Comments on: “Convert” Revisited

By: Rita Ferrone

Rita Ferrone — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:42:32 +0000

Ken,

Thanks for offering another example. It’s great that Deacon Jones has found fulfillment of his Pentecostalism in the Catholic Church. But I wouldn’t recommend the expression “completed” for general use. Although it’s intention is to affirm the background of the person who became Catholic, it could come across as quite the opposite: a put-down. “I’m complete, you’re not.” When we talk about these things we should, as much as possible, put ourselves in the shoes of the person we are talking to. How will that person hear what we are saying? Will we seem to be puffed up with pride? I like to talk about the ongoing journey of faith because it suggests that none of us is complete yet!

By: Ken Jarman

Ken Jarman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:25:33 +0000

Some might like the adjective “completed”, as Deacon Alex Jones does: “When I became Catholic, I did not cease to be Pentecostal; I became a completed Pentecostal.”

By: Rita

Rita — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:58:39 +0000

Thanks, Jim, for sharing your perspective. You’ve enlarged our discussion!

By: Jim Lawler

Jim Lawler — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:17:24 +0000

Hi, my name is Jim.

I like to describe myself as a Catholic by Choice.

I became a Catholic in 2000 after being in the Church of Christ for ten years and the Southern Baptist church for twenty-five years. I never thought of myself as a “convert” (even when some who were in my RCIA group called themselves “converts”) as I always considered converts as those who convert from other religions such as Judaism to Christianity. I chose to become a Catholic because of all that the Catholic Church is. After eight years, and in all of it’s Truth, History, and Tradition the Catholic Church is still unfolding something new in Herself for me every single day. I believe I made the right Choice!

Thanks,

Jim

By: Paul Turner

Paul Turner — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:46:54 +0000

Coining a word is very hard to do. It may be best to avoid using a noun at all. “Are you a convert?” “No, I was already baptized when I joined the Catholic Church.” That’s a better description.

By: Rita

Rita — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:34:19 +0000

Nick, I’d love to see a new coinage. It’s too bad that nee means born! And to quote Aidan Kavanagh (whose words are even more immortal than those of Ron Oakham), “Unlike those of other persuasions, Christians are made, not born.” How about former?

By: Nick

Nick — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:06:58 +0000

Rita, I even hear some RCIA team members, who used to belong to another denomination, call themselves “converts.” Maybe if we all think real hard, we can come up with another way of designating such folks. Perhaps we could make use of “nÃ©e,” as some married folks do when they want to reveal a former identity.