Something I read today on Dominic Mary's blog 'Libera Me' really struck a chord with me and made so much sense.
He, like me, is a convert and also a former Anglican. He refers to a comment made my Ann Widdecombe in her foreword to 'The Path to Rome' about the statement of faith made by converts at their reception into the Church.
As an adult convert, when I was received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church, I had to make a profession of faith, not only by reciting the Creed as we all do every Sunday but also by stating my belief that what the Church teaches is revealed truth.
That is quite different to those who have always been Catholics, the so-called 'Cradle Catholics', and may explain in part why some Catholics don't seem to have a problem with disregarding or not accepting certain parts of Catholic teaching. They may not have looked at their faith in this way and have never had to confirm their acceptance of the truth of the Church's teaching.
I've never thought of it in this way before, but of course they have never had to actually stand up and state their belief in the Church's teaching in the same way as I had to as an adult.
We probably all find certain aspects of the Church's teaching difficult at times and there are things that we don't like or even disagree with BUT I am reminded of that Easter Vigil more than 20 years ago when I had to stand up in front of everyone and make my profession of faith including my assent to the teachings of the Church and I personally find that very helpful.
