Can one join the Catholic Church and keep an onging connection to former Protestant congregation?

[psalm23.6a]

I have come to the point that I am seriously considering converting to Catholism. I am much more comfortable with the RC approach to the Eucharist, Church authority, devotions etc.

However, I am a active member of a very old but struggling Protestant congregation which would be hurt my my withdrawal. These are my friends and Christain friends. Also I am very interested in Church music and frankly believe the Protestant churches as a whole have a richer traditional hymn range than Catholism. I cannot imagine not singing some of those beautiful and inspiring hymns ever again with a congregation and organ - they still speak to me and most do not contradict any Catholic doctrine I am aware of.

Can I become catholic and maintain some relationship with my family church and those roots?

 

Thanks for any input. Jeff

[CajunRick]

I have come to the point that I am seriously considering converting to Catholism. I am much more comfortable with the RC approach to the Eucharist, Church authority, devotions etc.

Jeff I know others will respond to the rest of your post but first I wanted to take a moment to welcome you to the Coming Home Network and to our forum.  We look forward to your input, and stand ready to do our best to answer any questions you may have on Catholic doctrine and teaching.  We will do our best to support your faith journey wherever it might lead you.

As to a musical treasury, I think with a little research you will find that much of the world's great classical music is actually part of the Catholic Church's musical treasury, just as much of the world's great art is part of the faith legacy of the Church.  And Protestant hymns which are doctrinally sound can certainly be brought into the Church.  Many of them were Catholic to begin with.

With our current Holy Father emphasizing a return to the treasures of traditional Catholic music, especially Gregorian chant, I believe we will see a resurgence of the excellent Catholic musical heritage.  At least I hope so.  Perhaps one of the reasons you are being called to the Church at this time is to help implement that return.

God bless you on your journey wherever it might lead.  Since I am a lifetime Catholic I will not respond at this time to the question of maintaining a connection to your current congregation.  I know this is a troubling issue for many, and I'm sure you will see some interesting responses.

[BodRod]

Greetings Fellow Traveler,

To use a worn out phrase, "Been there, done that". I too, missed the old hymns I had known and sung from my youth. To make it worse, I was a church organist for 17 years, playing the old familiar hymns every week. When I started attending Mass, I not only missed the old hymns but I did not know the music being used in the Mass. So, what to do.

My solution to my delimma was to buy a copy of the book used at Mass (The Journey Song Book) and add it to my collection of music. I discovered that many of the songs in the new book were the same tunes as I knew in the old book, but they had different words. Another discovery I made was that some of the tunes from the master's of old had had words added to them and the were now incorporated into my new song book. As it turned out, many of the old tunes are in the new book. It was just that they were not the tunes being selected by the choir master for use in the Mass in my parish.

Personally speaking, I prefer the more positive words of the songs of the Mass than the old gospel songs which tend to be more negative and put people down.

I wish you the best in your travel along your Journey.

[David W. Emery]

Can I become Catholic and maintain some relationship with my family church and those roots?

If you have family members who will remain in that church, by all means, as a Catholic Christian you should help maintain family unity by attending with them, even though you will not be participating to the same extent as before. (Yes, you can sing those hymns you know and love, so long as they do not violate your conscience.) If you are speaking strictly of friends, you may find, after becoming Catholic, that this act has created barriers, and a more neutral venue would be in order — if the friendships survive.

As a former Methodist myself, I struggled with the breaking of relationships with my friends and mentors. But I found that in many conversions (you have but to look around this forum to see a multitude of examples), it is those you leave behind who break the ties. So you may well find that you have no choice about maintaining your bond with the past, being forced out and shunned. I realize that the UCC, like the UMC, is considered fairly liberal, and there may be less of this attitude there than among Evangelicals. But I am also aware of a strong anti-Catholic sentiment just beneath the surface even in these denominations (something I encountered even in my own family), and I feel obligated to mention it so that you will not be surprised by their reaction if your journey of faith should lead you to the Catholic Church.

I am very interested in Church music and frankly believe the Protestant churches as a whole have a richer traditional hymn range than Catholism.

As cajunrick pointed out, the Catholic musical tradition stretches back far beyond that available in the various Protestant denominations. At the moment it happens that I am listening to a streaming audio feed (“internet radio station”) from Holland called AVRO Klassiek Ziel en Zaligheid (available here for iTunes and Winamp for those interested). It features uninterrupted classical religious music 24 hours a day, with Catholic, Protestant and Jewish traditions represented. Music is selected on the basis of musical quality, not liturgical or devotional appropriateness. As it turns out, far more Catholic music is played simply because there is that much more of it that is rated musically worthwhile. After all, we had a millennium and a half head start, plus very different Eastern and Western traditions to provide variety and interest.

On the other hand, I will admit that the current situation in Catholic parishes throughout much of the world is deplorable. This is the result of two things: first, a following of secular trends rather than the Church’s tradition; second, a general ignorance and ignoring of Church norms and guidelines for liturgical music. The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council never envisioned the cacophony of commercial dance music being called upon to serve double duty in liturgical worship. Their recommendation was Gregorian chant and polyphony. It is this situation that the current pope has determined to address.

David

[CajunRick]

On the other hand, I will admit that the current situation in Catholic parishes throughout much of the world is deplorable.

For the record, David was referring to the music in most parishes, and I wholeheartedly agree.

Conditions on other matters may be equally deplorable in some parishes, but it's much harder to make such a blanket statement about anything but the music.

[psalm23.6a]

Thank you for all your respnses but what is the point blank answer - can I become catholic and maintain ties to my current church? Thanks

[BodRod]

I don't think we can give you a "point blank answer". To me, the question seems to be one of those questions you must answer for yourself. All of us who have converted have had to face the same question and answer it to our own satisfaction. You might look at Matthew 6:24 and see if that verse can help you in your decision process.

BTW, in my own case, immediately after I was accepted into the RCC I got involved and within a week or two I felt I had new friends. Now, when I enter the church, I spend the first several minutes greeting my new friends; even Fr. T. shakes hands with me. I have never experienced such warmth and friendliness before joining the RCC.

Again, may I wish you all the best in your search for truth.

[BettyBoopToo]

Thank you for all your respnses but what is the point blank answer - can I become catholic and maintain ties to my current church? Thanks

psalm, It's very nice to meet you and welcome to the Forum.

I think if you hang around a little longer your lible to run in to someone in your posistion that is still attending both churches, I even think there's a gentleman that volunteers or works at his old baptist chrurch and attends mass, So he has friends at both.

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday and God Bless

Betty

[CajunRick]

Thank you for all your respnses but what is the point blank answer - can I become catholic and maintain ties to my current church? Thanks

There is no rule in the Church that would prevent you from maintaining a relationship with your old church.

Some parish staffs may question your commitment to the Catholic faith, but as long as you have a reasonable need to maintain the relationship, that should not be a serious problem.

So the point blank answer is yes, you can become Catholic and maintain ties to your current church.  However, in the real world, your mileage may vary.

[Br_Carlo]

God's peace. To be succinct, you may participate in your old relationship as long as you please once you become Catholic, but you may not substitute such relationships for your obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and you may not share in their version of Holy Communion.

I found that as my awareness of the fulness of the Catholic Church grew, I realized that everything that I sought to hold on to in my old relationship was actually present and better in the Catholic Church.  Your desire to hold on to the past will probably die away once you "towel off" on the Roman side of the Tiber.  God speed!  Blessings, ~Br_Carlo~

[sewnsew]

I Have a situation where due to circumstances I am not only a member of my new catholic parish but also a member of two  episcopal/Anglican parishes- During the time that I made the choice to leave the episcopal church our local parish  split with about 1/3 to 1/2 the congregation leaving to form a new Anglican church in protest of the current state of affairs in the Episcopal church. My husband and children have decided ( for now) to attend the new church however my daughter has continued to attend the old church youth group (the new church has none) so we continue to volunteer and help out at least for now with the youth activities at the old church. I am also part of a ministry that makes prayer quilts on Saturdays at the old church which I plan on continuing.. I will particate in my own mass though for religious purposes even though I will continue to attend services from time to time with the family.

[DavidVS]

Thank you for all your respnses but what is the point blank answer - can I become catholic and maintain ties to my current church? Thanks

I grew up in a local Presbyterian Church.  For many years, our choir director was a very devout Roman Catholic.  He directed our choir, participated in many of the activities of our church and was a beloved friend to everyone in the congregation.

He was also very active in his RC parish.  When he retired, his RC parish and our Presbyterian congregation got together and hosted a reception for him.

Also, the largest RC parish in our county built a huge community center.  One of the activities held there is an annual ecumenical choir - it's made up of Catholics and Protestants of all denominations.  Even though they're from different churches and faith traditions, they make beautiful music together - which I'm sure is pleasing to God.

Hope that helps

[Darlene]

Hello Psalm,

Welcome to our forum.  As many others here would concur, it depends upon your situation.  If those at your current church are respectful and supportive of your journey toward Catholicism, then maintaining ties will not be difficult.  On the other hand, you need to prepare yourself in the event that members in your current church are unsupportive or even worse, judgmental of your faith journey.  Also, how much negativity can you handle if the latter occurs?  Perhaps you have a tough exterior and can "handle" others' rejection of you. If those in your current church are still willing to embrace you as their brother in Christ, then maintaining ties would definitely not be a problem.

So you see, it all depends upon your circumstances.  Is your family aware of your interest in the Catholic faith?  What about your church?  If so, what have been their responses toward your faith journey?

Currently, I am attending both Catholic Mass and my nondenominational Christian Church.  My husband and children know about my desire to become Catholic, my church does not.  I dropped out of the choir after this past Christmas, but I am still involved in the women's Bible study.  However, even this gets to be a bit exasperating because of the anti-Catholic bias.  Today I attended the women's Bible study and negative comments were again made regarding the Catholic faith.  They just can't help it.  The one woman made mention that her daughter-in-law is Catholic and she is raising her children as Catholic.  She asked for prayer that she could convince her daughter-in-law to attend our church and bring her children (her grandchildren) as well.  She made a comment to the effect that her goal was to help them leave the Catholic Church.  And this was not the only anti-Catholic remark made this morning.  Needless to say, I was inwardly troubled by these remarks.

So, I am preparing for many in my current church to reject me when they discover my journey toward the Catholic faith.  I will attend the nondenominational church with my husband as long as I am able.  I want to be respectful toward him, and do not want him to have any reason to find fault with the Catholic Church.

Hope that I was able to be of some help to you.  God bless you richly in your journey toward the Catholic faith.  And visit us here often!

Love in Christ,

Darlene

[GoFisher]

Hi there! See  if this testimony helps.  At the rite of election last year, when  someone asked me what church I went to, I had a hard time answering,  and one of my priests there said, she goes to St. Louis, if we can get  her to stop "double-dipping" at her protestant church.  I got the  hint.

Divine Mercy Sunday was the first anniversary of my Catholic  confirmation.  I went to an alumni mtg for Duke M.Divs. at the my  state Conference (UMC) when I was considering where to study.  I  ended up at ORU (formerly Methodist, 1968-1985, but  now  ecumenical, I even went to Mass celebrated in the chapel there during  seminary).  How ironic.  

When I went to seminary, I thought I was going to be a United Methodist  minister.  Half way through the MDiv at ATS-accredited ORU's  graduate school of theology and missions, I felt Spirit-led to be  Spirit-led for the rest of my life instead of just allowing The UMC to  tell me where to serve.  So, I joined the Interdenominational Word  of faith church near school founded by a former Methodist.  It is  great.  It is like "applied ORU" there because we believe in the  prophethood and priesthood of all believers.  The Eucharist and  baptism are issues there.  ("one baptism for the forgiveness of  sins").

Well, since John Wesley was Anglican and never became Methodist when he  formed his Methodist clubs, there would not be much difference.   At the UMC, we recited the Nicene Creed, and the Apostles Creed (but  also did other creeds at alternate weeks).  They think you can get  baptized any of several ways:  immersion, pouring, sprinkling, and  I think there was another way.  Between 1970s and 1990s, they  changed the confirmation rite to say:  reject evil and all its  works, instead of reject the devil (or his name actually) and all his  works. 

I have heard some great John Wesley quotes:  the world is my  parish, and also one about the gifts of the spirit:  that if there  is some fruit of the manifestation (such as getting slain in the spirit  for an hour, and then having peace or being healed) then the  manifestation was genuine.  at Aldersgate, he felt his heart  strangely warmed, so that means The Holy Spirit was moving on his heart.

Since we are not the Messiah, then the UMC does NOT need us to continue  on.  Also, I learned in a Methodist meeting on evangelism, that  some long-standing local churches need to die in order to grow again  and thrive with new blood.

MAJOR thing:  The Eucharist is THE BODY AND BLOOD, SOUL AND  DIVINITY OF CHRIST; and that is the source and summit of only The  Catholic church, not any other.

All other churches:  it's just bread and grape juice (or whatever you see).

Communion of saints:  more folks are available to pray for us.

PAPAL AUTHORITY:  UMC does not accept that, but I always did.  I thought the pope was the head of all churches. 

A UMC pastor told me he did not think the denominations would ever get  together in unity.  The Catholic church prays for unity and works  for it.

What else?

Have a blessed day!

[GoFisher]

No.  You cannot ride two horses.  Jesus said we should be hot or cold, never lukewarm.

I tried to do both, but the protestants were so anti-Catholic, it broke  my heart to even speak to them on the phone.  So, for Lent, I gave  up talking on the phone to my former church-mates.  One friend  spent three hours harassing The Church (and me) by phone.

UMC does not believe the whole Bible.  The Catholic Church  believes the entire Bible, and includes more books than our former  fellow protestingants.  We should be bold defenders of the faith,  even with some protesting folks still in the catholic church.
God wants a revival in the church and is bringing members of  reformation churches back to The Catholic Church.  It is a  prophetic act or  sign.