Another Side of Catholicism

Mary Ann Collins, A Former Catholic Nun

Chapter 1

If you are from a Catholic background, what you were taught about Catholicism probably doesn’t show the whole picture. This book will introduce you to another side of Rome that you need to be aware of in order to be well informed.

The truth can stand up to the test of history, Scripture, and being questioned. If what you were taught about Catholicism is true, then nothing in this book will shake it.

The truth can stand on its own. That is because Jesus Christ is Truth Incarnate. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. (John 14:6) And Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth. (John 16:13)

I started out as a secular humanist. (You can read about it in my Personal Testimony.) My first prayer was, “God, if You’re out there, show me.” And He did. (It was a gradual process.) Because of that, I’m confident that God will reveal Himself, and His truth, to any person who really wants to understand.

I am asking God to show both you and me what is true and what is not true. We all need that--all the time.

God is powerful enough to open our eyes when they need to be opened. And He is loving enough to want to do it. The crucial question is, what is more important to us--the truth, or staying in our comfort zone? If we really want the truth, then God will show it to us.

I encourage you to check out my sources for yourself and come to your own conclusions. That is because you and I are responsible for our own lives. We need to base our decisions on our own personal convictions, and not on what somebody else tells us.

Some day, you and I will stand before God, and our works will be tested by fire. The Bible says:

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

When you and I stand before God, we will not be able to give excuses based on what somebody else told us. God expects us to test everything. The Bible says:

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

According to “Strong’s Concordance,” the word “prove” means “to test.” We have to test everything ourselves. We cannot depend on “experts” to do it for us. And we cannot hide behind “experts” when we stand before God.

As you read this book--or any other book--I encourage you to ask God to give you His perspective about the things that you are reading. We all need to habitually seek God for His wisdom and guidance.

The Bible promises that if we really want wisdom, and we ask God for it, then He will give it to us. The Apostle James says:

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not: and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)

So as you read, please ask God to give you wisdom, and to reveal His truth to you. And ask Him to reveal Himself to you, to help you understand His nature and His character.

May the Lord lead us all into a greater understanding of His truth.