The Journey Home

I'm often questioned (if not attacked) on my Catholic faith. Often there is misinformation behind it. Some go as far as to call the Catholic church a cult. I'm always happy to dispel those myths. Still, I hear people say "I was Catholic, but now I'm Christian." I know what they mean, but it still bothers me. There seems to be a sense of duty by evangelicals to "rescue" Catholics from the church. The interesting thing is what you learn when you talk to a "Christian" who becomes a "Catholic". Almost all do not view themselves as converting to faith in Christ when they become Catholic; rather, they see themselves as transitioned to the fullness of the Christian faith. So what is it that is missing from the Protestant faith that would cause one to covert to the Catholic faith?
It seems to come down to some key issues that can not be found outside the Catholic church. First there is a customization of faith among evangelicals. One simply chooses which protestant denomination fits their own desires and beliefs and they make that choice void of any certainty. If one can not find a fit, it's perfectly fine to start your own church. In Roman Catholicism, when Rome speaks on an issue, that's it. Like it or not, we are to submit to authority. That absolute certainty does not exist outside the Catholic church. There is a Protestant reliance on personal and fallible interpretation of scripture that leads to all kinds of interpretive diversity. Now we have mainstream churches accepting homosexuality, divorce, female pastors, all things that have consistently condemned by the Catholic Church. Also lacking is the entire history of the Christian church and not just the period since the Reformation. This desire to be connected with church history and learn what the early Christians believed leads many to Rome. It's not hard to see the total lack of unity among Protestants and many are disturbed by the divisions and countless denominations within Protestantism. Peter Carm once described Protestants as "one long, continuous line of protesters protesting against their fellow protesters, generating thousands of denominations, para-churches, and 'free churches,' which are simply one-church denominations." When one lacks the authority of the Catholic Church, they are left trying to sort through the numerous interpretations of Protestant pastors and theologians. This Protestant leaders serve to bring confusion and deepen the divide between all Christians. Many Catholic converts believe they have found their authority in the Catholic Church's Magisterium. Doctrinal issues are no longer a matter of debate as the Church defines belief with over 2000 years of study and it does so infallibly through the Holy Spirit and not mere man, something no other denomination can claim.
Another common trait you find, is most converts end up in Catholicism as a result of massive amounts of reading and research. The topics of certainty, history, unity, and authority are causing some from the evangelical camp to convert to Roman Catholicism. Christians were not meant to be separated from each other. For an evangelical to be come Catholic requires a massive shift in theology and a separation of their own desires, however those who truly seek the fullness of the faith will blessed with truth and the strength to do so.