What Catholics and Protestants Can Learn From Each Other:

Common Ground 

....is a revealing and candid conversation between the leaders of two large churches in Troy Michigan, just North of Detroit: Father John Riccardo of St. Anastasia Roman Catholic Church, and Pastor Steve Andrews of Kensington Community Church. Seeking common ground, "the priest and the pastor" respectfully examine the similarities between the two great traditions they represent. Regardless of your religious background, you'll be intrigued by their open discussion about:

Salvation

Holy Eucharist

The Virgin Mary

Confession

The Saints

Prayer & Worship

Evangelism

Christian Unity

Do you know what people are the most afraid of?    What they don't understand. And when we don't understand we turn to our assumptions.  (read more)

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Posted by Anonymous

Hi there-

Thanks for this interesting link. I am convert to Catholicism from Evangelicalism (2003) and I have a dear dear Protestant friend (she was baptized Catholic) who lives in the Braidwood, IL area. Any chance you could be close to her? If not, could you recommend a parish or group that I could send her to?

We've been having long talks about the faith and she is now attending a Calvinist church in the area and learning its catechism -- which has been very difficult for me to watch. She seems to be buying into the predestination/no free will view of Reformed Presbyterianism and I'm watching a light-hearted generous person getting bogged down "in the hands of an angry God".

We've both homeschooled for, well, FOREVER! (our daughters were young together and are now having babies and getting post grad degrees) so we do have a very real connection and love for each other that has stood the test of my conversion -- unlike some other friendships I had.

I think if she could meet some "normal" likeminded Catholics it might persuade her to rethink her formation and give the Catholic Church a second chance. Since becoming Catholic, I have learned on a very deep level, that many of the doctrinal issues in Prostestanism that are so divisive are answered in Mother Church in the "both/and" position -- something that cannot be achieved outside the true faith. I long for my faithful Protestant friends to enjoy the freedom we've encountered in not having to reconcile seemingly opposite truths, and having that freedom actually given and maintained by God's sacramental love.

Anyway, God bless and I enjoy perusing your blog when I have time. I, too, have classically trained my children and now have only one left, a 12 year old boy. It's such a joy to be using this type of education INSIDE the Church instead of always trying to "side step" her as I had to do so before. LOL!

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Posted by TRINITYPREPSCHOOL

We are about 3 hours from Braidwood. I'm sorry, I don't know anyone from that area to direct her to for support or information.

Maureen

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