50 Catholic Converts...Over the Last Century

NCR, the good one ^ | Apr 15th, 2017 | Matthew Bunson

[Mrs. Don-o]

[Excerpt: cut from 50 to 13]

A few of the most notable converts over the last century:

The dazzling variety is a microcosm of the many different people who enter the Church every year —[for] no past, however dark and troubled, makes us unwelcome to God’s loving embrace of mercy and forgiveness.

Francis Beckwith (b. 1960): Philosopher /theologian; elected president of the Evangelical Theological Society; converted to Catholicism 2007.

Robert Bork (1927-2012): Conservative American judge known for the vicious political fight blocking his nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987. Converted to Catholicism in 2003.

Dave Brubeck (1920-2012): Renowned American jazz musician. He converted in 1980 ; composed the Mass to Hope.

Gary Cooper (1901-1961): Actor who earned three Academy Awards, including “Best Actor” for Sergeant York and High Noon. Entered the Church in 1959.

Russell Kirk(1918-1994): American political theorist, very influential in the American conservative movement.

Dean Koontz (b. 1945): Prolific novelist, has sold more than 450 million copies of his books.

Norma McCorvey (1947-2017): Plaintiff Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion who subsequently became pro-life.

Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980): Canadian professor, philosopher and media theorist.

Bernard Nathanson (1926-2011): Abortionist and a founding member of NARAL Pro-Choice America who joined the pro-life movement in the 1970s.

Queen Nazli (1894-1978): Queen of Egypt (1919 -1936) She and her daughter, Fathia, converted from Islam in 1950.

Knute Rockne (1888-1931): Norwegian-born coach of the Notre Dame football team from 1918 to 1930 and considered one of the greatest coaches in sports history.

John Wayne (1907-1979): Academy Award-winning actor beloved for his roles in westerns and war movies.

Israel Zolli (1881-1956): Italian Jewish scholar and the chief rabbi in Rome from 1940 to 1945. Friend of Pope Pius XII, he converted from Judaism to Catholicism in 1945.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future." -- Oscar Wilde

Because of excerpt, I cut this list back from 50 to 13. It's hugely interesting to read the whole list: there ill be some names there that will really surprise you.

Loving Jesus!

[Alberta's Child]

One notable omission from that list is Harold Abrahams. His conversion was noteworthy because he is most renowned for his portrayal in the Academy Award winning film, Chariots of Fire, in which his Judaism and family ancestry is very much a part of his character's personality. He converted to Catholicism in the 1930s, and viewers of the movie would have had a hint of this because the scenes from his memorial service at the start and end of the movie take place in a Christian church.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you. Interesting!

I hope you --- and other FReepers ---- will feel free to add the names of other illustrious converts. What joy in heaven!!

[heterosupremacist]

Scott Hahn & Thomas Merton?

Yikes!

[Mrs. Don-o]

Saints, sinners, fill in the blanks.

I myself am a cradle Catholic and a "REvert" --- left. then came back. Christ has mercifully put me in His inside vest pocket. (Thank You, Lord.) But I would sure hate for anybody to see an uncut video of "Mrs Don-o: the Ongoing Fizzles, Flaws and Failures".

Like I said: Saints, sinners, fill in the blanks!

[chajin]

Dave Brubeck (1920-2012): Renowned American jazz musician. He converted in 1980; composed the Mass to Hope.

He became a Catholic after writing the Mass. He had earlier written two oratorios in the late 1960s, The Gates of Justice and The Light in the Wilderness; the latter includes a fascinating example of program music, a jazz piece in 5/4 time presenting the experience of Jesus being tempted by Satan entitled 40 Days.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Interesting! I know so little about jazz musicians. Do you know if these pieces are still much performed?

[AC Beach Patrol]

A few others come to mind, and they are intellectual giants

Reknowned Oxford analytical philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe

Renowned British logician and Wykeham Professor of Logic at Oxford University, Sir Michael Dummett

Philosopher of science, Nicholas Rescher

British writer G.K. Chesterton, whose book, The Everlasting Man, was the major influence of C.S. Lewis' conversion to Christianity.

[AC Beach Patrol]

For some reason that Michael Dummett link didn't work. Here's the correct one: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dummett

[chajin]

Interesting! I know so little about jazz musicians. Do you know if these pieces are still much performed?

The two oratorios have not been performed in a long time AFAIK, and they're not even on YouTube; I have the vinyls to them and have them digitized, but don't know if I could post them there due to copyrights.

[ml/nj]

I hope you know I mean no disrespect, but this post made me think of Carlebach's Yossele 1974. I remembered it as "Joe from Krakow," but the internet corrected me. It's a 15 minute Youe Tube audio. I hope you will listen to it. (There it says to listen to Yossele from Krakow first first. It's a 21 minute video, and I don't think this one is necessary to understand why I thought of Joe/Jossele.)

ML/NJ

[Mrs. Don-o]

Excellent. My heart leaps up for Anscombe!

An ethicist friend in the UK, who was a student of hers, says she also had behind her home a garden which she loved, and where her and Peter Geach's seven children played. I think they all saw the Lord!

Rembrandt's portrayal of Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene
Note the gardening spade and the straw hat. So cool.

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Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene as a gardener.

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Another one on the gardener theme. As a piddling-gardener I get a kick out of these.

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I believe it’s “Noli Me Tangere” by Janssens-Wildens? Love the hat!

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Spranger’s “Noli Me Tangere”

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Giordano Luca’s (?) “Noli Me Tangere”

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A HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER TO YOU, AC Beach Patrol!!

[Steelfish]

Richard Neuhaus- America’s foremost Lutheran theologian, scholar, historian, and pastor on his conversion to Catholicism and then becoming a Catholic priest.

https://www.firstthings.com/article/2002/04/how-i-became-the-catholic-i-was

[AC Beach Patrol]

A happy and blessed Easter to you as well!!

Great tidbit. The recent passing of prominent analytic philosopher David Braine, also a student of Anscombe's and a Catholic convert from her influence, reminded me of the great legacy Anscombe and Geach left.

[AC Beach Patrol]

Sorry, I didn’t get that right. Braine was a Catholic convert himself and whose Catholic faith was deeply influenced by Anscombe.

[heterosupremacist]

#5 I myself am a cradle Catholic and a "REvert" --- left. then came back. Christ has mercifully put me in His inside vest pocket. (Thank You, Lord.) But I would sure hate for anybody to see an uncut video of "Mrs Don-o: the Ongoing Fizzles, Flaws and Failures".! I myself am a RE-vert. Many years after the monsignor slipped his hand into my BVD's in the Sacristy I became the profigal son... Deo gratias!