[jesusfreak72691]

I'm 16 years old and I want to convert to Catholicism, but I'm a member of a Protestant church and have been Protestant all my life. Like I said I want to convert to Catholicism and still go to my Protestant church cause of my mom and brother. I do acknowledge that there is no other church besides the Catholic church and that's why I want to join. Can someone help me? Can I join the Catholic church and still go to church with my family?

[mcmama]

I did the opposite. Raised Catholic, joined a protestant church. Left the Catholic church.

Sounds like you are pretty serious about this. When my dad converted to Catholicism, he went through some classes and was baptized. At that time, baptism in another branch of Christianity did not matter, you still had to be baptized Catholic - don't know if that is still the same.

There's probably no reason why you can't attend a protestant church with family, but you really can't belong to both. Also, you would need to regularly attend a Catholic church.

I suggest you go to a local Catholic church and ask about instruction in the Catholic Faith. This information from the Archdiocese of Washington should give you a good guideline as to the process.

You are pretty young, and might want to learn more about this now, but take your time. Becoming a Catholic is not something you do quickly.

[PamConnell]

I used to work at my parish with people joining the Catholic Church. The resource Janet linked to above seems like a good place to start. Your local Catholic parish can give you more information.
If you were baptized in another Christian denomination you are not now rebaptized in the Catholic Church. (There are a few exceptions for churches that have a slightly different understanding of the Trinity--I think perhaps LDS and Salvation Army; I'm not sure specifically which denominations). But if you were baptized with water and "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit [Holy Ghost]" then you are already validly Baptized and you would, after a period of study, faith sharing and deliberation, make a profession of faith in the Catholic Church, your Confirmation and First Communion.
As Janet mentioned, you would be expected to attend Catholic Mass on Sundays. You really can't "be" another religion while also being Catholic, but there is no reason you cannot attend another church with your family in addition to participating in Mass. In fact, many Protestant denominations share the Apostles and Nicene Creeds and the use the same Lectionary cycle of Scripture readings that the Catholic church does. (Whether you can, as a practicing Catholic, receive communion in the Protestant church is a matter of some debate; ask your local priest to advise you.) Many Catholic parishes and Catholic colleges now have Masses on Saturday or Sunday evenings if it is important to be with your family on Sunday mornings.

[slygirrl]

I was about your age when I was going to do the exact same thing. Please research this decision and think long and hard about it because I was going to have to take classes to convert to Catholicism and the more I got into their beliefs the more I disagreed with it. It just wasn't me, thus I remained Protestant. Just think about it and base your decision on how you feel about it.

[Jocelynbell]

I was baptized & confirmed Episcolpalian (Anglican in Canada) and confirmed in RC church when I was an adult. My husband's family is all Catholic.
When I go to church with my mom I just don't take communion. Why? The RC church does not recognize Epis/Anglican priests the same as RC priests.
Almost everything else is the same and the two churches are striving for union at some point again (broke up with Henry the 8th of England's marriage issue back in 16th century)
When you say "protestant" that could encompass a huge group of various denominations and hold many different emphasises on theology. The RC Church and a very few protestant churches believe in "the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist? (Lutheran and Episcopalian/Anglican/Church of England) while many only see the bread and wine as symbols of Jesus' body and blood. (Transubstiation) Indeed, the Catholic Initiation classes explain what the Catholic faith is and you can decide. I don't think there is one leader who would want an uninformed decision. Big step.
16 is a good age to explore your faith but do find a good faith leader in the your community because community (catholicism) is an important part of faith.

[pattiewrites]

Originally Posted by slygirrl

I was about your age when I was going to do the exact same thing. Please research this decision and think long and hard about it because I was going to have to take classes to convert to Catholicism and the more I got into their beliefs the more I disagreed with it. It just wasn't me, thus I remained Protestant. Just think about it and base your decision on how you feel about it.

This is exactly why they have the classes, so people can learn the faith and then make a decision. The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) classes generally begin in September and go on until the Easter Liturgy when the person is confirmed and receives the Eucharist. If the person was not previously baptized this is done as well. If they were baptized they are not re baptized again. I'd suggest finding a sponsor and taking the class to see if the church is right for you. I went through the process as a sponsor for my husband about a year and a half ago when he did convert to Catholicism. I got so much out of the program, even though I have been Catholic all my life and was educated in Catholic schools. It was a great refresher for me and it was great for my husband.

As far as the communion issue, it really isn't a matter of not recognizing the priests. We don't recognize the communion because it is not the same as the Eucharist. Protestant churches don't believe in transubstantiation, i.e. the Body and Blood of Christ. Therefore, the communion is not the same.

Good luck with your decision. It is a big one. If you lack family support, you can make the change when you are older. My sister in law wanted to convert to Catholicism when she was a teen, but her family was not supportive. So she waited until she was in her early 20s to do it. Now, both of my in laws' children are Catholic.

[trying2bmanofGod]

I was raised Roamn Cathloc. When i was in my 20's I came to Jesus. I started reading my Bible and studing. I rememeber going to mass and realing why the priest were doing what and why they were doing what they were doing and I was excited. The more I studied though the less I was excited about the whole theology of RC. I no longer go to cathloc church I go to one of the protesent denomination. Remember that it is the name written over the entrance to your heart that counts not the name written over the door to the building you go to. And yes you can go with your family to church even if you decide to go the RC way. My way of looking at it now is that if Jesus is my Saviour and Jesus is your Saviour than we are family regardles of the denomantion. Good Bless and seek Gods guideance

[mcmama]

But she does have to go to the RC church if she becomes Catholic. There's no point in converting in name only!

My mom and I went to a lot of different churches when i was growing up because we sang in them and also because she liked to hear great organ music, as I do. But since we were RC, we always went to Mass at the RC church as well.

[PamConnell]

As Jocelyn mentioned, the Episcopalian church holds the same beliefs about the Body and Blood of Christ as the Roman Catholic Church does (the Episcopalians I was in theology school with even resented being called "Protestants"). It actually is an issue of the validity of ordination of Anglican priests. The Roman Catholic Church does recognize that Eastern Orthodox priests are validly ordained and Roman Catholics are allowed to receive confession and Eucharist from an Eastern Orthodox priest in an emergency.
Roman Catholics believe in Transubstantiation, that the bread and wine actually becomes the real Body and Blood of Christ. My understanding is that Anglicans (Episcopalians) and Orthodox do also, and Lutherans believe something similar called "consubstatiation". As it was explained to me, this means that the Real Presence of Christ comes through receiving the Communion bread and wine, but is not actually the bread and wine itself. As I understand it, while Roman Catholics (and Orthodox) believe the bread and wine are the Real Presence when they are consecrated by the priest leading the people in the Eucharistic prayer (thus they are treated with reverence and adoration even when they are stored in the tabernacle), my friend said something indicating that Lutherans believe that the attitude and intentions of the person receiving have to do with the bread and wine becoming Real Presence, thus it is not fully consecrated until it is eaten by the communicant?
If we have any Lutheran clergy or church workers out there, I'd love clarification on this. I really enjoyed going to ministry school at a Catholic University where about a third of the ministry students were from various other denominations.

[PamConnell]

Regarding InterCommunion: Non-Catholics at Catholic Masses are asked to either pray in their seats when others go up to receive Communion, or to go up and indicate by crossing the hands over the heart that one wishes to receive a blessing instead of Communion. (The priest or Eucharistic Minister then briefly touches the persons bowed head and says "May Almighty God Bless You". )
The RC church considers Communion the ultimate statement of unity, thus it is not lightly shared by those with denominational differences (who may not want to be making a statement of their unity with the Catholic Church!) This was probably more understandable back in the days when Confirmation was required before Communion.
What is less clear to me is whether Catholics can receive Communion in other churches. I have had clergy of other churches tell me that as far as they are concerned any baptized person may receive Communion.
I guess for me, I would not take Communion in a Lutheran or Episcopalian church, because they believe it is the Eucharist, and for me it isn't one without a validly ordained priest. But if in my host's church communion was just a reminder of the last supper, I might not have a problem with it--it would be just like the Holy Thursday prayer services we had as kids at Catholic school, complete with matzoh and grape juice. The issue for me is if my hosts believe it is more than that, and I don't agree, I wouldn't do it.