What would cause a life-long Catholic to decide that a non-Catholic religion is better for them? It could be a doctrine or two they personally cannot agree with, a grudge against a priest or other parish member, or maybe some scandal that the Church is experiencing, so they seek out (maybe by invitation) a non-Catholic Christian assembly that seems more appealing. Well, Jesus identified Himself with His Church (ref. Saul's conversion story) and says that we need to remain in Him. He also prayed that all may be one, not separate denominations, just as St Paul warned the Corinthians against their claims of following certain favorite leaders rather than focusing on the teaching and unity of the Catholic Church. Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890), following his conversion to the Catholic Church, wrote that "To be deep in history is to no longer remain Protestant." Let's explore this.
Roughly 1500 years after Jesus had established a visible Church, and put chosen people in charge with full authority to continue His work, there began a widespread rebellion to resist this God given authority. The result has been thousands of different Christian denominations with no unity of doctrine and no central authority. Irenaeus, an early Church Father, wrote about the Gnostics of his time (Against Heresies, c 180 AD): "As many as they are, all depart from each other holding so many opinions . . . they differ so widely among themselves as respects doctrine and tradition . . . and make it their effort daily to invent some new opinion." This is mindful of the over 30,000 unique non-Catholic Christian assemblies throughout the world today, many of them claiming adherence to the Bible alone. Whereas the Catholic Church, Irenaeus continued, "although scattered throughout the whole world carefully preserves and believes its doctrine just as if she had one soul, and one and the same heart, and she proclaims them and teaches them and hands them down with perfect harmony as if she possessed only one mouth."
Regarding the need for a central authority, the Bible gives strong evidence that what God has established is not to be overruled or abandoned to accommodate human pride or satisfy personal desires. In Judges 21:25 we read, "There was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own sight." This included installing their own priests (Judges 17:5-6) against God's command, as seen in 1 Kings 12:31 and 13:33. And the New Testament is clear about how the imposition of hands is required by the sanctioned presbyterate (Apostles and their successors) to install bishops, priests and deacons (ref. Acts 6:6, 13:3, 1 Tim 4:14, and 2 Tim 1:6). Clergy are thus to come from the Church that Jesus established, the Catholic Church, not from self-proclaimed leaders who set up their own congregations.
The fullness of the truth and the life-giving source of the Eucharist resides within and only within the Catholic Church. Don't allow personality conflicts, personal grudges, petty arguments, or stubborn pride, to drive you or keep you away from your Catholic roots. Learn your faith and boldly profess it. As Jesus said, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)
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