Catholic Apologetics Online

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God

Man

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The Religion of the Bible

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A Definite Christian Faith

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Moral Teachings of the Catholic Church

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The Church and Social Welfare

Catholic attitude to converts

474. Does the Catholic Church, and its members generally, appreciate the introduction of converts even in civilized countries?

They appreciate all converts who come with sincere conviction, and who are determined to live up to their Catholic obligations. No one expects all converts to be saints, of course. They will have their human faults. But the Church will help them to overcome their faults; and with good will on their part, converts will gradually grow out of those faults. All Catholics, however, who retain a trace of their own faith, will be genuinely happy in the thought that some convert has received the same great gift of the Catholic Faith. People who think of becoming Catholics from any motive other than sincere conviction, and who will not attempt to live up to the requirements of the Catholic religion, are definitely not welcome. They will only give disedification to others, and bring contempt on the Faith which is dearer to all sincere Catholics than anything else in this world.

475. Do Catholics show converts that they are welcome?

Good Catholics do. Even some careless Catholics, who believe in their religion but do not practice it often show converts in a most remarkable- way genuine joy and happiness in the great grace the new comers have received. Some bad Catholics do not manifest any appreciation. A few bad Catholics even go so far as to manifest displeasure, and speak only with discouragement and contempt.

476. How do Catholics show converts that they are welcome?

Not in any extraordinary and demonstrative way; nor by conducting an intensive search for converts in order to fling their arms round their necks and embrace them. Should a Catholic happen to discover that another is a convert, he should treat him exactly as he would treat any other Catholic, making him feel that he is accepted as just as much a Catholic as others who have never been anything else. If the circumstances warrant it, a few words of appreciation and congratulation may be expressed, and some additional signs of kindness and friendship exhibited, in order to make the convert feel quite at home with fellow Catholics.

477. What is the value of conversions to the Catholic Church for the sake of marriage?

A conversion to the Catholic Church merely for the sake of marriage is of very little value, and can even be sinful. If a person were still convinced that the Catholic Church is wrong, yet became a Catholic and embraced what he believed to be a wrong religion, that person would be guilty of a grave violation of conscience before God. Religion is between a man's soul and his God. And no one is justified in embracing this or that religion for any merely human considerations. Yet if a Protestant cannot become a Catholic for the sake of the one he wants to marry, he can at least study the Catholic religion, and receive instructions in that religion for the sake of the one he loves. At the end of his instructions he can become a Catholic if he believes in the Catholic Church; he cannot, if he does not. Sincere conversions to the Catholic Church after instructions undertaken in the first place for the sake of marrying a Catholic are as valuable as any others. God has various ways of bringing souls into contact with the Catholic Church, and many a non-Catholic has blessed God that he ever met his future partner, and far more for the gift of the Faith than for the gift of the partner. Needless to say, I advise very thorough instruction, and a sincere testing of motives. Often when, at the end of their instructions, prospective converts have told me that they are willing to become Catholics, I have swung round on them and said, "That is not enough. You must want to become a Catholic. If the girl broke off the engagement tomorrow, would you still be determined to become a Catholic?" Such questions steady them into a realization of the step they are taking. The Catholic Church is not out to lassoo people and rake them in against their will. People have to beg of her the privilege of becoming members of her fold. And those to whom God's grace has given the sincere and earnest desire to be Catholics make good converts, whatever the occasion which, in His providence, first started them on their way towards the Faith.

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MORE FROM VOLUME 3

• About the Author
• Preface
  - Msgr Fulton J Sheen
• Author's Foreword
  - Dr Rumble, MSC

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