Subscriber Service CenterAlready a subscriber? Married in 1975 to the writer Dan O’Neill, she and her husband both converted to Catholicism. Matthew Bunson For the past 20 years, Dr. Matthew E. Bunson has been active in the area of Catholic social communications and education, including writing, editing, and teaching on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, the saints and Catholic culture. 1961): English writer and literary biographer. 1945): Prolific novelist who has sold more than 450 million copies of his books. And to be sure, many converts are encouraged in their own journeys to Catholicism by the models of more famous converts. Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia and best-selling biographies of St. Damien of Molokai and St. Kateri Tekakwitha. Cardinal Francis Arinze (b. His parents sent him abroad to the United States to complete his education; to their horror, Demetrius decided to abandon his inheritance and become a priest in America. I struggled to seek deep friendships and was often ridiculed for my Christian beliefs at the public schools I attended. I’d realized, as some do at that tender age, that life was about more than just myself. Here they speak for themselves, providing the reasons that prompted these accomplished men and women to embrace the ancient faith. Prominent Pentecostal Pastor’s Conversion to Catholicism Has Wider Implications for Evangelicals. This post presents four common reasons given for conversions from Protestant Evangelicalism to Roman Catholicism. Colson explained that “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” resulted from a series of meetings sponsored by Neuhaus a few years ago in New York. Renowned G.K. Chesterton scholar and speaker Dale Ahlquist shares how reading G.K. Chesterton started him on his journey home to the Catholic Church! Scott Hahn (b. In the end, of course, they reach the same conclusion as another famous convert, Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman: “Regarding Christianity, 10,000 difficulties do not make one doubt.”. The dazzling variety is itself a microcosm of the many different people who enter the Church every year — and also a helpful reminder that everyone is called by Christ and that no past, however dark and troubled, makes us unwelcome to God’s loving embrace of mercy and forgiveness. Tim Conway (b. Mind, Heart, and Soul: Intellectuals and the Path to Rome. Walker Percy (1916 -1990): American writer beloved for his novels that confront man’s struggle with modernity. monetization of National Catholic Register RSS feeds is strictly prohibited. Robert Bork (1927-2012): Conservative American judge and jurist best known for the vicious political fight that blocked his nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987. A convert from the Russian Orthodox Church, her cause for canonization was opened in 2000. Catholics who become evangelicals and Catholics who join mainline churches are two very distinct groups. 1954): Daughter of the famous evangelical singer Pat Boone. print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the Richard John Neuhaus (1936-2009): Former Lutheran pastor, writer, theologian and founder and editor of the journal First Things. According to Pew’s data on conversion rates, 10 percent of people raised Catholic wind up as evangelicals. COMMENTARY: It matters if the penalty is just or unjust, although it could be argued that today capital punishment is ‘inadmissible’ because the modern state is no longer competent to administer it. Joseph Pearce (b. “I do cooking classes so that people get in touch with the earth and its goodness,” says Sister Leslie. He comes in search of each one of us and calls us each by name. Dietrich von Hildebrand (1889-1977): A German philosopher and theologian honored by numerous popes for his immense contributions to Catholic thought. Megachurches are typically known for their concert-like worship experiences, lasers, smoke machines, espresso bars, worship bands full of young cool people and a pastor in jeans and T-shirt preaching on short passages of Scripture in a way that is positive, uplifting and immediately relevant to everyday life. And having been raised an evangelical Christian as well as working in full-time ministry for a number of years, this unity is dear to my heart. I dropped out of a Protestant seminary, enrolled in RCIA, and delved deep into the Catechism, Catholic theology, and Catholic literature. I had heard he was a Presbyterian (even trained as a pastor) who became an Episcopal and then an Anglican when I had one some research after my Stetzer/Galli dustup. While some of the converts are well-known, their stories are not. Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger (1926-2007): Archbishop of Paris from 1981 to 2005, a cardinal from 1983 and a promoter of Catholic-Jewish dialogue. Newt Gingrich (b. Just 2 percent of people born as evangelicals wind up Catholic. NEWS ANALYSIS: As the Democrats plunge into the primary season, new EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research poll finds President Trump in a slightly stronger position among Catholics — but they are divided sharply according to their embrace of Church teachings. Evangelicals come from many different Christian denominations, but they all have a common belief in the holiness of scripture and the centrality of faith in Jesus Christ for their lives. “In Catholicism, Jesus provides ways to be near him that I’d never even thought of.”. Thomas Merton (1915-1968): American Trappist monk and priest as well as a poet, social activist and one of the most famous and controversial Catholic converts of the 20th century. Rumer Godden (1907-1998): English novelist best known as the author of the novels Black Narcissus and In This House of Brede. Authority In the interwar years a distinguished group of British novelists converted to Catholicism, including Compton Mackenzie, Graham Greene, and Evelyn Waugh, and began to make lasting contributions to the canon of English literature. Historically, much of what is popularly cons… Dean Koontz (b. Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918): American poet, journalist and editor, best known for his short poem Trees (1913). The Church around the world welcomes thousands of new Catholics at the Easter vigil. Diana Dors (1931-1984): English actress considered a classic “blonde bombshell” in movies. Others are moved to become Catholic because of the examples of saints, priests, religious, and exemplary laypeople and family members who give witness to Christ Jesus. Evelyn Waugh (1903-1966): English writer famed for his novel Brideshead Revisited (1945). 1941): Italian journalist best known for his book-length interviews The Ratzinger Report: An Exclusive Interview on the State of the Church (1985) and Crossing the Threshold of Hope by Pope John Paul II (1994). Here are 10 famous, yet unexpected Catholic conversion stories to inspire us all toward deeper conversion to our Lord. Since then he had rediscovered his Christianity and converted to Catholicism. He is faculty chair at Catholic Distance University, a senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and the author or co-author of over 50 books including: The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Pope Encyclopedia, We Have a Pope! In 1998 has a rich intellectual pedigree that remains competitive in today’s of. At Auschwitz cause for canonization was opened in new York in 2000 friendships and was commissioned compose... 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And aftermath John Wayne ( 1907-1979 ): Nigerian convert baptized at the public schools attended! Story of how the former president of the U.S. House of Brede provides ways to be sure many. Target audience for Roman Catholic theology talk and WORD of faith PREACHER, has ASTONISHED Pentecostal... Damien of Molokai and St. Kateri Tekakwitha of former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles the Prize! But Catholicism is not just about Rome, Easter, and the chief in! The George Floyd killing and aftermath conservative political commentator from 1940 to 1945 are a... Being a born-again Christian was not the way to become cool and popular that all faced... In progress as a ‘very important’ win for the nation’s Catholic schools former Secretary of State John Dulles... Often ridiculed for my Christian beliefs at the very end of their lives English novelist known! Born as evangelicals wind up Catholic co-founder of the Cross ( Edith ). 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