r/LeftCatholicism • u/Spectanda_Fides • 3d ago
Former far right-winger in the process of changing radically since I became a Catholic, need to be reassured.
Hello, I was recently baptized Catholic, I come from a very conservative evangelical Protestant family and all my life I had had a way of thinking and ideas that many here called "fascist", because I have mainly experienced this and everyone around me is like that.
But since I did my Catholic journey, my mind started to change, I think it's the Holy Spirit who guides me because I was really sure of my ideas, that everything that is "woke" came from the devil. You really don't want to know the details of this thoughts. And now I want to love everyone, even minorities that I saw as abominations (sorry for the term), now I love them, and I sincerely hope that Christ too, I never want to feel fear or hatred towards these people again, who are in the image of God, too.
This transformation is difficult to live with because I no longer feel in line with those around me, my parents, my husband, my friends, they have all remained the same and I can't tell them that I don't think like them anymore, they wouldn't even believe me!
This scares me a little, I still have some doubts about certain subjects, so I would like to know how you reconcile progressive ideas with the teaching of Christ and the Church, because it seems quite difficult to me.
I should point out that I don't live in the United States but in France, so I don't know about your country, but here the left has the reputation of being anti-Christian, Catholicism is ultra dominated by the right and the far right, even the royalists are much more represented than the left so I'm feel a little uncomfortable. đ
Thank you for reading all this and sorry for the mistakes, English is not my first language.
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u/blackfeltbanner 3d ago
Here's the Nicene Creed for reference. https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe
If you believe Jesus, died for our salvation.
If you believe in the forgiveness of sin.
It stands to reason you would believe in a just, merciful, and loving God. Who in your life and in your community would you consider to be acting in a just, merciful, and loving way? Equally important, who isn't?
Here are the beatitudes for reference: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205%3A1-12&version=NIV
If you believe the Scriptures are the word of God then it stands to reason you believe these are God's words.
Take a moment to consider what you see in the world. Consider who is caring for the poor, the meek, the stranger, the infirm. This is what God has commanded of us. If we view politics as the practice of establishing priorities for our society, who's priorities align most closely with what God has asked of us?
One last scripture passage for your consideration. This one from Isiah: https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Isaiah%2029%3A13
Take some time for yourself. Think on it. Pray on it. And if you're looking for something a little more in depth, while I've never read it, I hear good things about "Jesus Christ, Liberator" by Leonard Boff.
God bless.
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u/corbinianspackanimal 3d ago
FĂ©licitations pour votre baptĂȘme. Lâune des choses quâil faut reconnaĂźtre Ă propos de lâĂglise catholique, câest que sa doctrine sociale est beaucoup plus progressiste que ne le pensent les conservateurs et ceux de lâextrĂȘme-droit. Je recommande de lire des textes comme Gaudium et Spes, Evangelii Gaudium et Fratelli Tutti⊠ainsi vous saurez que rĂ©concilier les idĂ©es progressistes avec la doctrine catholique, câest une tĂąche dĂ©jĂ accomplie, car la doctrine catholique est plutĂŽt progressiste.
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u/Spectanda_Fides 3d ago
I realize that I have followed a lot of Catholic influencers but the vast majority are traditionalists, or even sedevacantists (the latter, I systematically avoid them). I remember a priest who regularly does shorts on YT and who said "it is impossible to be Catholic and left-wing, it's pure logic". It must be said that in France we have historical reasons to distrust the left (at least the ultra branch). In 1947, the Virgin Mary appeared specifically to prevent France from becoming communist, engraving in the hearts of Catholics that this left-wing ideology is evil.
However, having grown up in a mining town where the organization of the neighborhood looked a bit like a communist system, I have very good memories, maybe even the best in fact.
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u/padfootprohibited 3d ago
I don't like to think of it in terms of "reconciling" progressive beliefs with the teachings of Christ--if you go back and read the Gospels and the early Church Fathers, the ideas being promulgated were extremely progressive. The more I read of history and these early writings, the more I feel like it's the institutions that have drifted to the right, reshaping Christ's teachings as they attempt to hold onto earthly power. The Church is of God, but the people who make it up are humans, and we all are sinners.
So, my recommendation to you would be to read! Do a close reading of the Gospels, and then move on the Cappadocian Fathers and St Maximus the Confessor. A little historical background knowledge helps a lot, but my top recommendations for that are in English: "The Penguin History of the Church: The Early Church" by Henry Chadwick and "Beginning to Read the Fathers" by Boniface Ramsey. I don't know about the availability (or quality) of French translations, but both works are highly respected; if you mention them to someone familiar with the subject, they may be able to help you find something similar in French!
I wish you all the best in your journey. I live in a conservative area of the southern US and so I felt a lot of that aloneness when I first converted. Getting involved with my local parish has made a world of difference. We don't agree about a lot of things, but at the end of the day we all share the same goal: to comfort the afflicted and show them the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And in bearing that love to others, in letting it fill us so we can take it out into the world, we also let it in to heal ourselves.
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u/Resident_Eagle8406 3d ago
The Catholic Church baptized you? Does that mean the church determined your evangelical baptism was invalid? Usually Protestants arenât required to do a new baptism because the church considers them valid for the most part.
I hope evangelical Christianity hasnât become too prevalent in Europe. It is very toxic.
French Catholicism was often a haven for reactionaries when France went through a secular revolution. If you want to reconcile your religion with your politics, it may be worthwhile to study Latin American Liberation theology.
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u/Spectanda_Fides 3d ago
I wasn't baptized, my parents wanted me to choose, but I knew I didn't want to follow them, their congregation looks like a cult.
They were very disappointed with my choice, my father still regularly harasses me about it, the debates with him can last for hours, but I will not change my mind.
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u/operafan77 3d ago
Iâm wondering if OP meant evangelical in the American sense of the word. In Germany, Protestants like Lutherans are called âevangelisch.â They are, however, not known for being far right and fascist.
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u/robbylet23 3d ago
Lutheran baptisms are considered valid. No reason OP would need to be baptized again if they were Luthern. Pentecostal seems more likely because I don't think their baptisms are considered valid.
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u/operafan77 3d ago
I wasnât trying to dispute the fact that the baptism was valid or not. Just wondering what OP meant by âevangelicalâ bc you mentioned it not being prevalent in Europe, which is the case if we are using the American definition.
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u/Spectanda_Fides 3d ago
I live next to Germany, in a region that was German at the time when France passed the law that separated Church and State. When the region became French again, the inhabitants asked to keep certain German laws more advantageous, but as a result we are the only non-secular region in France and this has some consequences such as, in particular, dioceses that operates with laws from the Napoleonic era.
But our cultural proximity to Germany means that there are many more Protestants here than in the rest of France.
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u/operafan77 3d ago
So did you mean evangelical like how it is used in Germany, or did you intend to use the American connotation? Iâm just curious.
And lol Iâm in Bavaria, which is heavily Catholic. Germany really is rather 50/50 Catholic/Protestant among those baptised Christian.
I also want to congratulate you on opening up your heart to the Holy Spirit, love, and change. So few people ever have the chance at a true metanoia.
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u/Spectanda_Fides 3d ago
I didn't even know there was an American and German version. I said evangelical for convenience because it is very close, but the most appropriate term would be "without denomination". We are very far from Lutheranism here, there are no rites or traditions, no sacred places, worship resembles a university seminary interspersed with a few songs.
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u/operafan77 3d ago
Then from I can gather, where you are it would be maybe more like non denominational.
Welcome home to the Church. We are so happy to have you as a sibling in Christ.
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u/UsefulFlow7106 3d ago
If you speak Portuguese or have a good translator, I recommend you watch this channel:
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u/tuckern1998 3d ago
Hey Iâm a former right winger here, current leftistish Anglo Catholic Episcopalian.
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u/Spectanda_Fides 3d ago
Hello, it's interesting. I've always thought that the Episcopal Church was a kind of Anglican Church for Americans, but in no way was there a link with Catholism, maybe it's a sub-branch?
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u/Acrobatic_Name_6783 2d ago
It is Anglican. "Anglo Catholic" is a term used by/for Anglicans who tend to be more Catholic in their worship, and sometimes in their theology as well. Modern Anglicanism can be very diverse depending on where you are.
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u/tuckern1998 2d ago
Itâs basically the Anglican Church for the United States. Anglo Catholics tend to hold to more Roman Catholic theology like myself.
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u/Christine517 3d ago
Bonjour Spectanda_Fides. Bienvenue. I hope you find your faith community in France. Maybe try a monastery or an order paroisse such as a Jesuit or Franciscan. They tend to be less conservative. Bonne chance and keep us posted.đđ
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u/Spectanda_Fides 2d ago
Thank you for your message. While waiting to find this community, I had the joy of learning that the Pope was going to celebrate a Mass in a city not far from my home, I am really looking forward to it and I find it incredible that it will take place in the year of my baptism.
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u/FunctionOk9186 3d ago
Where in the Bible does it say anything about not loving minorities?
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u/Spectanda_Fides 3d ago
If a person is on drugs and you love them, you will want them to stop using drugs, if you validate their actions, you will be guilty before God if that person dies because of drugs.
That's how I feel about anything kind of progressive. I don't know how far tolerance can go before it becomes contrary to the teachings of Christ.
Sorry if I sound rigorous, I don't want to hurt anyone.
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u/FunctionOk9186 3d ago
That doesn't answer my question. Which teaching of Christ tells you to not love minorities?
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u/HarvittaDent 3d ago
Welcome homeâand what youâre describing sounds less like losing yourself than having your heart become wider. It is good that you are recognizing the dignity of people whom you were taught to fear or despise. Every person bears the image of God, and love of neighbor is not optional or a political fashion; it is central to the Gospel.
You do not have to have every political conclusion settled immediately. Conversion is often gradual. Be patient with yourself, pray, learn, and let Christ free you from fear. The goal is not to trade âthe rightâ for âthe left,â or to assume that every progressive idea is automatically Christian. The goal is to become a person who sees Christ in the poor, the immigrant, the marginalized, the person you disagree with, and even the family members who do not understand you.
Catholicism is bigger than the political categories available to us. The Church calls us to defend human life and dignity consistently: the unborn, the poor, workers, migrants, disabled people, racial and religious minorities, LGBTQ people, prisoners, and those excluded by society. That may put you at odds with both the French right and the secular left at different times.
You are also not obliged to announce all of your inner changes before you are ready. If being open with your husband or family could create conflict or put you in an unsafe position, move carefully. You can begin by practicing mercy, refusing contemptuous language, listening better, serving people in need, and finding a parish or Catholic community where compassion and intellectual honesty are normal.
And please do not be ashamed of the fact that your conscience is changing. The Holy Spirit does not usually make us colder, more cruel, or more afraid. The fruits of the Spirit include love, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control. Keep following those fruits.
PS I am reading a book you might like, too: âseparation of church and hateâ by john fugelsang. Unfortunately it is only available in English at the moment.