For current and former Catholics: Were you raised Catholic, or did you convert to Catholicism?

Question

I am curious, as I don't hear about many Catholic converts. I'd like to run an informal poll and see how the numbers may shake out.

Well, it shows how different the facts can be from preconceived notions. Most of the time, I only hear about people born into Catholicism. Judging from the responses (including anecdotal testimony), I have 16 people who were raised Catholic and 8 people who converted to Catholicism. So, with this very informal and imperfect poll, I see about 1/3 of Catholics are indeed converts. That's more than I expected, and I'm glad to have gathered these numbers. It was pretty enlightening.

Answer 1

I was born into it. My father is a convert. In the old days one had to convert in order to be married to a Catholic. My father converted to marry my mother. My mother was born into it, as were her parents etc.

My wife was born into it. Her parents were born into it etc.

EDIT: Not sure what to tell you, Stanbo. Apparently my father did not get the memo.

Peace

Answer 2

Born Catholic, still Catholic, its my strength and my joy.
Most people leave because they never really knew the faith to begin with; it would never have lasted for over 2000 years if it wasn't truly blessed by God. A human organization would have collapsed ages ago with all the heretical stuff, the reformation,the persecutions, all the bad stuff that has shaken 'the system' to its very roots. It's like a phonenix that rises from the ashes better full of grace and joy than the previous eras. There is nothing more wonderful than knowing the Truth. One of my friends online converted this past Easter.. another on the way!!

Answer 3

I was raised a Catholic.

However there are thousands of new Catholic converts every year.

In 2004 alone, there were 80,817 adult baptisms and an additional 73,684 baptized adults were received into full communion with the Church.

And that's only inside the United States.

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

I converted to Catholicism in college, which was SNORTGASPCHOKESNEEZE years ago. (Sorry, that always seems to happen whenever the subject of my age comes up.)

Seriously, I was raised in the Methodist church, but I'd been attracted to the Catholic faith ever since I was small. Our next door neighbors were Catholic, and I loved everything that I learned about the Church from being around them.

When I left home and felt free to choose my own religion, I converted to Catholicism. It's a beautiful faith, and I have no regrets.

Answer 5

Catholic....born and raised!!!!

God bless,
Stanbo

Adoptive, I think that you are incorrect about having to convert to marry in the old days. My grandparents married in the church and my grandmother didn't convert until later after my mom was born. That was a long time ago, my grandmother is 90 years old.

mzenner3, good for you. I wish you all the best.

Answer 6

I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness until I was about 12. My parents left that cult and we floated among different churches trying to find the “right one”. We finally landed back on my mother’s Catholic roots and I was baptized when I was 15. I didn’t make my confirmation, though, until I was 30, two years ago. I consider myself a convert; best decision of my life.

God bless.

Answer 7

I think Catholicism is a bit too rigid for a lot of Christians now. A lot of people still like to think about Jesus and God in general, but they don't want to follow the strict Catholic code. They instead move to non-denominational Christianity and other more passive religions.

Answer 8

I am a Catholic convert. I made my journey home 2 years ago.

Answer 9

Recovering Catholic / Atheist. Raised.

Answer 10

One, comprehend that maximum "former Catholics" on no account understood the doctrines of the church they allegedly left. hence, they what they actually left grow to be imaginary. 2d, those that promulgate lies against His Church are many times the the leaders of radical fundamentalists communities. they have on no account been Catholic, comprehend little or no approximately Catholic doctrine and whilst cautioned on what the doctrine is, they do no longer choose for to pay attention. 0.33, those radical cults have straight forward twofold doctrine a million) have self belief in Jesus, "that uncomplicated" and a pair of) Any team that disagrees with me is immediately vilified. As you will see, once you do no longer likely have a properly-theory doctrine, there won't be plenty left to speak approximately different than to vilify anybody else and summarily declare them incorrect.