'Why Did You Really Become Catholic?'

“The difficulty of explaining why I am a Catholic,” wrote G.K. Chesterton, “is that there are 10,000 reasons all amounting to one reason: that Catholicism is true.” A related difficulty, especially for the convert, is that some onlookers would rather analyze your possible motives than consider your plainly stated reasons.

Upon entering the Church in 1997, my wife and I — both of us former evangelical Protestants — found we were the objects of the sort of misguided psychoanalysis that would amaze even the most devout Freudian. Subsequently, we met other converts from Protestantism who also contended with the same sort of we-know-your-mind-better-than-you-do attitude. Some of the “reasons” given:

“Have you been brainwashed?” A sly piece of rhetorical questioning, similar to asking the unsuspecting husband, “Have you stopped beating your wife?” If you try to seriously argue against the accusation, you only reinforce the impression that you are indeed brainwashed. What could be more natural than for those brainwashed to insist they are not, in fact, brainwashed? Laughing at the notion is interpreted as an unwillingness to take seriously the dire straits you are in.

“You're becoming Catholic to get attention.” An underhanded way of saying, “You're being rebellious and immature.” Yes, there is plenty of attention paid to the fundamentalist turned Catholic, nearly all of it negative. Friends and family members begin sending boxes of anti-Catholic literature and tapes, and you are informed, with intense piety, that prayers are being offered on your behalf. Some friends cut off all contact immediately. In a couple of instances, while trying to explain my decision, I was told that I was using “man's wisdom.” Irritated and increasingly testy (perhaps even uncharitable), I was then reprimanded for being “too emotional” about the issue.

“You want a Church that will tell you what to think.” This is a puzzling assertion: If you argue against it, does it mean the Church has told you to act as though you really can think for yourself? Actually, many fundamentalists find it reassuring to view Catholics as thoughtless drones mumbling prayers to Mary and drinking like fish every Friday and Saturday night. Ironically, the Catholic has far more freedom to think for himself than do those Christians who must adhere to every word that comes forth from the mouth of Pastor Bob at the local “Open Bible Faith Center.” Just one dissenting word uttered there about hymns, head coverings or eternal security and you could be shown the door.

“You didn't read the Bible enough.” On the contrary, the Bible led me to the Catholic faith. But try telling that to your fundamentalist or evangelical friends. The best response will be nervous laughter; more usual is an angry retort about the Catholic Church “hating” and “destroying” the Bible. Attempts to discuss this point rationally are usually doomed to a quick and fiery end.

As specious as these explanations are, it is incorrect to label them as copouts or disingenuous wisecracks. They are uttered with sincere and solemn conviction. They highlight the chasm that still divides Catholics from many other Christians and point to the need for improved catechesis and savvy, charitable apologetics.

So while the first 9,999 reasons might be psychoanalyzed away, perhaps the final one will find a home in the puzzled heart of the onlooker.

Carl E. Olson is editor of Envoy magazine and author of Will Catholics be ‘Left Behind’?