Part I

There comes a time in the life of every "cradle-Catholic" when they need to answer the question: "Why be a Christian?" and "Why be a Catholic?".  I can remember when I was confronted with this question.  I was in college having the time of my life and was approached by a group from the Campus Crusade for Christ (an evangelical group who has a special mission to convert college students, which includes getting Catholics to leave the Church).  They were a really nice group of folks that were really "fired up" about being Christian.  This was attractive to me (not to mention some of the really cute girls that were part of the group also!).  So I started to listen what they had to say.  They talked about a need to have a "personal relationship" with Jesus.  The need to have Jesus as the Lord of my life. 

This started to resonate with me.  I considered myself a Christian and was proud to be a Catholic, but honestly, I wasn't really living my faith.  I would go to Mass on Sundays out a sense of habit and the fact I new my mom would find a way to ask me about last Sunday's readings from the Mass in her not so subtle and loving way of making sure I was still going to Mass.  But with this new challenge, I found myself questioning things and realizing that the Catholic faith I had was the faith of my parents.  I was becoming independent and making decisions for my future.  It came the time to ask myself if I was going to make the Catholic faith my faith, not just something I was doing to please my mom.  But I also new that saying "yes" to this question meant that I was going to have to change my life radically.  Through the grace of God, I did say "yes" and it did radically change me.  I decided I was going to live my life as a follower of Christ, to let Him be the Lord of my life, to abandon myself to His love and mercy.

So I continued to spend more time with the folks from Campus Crusade.  I saw no problem with growing in my Catholic faith and being involved with Campus Crusade - after all, they were "non-denominational."  In theory, they said it didn't matter which denomination you were in - I could enjoy the fellowship and Christian instruction they had to offer and remain whatever denomination I chose.  But I soon realized this is what was said on the surface, but that it really didn't apply for Catholics.  They started to confront me on some of the Catholic teachings using verses in the Bible to show me the "folly" of the Catholic Church - the Papacy, Mary, Church hierarch/structure - where was this in the Bible.  Not only were they not biblical, the Bible contradicted these teachings - so the argument went.

I had to admit that I became confused at this point.  The members of Campus Crusade were enthusiastic Christians, nice guys and girls who were fun to be around, they were doing their best to follow Christ and live a good moral live - it was fun, it was exciting!  And add to this that I was feeling the wonderful effects of allowing the Holy Spirit to enter my life and guide me and the fact that these guys were making a strong case against my Catholic beliefs using the Bible.  With all the emotions, joy, teachings from the Bible, etc. that I was getting from Campus Crusade versus what I had experienced in the Catholic Church (no enthusiasm, the Catholic student center was a hang-out for those who seemed to be social misfits - that was my take at the time - with no real zeal for Christ, Mass was a routine ritual that did little for me emotionally ...), it seemed like the right place to be was out of the Catholic Church and in with Campus Crusade (i.e. Evangelical Protestantism).  (Looking back, I can see how so many make a very big mistake and leave the Catholic Church - it was a perfect "set-up"!)

So why didn't I leave?  Why am I still a Catholic?  I was ignorant of my Catholic faith in many ways, especially compared to the group of guys bombarding me with biblical quotes attacking the Church, but I did have some roots from the example of my parents and grandparents, and my mom's insistence on my continuing in religious education (even if it was often very inadequate - but that's another issue) and the many years of just being Catholic - it wasn't something I could just throw away lightly.  The Eucharist, the Blessed Virgin, the Pope, the Rosary... , these weren't just things I could throw out lightly.  Maybe these guys were wrong.  I had to at least investigate and try to get the other side of the story.

My grandmother had always been trying to read books and pray all these prayers and novenas,  I knew I could turn to her to get the other side of the story.  So I told her I wanted to know and live my Catholic faith better.  Well, I didn't need to say anymore.  She was loading her trunk up with a load of books and pamphlets and was on her way on a trip to come see me.  What resulted was - I honest can say - the best thing that has every happened to me.  I fell in love with Christ's Church, Her Teachings, the Eucharist, the Blessed Virgin, the Pope, the saints, .... the wonderful and endless treasures that can be found in the Catholic Faith!

So, although my emotions wanted Campus Crusade and all the fun and excitement that seem to be readily available to me if I choose to join them, I realized that I was making the choice to follow Jesus.  I had plenty of fun and excitement with my non-Christian friends.  I was willing to leave that class of fun and excitement to follow Christ.  It made no sense to compromise following Jesus completely for the sake of a middle ground of fun and excitement.  I decided to go all the way.  I committed myself to be a faithful Catholic, to learn and live the faith to the best of my ability with the help of God even if it meant losing every friend and all worldly "fun".  I was in it for Christ, not the fun!

Well, as it turned out (the Lord is so good!), I ended up involved in a great group of committed Catholics in Dallas, Texas when I graduated from college.  All the external fun and excitement that I saw attractive in the Campus Crusade was found in this group, yet without compromising the fullness of Truth and Grace found in the Catholic Church.  (After all, I didn't see this good, clean Christian fun found in fellowship with committed Christians as something bad, just not a goal within itself and certainly not an excuse to compromise on my faith!)

There are still times where I see more zeal, activities, effective evangelization programs, etc. in non-Catholic groups, and I must admit that the state of the Catholics in the United States (and many other places around the world) leaves much to be desired (oh, if they were just presented the fundamentals of the faith and make an act of faith to follow Jesus and His Church!!!), but when you find a Catholic who knows the faith and is committed to living it, you know you're in the right place!

In the end, we need to separate the essentials from the non-essentials. Having the ability to receive Jesus Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist and to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as well as having the clear and authoritative teachings of the Church founded by Jesus Christ far surpasses all the sermons of the greatest Protestant* preachers, all the best choirs and beautiful services, all the social programs and ministries, etc.  The grace and power of the Sacraments and the fullness of Truth in the Church's teachings as compared to what the Protestants have to offer - the choice is quite easy.

See Part II of Why Be a Catholic which addresses the doctrinal issues and makes the case based upon the Word of God and reason that the Catholic Church is the right choice.

*Protestant - In this series, I use this term loosely.  I am mainly addressing the evangelical Protestants (many who claim to be "non-denominational") or those who base themselves upon the principles of sola scriptura (Bible alone) and/or sola fide (by faith alone is one saved).  For detailed information on Protestantism, click here.