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

[Dave Armstrong]

That's absolutely right, Julie. It's important to be thoroughly grounded in one's Catholic faith, so as not to be led astray by any false doctrine. If that is the case, then a person can visit with family and friends and appreciate the many good things to be found in Protestant churches without being influenced by whatever is erroneous. We are what we eat, and we tend to be sheep, so it is always a possible danger to follow whatever happens to be around us at any given time.

[Steven Barrett]

  Read my return testimony of faith. No matter how sincere you try to balance your familial ties, friendships, even employment situations if your change of churches touches on the jobsite, it's best to go gracefully and stick with Rome: Period. It's not only like trying to ride two horses and making the mistake of pleasing two masters as Jesus warned against, it sorta reminds me of the old country joke about the bumpkin who dared to wrestle a farmer's prize pig. Well, he did just that; the pig was upset to no end, won and both  got all dirty n' smelly in the end. Not to say any denomination's heavy on the porcine side of this story, but I think this rough n' rural "parable" might help clarify things.  Just don't make the mistake of clearing your glasses because you decided to stretch your decision and make the wrestling match last longer than any longer than it takes for you to decide to cut your ties  and not wrestle at all.                                    

[agpines]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I have begun to attend a weekly lecture series given by my priest - I was surprised at the excellent attendance and enthusiasm of the attendees- mostly 20 years older than me (I am 50) and lots of references to pre- Vatican 2 (I wasn't around then) but overall interesting and encouraging. Being used to lots of group Bible studies it is good to have something -however it is very different than being asked what one thinks the verse means! It meets at the same time as my former ladies Bible study so will help in the transition a bit.
    The best part of my return has been that my husband (also born and raised Catholic and left when I did) has also been attending Mass with me regularly. He had stopped attending any church the last 10 years except on holidays and I had been praying that God would draw him back to Himself- it truly never occurred to me that returning to the Church would be part of the key! He is not really into discussing any of the issues but I trust that God will continue to work in him.
   I have had very mixed reactions from our 4 sons (all raised evangelical Protestant) One is hostile, one more curious and willing to try attending with us, and the oldest supportive but not interested. Our youngest, 13 attends because I require him to attend a church and he won't bother to make other arrangements-he made it very clear he does not want to be Catholic. I am trying not to be discouraged.

   The only retreat I have seen offered was a Cursillo in a town about 45 miles away. I am not really familiar with that and would like comments from any other forum members as to whether that would be helpful for a new "returnee". I apologize for the lengthy post!

[left coast mystic]

Agpines -
Go to Cursillo!  It's transformative!  And, as the whipped cream on the top, you meet lots of neat people who can become part of your ongoing "support group".

Marcee

[Dave Armstrong]

I've heard a lot of good things about it.

[Steven Barrett]

No doubt this game is played out on both sides of the  divide, but watch out for the ever so concerned friends who (more or less ambush, gang tackle or "crowd'around )and want to say a prayer for you" when the conversations at an end. Good luck getting out that without looking like their future nomiee for a leading example of why "Catholics have this notion that their religion is so special it justifies rudeness on their parts." (Never mind that we, like anybody else, don't care for being  cornered, but that's besides the point. After all, they're  VERY concerned that you're no longer going to be even able to call yourself a partial Christian.")

Let time and distance do their job. Sure beats getting cornered in a church's kitchen by the most well-meaning people praying over you (with arms locked and hanging on shoulders) and they're praying fervently that you'll "see the light"... their's of course, not that foreign church's ... and do the "right thing" and "come back home to the good nourishment provided only by a full meal of 'Bible Christianity'."  :
Sm

[rbo4u2]

Agpines -
Go to Cursillo!  It's transformative!  And, as the whipped cream on the top, you meet lots of neat people who can become part of your ongoing "support group".

Marcee

I noticed Marcee there seemed to be some rather active Cursillo groups in the Bay Area.  I was burned many years ago in the Charismatic movement and am very suspicious of a lot of what goes on with Charismatics.  Isn't Cursillo a charismatic movement or is it simply support groups?

[Intercessor]

   The only retreat I have seen offered was a Cursillo in a town about 45 miles away. I am not really familiar with that and would like comments from any other forum members as to whether that would be helpful for a new "returnee". I apologize for the lengthy post!

The Cursillo retreat has its Protestant counterpart in the Emmaus Walk which has pretty consistently (in my experience) been a marvelous time of growth and renewal for Protestants who have attended.

However, I would raise one note of caution, Agpines, about a Cursillo weekend and about any other Catholic retreat.  There are some Catholic retreat centers and Catholic retreat masters (even priests and nuns) who are not faithful to the Magisterium and who promote New Age practices such as centering prayer or walking a labyrinth.  Look through any literature you have.  If the phone number is not provided, you can usually find it on the Internet.  You may want to call and ask whether that particular retreat will involve centering prayer or a labyrinth.  The reaction and response should tell you a great deal about whether they are faithful to the Magisterium.

It takes some getting used to, for former Protestants, but one can't simply assume that a retreat's presentation is faithful to Church teaching just because it is conducted by priests or nuns at a Catholic retreat center. 

A little caution, a little checking--- well worth the trouble.

God bless,
Becky

[rbo4u2]

However, I would raise one note of caution, Agpines, about a Cursillo weekend and about any other Catholic retreat.  There are some Catholic retreat centers and Catholic retreat masters (even priests and nuns) who are not faithful to the Magisterium and who promote New Age practices such as centering prayer or walking a labyrinth.  Look through any literature you have.

A little caution, a little checking--- well worth the trouble.

God bless,
Becky

And I'll bet here in the Bay area most of the Cursillo groups are into the Enneagram and New Age garbage.  I know that in several of the monasteries or convents I've seen advertised there are regular New Age sessions scheduled.

[mtoddm]

I myself maintained a significant connection with my Protestant friends and community after my conversion - this led to many fruitful conversations

I lived in a mixed marriage for 5 years and attended many Protestant services with my wife - one must maintain some boundaries however (not recieve Protestant communion, or serve as some sort of minister) I was approached to lead a Bible study, but declined due to the fact that I would have had to hold back the Catholic passion and be somewhat dishonest - no, a Baptist needs to lead a study in a Baptist sunday school - not a low profile Catholic in their midst

anyway, I wouldn't have qualms encouraging you to continue your relationship with your Protestant community, as long as you are well grounded and catechised in the Catholic Faith, and fulfull the obligations (Sunday Mass etc), and give no impression of a unity which unfortunately does not exist (yet!)
---todd