Former minister speaks of journey to Catholic Church

“I had been taught that Catholics were not Christians, that the Pope was the anti-Christ and Catholics were the Harlot of Babylon. They were a cult that worshipped idols and if you were Catholic you could not go to heaven,” Michael Matthews told The Catholic Virginian during a recent interview. But in 1997 Mr. Matthews, his wife Trudie and five-year-old son Jonathan entered into full communion with the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Newport News.

As an ordained minister in the Independent Baptist Church for nine years, his journey to the Catholic Church began long before he entered the RCIA process. Surprisingly, his interest in Catholicism was sparked while studying history at Pensacola Church College, a Baptist seminary. Looking back he applauded his professors for their integrity regarding history. “They drew from the works of Sts. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and Jerome, even though they didn’t refer to them as saints,” noted Mr. Matthews. Studying the writings of these men presented a dilemma for Mr. Matthews. “It didn’t add up with what I had always been taught about Catholics,” he said. “Not only could Catholics be saved but they played an important role in the history of Christianity.”

Mr. Matthew’s appreciation for Catholics grew following his ordination. While working in the pro-life ministry as Director of Operation Rescue in Charlotte, N.C., Mr. Matthews noted that more than 50 percent of the people who protested at the abortion clinics were Catholics. “They supported the movement and as I got to know them and saw genuine faith in action, I had to re-consider my former views of the Catholic Church.” Shortly after, he read the book, “Rome Sweet Home” by Scott Hahn which only added to his confusion.

“I finally picked up the phone and called Scott Hahn,” recalled Mr. Matthews. “You could do that at the time and we spent hours talking on the phone.” In the months that followed he received numerous tapes and booklets on issues that had troubled him such as the role of Mary, the Eucharist, the papacy and purgatory. “As I began to study the issues from a Catholic perspective, I no longer had an excuse to stay out.”

The entire time, Mr. Matthews shared his confusion and his increasing knowledge of the Catholic Church with his wife, Trudie. She would respond by saying, “Show it to me in the Bible. Leaving your church is difficult,” admitted Mr. Matthews. “You also leave a lot of friendships.” When he was transferred to Hampton Roads with his job in computer science, the Matthews family decided this would be a good time to visit a Catholic church. “No one knew us so there was no pressure,” he said. “We decided to go to Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Eventually we went through the RCIA and became Catholic.”

The Matthews’ who now attend Christ the King in Norfolk, are very involved in parish life. Michael has taught a number of adult formation classes and has been part of the RCIA team. His wife, a musician, plays the flute at church and Jonathan, now 14 years old, is involved with the Youth Group.

Although Mr. Matthews is currently employed in computer technology, he has developed Triumph Ministries as an avocation. He has given talks in a variety of parishes around the Diocese of Richmond and in a number of states beyond. He also has an online ministry and has developed tracts on Catholic issues which he distributes on request.

Mr. Matthews calls his approach Biblical catechesis. “My purpose is to help Catholics understand the Biblical basis for their faith.” He is currently working on an apologetics approach to the Book of Revelation. “Most people only know what they read in the Left Behind series and so they become fixated on the end times,” said Mr. Matthews. On April 17 Michael Matthews will appear on Journey Home on Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). The program, which will air at 8 p.m., features stories on people who convert to Catholicism. His appearance is sponsored by Coming Home, a network of ministers who have joined the Catholic Church.