Because it's the only Church that was founded by Jesus (God in the flesh) 2,000 years ago.
Eastern Orthodox is divided by nationality. Before the Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from Rome in 1054AD, there was only one Church with the Pope as the sign of that unity.
The Church is called Catholic (universal) because she fulfilled the commandment made by Jesus to spread the gospel to all nations.
You should be what your heart calls you to be. There is no right or wrong choice here. It is an individual choice. I chose based on what made me feel the most comfortable and happy.
We're all Christians. Let's just focus on what we have in common first. Jesus, God's grace, and salvation of others. After we're done with that, we can talk some more...
Every time any person gives any amount of money to the Catholic Church, that person is paying the salary of pedophile rapists. Not merely looking the other way, mind you, but actually paying the salaries of thousands of criminal, sexual deviants, who try to pass themselves off as men who have moral authority, but who are, in fact, the basest of men (Dan. 4:17). Who would rationally conceive of actually paying the salaries of pedophile rapists? And yet, that is exactly what all the parishioners of the Catholic Church are doing today. For those who try to justify their particular parish by arguing that their priest doesn't molest boys, consider this. Do you think that the money put in that plate stays local? These are fungible assets that go into the main pot of the Catholic church and are returned for local use on an as needed basis (and are used as payouts and hush money in sexual molestation cases). And are there any priests preaching against this horrendous sin from the pulpit, denouncing the 'church' and demanding that his parishioners have nothing to do with it? Every member of the Catholic clergy, without exception, is a minister of Satan, and the parishioners love the lies that they are fed, and offer up their children to these monstrous, vile beasts (Lev. 18:21).
to be honest, i really don't see what is wrong with your religion. i am a Catholic, and i am told by priest to spread the news of God around, but i am sure he didn't mention anything about converting. honestly i don't see why we can all have one religion. we all believe in the same Almighty God, why can't we just have religion.
God wants all mankind to be united into one holy family worshiping Him in Spirit and truth. Christ established the Catholic Church to be the family of God. This role was given to her by Christ when He said, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..."(Matthew 28:19) Christ gave the Apostles the fullness of truth and grace in order that the Church could accomplish her mission. That fullness still resides in the Catholic Church through her teachings and sacraments.
I am roman catholic, you can chose what ever religious denomination you want as a protestant, but if you want to be a true Christian then becoming a catholic would be your only choice, may God guide you and bless you in what ever choice you make. just remember there is nothing bad about being a catholic or a protestant it's simply what our beliefs are that's all.
I am a convert to Catholicism after being a Protestant for 50 years and a Protestant minister for 25 years. Becoming Orthodox would be good as they come from the same wellspring of truth as the Catholic Church.
The reason I became Catholic is because of the fullness of worship, practice, faith and truth. I realized after becoming Catholic that I had always compromised my faith and beliefs with Protestant doctrines that just did not find support in Scriptures or Sacred Tradition. I studied the writings of the Church fathers and the history of the early Church to an extent that tit has become my liefs work. Doing so has convinced me that the Catholic Church is exactly what she claims and that is that it is the Church spoken of in the NT Scriptures and the Church that the Scriptures say is the "bulwark and ground of the truth". It is the church that Jesus said that the "gates of hell will not prevail" against. It is the Church that Christ said "I will be with my Church until the end of the age." It is the Church that provides the bread of life for Jesus said, "unless you eat my body and drink my blood there is no life in you" and in the Catholic Church is where the corporeal Christ is found so that we may do as He commanded. Only in the Catholic Church can one be at the foot of the cross with St. Mary and St. John and worship the crucified Christ with the entire Church, Triumphant, Suffering and Militant. For me these are enough reasons, need I say more? May the Lord bless you abundantly.
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
Edit:
Additionally, just for the record because I and the Chruch was so viciously attacked, the Catholic clergy have the lowest percentage of sexual abusers of and ecclesiastical group. Most Protestant churches have a clergy sexual abuse rate that is 6 to 10 times higher than that the Catholic clergy. But just one is too many.
The Roman Catholic church is the only church that has a direct continuity from Apostolic times to the present times. The first Pope was St. Peter and the present Pope is Pope Benedict XVl.
I would disagree that the Orthodox church is the same as the Catholic church since they are a schismatic church that does not accept the authority of the Pope among many other things. The primary causes of the Schism were disputes over papal authority?Pope Leo IX claimed he held authority over the four Eastern patriarchs?and over the insertion of the foliage clause into the Nicene Creed by the Western Church.
In Christian theology the foliage clause or foliage controversy (foliage meaning "and [from] the son" in Latin) is a heavily disputed part of the Nicene Creed, that forms a divisive difference in particular between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. In the Orthodox tradition, the line in question reads "We believe in the Holy Spirit ... who proceeds from the Father", while in the Catholic tradition it reads "We believe in the Holy Spirit ... who proceeds from the Father and the Son". It is most often referred to as simply "foliage" or "the foliage."
If I were you, I'd go for the Roman Catholic church since it is the only church that has maintained its continuity from the time of Christ, as Christ had promised and thus, is the only church that can assure your salvation.
First Catholicism makes real sense. Every part of it does. Many have converted to the Catholic Church because they can see clearly that it tells the truth and nothing but the truth. Then the Catholic Church is the true and original Church of Jesus Christ. It is the one he established on earth. Study the history and you will also come into this conclusion. Then the sacraments are sources of grace and blessings. When you enter the Catholic Church you will know what I am talking about. Then you have Mary and the saints and the angels to help you. Through the Eucharist, you become a living tabernacle, a living temple of God and you get the privilege to become Christ to people and bring His love to others. I can think of a million and one things to tell you. The list is endless but to know for yourself you have to come and see for yourself. So what are you waiting for? Welcome to your true home the One, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Catholic Church.
In the Church we learn to forgive others. We learn to fight our evil inclinations and we fight evil in the world. We are all sinners except Jesus and Mary. Despite our sins, we can aspire to become holy and begin again each time we fall. "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone. "
We have confession to help us overcome temptations and mortal and venial sins. God knows we are sinners. What is important is we try to be good and stand up each time we fall. We are all weak human beings but with God's mercy and love we can be powerful against evil in the world. The Catholic Church serves to serve mankind, bring souls to heaven and defeat the devil through virtues and united prayers. We love all people because God gives us the power to love. The Pope helps us to love as Christ commanded us to love as He loved us. God bless us all.
Roman Catholics: I am a Protestant, why should I be a Catholic?
