It is possible to accept Roman Catholicism without becoming Catholic. The scholarly works I’ve read point out that most Christians up until around the 11th century believed in Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist without believing that the bread and wine become the literal body and blood of Christ. Jesus used simile, metaphor, and hyperbole a lot in His teaching. Certainly He said that we are to feed on Him, but in the words of the institution He also said “Do this in remembrance of me.” If the disciples did not believe they were consuming His actual body and blood, and we have no biblical reason to think they did, then we aren’t necessarily doing so either.
There is much that can be accepted as a mystery without the necessity of explanation.
I’m married to a Catholic and my sister converted. I’ve attended wonderful Catholic churches and a few that were far from wonderful. There are tares and wheat mixed in both Catholic and Protestant churches. I love the Anglican Church and its liturgy, which makes the altar and the Eucharist the pinnacle of worship. It’s very frustrating when Catholics lump all Protestants together and look at the faults in Protestantism while gliding over the faults in Catholicism. Most Protestant seminaries are liberal, but many Catholic seminaries are polluted by homosexuality. The criticism and division perpetuated by so many Protestants and Catholics, both equally at fault, must be displeasing to the Lord. His Church is not divided into Catholic and Protestant. Those who believe in Jesus and have accepted the efficacy of his sacrifice for their sins are all one in Him.
Kay, I appreciate your perspective, however, I'd push back on that notion of unity.
Wouldn't you think that unity is a bit more substantial than believing the "essentials" as Madison's youth pastor proffered?
I would propose unity to be threefold: we believe the same things (teaching), we live the same way (morals and worship), and we are shepherded in the same way (local bishop and Pope).
John 17 places the standard of unity quite high: "As the Father and I are one."
If I can be forgiven for the self-promotion, all I have to add to Fr. Logan’s point is that I have written a bit more about this if you’re interested, Kay! I think it’s a great issue to really see some of the clearest points of both agreement and disagreement between Catholics and Protestants:
To your first claim that one can accept Roman Catholicism without becoming Catholic, it seems like it depends on what Roman Catholicism actually teaches. If, for example, it says that all Christians have a duty to enter communion with the Pope and accept his authority, that is to say, become Catholic, then it would seem impossible to accept Roman Catholicism without becoming Catholic.
I am grateful for your ecumenical posture and hope we can continue building on the ground we share!
I believe that Christ is the source of unity among Christians. I teach a Bible class in a nondenominational international ministry where we do not discuss the churches we belong to. Those churches run the entire gamut, from Roman Catholic to every variety of Protestant. The statement of faith our leaders must sign is entirely biblically based and can be signed by both Catholics and Protestants. I work closely with people from very different church polities, yet we are all one in Christ Jesus, not just in belief but in experience and prayer and action. So I do not believe that Christian unity to any degree depends on the pope or priest or pastor who serves as our overseer. We should be united in belief and in morals, and it is very distressing to me when Christians adopt a worldly view of matters such as abortion or anything that attacks God’s purposes in His creation.
It is a sad truth that many Catholics have departed from Catholic teaching on moral issues, so that is far from an exclusively Protestant problem. Conformity to the world is a temptation every Christian faces; the world, the flesh, and the devil are our ancient enemies. Our recourse against them is abiding in Christ and employing the weapons of our warfare as described in Ephesians 6. All those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him with all their hearts and souls and minds are my beloved brothers and sisters in Him.
Brava! Keep writing and "digging." But most of all, keep praying and stay close to our Eucharistic Lord!
Welcome home, sister! Your journey reminds me a lot of Dr. Scott Hahn’s!
Aww, thank you! And I am deeply complimented by the comparison.
It is possible to accept Roman Catholicism without becoming Catholic. The scholarly works I’ve read point out that most Christians up until around the 11th century believed in Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist without believing that the bread and wine become the literal body and blood of Christ. Jesus used simile, metaphor, and hyperbole a lot in His teaching. Certainly He said that we are to feed on Him, but in the words of the institution He also said “Do this in remembrance of me.” If the disciples did not believe they were consuming His actual body and blood, and we have no biblical reason to think they did, then we aren’t necessarily doing so either.
There is much that can be accepted as a mystery without the necessity of explanation.
I’m married to a Catholic and my sister converted. I’ve attended wonderful Catholic churches and a few that were far from wonderful. There are tares and wheat mixed in both Catholic and Protestant churches. I love the Anglican Church and its liturgy, which makes the altar and the Eucharist the pinnacle of worship. It’s very frustrating when Catholics lump all Protestants together and look at the faults in Protestantism while gliding over the faults in Catholicism. Most Protestant seminaries are liberal, but many Catholic seminaries are polluted by homosexuality. The criticism and division perpetuated by so many Protestants and Catholics, both equally at fault, must be displeasing to the Lord. His Church is not divided into Catholic and Protestant. Those who believe in Jesus and have accepted the efficacy of his sacrifice for their sins are all one in Him.
Kay, I appreciate your perspective, however, I'd push back on that notion of unity.
Wouldn't you think that unity is a bit more substantial than believing the "essentials" as Madison's youth pastor proffered?
I would propose unity to be threefold: we believe the same things (teaching), we live the same way (morals and worship), and we are shepherded in the same way (local bishop and Pope).
John 17 places the standard of unity quite high: "As the Father and I are one."
Curious on your thoughts!
If I can be forgiven for the self-promotion, all I have to add to Fr. Logan’s point is that I have written a bit more about this if you’re interested, Kay! I think it’s a great issue to really see some of the clearest points of both agreement and disagreement between Catholics and Protestants:
reformationcatholicism.com/p/essentials-based-unity-rips-the-church
Two further thoughts.
For the beliefs on the early Church, I’d refer you to their own words:
https://www.churchfathers.org/the-real-presence
To your first claim that one can accept Roman Catholicism without becoming Catholic, it seems like it depends on what Roman Catholicism actually teaches. If, for example, it says that all Christians have a duty to enter communion with the Pope and accept his authority, that is to say, become Catholic, then it would seem impossible to accept Roman Catholicism without becoming Catholic.
I am grateful for your ecumenical posture and hope we can continue building on the ground we share!
I believe that Christ is the source of unity among Christians. I teach a Bible class in a nondenominational international ministry where we do not discuss the churches we belong to. Those churches run the entire gamut, from Roman Catholic to every variety of Protestant. The statement of faith our leaders must sign is entirely biblically based and can be signed by both Catholics and Protestants. I work closely with people from very different church polities, yet we are all one in Christ Jesus, not just in belief but in experience and prayer and action. So I do not believe that Christian unity to any degree depends on the pope or priest or pastor who serves as our overseer. We should be united in belief and in morals, and it is very distressing to me when Christians adopt a worldly view of matters such as abortion or anything that attacks God’s purposes in His creation.
It is a sad truth that many Catholics have departed from Catholic teaching on moral issues, so that is far from an exclusively Protestant problem. Conformity to the world is a temptation every Christian faces; the world, the flesh, and the devil are our ancient enemies. Our recourse against them is abiding in Christ and employing the weapons of our warfare as described in Ephesians 6. All those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him with all their hearts and souls and minds are my beloved brothers and sisters in Him.