics as part of our flock. We borrow a fair bit from the RC liturgy (Eucharistic prayer #3 yet modified). What I've discovered is that some of my folks have actually gone back/to their RC roots. But they have less of a sense of being locked into their designated parish, rather find a like-minded priests parish to worship in. I don't have any RC roots, in fact my early church experiences have been anti-RC. But I've been studying at a pontifical university and there discovered a rich and ancient world that I felt we had thrown out with the bathwater.

It is quite an adventure trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. It took a couple of years to develop a real Eucharistic sense in our community. And having folks go back gives us a link into the RC world where we have built some nice friendships. There are thing about Roman Catholicism, especially ecclesially, that I still don't really appreciate. But I'm sure what goes both ways.

[Fr. Dcn. Raphael]

Most protestants that I know who have "gone Catholic" have come back within a year or so

Can't speak for the RC'c but I went Orthodox over 15 years know, and have no plans on ever going back! ;)

[Frank Emanuel]

I had one young lad go through RCIA, but he has actually left for a more Pentecostal experience. I remember going to mass with him and being frustrated because I (out of respect) only went up for a blessing and he partook in the Eucharist, yet I believe more in what is happening in the Eucharist than he does! I'm actually glad he didn't stick it out, you need to be where your heart is.

I'd be surprised if my close friends leave, their hearts are really in it.

I used to really like the Orthodox church until I took a course on Orthodox spirituality from Fr. John Jillions. It wasn't the Orthodoxy that bugged me, it was the Westernization of Orthodoxy that twisted things around. I know Jillions was feeling that too. It is a good problem to have, but I'm far too Western in my thinking to do well in the Orthodox church. And I wouldn't want to change her to meet my sensibilities, so we get along better with a bit of distance.

[dudley davis]

I am an ex Roman Catholic and a convert to Presbyterian Reformed Protestant. I know I experienced what Calvin also described as a true Protestant conversion. Once a roman catholic accepts and believes in the propitiatory death of Christ on the cross as full and only payment for their sin and thus were saved, such a Catholic ceases (by definition) to be a Catholic, because that's not what the Catholic Church teaches. I knew when I reached this I was no longer roman catholic but I did not yet understand what it means to be Protestant or being Born again,or being Reformed Presbyterian.

I the opposite of Scott Hahn, a Roman catholic until less than 2 years ago and now a staunch defender of the Reformed Faith. I am now a Calvinist Presbyterian Protestant. A series of circumstances led me to become a Protestant and a Presbyterian.I never thought I would leave Roman Catholicism and become a Protestant. My faith Journey from roman catholic to Presbyterian Protestant began about 2years ago in January 2006.As I said I was a Roman Catholic all my life. I think God has led me to become a Protestant and Presbyterian. What started as a study on the Protestant Reformation has led to a conversion to Protestantism for me. I believe in One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- and I confess anew the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord, and acknowledge Him Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body.I believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God; they are the only infallible rule of faith and practice.Iamnow a confessed and communing presbyterian. I have sincerely received and adopted the Westminster Confession and Larger and Shorter Catechisms as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures and I submit to the teachings of the Presbyterian Protestant tenets and doctrine.I believe the Bible as the word of God and the only and final authority and path to salvation I submit in discipline to the doctrines of John Calvin and the teachings of the Presbyterian Church in doctrine and life. It is Christ alone who is salvation to our souls, not the Church of Rome or the Pope" Once a roman catholic to understand and believe in the propitiatory death of Christ on the cross as full and only payment for their sin and thus were saved they will in essence no longer be roman catholic, they only need to at that point accept Jesus Christ alone as their savior by faith alone and you have in essence converted to Protestantism.
I am not anti catholic I am a former roman catholic who is now converted to theProtestant fold. iam now Protestant because i am one who believes in the doctrines of the Protestant Reformation i.e. the authority of the Bible alone in all matters of faith and practice and that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. I am Presbyterian because I asked myself "Either the Catholic Church is very right, OR if it’s not, it’s very wrong?" I knew it was wrong and a false teacher of the true Gospel of Christ and there can no in-between on this issue. I always knew for me that that Transubstantiation denied the sovereignty of God. Iampresbyterian now because I believe the reformed theology is the only Protestant theology that praises the sovereignty of God and the governmental structure is biblically sound. I believe the Presbyterian Fold is the pure and true Christian church as Christ intended it It’s why I want to profess my faith as a Presbyterian. I’m now a Protestant and a Presbyterian.

In grace,
Dudley

Dudley A Davis
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