Return to Rome Confessions of an Evangelical Catholic

Return to Rome Confessions of an Evangelical Catholic

What does it mean to be evangelical? What does it mean to be Catholic? Can one consider oneself both simultaneously? Francis Beckwith has wrestled with these questions personally and professionally. He was baptized a Catholic, but his faith journey led him to Protestant evangelicalism. He became a philosophy professor at Baylor University and president of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS). And then, in 2007, after much prayer, counsel, and consideration, Beckwith decided to return to the Catholic church and step down as ETS president. This provocative book details Beckwith's journey, focusing on his internal dialogue between the Protestant theology he embraced for most of his adult life and Catholicism. He seeks to explain what prompted his decision and offers theological reflection on whether one can be evangelical and Catholic, affirming his belief that one can be both. EXCERPT It's difficult to explain why one moves from one Christian tradition to another. It is like trying to give an account to your friends why you chose to pursue for marriage this woman rather than that one, though both may have a variety of qualities that you found attractive. It seems to me then that any account of my return to the Catholic church, however authentic and compelling it is to me, will appear inadequate to anyone who is absolutely convinced that I was wrong. Conversely, my story will confirm in the minds of many devout Catholics that the supernatural power of the grace I received at baptism and confirmation as a youngster were instrumental in drawing me back to the Mother Church. Given these considerations, I confess that there is an awkwardness in sharing my journey as a published book, knowing that many fellow Christians will scrutinize and examine my reasons in ways that appear to some uncharitable and to others too charitable.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars A modern "Apologia Pro Vita Sua"
When Dr. Francis Beckwith announced that he was stepping down as President of the Evangelical Theological Society and returning to the Catholic Church of his youth, it caused quite a stir. Catholic and Evangelical blogs alike parsed every word and action of Dr. Beckwith, either rejoicing at his move or trying to divine the "real reason" behind his conversion. Now we can hear the full story in his book, "Return to Rome: Confessions of an Evangelical Catholic."

As a former Evangelical who converted to Catholicism over 15 years ago, I was eagerly anticipating Dr. Beckwith's book. I was especially intrigued that he continues to consider himself both Evangelical and Catholic, designations I've retained as well. Then when I saw that two former professors of mine – Dr. Edwin Yamauchi, a prominent Evangelical, and Dr. Scott Hahn, a prominent Catholic convert – had both endorsed this book, I knew I had to read it as soon as possible.

I was not disappointed. It was difficult to put this book down: personal, humorous, and engaging, "Return to Rome" is a marvelous account of one man's journey back to the faith of his fathers. Nothing in the book is new when it comes to doctrinal debates, although Dr. Beckwith's erudite style admirably adds to the Protestant-Catholic discussion. The real value in this book comes from Dr. Beckwith's charitable attitude towards his non-Catholic brothers and sisters, and his continued admiration for (and attachment to) all that is true and right within Evangelicalism. The danger for the convert is that he rejects not only the errors of his past, but that he also rejects even those things that are good and beautiful about his former way of life. Dr. Beckwith does not fall into this trap. He recognizes that Evangelicalism's emphasis on an intimate relationship with Christ and its love of the Bible are the proper attitude of all Christians, and in becoming Catholic, he does not jettison these impulses but instead is able to more fully live them out.

I recommend this book as highly as possible for both Catholics and Protestants. Catholics will of course be encouraged that such a great mind has returned to the Church, but they also can learn a lot about the deep love their separated brethren have for the Lord Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. Protestants can discover, in a non-polemical way, why it is that many of their intellectuals have joined the Catholic Church over the years. Any sincere Christian, regardless of their tradition, will be edified by the deep love this man has for the Lord, and will be supported in their own walk to serve Christ in a deeper way.

5 Stars Wonderfully irenic and providing, perhaps, the basis for Evangelical/Catholic rapprochement
In one sense, there's no need for a book like this to be written. The tale of a prominent Protestant ethicist and philosopher, former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, returning to the communion of his youth, the Roman Catholic Church, really isn't news; this kind of thing goes on quite regularly–Evangelical Christians becoming Catholic, and Catholic Christians becoming Evangelical.

What is unique about this story is that Francis Beckwith wants to continue to be considered as an Evangelical even as he returns to his Roman Catholic roots.

How does that work? Isn't there a great divide that separates Evangelicals from Catholics?

Not necessarily, says Beckwith, and, one might add, a growing number of ecumenically minded Christians, from both sides of the aisle, so to speak. For example, from the Protestant side, you have Brian McLaren, with A Generous Orthodoxy, in which he claims that, as a Protestant Christian, he is free to adopt the Catholic liturgy (or at least portions thereof) as his rightful patrimony, as well as Mark Noll's interesting book, Is the Reformation Over?, not to mention D. H. Williams's exercise in Evangelical Ressourcement, Evangelicals and Tradition. From the Catholic side you have books like Louis Bouyer's Spirit and Forms of Protestantism and Word, Church and Sacraments, as well as Jean Guitton's great and irenic book, The Church and the Gospel.

What does all this mean?

For one thing, it means that the divided Church is a scandal, per se. In a sense, it doesn't even matter who's to blame: the mere FACT of the divided Church brings scandal to Christianity. The question is, how to get it back together? The uniqueness of Beckwith's position is his idea that one can be a (Roman) Catholic and an Evangelical, but it's difficult if not impossible to be and Evangelical and a Catholic. Why? Because Catholicism is great enough (in the sense of its EXTENT) to embrace Evangelicalism, but that Evangelicalism isn't great enough to embrace Catholicism.

In other words, Catholicism contains within itself the possibility of an Evangelical understanding as part of its legitimate heritage, but Evangelicalism doesn't contain within itself the possibility of a Catholic self-understanding as part of its legitimate heritage.

The key issue is probably Evangelicalism's understanding of church. For Evangelicals, church can't help but be an epiphenomenon, a contingency, something that comes about as a consequence of one's decision to trust Jesus as one's savior. Thus, if church isn't essential, something that has an essence apart from one's personal decision for Jesus as savior, it HAS no essence, and, consequently, is not an historical, visible presence. It truly is an effect. But that can't be the basis for true ecumenism. After all, if the church has no historical existence, how can one know what is and isn't the true church? One can't, and, therefore, there can be no basis for unity.

Thus the beauty of this book is its simple testimony to the idea that you can be an Evangelical Catholic, but that it's very difficult if not impossible to be a Catholic Evangelical–to which there are a growing number of Evangelical Catholics that bear witness.

5 Stars Entertaining and Thought Provoking
Dr. Francis Beckwith has written a beautiful personal story about what was clearly a difficult journey. He writes in a very warm, humorous, and easy to read fashion. (The beginning of chapter 5 is particularly funny) You get the opportunity for a glimpse inside the heart and mind of one of Christianity's great thinkers.

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One Response to “Return to Rome Confessions of an Evangelical Catholic”

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