Why people don't convert to Catholicism

One of my good friends once said, "I love being Christian and I want to stay on track by doing God's mission and evangelizing the lost. Changing my mission is the last thing I have in my mind."

Another friend said, "Catholicism is different but we're still brothers and sisters in Christ so we're all good where we are."

These conversations really stuck with me. They made me realize something important: the biggest obstacle to deeper faith, especially when it comes to Catholicism, isn't usually outright hostility or rejection. It's indifference.

I'm actually really grateful that most of the people around me aren't anti-Catholic. But for many, Catholicism is just seen as another Christian flavour. They'll say things like, "The churches are beautiful," or joke about us having too many statues and stained glass windows and probably pray a bit too much to Mary, and then move on. To them, it's all part of the same Christian umbrella, and as long as everyone's happy and "convicted by the Holy Spirit," then there's no need to dig deeper.

But that mindset—while understandable—isn't really aligned with what Jesus prayed for.

Yes, Jesus said in the Gospel of Mark, "Whoever is not against us is for us." That's a generous and inclusive statement. But we can't forget that He also prayed, "Father, that they may all be one, as you and I are one."

Jesus didn't found many denominations and independent movements that have nothing to do with each other. He established one Church—the Catholic Church—with Himself as the cornerstone, and Peter and their successors as its rock. That Church has carried on for over 2,000 years being guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit, and while it’s made up of imperfect people, the truth it carries is still whole and unchanged.

So what's stopping people from coming in?

I realized that there's one big reason they hesitate: they don't see the beauty in the Catholic faith. And this is what I think we should do as Catholics to show the beauty of the Catholic faith. Not converting others for the sake of earning brownie points. Being Catholic means embracing the fullness of the truth. And we want others to experience it too.

Key reason: we can't bring others in if we don't show the beauty of Catholicism

Here's the deal, we can't convince others to be part of the Catholic faith if all we do is to say they're wrong. What it does is it'll cause them to raise the walls and think that by leaving their Christian denominations, they'll lose everything good and beautiful they already do. They start to feel like we're asking them to throw away everything about their existing Christian life—prayer, Scripture, community, serving others. And from their perspective, why would they want to give all that up?

The truth is, we're not asking them to lose anything. Catholicism doesn't take away from what's good—it completes our Christian life, just how Jesus intended it to be.

Personally, I can't imagine life without the Blessed Sacrament—without the gift of truly encountering Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, in the Eucharist. I can't picture life without Confession, where through the priest, Christ speaks directly to me, telling me I am forgiven. These aren't just man-made traditions—they're encounters with the living God.

But people won't come to understand that through arguments alone. Sometimes, we need less words and more actions. We need less arguments and more of being a living witness to the faith. People notice how we live, how we love, how we handle suffering, how we pray. And sometimes that quiet witness speaks volumes more than theological debate ever could.

Before we go out and tell people they should convert, let's ask ourselves: How's our prayer life? Do we really love Jesus—and does that love show? Unfortunately, Catholics often get stereotyped as lukewarm Christians. Let's change that. We do deeply love Jesus, and it's time we show that to the world—and especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.

Live the faith by walking alongside others

I have an idea: let's invite a friend to Adoration. Doesn't have to be many, just one.

There are countless stories of people who encountered Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and experienced a profound conversion. He is truly present in the Eucharist. He is that powerful—because He is God. Let Him do the heavy lifting.

Pray for our friends, and even more powerful, pray with them.

Let's be that steady, loving presence in their life. A couple more ideas: offer them a ride to Mass and take them out for lunch afterwards. Let them see how our faith shapes our decisions, how the Eucharist strengthens us, how Confession humbles and frees us, and how the Church isn't just an institution—it's a home.

When we live our faith with authenticity, joy, and compassion, it invites people's curiosity. They begin to ask questions. They sense that there's more—and that "more" is found in the fullness of the Catholic faith.

My personal experience

I've experienced this firsthand. My fiancée was baptized into the Catholic Church a year before I received the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Communion. She never pressured me to convert during all the time I was happy being a Protestant (and eventually exploring different denominations). She simply lived her faith, day in and day out. Her witness wasn't in arguments—it was in her example. And that made all the difference.

Looking back, I can confidently say she was one of the biggest reasons I became Catholic and, by God's grace, will remain Catholic.

Closing remarks: trust in God's timing

To wrap this up: remember, it's not our job to convert souls and hearts. That's the Holy Spirit's work. Sometimes conversion takes years—even decades. Be patient. Remain steadfast in prayer. Just because their conversion doesn't happen now doesn't mean it won't happen ever.

While we can’t control the outcome, we still have a role to play.

Our part is to live out our faith in a way that is welcoming and warm, and rooted in truth. That we can reflect the beauty of Catholicism, and trust that God, in His perfect timing, will do the rest.