Atheist Blogger Converts to the Catholic Faith

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
6/20/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Internet author says she accepts notion that truth and moral goodness come from God

Her online announcement shocked the secular community. Atheist blogger Leah Libresco has announced on her Patheos blog that she has converted to Christianity. In her latest online post, "This is my last post for the Patheos Atheist Portal," she explained her conversion to Catholicism. Libresco said her conversion came from her struggles with the roots of the moral law. Libresco said she inevitably arrived at an understanding that aligns with a Christ-centered world-view.

Formerly atheist blogger Leah Libresco said her conversion came from her struggles with the roots of moral law. Libresco said she inevitably arrived at an understanding that aligns with a Christ-centered world-view.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Libresco said her conversion came from her struggles with the roots of the moral law. Libresco said she inevitably arrived at an understanding that aligns with a Christ-centered world-view.

Libresco found herself constantly exploring this paradigm until she finally accepted the notion that truth and moral goodness come from God. "I believed that the Moral Law wasn't just a Platonic truth, abstract and distant. It turns out I actually believed it was some kind of Person, as well as Truth. And there was one religion that seemed like the most promising way to reach back to that living Truth.

"I asked my friend what he suggests we do now, and we prayed the night office of the Liturgy of the Hours together (I've kept up with that since). Then I suggested hugs and playing Mumford and Sons really, really loudly," she wrote.

"After I changed my mind, I decided to take a little time to make sure I really believed what I thought I believed, before telling my friends, family, and, now, all of you. That left me with the question of what to do about my atheism blog. My solution was to just not write anything I disagreed with. Enough of my friends had accused me of writing in a crypto-Catholic style that I figured no one would notice if I were actually crypto-Catholic for a month and a half (i.e. everything from "Upon this ROC." on).

Libresco admits she struggles with aspects of her newfound Catholic faith. Among them, the church's teaching about homosexuality, but she seems set on a path to explore these specified issues as diligently as she has the overarching existence of a higher power.

Libresco promises to further discuss her ongoing spiritual path in future blog posts.

"This post isn't the final word on my conversion. I'm sure there's a lot more explaining and arguing to do, so be a little charitable in your read of this post and try to give me a little time to expand my ideas over the next few weeks," she writes.

Many people in the secular community question Libresco's massive transition, but at least one prominent atheist has shown his support. On his "Friendly Atheist" blog, Hemant Mehta wrote the following about the conversion:

"It happens. Far less frequently than the other way around, but it happens . I won't pretend to understand whatever she's going through. But whenever you make a big announcement like that, it's like a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders. It's even harder to do that when you talk about religion so publicly. Anyway, I wish Leah the best."

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Atheism, conversion, moral law, natural law, faith, goodness, Plato, conversion, Leah Libresco

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1 - 10 of 39 Comments

Loren T.
10 months ago
I saw the heading "Atheism converts to Catholicism" I just had to click on. Ever since surrendering my life back to Jesus after a sinful life, I have been extremely interested in the matter of atheism conversion, particularly to the Catholic faith. This is NOT my first time reading an aetheist's conversion story, but everytime I read, I just couldn't hold back the tears of joy. Jesus is right. The whole heaven rejoices when a sinner comes back home. Yes, I'm happy for them, but I think what touched me to the core was the fact I used to be in their shoes. I completely sympathized with their struggles, fears, doubts, rejections, and the list goes on. But I know one thing for absolute truth, is that God will NOT give up on each one of his dearest children. He will day and night searches out souls and bring them back for He is the source of Love and goodness. Seeing from God's light, I fathom what St. Augustine had once said, "Lord, you have created us in your image. Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee." And I can swear that every atheist's heart will continue to be RESTLESS until they surrender to God's Love and providence. That is why they protested against God. Every time they sense something Godly or someone talks/blogs about God, it attracts them even though they deny his existence or his goodness but they can't help to be drawn to that source. I have to agree with a close friend of mine who said that when you study theology, in a sense, there's really no true atheist.
I will continue to pray for each of you my atheist brothers and sisters until your hearts rest in Him. My heart and soul was once restless but NOT anymore, so it is my mission now to pray for you. I won't be able to convert you for that is NOT my job; I will leave that up to the ONe who searches out our souls and conscience.
My dear catholic fellows, please join me to pray for our atheist brothers and sisters. Please do NOT condemn or judge them in anyway. Remember, they are just like you, made in the image of God that you love and believe in. If you have to condemn, condemn their acts for those are the devil's works. Trust in the power of prayer for that will heal them and you in the way that only God can see. You will understand when you are united with Him in heaven.
None of us are righteous in God's presence. I don't care how holy and religious you are, YOU ARE just a sinner for WE ARE all born as sinners. We are still tainted by the original sin. But in the Eternal Lamb's precious blood, we are cleansed for ever and made aligned with God.
May our sins always before us make us humbled to the dust so that we can walk humbly with him to our Eternal Home. Amen.
Eileen
10 months ago
A genuine search for Truth always leads to Jesus: "The Way, the Truth and the Life"

May God continue to bless Leah on her spiritual journey..
Harry Reyhing
10 months ago
amen great testimony.Unlike other churches the Catholic church alone goes back to the first century.We have the beauty of the liturgy,7 sacraments not just 2.the real presence of Jesus in the eucharist not a mere "symbol" We have the communion of saints,Mother Mary the greatest saints martyrs and mystics,the beauty of its art architecture literature.In short in the catholic church we have a foretaste of heaven on earth.I pity author Anne Rice who temporarily "converted to Catholic church then left.Her reason she stated she couldnt be a part of a church thats anti science anti gay and anti womens reproductive rights.What paltry reasons to miss out on heaven on earth.But to answer the Catholic church has always opposed killing unborn babies in the womb as serious sin its murder.We are not anti gay.We love and pray for gays but we hold to what the bible teaches that gay sex is sin but we also hold hetero sex outside marriage to be sinful.We are not anti science.In fact the greatest scientists of the renaissance and middle ages were catholic.So Anne Rice is gravely shaken.If she left the church for these reasons she couldnt have been a true catholic to begin with.
Catholic
10 months ago
Deo gratias! God bless you Leah Libresco!

In seeking you are found.
Rocio
10 months ago
Not much I can say, but Congratulations Leah Libresco, And thanks to God, for giving you wisdom and light to be able to find the ONLY way to eternal salvation and that is Jesus Christ, I respect all Religions, but Catholicism is dear to my heart, as the ONLY to recognize the True Living presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the greatest gift HE left us with, to know that because he loves us, HE becomes present during the Sacrifice of the Mass, making himself that sacrifice, so He continues to forgive our sins, and gifts Himself to us in the Holy Eucharist, if that is not greatest love, and we can not see it that way, then we are completely blind.
BGLM
10 months ago
Hello, JoAnn...to say some atheists are downright mean is absolutely true, though I would go even further and say MOST are downright mean. It's been my experience that a kind, loving, happy and non-cynical atheist is very hard to find. But I'm never surprised by this. As Catholics, we are catechized to reflect and spread Christ's love in this hurting world. (I won't say Catholics are never mean -- that would be absurd -- but we definitely "know better.") We are certain of the existence of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are on a lifelong journey of working out our salvation with the goal of attaining eternal life, because we know it exists. Atheists believe in no higher power or authority other than THEMSELVES, so they reflect....NOTHING. Atheists are incapable of spreading love. Hence the reason most of their responses are laced with mean-spirited, hate-filled, derisive comments. In answer to what "burns their butts," simply put, Catholics strive to reflect all that is good, right and TRUE while atheists exude emptiness, darkness, doubt, bitterness and sarcasm, straight from the father of all lies, himself. I sincerely pity (and pray for) them all and only wish they had also been born of parents like mine and raised in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, the source of all beauty, safety, wisdom, contentment and TRUTH in my happy life.
JoAnn
10 months ago
pijoe: Thanks. You have class, most atheist do. But there are a few that are downright mean.
pijoe
10 months ago
@JoAnn--Agree with you on this JoAnn. I'm an atheist and can't believe some of the hate my fellow atheists directed at people of faith. IMO many atheists are just longing for a cause and a place to vent hate. So they direct it at the people they have a simple disagreement with and then blow the whole argument out of proportion. They usually use the "christians are responsible for more deaths than Hitler" idiocy to make their argument. As if all christians today should take personal responsibility for any wrongs commited by christians of decades or centuries past. I'm not sure why folks can't just believe what they chose without decrying the beliefs of others. I guess that's just asking too much.
JoAnn
10 months ago
Gabriella: You are so right. I have been a Catholic all my life. I could never abandon my Faith. Where else could we be able to receive the most precious Body & Blood of Our Lord. Not to mention the Full truth. Nowhere. Other Christians faiths have the menu, we have the meal. Any Christian faith that compromises the teachings of Jesus and support this current president, is no Christian in my opinion. God bless.
Michael
10 months ago
purely my own opinion, but if you become an atheist, you must ask your self why are you an atheist.

People who claim to have become an "Atheist" then convert back to a religion was not an Atheist at all.

By the way "Roots on moral law?????", its easy, don't kill people, treat people with respect, don't be a di*k. Why go to a religion that worships a genocidal deity or a religion that expects you to love a prophet more then our family.

Major loss of respect.

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