How does an adult go about converting from the Catholic religion to the Protestant religion?

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I did simply by going to another church. There is no special ceremony or anything, just find a church, and go there.

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First, be certain that you do actually want to become Protestant. Make sure that you have identified all the things that you are unhappy with as a Catholic. If necessary make a list. Then do two things. First, speak to your Catholic priest and ask him to discuss the issues you are troubled by - don't necessarily tell him you may have to leave the church as it may cloud his answers, but give him the opportunity to advise you on what's troubling you. Second, take you list to a Protestant clergyman. Phone him first, tell him your problem, ask to speak personally with him to discuss your troubles. He will know why you are approaching him so be aware that his response just might be dressed up a bit to try a sway you towards Protestantism.

Once you have spoken to both priests comes the hard bit. Now you must pray to God for guidance and you must trust in the way you are led.

One other thing, be aware that within Protestantism there are very wide differences of belief and practice. For example in Anglicanism you will find a whole range of practices from the sort of Catholic without Rome down to the ultra-liberal 'Happy clappy' "Jesus is my Bro"' evangelism style. Generally speaking there is little similarity with Roman practice in the Baptist or Methodist churches.

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Properly speaking, one does not "convert" to Protestantism. One enters into protest through dissent with the teaching of the Church. A Catholic does not stop being a Catholic; the only choice is to become a disobedient Catholic. Depending on the level and area of disobedience, one may then live perpetually outside of the state of grace, or one might take actions which leave you excommunicated. Either way, you are still a Catholic.

Corollary to above answer.... Please don't forget that if you live perpetually outside the 'state of grace' and are 'excommunicated' then these 'punishments' are the human-invented punishments of the Roman church. And as a result are unimportant. What IS important is your relationship with GOD (NOT the Roman Catholic Church) through Christ. Whether you are a Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox or anything, remember that these labels are man-made. Being a Christian is what matters.

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As a matter of fact you kind of do "convert" seeing how Protestants do not have to be a Catholic then protest or whatever. Protestantism is a whole different style of worship from Catholism, in fact the extremely large majority of Protestants were never Catholic. Literally Protestant might mean one is protesting something but in this case it is just the name of the group that did break off from the catholics some hundred years ago, but they/we aren't some kind of "disgraced" catholics. It is a whole different way of worshiping the same God.

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A way to convert is how my Grandfather did. He left the Catholic Church and began going to a Protestant church and then was baptized as an adult. Also we aren't disgraced Catholics our way of worshiping is different but our God is the same as is our faith, the Catholic way isn't the only way.

First answer by Fraulein astronomer101. Last edit by JohnWelsh. Contributor trust: 79 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 39 [recommend question]