Joyful Papist is Judith Knighton (Judy), a writer and editor from New Zealand.
Raised Anglican/agnostic, I began exploring the logic behind my faith in my teens. I tried a number of churches – and religions – for size before returning to the Anglican church.
When I was 19, I met a papist. Even though I knew – because my elders had told me so – that everything he believed was wrong, that he was an idol-worshipper, a blasphemer and the scion of the anti-Christ, he seemed like a nice guy. He was also hot. I fell in love.
Many long and passionate debates on religion later, we married. I remained an Anglican; he remained a Catholic. We made a conscious decision to support one another to be the best that we could, and to respect one another’s faith tradition. We attended one another’s services every Sunday, and my vicar assisted the local parish priest and the Catholic Youth chaplain at our wedding.
My grandmother forgave me; some of my friends didn’t.
I knew I disagreed with Catholics on specific doctrines about Mary, papal infallibility and transsubstantiation. But several years after my marriage I realised that these weren’t the root question, which was much simpler.
Did Jesus intend to found one Church? Yes, obviously. He said so.
Was this church to be found in visible form in the world today?
That was the question I needed to answer. If the answer was yes, then the rest followed, since authority to teach went with the territory (or so said my bible).
The rest is history.
Joyful Papist 
“Even though I knew… that he was an idol-worshipper, a blasphemer and the scion of the anti-Christ, he seemed like a nice guy. He was also hot.”
ROTFLMHO
I love it. Thank you for making my day.
He brings us all home . . . all we have to do is to let him !
The vital thing is never to expect anything; that way you’re always amazed, and delighted . . . as you obviously were when you found out that all the things you had been taught were wrong could actually be GOOD !
Funny I should come across your blog via Sentire cum Ecclesia and there your are quoting from the Siena Institute’s blog Intentional Disciples. I am co-director of the Siena Institute in Australia and I have spent the evening emailing a woman in NZ who is interested in attending one of our workshops – or having us come over to NZ and run one there!
Is there any interest?
Clara
Certainly from me, Clara! What do you say, readers? Check out the Siena Institute from the link on the right.
Clara, I’ll also post this to a couple of other blogs, and talk to some real people.
Hi Judy,
Thank you for your response. The woman I have been speaking to in Auckland is prepared to come to Melbourne for a workshop later in the year.
I have some contacts in Christchurch who have done the workshop who may also be interested in organising a workshop in NZ. Let me know if you get much response.
Huh? Jesus didn’t really like churches or organized religion, did he? All those nasty things he said about the pharisees and saducees? So do you really think he intended to found a church? I don’t. I think he came to show us how to live, which he did quite well. Don’t need something called a church to do that, do we?
Ted,
I think that Joyful Papist is right, and Jesus did intend to start one Church. Off the top of my head- He told his disciples to teach and baptize in all nations. He told them to ‘do this in remembrance of me’ regarding the Lord’s supper. In the book of Acts, the disciples ordain others through ‘the laying on of hands’ so that they can extend their mission. It also says that the believers gathered around the apostles daily for the ‘breaking of bread and prayers’. Sounds like organized worship to me. St. Paul lays down many directives for organizing church structure and worship in his epistles. Jesus told those in an unresolved dispute to ‘take it to the Church.’ ..There are MANY other examples in the Bible that illustrate Christ’s institution of one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I hope these few examples are enough to inspire thought on this important topic.
May the peace of Christ be with you,
-p2p
I am inspired by the Conversion Story of the Joyful Papist. I do not feel to be called papist but I like to serve Christ, In face pope is His vicar on earth.
But what is going on Judy? I (Toad) am concerned at your prolonged silence.
I hope nothing unpleasant has caused it?
Judy,
I have been concerned too , you have been in my thoughts and prayers… hope that you are alright ,Hope that you can get a message to let us know that all is reasonably alright.
I trust you are on some wild and reckless adventure, spiritual or otherwise, and look forward to your tales of derring-do in due course.
Manus.