One For The Parents

A reader writes:

I was wondering if you could suggest any books or articles that might help my staunchly Presbyterian (and seriously anti-Catholic) parents better understand my and my husband’s decision to leave the Episcopal Church for the Mother Church?  (To quote my mother, “Y’all are already almost Catholic anyway!”   Ha! I wish.)

I’d probably recommend the book

SURPRISED BY TRUTH

It’s a book of theologically-oriented conversion stories with a number of contributors (myself included) coming from a Presbyterian background. It thus might help them understand the move.

I encourage other folks to made additional recommendations in the combox (though I may delete ones I disagree with for whatever reason).

USE THIS LINK TO FIND THEM ON AMAZON

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

10 thoughts on “One For The Parents”

  1. If you don’t already read Fr. Al Kimel’s blog, Pontifications, you might want to keep an eye on it and check the archives for helpful articles. He’s (formerly) an Anglican priest, just recently leaving the Anglican church to join the Catholic Church.
    He’ll often post short citations from geniuses like Newman, and you might find some of them helpful.

  3. I always recommend Mark Shea’s By What Authority, though it may not be as good a fit in your situation, depending on what kind of Presbyterians your parents are.

  4. Coming from a strict Southern Baptist background, “Evangelical Is Not Enough” by Thomas Howard and “Where we got the Bible: Our Debt to the Catholic Church” by Henry Graham really put things into perspective for me during my conversion. Perhaps it will help your parents understand our faith as well!

  5. Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn.
    Crossing the Tiber by Steve Ray.
    Journeys Home by Marcus Grodi.
    How Firm a Foundation by Marcus Grodi.

  6. I’m Presbyterian (PCA) and former Baptist. I’ve been reading all these books that Catholics are recomending and listening to Catholic radio/TV (EWTN) for a few years now. I read and listen to Catholic and Protestant stuff everyday. Blogs Websites you name it. On my shelf at home I’m reading so many different books by Catholics and Protestants. CS Lewis on one hand and Thomas Howard on the other. I’m baffled to say the least.

  7. Send them a copy of both the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Episcopal Catechism.
    That should just about do it.

  9. I second “Born Fundamentalist,” but I really like Thomas Howard’s “On Being Catholic.” I wouldn’t recommend Hahn or a lot of the other Catholic apologists in this case, because of the condescending tone they have trouble avoiding. You want to explain your reasons for poping, not argue with their reasons for not.

  10. What about Oliver Barres’ One Shepherd, One Flock?
    I second Fr. Kimel’s blog. It’s unreal how so many Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants typically play nice, which allows for different perspectives to be discussed civilly, and hence more clearly.

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