Laurence,

Thank you again for the quick and speedy response.  I do pray Mark Anthony can eventually get that edited version to you.  Please let Dr. Sungenis know how grateful I am for his service to the Church.  His lectures on Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus and the General Apologetics talk are extremely helpful.  I am not sure if Dr. Sungenis remembers me, I wrote to him a couple years ago regarding my frustration with sedevacantism (http://catholicintl.com/epologetics/dialogs/church/confused-jpii.htm). His response to me literally changed the course of my young life (I am 25, validly married now through the Church, going on 3 years married and 2 years doing full-time youth ministry).  I now do a lot of ministry to those within sedevacantism.  It pains me to see so many within the Church bashing him and (apparently) misrepresenting him, especially on issues concering Judaism.  Rest assured, my wife and I offer up a decade of the Rosary every night for him and all those who work for CAI.  If not for his help, I might still be in the clutches of sedevacantism today.  As a current full-time youth minister, I reference CAI a lot to the teens at our parish, and recently had a Bible Study where I played the recording for "Who is God and What Does He Want," which was an eye-opener for many of the teens there.

God bless,

Joe Moreaux

Mr. Sungenis,

I wish to thank you for the work you do presenting and defending the Catholic faith. An unexpected visit by me to your website just before lent this year was a turning point for me, which ultimately led me to the truth and the fullness of faith found in the Catholic Church. At the time I happened upon the CAI website, I had been a protestant Christian for 42 years and found myself without a church and was earnestly asking God to lead me to a church that taught and worshipped in truth. But, which church?

I examined the beliefs held by mainstream denominations and started to see problems with each one of them. I saw a disturbing trend among many of them to change their position on moral issues as often as political or cultural winds changed. They seemed to continuously be forming and reforming—disagreeing amongst themselves (even on the so-called “basics” of Christianity) and ultimately dividing the church body again and again. As I examined the local churches, their beliefs and teachings, and those of their denominational affiliation, if any, I found myself having difficulty selecting a church body to join (as a convert to Catholicism now, I find even the way of thinking about such matters among Protestants and myself at the time somewhat embarrassing and lacking in understanding).

During my research into the different denominations, I happened, quite by accident, upon a conversation on the CAI website between you and a Protestant woman named Cheryl. I found the exchange intriguing, at first, as she would answer your questions as I or any other Protestant might. She seemed to be a sincere believer who had more than a basic understanding of the Christian faith. Then as I read more of the exchange, I felt the floor drop out from under me. The questions you posed to Cheryl and the reasoned responses you gave to her had me questioning whether the Catholic Church could be right. As a Protestant, I didn’t know much about the Catholic Church except what other Protestants had told me about it. The general thinking was that some Catholics were saved—not because of the Catholic Church—but in spite of it. The Catholic Church was a place that had a kernel of the truth, but had added all sorts of trappings to such a simple message with Marian beliefs that didn’t seem to square with scripture, prayer to dead saints, confession, purgatory, etc. and overly superstitious people who saw apparitions of Mary in tortillas, tree trunks, and other strange places, but knew next to nothing about anything in the bible.

From that point on, I sought out more information about what the Catholic Church teaches and how it answers critical questions about itself. I discovered other Catholic apologists, church history, and stories of other people’s journey home to the Catholic Church and soon found that not only were my questions about the Catholic Church answered, but some of the difficulties that Protestantism continues to wrestle with as well. More than anything, it was the question of authority that led me to the fullness of the truth in the Catholic Church. It was also the principal struggle Cheryl was having, as you tried to point out to her in your exchange.

Around the time I happened upon your website, I was facing my own dark night of the soul and was pleading with God to show me a sign that he was still there (or if he even really existed). After neither hearing a booming voice from the mountain (not even a whisper), nor seeing any angelic apparition (awake or asleep), nor an unexplainable chain of coincidences; I stepped out in faith trusting Christ’s words when he said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Little did I know that seeking would lead me to the Catholic Church.

Thank you for being part of my journey and for your words that were the turning point that opened me to the fullness of the truth. I now have a joy for the Church I have never known before, a richer prayer life, and a much deeper intimacy with God (and the saints). I find great comfort in the authority of the Church and its teachings and eagerly await my reception into full communion with the Church and to receive, for the first time, the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord.

Sincerely,

Alan Miller

Madera, CA

I can credit Protestantism for one thing; renewing my interest in Catholicism. However, there was a process that I somehow needed to endure prior to reaching out to the Catholic Church.

Sadly, I have been away from Catholicism for years. About a year ago I had an encounter with an illness that resulted in a hospital stay and I began to regret the charitable acts I never set forth to accomplish. As my mortality became the focus for my loved ones, I couldn’t help but to acknowledge what little I had done for others in God’s name.

During my stay I often tuned in to miscellaneous Christian radio shows. I became enamored with their passion and I very easily identified with the messages I heard. Coincidently, around this time, I was also looking for spiritual guidance; a counselor or mentor of sorts. After observing several Roman Catholic priests walking briskly through the hospital halls on occasion, with their faces cast downward, I started to contemplate their accessibility.

I noticed, however, a steady flow of smiling hospital Chaplains that always seemed to be “on watch”; scouting perhaps. I was not bedridden so I left my door open to allow for enough “life” to radiate in and act as a distraction of sorts. I was one day finally able to display enough detectable curiosity that I drew the attention of one of these pleasant Chaplains.

After introducing herself, and leading me through a prayer of salvation, she talked with me for some time and she offered me the encouragement I needed to pursue my goals as soon as I was discharged (God willing). She provided me with a bible and would visit me on her rounds. She explained to me that she was a Protestant. That meant little to me at that time.

It should also be noted that the local Catholic Church did put me on the list for a visit from their priest, though I would have to be patient and wait for the day that he would be including my hospital on his route. After meeting with the priest it became a little more difficult to interface with the Catholic Church. The Deacons did not wish to make visits unless you were officially registered as a “Catholic” with the hospital, something I apparently neglected to do. Even then, they were hasty on their visits and occasionally wouldn’t show up. At times, if I was out of my room for tests or other reasons, I would return and learn that they had arrived and departed without any further information regarding setting up a follow up visit.

I was a prodigal (literally), reaching out for reaffirmation. It was my “Catholic father” (figuratively) who seemed indifferent.

I gravitated to that which offered what I perceived to be a chance for renewal. I saw a way to do something humbly, for others, in God’s name, thanks to my “enlightenment”. I felt part of an indiscriminate group, an optimistic fellowship, that made my hopes seem practical and achievable; regardless of how I was registered in the hospital records.

I felt that my Catholic father was beginning to show signs of being a façade. Perhaps his message, too, was insincere. However, I admittedly never took my own past conduct as a insincere Catholic into consideration.

I turned to a more welcoming “alternative father”; Protestantism. I felt absolved of my prodigal ways.

After all, it seemed like the whole Christian world was on fire with this passionate tide of faith. All the radio shows, television shows, concerts, and media coverage; this faith must be “the one”.

I was finally, by God’s grace, discharged. Yes, I soon began to frequent a Protestant church; of First Covenant persuasion. I enlisted in several ministries which was something I surely never did as a practicing Catholic. I felt accepted, comfortable, and observed another unexpected benefit; my wife (not a Catholic and not much of a practicing Christian either) loved it! I saw that I was among other men (and women) who seemed totally at home as they expressed their faith and worshiped God. Thumping contemporary music opened the “show” and the down to earth Pastor repeatedly delivered a feel-good sermon that made everyone depart with a feeling of fulfillment.

I believed that I had finally found a home.

Approximately 8 – 10 months later, confusion set in. Then a desire to investigate took over. Now what?

From Catholicism, to Protestantism, to the multiple variations of the latter; nothing seemed to jive. How do you explain a “fulfilled emptiness”? Oxymoron anyone?

I must confess that at no time, from my hospital stay to this period of confusion, did I ever fully desire to delete a lifetime of Catholic memories from my heart. They stayed there, persistently, on watch; scouting perhaps.

I was a bad Catholic. I was an ignorant Catholic. I still am, though now I have a passion to correct those hypocrisies. I was ill-informed, pathetically nurtured, spiritually dead, altruistically disinterested, detached in prayer, rebellious in heart, resentful at times, condescending to true believers, seldom went to church, reconciliation stopped somewhere in high school, and in short: what little I did do right, I did without sincerity and passion.

There are some very dependable vehicles out there. Though suppose you had a particular brand of vehicle your whole life without learning to drive it. You’re told this vehicle has quite the solid reputation. When you finally do decide to experiment and operate it, you only know how to drive in reverse. You drive negligently under the influence of ignorance with no structure or guidance. You collide with everything and turn the whole experience into a joke.

You become disenchanted. Slowly, the vehicle decays as it sits out front in your yard. Occasionally someone might bring up the topic of that brand of vehicle and to fit in and identify with them, you chime in with, “Yeah, I own one of those too”. And then, nostalgically, you and your drinking buddies can reminisce about the goofy good old days regarding your experiences with that brand of vehicle. None of you really know any facts about that make and model, but the jokes are hilarious.

One day, you realize the need for reliable transportation. You become driven with the desire to study about it and get involved.

An acquaintance provides you with a model that they claim is the “real deal” and swear it’s easy to operate in its simplicity. This seems practical. More importantly, they instruct you on how to operate it and discuss all its positive features with you.

You love this new vehicle and you are tempted to declare the original vehicle as nothing other than a fraud. This new vehicle is obviously the one for you. You kind of pity the first vehicle now for being so unreliable and misrepresented by its manufacturers. But, you put it behind you and continue on your joy ride.

One day, you’re cruising the highway. You have mastered this vehicle perfectly and as the days went by you learned more and more about it. And now you get to thinking, “I never really did learn to master that first vehicle”.

I never did learn how to function as a Catholic Christian. I was a disaster and quite frankly, a “spiritual weenie”. My encounter with a Protestant evangelist gave me guidance and empowered me spiritually as a Christian. It was up to me to recognize that I never gave my Catholic faith that same opportunity; hence the continuous nagging at the back of my mind.

So I opened up. I listened to the apologists. I read Robert Sungenis' dialogs. I tuned into Catholic radio and dedicated myself to listening objectively. I investigated, researched, gained knowledge, and began to practice. I know now that I have been given a second chance.

I intend to fully dedicate myself (this time!).

Sure, maybe I can rationalize my experiences and actions. Maybe I can repent and come clean in confession. Maybe I can find grace and begin to receive communion again. Maybe I can just show up in church and get a good streak going. Ta-da! I’ll be a Catholic again! Sound sincere to you? Me either. Why would I bother returning?

I owe more to my Catholic faith. I owe it the same opportunity I afforded Protestantism to impact and change my life. I have a responsibility to learn how to “drive” this vehicle. The more information I gather, the more I realize that Catholicism always had as much to offer as Protestantism does. Indeed it has much, much more. As only the one true Church can.

My rebellion stemmed from a lack of knowledge. It was fostered out of a feeble effort on my family’s behalf to comply with the catechism of our faith. It certainly wasn’t encouraged by the priests and nuns I was surrounded by in my youth. (Though I do think that today’s Catholic Church is much more effective in reaching out).

Neither, do I harbor any resentment towards those priests I saw scurrying through the halls of the hospital. How do I know what they had planned on those days? How aware was I regarding their resources, manpower, allotted time, and pending obligations? I can only say that it was my perception, coupled with my own self pity, while making those observations, that may have acted as the stimulus that prompted me to look elsewhere.

And lastly, it may sound as if I have rendered as insignificant that event that initiated this life changing episode; the visit from the Protestant Chaplain. I certainly have not. I will never forget her. Ever. Talk about an impact. She will leave an indelible impression on my spiritual record. If not for her, I’m not sure where I would have turned to and what I may currently be doing with the extension of life God has granted me. I know that I can pray for her, and I will.

I credit Protestantism, partially at least, for one thing: renewing my interest in my Christian faith. But sometimes a guy just can‘t seem to get his first car out of his mind.

Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 2007,

Joseph

Sacramento, CA

Dear Robert,  

Your discussion with “Cheryl” was a major part of my process in submitting to what I’ve been fighting for some time.  

The struggle has been tough, but in the end I’ve chosen to return with knowledge and dedication rather than simply returning lazily to a “comfort zone” out of confusion and frustration.

 Please continue you ministry with the knowledge that you are making a difference.  

If you have the time, the following is a story of reaffirmation that you played a major role in.  

Thank you sir, and God bless.  

I, for one am grateful,  

Joseph

Sacramento, CA

Dear Mr. Sungenis,

I received CASB II a few days ago. It is a handsome edition and I have been studying it avidly. Your introduction is most helpful in understanding not only the thematic structure of St. John's Apocalypse, but also the main points to focus on for a true interpretation. My compliments to you on such a worthy accomplishment.

As you know, I have already sent you a check in the amount of $30.00. Since you advertise the cost of the hardbound at $34.95, and the postage amounted to $6.40, I owe you a balance of $11.35. I will send you a check in that amount, today.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Jerry C. Meng

Dr. Sungenis,

Greetings Robert and all at CAI. I really don't have a question this time, just a few comments and a short testimony that I would very much like to relay to you. In short, you have changed my life. I was raised Southern Baptist. For my whole life I was told that the Catholic Church was not really Christianity, and I had the pre-concieved notions and cancerous biases that are a mainstay within nearly all Fundamentalists. During my late teenage years and early twenties, I began to feel a pull toward the Catholic faith. I went through my mid twenties really not doing a whole lot about my urges, just very mild study and thought. Then I met a young man at work, a new hire who seemed to be really on fire for God. I began to tell him about my Christian history, then I told him that I was feeling like further investigating the Catholic Church. Needless to say, he became very concerned for my twin brother, Nat, and I and began to witness to us almost constantly. He told us that our urges towards Catholicism was the devil messing with us and trying to get us to totally abandon our prior faith. He told us how wicked the Catholics were, and how they worship Mary and the Pope, and how they are ritualistic and false. He led us to his little church. We began to attend this church, which was called "Springcrest Baptist" but really didn't follow normal Baptist doctrine to the tee. This church just went through a horrific split, with the vast majority of its members leaving because of some sort of doctrinal dispute created by the new pastor, leaving only about a dozen members in a church designed to hold over 200. I began to sense something from this pastor, a feeling of strong paranoia. It almost felt cultish in a way, with all the ingredients there but just waiting to be baked, so to say. Anyway, I continued to listen to my new friend at work, and began to attend a Bible study with only him and my brother. This is how it all began for me, I believe. He started to promote some strange ideals that were foreign to me from my prior Baptist beliefs. He didn't believe in "once saved, always saved," and at that time I did. He believed in a post-tribulation rapture and I was pre-trib. I began to constantly question his authority, making statements like, "what makes you right and all the teachers of my past so wrong?" We would get in heated arguments. I went and spoke to my mother, who was and still is a Baptist, and asked her to help me with the once saved, always saved issue. She pointed out a verse, taken out of context, that helped me prove my point. Well, the next study session I really laid in to my friend, stating that I have the proof now. The arguments continued, not only about this but about a great many things.

Then one day it happened. I was constantly questioning his authority. I thought I proved him wrong because of the verse my Mom gave me. Then I began to think, what authority does my mother have? What authority does anybody have? This is what pushed me over the edge of Protestantism and into Catholicism. From that day forward, I began to intensely study Christian history, Scripture, Tradition and the writings of the early Church Fathers. All of the sudden, things began to become more clear for me than I ever thought they could be. The Bible seemed totally different now, almost like a different book. I began to see it as it should be, as a whole. Verses and areas that I once glanced over and at one time didn't seem to fit in or make sence really did now, and I began to get excited. I studied hard for several months, and these times were some of the best in my life. I was confirmed a Catholic on Corpus Chirsti '06, and have never been so close to God. I firmly believe that this is how the Lord showed me the errors of Protestantism and how He got me to follow my urges and to see the truth.

Now, with all that being said, I had a real strong view of Catholicism in the sense that I thought the Church could do no wrong. I absolutley loved the works of Scott Hahn and the likes and fell into the ever-so-popular "neo-Catholic" crowd that is so prevelant today. Then one day I literally stumbled upon your website. I am not saying that I am some kind of divine mystic or favored by God in any way, but sometimes (as seen from above), God puts up lights for me to see that seem to say "here is truth." It is kind of like the perverbial "light bulb" or an "Aha!" moment. You have strengthened my faith in a profound way, and I wish to thank you for this from the bottom of my heart. You are the tool that God used for me this time to send me to the next step of my journey. I firmly believe that you are on the right track, and that feels really good because there are so many apologists and Catholic information sites out there that are either extremely liberal or bordering on outright heresey, or there already. You have enlightened me not only in the ways of how the Church works but also in ways of science, changing my views on how the universe works and evolution. I always believed that God created everything, but the world made me, almost automatically, believe that earth is billions of years old and that creatures have evolved throughout the eons. Now I know that perhaps one of the biggest errors today in science is the age of earth along with heliocentrism, with the biggest error being evolution. Your Q&A section is truly a God-send. I just read a dialouge that you had with a woman named Suzanne. It really touched me and further confirmed for me that you are a blessing from God. Now the first thing I ask Protestants is to prove to me that Scripture is all the authority we need as Christians. It is funny, becasue I have seen several of these types of debates on your site, how Protestants totally beat around the bush when it comes to this question and how the subject almost automatically changes. There is NO verse anywhere in the Bible that states that Scripture is our only authority, and it eats them up inside. As a matter of fact, the Bible states that the "Church is the pillar and foundation of truth" according to 1 Timothy 3:15. I just hope and pray that at least some of these folks began to get that urge that I had and take off their "Protestant glasses" and just open up their minds to logic and truth. With careful study and the release of harmful biases and pre-concieved notions, I just cannot fathom how one couldn't see how the Catholic Church truly is the one, true Church. With the help of folks like you, this becomes even easier. God Bless you, Robert. I will be praying for you and your mission. I would like to ask you to pray for my parents, who are still declared Baptists (although they haven't been a part of a church for quite a long time). Please pray that their eyes may be opened and that they can just see the truth. Please pray for my younger brother, Patrick, who seems to be close to becoming a Catholic but I think that the devil is doing a number on him right now. I would also like to ask you to pray for my brother and myself, that we many serve the Lord better and continue to grow in Him. I will continue to join you in praying for the state of the Church. It solemly breaks my heart to peices when I think of the problems in our glorious Church right now. I just pray that somehow we can get leadership in the Church to make it the guiding light of the world once again, as it always shoud be. The Bible states that the prayer of someone holy is worth so much, and I believe that your prayers will aid us greatly. Again, thank you so very much and may the Lord continue to Bless you always.

Your friend in Christ,

Nic Bundy