Patty Bonds on EWTN Tonite
Just a friendly reminder for those who may not know. Patty Bonds will be on The Journey Home at 8 PM tonite on EWTN. She will detail her story of conversion from Baptist to Catholicism. I don't know if this is a re-broadcast or not. Her brother is well-known reformed apologist Dr. James R. White.
posted by Russ Rentler, M.D. | 4:43 PM
18 Comments:
It undoubtedly wasn't planned on purpose, but given recent events, the timing is, well ... interesting.
Should make for some good viewing.
One might get the impression that Patty Bonds and her brother sat down and "had it out" before she made her decision to convert to Catholicism, and the "great apologist" was unable to persuade her. But in the interest of fairness, according to Dr. White, Mrs. Bonds has been estranged from the family for many years, and personal interaction between them has been minimal. It's tempting, I'm sure, to glory in this kind of "defection." However, I think it's best to evaluate people's individual faith choices apart from their familial relations. We never know the whole story.
Thanks for the reminder! Since I'm living simply without a TV, I've gotten out of programming schedules, so I fired up the Internet broadcast and just watched the program now.
I was very impressed with her witness and she's someone I'd like to know as a friend. Her conversion story and her faith and service are wonderful and insightful, and she answers questions in such an full hearted way, especially in the light of the pain she's endured. I was also very touched that she addressed those who have suffered childhood abuse as she had to give them the sincere message of recovery and healing. As someone who has worked as a psychiatric counselor, I know how many have those wounds and how words from an authentic person like Patty Bonds can really restore hope. I think she did great. She gave great advice to questioners, about giving witness, and they were plain spoken very sensible examples, scriptures, thoughts, and anecdotes of her experience.
I too was touched by her ability to offer up her pain in her life and the losses she has suffered for her faith.
"One might get the impression that Patty Bonds and her brother sat down and "had it out" before she made her decision to convert to Catholicism, and the "great apologist" was unable to persuade her. But in the interest of fairness, according to Dr. White, Mrs. Bonds has been estranged from the family for many years, and personal interaction between them has been minimal. It's tempting, I'm sure, to glory in this kind of "defection." However, I think it's best to evaluate people's individual faith choices apart from their familial relations. We never know the whole story."
Your comments remind me of something which often occurs during a divorce. People 'take sides' and each friend and family member decides who is the bad spouse and who is the victim. I haven't read much about the rift between James White and Patty Bonds and frankly I do not want to because to me it would be like reading a gossip column in some tabloid. It degrades the beauty of the familial bond. On the Journey Home program nothing was mentioned about James White and if the subject of their estrangement did come up I am quite sure Patty Bonds would have broached it with charity and sorrow rather than "glory in her defection." As far as "evaluating an individual's faith choice" is concerned, it is this kind of thinking about salvation which drove me away from evangelicalism to begin with. I love the CC's teaching regarding salvation because of the way it embraces the journey of each individual. Rather than putting us into categories of saved vs. unsaved it elevates us to beloved and free sons and daughters of God who choose to follow or turn away from Him.
Knowing the pain of estrangement in my own life, I am certain that Patty Bonds has great sadness as well as a profound hope to see the relationships restored between she and her family members. And I trust that is Dr. White's desire as well.
I too am not interested in taking sides, as I know very little about either party involved. I merely hope to encourage people to take a fair and balanced approach to the issue at hand. As far as "glorying in defection," I am not speaking of Mrs. Bonds. What I mean is the temptation for both Protestants and Catholics to tally up conversion scores, especially in high-profile cases.
Absolutely the biggest anxiety I had when I was deciding to take the first step into the Tiber wasn't about accepting the doctrine. It was how my decision to become a Catholic was going to affect my relationships with those nearest and dearest to me. I was blessed that those whose opinion matter the most, my family and certain very close friends remain supportive of me even after my coming into the Catholic Church.
That's why I haven't had the appetite for triumphalism when I hear of these high-profile converstions to the Church. I know too well the potential cost.
Nancy :
You are blessed to have a supportive family and friends. I thought my friends and family would be supportive, Boy, was I ever wrong.(There are a few exceptions for which I remain very greatful, you're one of them PA)
I actually had little to no idea that there was so much anti-Catholicism out there, nor did I realize it resided within my friends and family.
Thanks for the comments.
PA:
Yes I think you are right in saying that it is wrong to tally conversion scores, and I must confess that I certainly get "jazzed" with the news of another convert/revert, high or low profile.
When I converted, I faced a fair amount of losses in terms of musical gigs, friends and respect from my family. I was labeled a backslider and churches that use to book me to play gigs regularly told me "When you are interested in following the true gospel, give us a call." I had no idea how much animosity was out there.
When a person with such respect in the evangelical and academic community becomes Catholic(Like Dr. Beckwith), it tells others that "smart people" make this conversion decision who have a lot more on the ball, and a whole lot more to lose than me.
So perhaps on a personal level, it's a vindication. I wish I could get over that need to have vindication, and it is an area that needs conversion and repentance in my life.
My Bro TJ,
Well, I confess that it's easy for me to see things from this side of the aisle and make pronouncements. I wonder if it isn't all a bit presumptuous and vain on my part, as if I were acting as some kind of spiritual watchdog. After all, what right do I have to "suggest" to Catholics and Protestants how to talk to each other, as if I were the King? On the other hand, having been raised Catholic, I long to see Catholics and Protestants in charitable dialogue. So I struggle with this, holding this tension between what I hope to see, and by what right do I demand charity from my brothers and sisters in Christ. When I read what you have to say regarding a need for personal vindication, I can relate because it's such a human need we all share, whatever prompts it. And I tend to neglect that part of your story because we haven't talked about it very much. So thank you, TJ, for allowing me to comment on matters of which I am outside, and somewhat not outside. I try and hope to be always learning, always growing. Maybe there are answers for me here as well.
Your Friend and Brother,
Pilgrimsarbour
It was a great show. I listened to her 2002 show earlier in the day and then listened to the new one. She is an amazing person and you can just hear her love for God overflowing in her life.
Tiber wrote in part...
"...churches that used to book me to play gigs regularly told me "When you are interested in following the true gospel, give us a call."
This brings up a matter that simply puzzles me. As regular readers of Tiber's blog know, I am a "cradle" Catholic. For over three decades now, I've fellowshipped with some of the very same people who reject Tiber's Christianity now that he's "reverted" yet always affirmed *my* Christianity. One even joined with me in providing music for an Advent Mass!
I don't get it.
Confused,
--Theo
Hi Tiber. I've just gone through your early posts to read your conversion story. Your conversion story and the posts I read from last year are very beautiful. You've been through a lot and have come through very well.
thanks MMF. Only by the grace of God ,all praise to His name.
You're welcome tiber. I've taken a pause from reading the ongoing posts on Dr Beckwith's blog, because I need to put on hip waders and I don't mean because I'm fishing in the local Bassmaster tournament :-(
Yes!Dr. B's com box has gotten so out of hand. I keep telling myself that I'm not going back there, then I check to see how many more comments.
Ugggh
PA
Thanks for the post!
Dr. B has only just rejoined the Church, but he's already got heroic virtue for putting up with that stuff.
I don't know if I could.
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