Francis Beckwith's Return to Rome

On May 5, Dr. Francis Beckwith, president of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) announced that he had been received back into the Catholic Church (his home until age 14); his wife and family following him. The announcement was greeted with celebration among Catholics and consternation among Evangelicals, in fact prompting his resignation from the society.

Following are some links to articles and discussion around the 'net (compiled chiefly with the help of Carl Olson @ Ignatius Insight, a fellow convert who has been following this story closely).

• My Return to the Catholic Church Right Reason:

  During the last week of March 2007, after much prayer, counsel and consideration, my wife and I decided to seek full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. My wife, a baptized Presbyterian, is going through the process of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). This will culminate with her receiving the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation. For me, because I had received the sacraments of Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation all before the age of 14, I need only go to confession, request forgiveness for my sins, ask to be received back into the Church, and receive absolution. . . .

• Q&A with Dr. Francis Beckwith Christianity Today, Interview with David Neth. May 9, 2007.

• He Could No Longer Explain Why He Wasn’t Catholic Interview with Tim Drake. National Catholic Register June 3-9, 2007.

• Answering The Call To Full Communion, Interview with Carl Olson. Ignatius Insight June 5, 2007.

Reaction

• ETS Resignation Triggers Tradition Discussion: Executive committee: Roman Catholics may not join, by Collin Hansen. Christianity Today May 9, 2007.

• Dr. Bruce Ware, vice president of Evangelical Theological Society. May 10, 2007. (audio)

• Evangelical Leader Returns To Catholicism Move Reflects Narrowing Gap Between Denominations, by Alan Cooperman. Washington Post May 12, 2007.

Related Reading

• Evangelicals and Catholics in Conversation [Part I] Ignatius Insight November 20, 2006; [Part II] Ignatius Insight March 15, 2007. Interview with Dr. Brad Harper, professor of theology at Multnomah Bible College in Portland, Oregon, about the current state of Catholic-Evangelical dialogue.

• Thomas Howard and the Kindly Light - Episcopalian convert Thomas Howard tells Ignatius Insight his story. (Thomas Howard has written of his journey in Evangelical is Not Enough; Lead Kindly Light: My Journey To Rome (2004), and his longer reflections on his experience of the Catholic faith, On Being Catholic make for excellent reading, including his command of the english language).