TRUTH AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

It always has been an interest of mine to attempt to understand why certain people believe in one creed rather than another. Specifically, why does a person convert from one philosophy and / or religion to another. Of particular interest to me are the reasons why people who possess strong wills and probing, intellectual minds converted to Catholicism.

From the middle of the 19^th century through the middle of the 20^th century, numerous British literary and philosophical writers and thinkers converted to Catholicism. Prior to joining the Catholic Church, some of the individuals had been determined opponents of Catholicism for extended periods of time. What convinced them to make such a radical change? Atheists, Calvinists, and Anglicans were steadfast critics of Catholicism, yet some of their group braved strong opposition to become a Catholic, even at the risk of losing friends, family members, and position. Why take such a step to break with their past, especially considering where they were heading. Their friends might say,” OK, convert, but to Catholicism never.” Yet convert they did. The names of some of these converts are recognizable by many in the 21^st century. John Henry Newman, G.K Chesterton, Christopher Dawson, Graham Greene, Ronald Knox, and Evelyn Waugh are just a few. Others, well known in their time, but less so today – Maurice Barring, David Jones, Alfred Noyes, Philip Gibbs, Arnold Lunn, Sheila Kaye-Smith, and numerous others. Why convert to Catholicism, especially considering the obstacles the converts would encounter within their families, friends, and society of the day?

Is there a common thread among these and other converts that attracted them to Catholicism? When asked why he had decided to convert to Catholicism, John Henry Newman noted,“ No one can have more unfavorable view than I of the present state of Roman Catholics.” But he concluded that Catholic faith was truth. Newman placed his priority on truth over friends, family, and even unlikeable Roman Catholics. Like Newman, Chesterton emphasized the truth of the Catholic belief and doctrine. Truth had a priority over friends, goodness, and one’s own preferences. Newman may not hold many Roman Catholics in high regard, but the Church held fast to the truth, despite the failings of some of its members. He was bound by his integrity to be Catholic, as it satisfied his demand for truth. (In the early 21^st century, there are many Catholics, including bishops and theologians, who have exhibited poor and even sinful behavior that is revolting to most Catholics. Some are willing to sacrifice their own integrity for more secular and political reasons. Yet most Catholics remain within the church as they recognize the truth of the Church founded by Christ.)

Helaire Belloc referred to the truth of the Catholic church as “ reality.” God and Jesus Christ are the foundations of reality – truth. Belloc, Newman, Chesterton , and numerous others accepted that Jesus Christ had deposited the truth of God within the Catholic Church, the Church founded by Jesus. Therefore, Catholics they must be, regardless of the enmity of others, including family and friends.