Question:
I’m seriously thinking about becoming a Catholic. However, I keep wondering if my time at my Protestant church was false because it’s not the Catholic Church. The other day I heard a priest on the radio say that the Holy Spirit does reside in Protestant churches but that the fullness of truth is in the Catholic Church. Can you help me better understand this?
Answer:
The priest is correct. Your time at your church wasn’t false. The Holy Spirit was there.
All Christian truths are found in the Catholic Church—no Christian truth is missing from the Catholic Church—but the Church acknowledges that many truths are found in other “ecclesial communions.” God uses these separated churches as a means of salvation (Dominus Jesus).
The destination of every convert’s journey is “home.” That’s why when a non-Catholic becomes Catholic, you’ll usually hear the cheer of “Welcome home!” In the Catholic Church, there’s true Christian unity, one flock under one shepherd (John 10:16).
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