An Anglican Priest Encounters Catholicism (w/ John Bacon)

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by former Anglican priest and Catholic convert John Bacon to talk about his conversion story - and it's an incredible one!
Ordained a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, John tells his story of encountering Catholicism through the Liturgy, the Early Church Fathers, Mary's role in exorcisms (which he encountered as a police chaplain!), and even a relationship which he struck up with another famous convert Dr. David Anders at a Jewish gym where John worked during seminary.
John's story is all about what it means to give up so much to follow Christ where he leads, bumps and all along the way, but living for the journey. I'm telling you... this journey is amazing!
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[@christopherbrown2222]

Just found out this video existed. My first thought was, “Wait, John Bacon was on the Internet!!?” John wasn’t exaggerating when he said that he was a ghost online! All loving jests aside, John is a friend and former colleague of mine at Beeson. I’ve been meaning to reach out and hear his story, and I’m so glad to catch a glimpse of it here! While I remain (mostly!) content to remain historically Protestant, I can honestly say that the Catholic Church couldn’t have gained a more valiant, stalwart warrior than this dear brother! He, his wife Lauren, and their kids are great people! Thanks for sharing this!

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Ha ha ha. Glad you found this!

[@dsonyay]

46:50. Papal authority was the first issue I resolved upon my return to the Catholic Church after being away from many many years. This is kind of fortunate, because once overcoming this issue, The rest of my Issues fell away very very quickly- I guess what I’m trying to say is that papal infallibility seems to be a very difficult issue for many protestants and other non-Catholics, and is usually the last thing to go… For me, it was the first thing to go - so the Rest of my problems evaporated in rapid succession. Marion Theology was always easy for me… I grew up in a very Catholic French Acsdian area of South Louisiana.. We are very very proud of our family histories and backgrounds, and our French heritage, which makes it easy for us to be proud of our Catholic heritage, and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ (Saints, the Apostles, Mary etc). Because of baptism, they are in our family just like our aunts and uncles and cousins - grandparents and great grandparents, etc.). Just as we take so much pride in looking at the photos of some of our great great grandparents, we take just as much pride and inspiration displaying prayer cards, and other memorabilia of saints of the church, especially Mary. It’s a very easy natural thing to do. Like past family members that we honor and hold in higj regard- we have am easy time with our extended family through Baptism.

[@PInk77W1]

Jesus started one church and said it would last forever The Roman Catholic Church

[@Kitiwake]

It was the church, the Roman Catholic church doesn't and never existed. We call the church founded by Christ the Catholic church.

[@TheConchologist]

He joined the“ true Church ”. Outstanding 👏

[@fulgentius371]

These conversations are always brilliant: I am looking forward to seeing Keith's own conversion story on Journey Home....

[@TheCordialCatholic]

The wait is over! 🤓 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIOrdXueZ72KjMU

[@fulgentius371]

@@TheCordialCatholic Many thanks indeed!

[@andrewpearson1903]

Love this interview. I wish Bacon's epistemic humility and gentle criticism of our national and religious faults were more common among us Americans -- if they were, there would be many more Catholics among us, or at least we could discuss important things much more intelligently.

[@TheCordialCatholic]

What a kind comment.

[@Joliebebe2001]

Waow. Very deep conversation. We Catholic have to stay on the ship, the Holy Spirit steers the ship. And also, it's heartbreaking for the Christians whose churches failed to keep the faith and the truth, but capitulated to secularism other and other. I hope in Jesus to keep his Church prevailing and pray for all humans and believers at least, to take refuge in this Church He gave us. 🙏🏽♥️ 1h08 mn is very very eye opening.

[@mancipiachristi9032]

I've seen a couple videos from this channel and it has been great viewing. The amount of subscribers and likes does not reflect the quality and substance of this podcast. God bless you and your ministry.

[@jaqian]

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Gen 3:15)

[@TheEdzy25]

Viva Cristo Rey!

[@jaqian]

From now on all generations will call me blessed (Luke 1:48)

[@КлюевСергей-э5с]

Hello, can someone help me? When I got baptised I had visible Holy Spirit descending upon me, and I saw that nasty spirit of satan being expelled out of me. But it came back, and started to beg me let him back in. And I foolishly let him in, I didn’t resist him, because I got confused that if I don’t behave nice I would shake off of myself that New Spirit. So it’s been a while, I am suffering, knowing I once was freed, and got captured by satan again, I can control myself within the boundaries of Christian behavior, but satan literally eats all my energy and my health deteriorates. So, what do I do, how do I expel satan once again?

[@daddydaycareky]

Call a Catholic Priest. Regardless of your denomination. They can help you.

[@Kitiwake]

Have you been to confession regularly?

[@RecoveringLiberal1984]

Always a pleasure to watch your videos 🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏

[@francescaheartfield9552]

My hat’s off to John Bacon! …and his wholehearted response in obedience to God’s call. His education is classic! 👏👏

[@samuelstreeter5780]

Bro. Sam Streeter, I'm putting my all in church now. Here in Los Angeles, we've validated the Holy Scriptures as accurate. There's happiness crossing that secular to sanctified threshold. Myself, I'm praying for good people to make it out of caronvirus healthally.We'll just write our testimony this way. Being negro, I view living in a serious fashion. Racial interests are quite high during these times of illnesses and change. Praying only of this, that some nice blacks get a few prayers answered, how good it would be for them. Our God is most definitely a strong one, no fear. POPE? NO! contributer? If I may.All the way around the world to find the rock! I love our true church family. Thanks

[@dous1492]

Will you please interview Lauren Keith?

[@TheCordialCatholic]

If you insist! 🤓

[@jaqian]

35:53 Does he mean St Columbanus? He is Irish not English.

[@johnbacon4175]

I meant St. Columba of Iona, who is Irish (as you rightly state). I misspoke.

[@adamnowak926]

👍

[@tinatocci1139]

Really great interview

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@marjozar2435]

Amazing interview. Would love to hear more from John.

[@TheCordialCatholic]

I'll try to arrange that!

[@BobWangwenyi23]

great conversation! extremely compelling!

[@woodfin77]

I remember reading his wife’s account of good pastoral care on Anglican Compass. Wonder if he and her recognize the grace she wrote about that ministered to her and her family while they lived in Birmingham, Al.

[@johnbacon4175]

We do. As I said in the video, I am very grateful to that entire community, especially the pastoral leadership in that church. There are many graces throughout the Protestant world, and especially there.

[@brunot2481]

_”This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him, _*_although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its visible structure. These elements, as gifts belonging to the Church of Christ, are forces impelling toward catholic unity”_* (Lumen Gentium, 8).

[@woodfin77]

@@brunot2481 thank you for posting this.

[@woodfin77]

@@johnbacon4175 thank you for your reply. I apologize if my comment came across as an attack on you or your wife as a person or attacked your or her integrity in any way. I remember reading that article a few years ago when it posted. That site was a very good help for me at one time. May the Lord bless you and your family. May your trust in Him be strong as you continue to walk with Him.

[@johnbacon4175]

@@woodfin77 Thank you, Philip! Anglican resources helped my wife and I immensely as well, both in terms of personal relationships and educational resources. I am glad to hear that they have been helpful for you too.

[@Catholiclady3]

This is my favorite interview yet!

[@TheCordialCatholic]

I had his wife on as well!

[@Catholiclady3]

@@TheCordialCatholic I'll look it up. I wonder if I've seen it already

[@SearchingTheArchives]

What a neat story about Dr. David Anders - love that guy

[@TheCordialCatholic]

I thought so! Thanks for listening!

[@leom6421]

So many commercials

[@R.C.425]

Thank you,

[@paulmiller3469]

I enjoyed this discussion and just subscribed.

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Thanks so much, Paul!

[@jonathanbohl]

28:09

[@YenkammaNe]

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT BEING A HINDU? By Francois Gautier. *Diversity in Divinity and Unity in Spirituality.* Be Your Own Messiah. 1) Believe in God ! - Aastik - Accepted 2) Don't believe in God ! - You're accepted as Nastik 3) You want to worship idols - please go ahead. You are a murti pujak. 4) You dont want to worship idols - no problem. You can focus on Nirguna Brahman. 5) You want to criticise something in our religion. Come forward. We are logical. Nyaya, Tarka etc. are core Hindu schools. 6) You want to accept beliefs as it is. Most welcome. Please go ahead with it. 7) You want to start your journey by reading Bhagvad Gita - Sure ! 8) You want to start your journey by reading Upanishads - Go ahead. 9) You want to start your journey by reading Purana - Be my guest. 10) You just don't like reading Puranas or other books. No problem my dear. Go by Bhakti tradition . ( bhakti- devotion) 11) You don't like idea of Bhakti ! No problem. Do your Karma. Be a karmayogi. 12) You want to enjoy life. Very good. No problem at all. This is Charvaka Philosophy. 13) You want to abstain from all the enjoyment of life & find God - jai ho ! Be a Sadhu, an ascetic ! 14) You don't like the concept of God. You believe in Nature only - Welcome. (Trees are our friends and Prakriti or nature is worthy of worship). 15) You believe in one God or Supreme Energy. Superb! Follow Advaita philosophy 16) You want a Guru. Go ahead. Receive gyaan. 17) You don't want a Guru.. Help yourself ! Meditate, Study ! 18) You believe in Female energy ! Shakti is worshipped. 19) You believe that every human being is equal. Yeah! You're awesome, come on let's celebrate Hinduism! "Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" (the world is a family) 20) You don't have time to celebrate the festival. Don't worry. One more festival is coming! There are multiple festivals every single day of the year. 21) You are a working person. Don't have time for religion. Its okay. You will still be a Hindu. 22) You like to go to temples. Devotion is loved. 23) You don't like to go to temples - no problem. You are still a Hindu! 24) You know that Hinduism is a way of life, with considerable freedom. 25) You believe that everything has God in it. So you worship your mother, father, guru, tree, River, Prani-matra, Earth, Universe! 26) And If you don't believe that everything has GOD in it - No problems. Respect your viewpoint. 27) "Sarve jana sukhino bhavantu " (May you all live happily) You represent this! You're free to choose, my dear Hindu! This is exactly the essence of Hinduism, all inclusive .. That is why it has withstood the test of time inspite of repeated onslaught both from within and outside, and assimilated every good aspects from everything . That is why it is eternal !!! There is a saying in Rigveda , the first book ever known to mankind which depicts the Hinduism philosophy in a Nutshell -" Ano bhadrah Krathavo Yanthu Vishwathah"- Let the knowledge come to us from every direction.......

[@bethanyann1060]

Hinduism allows for logical contradictions. Truth can’t contradict itself.

[@nicoleyoshihara4011]

Cool!^_^

[@barelyprotestant5365]

The Roman obsession with shouting from the rooftops every time an Anglican becomes Roman (while silently ignoring all of the times people from your side swim the Tiber to us) only shows your true colours: you don't think we are brothers in Christ. So please stop pretending we are "separated brothers"; if we were, someone going from Anglican to Rome wouldn't be news you shout from the rooftops. This honestly isn't very "cordial" of you.

[@barelyprotestant5365]

"The one thing the devil doesn't want me to do..." is pray the Hail Mary? So the Blessed Virgin is the ONLY Name that the devil hates? There's no power in the Name of Jesus?

[@barelyprotestant5365]

41:30 Did he seriously just claim that his deepest agony in Anglicanism was unquestionable authority? So...he's going to Rome instead? Rome...doesn't have unquestionable authority? (Hint: It literally does) And in the same breath he's complaining about Luther and the Reformers questioning authority? His argumentation is thoroughly incoherent.

[@barelyprotestant5365]

45:20 Now he's just lying. He's claiming that, in the ACNA, we don't have dogmatic stances on pornography, abortion, divorce, etc? He needs to confess to God that he's lying about us, and publicly repent for his lying. Honestly, how dare he make false accusations that we are okay with pornography and the like. How dare he.

[@barelyprotestant5365]

46:50 No. Rome has not maintained stability. Vatican II has radically changed your Communion. Vatican I has radically changed your Communion. Trent has radically changed your Communion.

[@barelyprotestant5365]

47:15 Literally gay "marriages" are being blessed under the leadership of Cardinal Marx. Yet he's not condemned or even censured. What is censured instead? The Traditional Latin Mass. That's not theological unity. Taylor Marshall, Bishop Baron, Fr James Martin, Pope Francis, Cardinal Marx are all "in the same Communion". That's not unity.