It all started with one of those slightly tipsy conversations that you can only have after 1 am. It was New Year’s Eve, and I was at a party thrown by Christian friends. The nerdy kids were dancing in the kitchen to Toploader, and the even nerdier ones were in the sitting room arguing about theology.
The debate revolved around one question: could you convert to Roman Catholicism? It is a question that is hard to avoid, especially for an Anglican like me. Barely a month seems to go by without a bishop snapping his crozier, chucking back his mitre and asking to be received into the Catholic church. The Church of England is in such a state that these defections will likely become more commonplace.
Unusually for a late-night discussion, the feeling was unanimous. Though none of us planned to convert, what was striking was the warmth, which the debate generated. Among us was an ordained priest who had given deep consideration to conversion before deciding against it. The rest of us treated it as a serious proposition, although not a step we would take ourselves.
The reasons given in favour of conversion were similar. The declining doctrinal orthodoxy of the Anglican church was a key concern, as was the greater Catholic appreciation of church tradition and its role in shaping doctrine and practice. Added to that, the serious consideration given to the sacraments by Catholics was something we admired.
So, where was the stumbling block? If we had such respect for Catholic tradition and practice, why didn’t we take the road to Rome?
For me, it was the place of scripture in the preaching and teaching at most Catholic churches. My point is not to diminish the role of scripture in Catholic life, nor the tradition of biblical interpretation and teaching within the Catholic church. Indeed, an entire monastic order – the Dominicans – were founded to combat the Albigensian heresy through preaching God’s word.
But I’m not the first to make the point that the routines of worship and devotion are far less focussed on scripture for most Catholics than for many Anglicans, particularly those who come from an evangelical tradition. Niall Gooch has observed that good preaching is not necessarily the norm in many Catholic churches, nor is in-depthBible study.
This isn’t so much a criticism as an observation that this relative absence of Bible study among Catholics presents as a missed opportunity for joy. The most profound moments of joy in my life have come from realising the truth of the Good News – either when it was being preached to me or when I was being helped to understand it in scripture. One of my happiest times was my second year at university, where I attended a weekly Bible study on Romans. For the first time, if asked, I could explain my faith, not just as a catechism or a creed but as a deeply understood truth and a source of real elation. Since then, nothing in my life has so consistently encouraged or sustained me than God’s word in scripture, and nothing has contributed more to my spiritual growth. I may not always be diligent in reading and studying the Bible, but it never disappoints me if I do.
It is the thought of minimising this source of joy that is my greatest barrier to becoming a Catholic. As Paul says, I often do not do the good I want to do. I find that I need encouragement and structure if I am to tap into this rich seam as a regular part of my spiritual life. As an evangelical Anglican, this structure is provided for me within a sermon and a group study. Without it, I tend to stumble.
And yet conservative evangelical Anglicans do not have a monopoly on faithful, expository preaching or good teaching. Catholicism has a rich history of both. It is simply less emphasised within the structure of services and church organisation.
The general drift of the Anglican church is such that those who take biblical orthodoxy seriously may find themselves homeless sooner rather than later. The Catholic church will certainly pick up many of the stragglers. But if it wants to take the lion’s share of former Anglicans – indeed if it wants to enhance the spiritual lives of its current flock – it would do well to consider its history. It should certainly be possible to accommodate the rich spiritual joy of Biblical preaching and teaching without losing what makes its forms of worship unique. Neglecting it denies Catholics opportunities to grow in their faith – and presents a major hurdle for converts. Until this barrier is removed, I and many like me would find it impossible to become Catholic.
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