Rome-ward Bound

David M. Howard, Jr., the nephew of Dr. Thomas Howard and the former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, comments on the recent decision of Dr. Francis Beckwith (also a former president of ETS) to return to the Catholic Church:

Responses to Mr. Beckwith's conversion run the gamut. A small number of evangelicals have reacted as if he committed an act of betrayal. Among many more, including us on the executive committee, the response has been one of cordial disagreement on some critical matters, accompanied by an acknowledgment that we nevertheless have much in common as fellow Christians.

Mr. Beckwith's conversion did catch many off guard, though. Not since the 1985 conversion of Thomas Howard, a graduate of Wheaton College, evangelicalism's flagship school, had a scholar of such high profile made the journey "from Wheaton to Rome." A professor of English literature and prolific author, Mr. Howard was widely read among evangelical intellectuals, and his conversion sparked a similar reaction to Mr. Beckwith's, including a 14-page spread in Christianity Today.

As it happens, I am Mr. Howard's nephew and thus watched his conversion from close range. It was anything but sudden. His (and my father's) family of origin embraced a robust Protestant fundamentalism in the 1930s. But in the 1960s, feeling an aesthetic as well as theological longing, he became an Episcopalian and finally in the 1980s a Catholic. He retains some of the best of his fundamentalist upbringing (a vibrant, personal piety and commitment to historic orthodox doctrine) even as he embraces the full teachings of the Catholic Church.

Mr. Howard was among the first of what has become a steady stream of evangelical converts to Catholicism in the past 20 years. Three who achieved prominence after their conversions were the singer John Michael Talbot, now the No. 1 Catholic recording artist, Scott Hahn, a best-selling Catholic author, and Joshua Hochschild, a professor at Wheaton fired for his conversion in 2006.

A common element among these converts is a strong commitment to the Catechism and papal encyclicals. These Catholics are not generally in sympathy with the theologically liberal wing of the American Catholic Church but are enthusiastic supporters of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI's emphasis on orthodox teaching and practice. In short, they have more in common theologically with evangelicals than with liberal Catholics, and evangelicals themselves, in many respects, have more in common with traditional Catholics than with mainline Protestants. Especially on social and political issues, there is much room for common cause.

Read the entire OpinionJournal.com piece.

Read an interview with Thomas Howard about his journey to the Catholic Church and his book about that experience, Lead, Kindly Light.

Read "From Protestantism to Catholicism: Six Journeys To Rome".

Previous related posts:

• Lutheran professor of philosophy prepares to enter Catholic Church (May 18, 2007)
• More details (May 12, 2007)
• Southern Baptist leader, VP of ETS discuss Dr. Beckwith (May 11, 2007)
• Christianity Today interviews Dr. Beckwith (May 9, 2007)
• Dr. Beckwith resigns from ETS altogether... (May 8, 2007)
• Converts, Reverts, and Authority (May 7, 2007)
• In light of recent events... (May 6, 2007)
• Dr. Beckwith returns to Catholic Church; resigns from presidency of ETS (May 5, 2007)

Comments

[W.]

I actually just finished Howard's Lead, Kindly Light. What a pleasant little yet deep book. You can read a few snippets of the book and a couple thoughts at Thomas Howard and Lead, Kindly Light.

[Mark Brumley]

The repercussions of Beckwith's "reversion" continue. The mention of Talbot and Hahn is interesting.

JMT was fairly well-known as a Evangelical before his conveersion--at least in CCM circles. But he wasn't a major Evangelical thinker, he was a musician. Scott Hahn wasn't really well-known--although he was an up-and-coming minister and might well have become a significant Reformed theologian if he hadn't converted. Beckwith, onthe other hand, while not exactly an Evangelical household name like Billy Graham, is widely-known in scholarly and semi-scholarly Evangelical circles. That's why his return to Catholicism is making such waves.

[Robert Trexler]

It seems to me that "Mr." Howard's nephew should have refered to his uncle as "Dr. Howard." His usage of "Mr." may not be meant in disrespect to his uncle, but his manner of speaking did strike me as a bit remote. It is comforting to know, however, that "Mr. Howard" retained "a commitment to historic orthodox doctrine" when he became a Catholic.

[Francis Beckwith]

Dear Robert:

It is the WSJ's style requirement to use titles like "Mr." and "Ms." after the proper and sir names of the individuals are first used in an essay or story. The WSJ does not use "Dr." for anyone. I've been a reader of the WSJ for many years.

Frank

[Mark Brumley]

Dr. Beckwith beat me to the punch. Thanks for the clarification.