Sep 2, 2022
There is a lot of fanfare when someone converts into the Catholic Church, at least among Catholics, and that’s true whether you’re a pop culture celebrity, like Shia LaBeouf or not. I was in my early 20s when I became Catholic and because it was such an unusual thing for someone with my demographic qualities to do, there was never a shortage of people who wanted to talk to me or hear my story – that is as long as I didn’t say things that indicated I wasn’t the exact same kind of Catholic they were. And, honestly, that’s a good thing. We should want to hear converts’ stories and learn from their experiences, but there are also risks that come with all of that fanfare, both for the fans and for those who are treated like celebrities for their conversion, again, whether they actually are celebrities or not. This is why, from within that excitement and celebration, we need to embrace the goods that come from conversion and converts as well as be mindful of the ways that all of that celebration and fanfare can cause harm especially when we put them in positions of leadership or influence because of that celebrity factor.