Erick Ybarra’s Conversion Story 

I credit Erick for my conversion to the Catholic Church from Orthodoxy. Pray for the rest of my family to follow me, please.

I love you guys. Saved me from Sedevacantism and Protestantism

I LOVE ERICK YBARRA. In my opinion he is the deepest thinker in Catholic apologetics. His strength is not mastering arguments and rebuttals, or debate, but deep dive studies

As a cradle traditional Catholic I love listening to conversion stories and Erick's story is fascinating. I appreciate the sheer hard work invested in research to find the true church, the Holy Catholic Church founded by our Lord Jesus. I pray that our protestant, orthodox brothers and sisters come to know the truth. For people who lament about Francis I say this, Francis is only the house keeper a sinner like the rest of us. He is a liberal Jesuit therefore our prayers should be for our Lord to intervene at his appropriate time to rescue his church from bad influences. God bless your work.

Have him on again! Can't get enough of Ybarra.

I appreciate this interview a lot. But will say, as a Protestant pastor who also came into the Catholic Church under the Francis pontificate, I find him a very refreshing and loving voice (though a confusing voice for many) at a time when I’ve experienced a lot of legalism in my past and still notice in others in the present. Love your content! Keep it up.

My story is very similar to Eric’s, with the exception of being a Church of Christ guy rather than a Baptist. Praise God for him drawing me back to the Catholic Church.

This discussion, locus of study and evolution of Erick's faith and research is outstanding. Better yet, I see it as a pilgrimage to the Roman Catholic faith. I'm still an Anglo-Catholic: at the age of 74 I've learned to pick my battles.

I love the walking on eggshells question about Lawftdawg haha. Great interview!

The last 15 minutes starting at 1:30:00 was an absolutely exceptional yet brief description of a robust argument for Catholicism. Isaiah referring to Christ holding the “government on his shoulders” is one special area in scripture that is enormously positive for an institutional Church that I’ve been pointing out for a couple years now. Great listen altogether! Thanks Erick and Cath bros!

Just finished this episode. It’s been about a year since I first discovered you two brothers and will come into the church this Easter Vigil. You’ve helped tremendously. I hit a mental exhaustion point about 3 weeks ago from trying to get my apologies ready for my friends, (they still don’t know) but have come to the place of, rather than explaining the Catholic whys, I’m wanting to explain the Reformation errors. Just learning of Erick Ybarra from this episode, I’m anxious to do some deep dives with him on justification, etc. I appreciate you more than you can know.

Was really hoping to hear Erick speak of his time at St. Mary’s in Pine Bluff, WI.

Thank you for sharing! I especially enjoyed the ending explaining we can only go so far intellectually but it is most of all a living faith. "Come and see" as they say. The Catholic vs Eastern orthodox subject can be so tricky, both having an incredible amount of Saints and being at the roots of it all till humans had to divide it all.

I love anything the Catholic Brothers put out....❤ Interesting guest.

St. Alban’s is a very lovely church. I’m surprised I didn’t end up there in my own walk, but I don’t think I would have ever gone to the Catholic Church from there. I would have been too content.

To say that I admire you both falls short. Thanks for the sharing your knowledge and faith. It rubs in.

Y'all always hit home runs with your videos. Keep it up!!

I understand where Erick's coming from with Jimmy Akin and CA years ago. There was a time when they just wouldn't acknowledge the growing concerns with Pope Francis (like Lofton to some extent), and I recognized that. But it makes sense given their apostolate. Most recently, Jimmy Akin was very open and honest in his criticism of Pope Francis. And Horn and Heschmeyer were also critical of FS. So Catholic Answers turned a corner at some point in the past, I think.

What a great metaphor.. "While the Catholic Church has a skin problem and it looks bad on the outside, the Orthodox Church has an internal organ problem that was more threatening to the life of the Church"

Erick's response to Gavin Ortland regarding the Church should be a separate shorter video. 👍😊

Today I've been binging his appearances on Suan Sonna's channel from 2 yrs ago. And then this drops! How providential. Big fan of all 3 of you.

Well worth listening to.

Solid interview, thanks. Some comments: 1. The grace of infallibility, i.e., the freedom from teaching error, bestowed by Jesus Christ upon the Apostle Peter and his successors, i.e., the Bishops of Rome, DID NOT extend to freedom from imprudence. Therefore, Pope Francis is not preserved from committing errors against prudence, chief of the cardinal virtues and defined by St. Thomas Aquinas as "right reason in action." The error of imprudence was that for which St. Peter was confronted by St. Paul in Galatians 2:11-14. 2. According to Catholic tradition, only a future pope can judge a former pope. In this respect, I pray that a future pope will examine the entire record of Pope Francis and make any needed adjustments. My recommendations for an especially intensive examination would include Traditionis Custodes and Fiducia Supplicans. 3. Regarding Erick's upcoming book on Pope Honorius I, I assume that he will consult the work of the neutral observer Anglo-Irish historian John Bagnell Bury, who was the Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge and a Professorial Fellow of King's College, Cambridge from 1902 until his death in 1927. According to p. 252 of Bury's A history of the later Roman empire from Arcadius to Irene, Volume 2 (2005) regarding Honorious, "it was for the 'imprudent economy of silence' that he was condemned." 4. Message from a caller at 130:41 - 1:31:43: "Big fan of your youtube podcast channel. I've been surveying the evidence for a while now and it's just so difficult to know whether to stay Protestant Reformed, become Anglican or become Catholic. It's difficult since people that know way more than me on both Protestant side, my friend at Westminster Seminary and the Catholic side, you guys and Erick Ybarra among others, who know their stuff and still disagree. I just don't know how to make the right decision. I'm in agreement with you that as a whole, Reformed Protestantism seems to be much less in accord with historical Christianity, but then again, Protestant denominations don't claim to be infallible. I've been reading when I have time Newman's essay on development. It has helped but I am by no means ready to say, as he did in his apologia later in life, that the Roman Church is the oracle of God." ('So any words of encouragement for this fellow for where he's at...{?}') Response: A. Mary, the mother of Jesus. B. If this caller can accept Mary as both his mother and mother of the Church as proclaimed at Vatican Council II, then he can be Catholic. In other words, can he ask Mary to pray for him, i.e., pray a Hail Mary? C. I recommend that he read Chapter 8 - The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (Nos. 52-69) from Lumen Gentium, the Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, solemnly promulgated by Pope Paul VI on Nov. 21, 1964. This chapter is a compendium of the Catholic Church's Marian teachings. D. Quoting from Lumen Gentium's Chapter 8, Section 2 - The Role of the Blessed Mother in the Economy of Salvation, No. 58: "... the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross, where she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, (Cf. Jn. 19:25) grieving exceedingly with her only begotten Son, uniting herself with a maternal heart with His sacrifice, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this Victim which she herself had brought forth. Finally, she was given by the same Christ Jesus dying on the cross as a mother to His disciple with these words: "Woman, behold thy son". (Cf. Jn. 19:26-27.) (Cf Jn. 4:14; 7:38-39) [Vatican VA webpage /archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html]

Listening with interest as an Orthodox, and look forward to reading the book. But so far I heard you say at about min 55 that “Orthodoxy has an internal organ issue that’s threatening to the life of the church” whereas Roman Catholicism has a “skin problem”….i guess like cancer vs acne. Then you said that the RC priest was telling you to leave your wife with whom you had 2 children (whereas the Orthodox priest told you that your present marriage could be blessed) but then when the RC priest heard you had been baptized RC he found a loophole for you and could consider your first marriage a non marriage and annul it. And we know this is standard practice in the RC church. I remember hearing one of the Kennedy ex-wives saying the RC Church annulled her marriage of a couple decades which produced several children. Voila…it was annuled…no marriage ever happened. Wow. So while I do want to hear the rest of what you have to say, that type of denial of reality strikes me as seriously problematic…and indicative of more than a mere “cosmetic” problem. And to ask you to abandon your wife, the mother of your children, that seems very cruel. No, the Orthodox Churchdoes not do that, thank God. Something else I’m aware of….the pedophilia scandal which seems to be very widespread in the RC Church. it’s hard to think of something more “cancerous” than that…a practice of priests sexually abusing children and bishops knowingly enabling the abuse. I don’t know how anyone could know this and think it a minor cosmetic issue. Actually, that was how the RC hierarchy dealt with it…like something minor to “cover up.” Whitewashing sepulchers. Yes, Orthodox people also sin and have much spiritual work to do to become more like Christ, but widespread sexual abuse of altar boys and other children? No. Lord have mercy. I’m very grateful for the holiness I am shown in the Orthodox Church. The Lord Jesus Christ is present in His Orthodox Church. Anyone can find Christ and grow in Christ in the Orthodox Church.

I have consistently said that Erick Ybarra is the best card in the deck of Catholic apologists today; without question, second to none, hit the bullseye every time, Ace of Spades. ♠ Hearing about how he even had to consider separation from his wife, whom he had two children with, and being prepared to do it, I have a new respect for him. It must have been a feeling like something approaching the binding of Isaac. Wow. Chumps who are "playing church" (I really like that term, I plan to steal it); James White, Gavin Ortlund... really need to stfu and sit tf down and listen for a minuet. Because some of us are taking this whole salvation thing.... " ...a little more... seriously." - 🃏

I can't help thinking this...but.. Do you wonder 100 years from now, what Catholics will be writing about when speaking about our days? Possibly scism for sure, SSPX, Radtrads, which deeply saddens me. We are also minus a great St. Thomas Aquinas in our day. Who knows, God may bless us with something wonderful in the near future!

I hope some of orthodox who like to corner Catholic church listen this episode.

Fr. John has a light about him.

Erick, I’ve watched a lot of your videos and you make a very convincing argument for the Catholic Church. How can I find a traditional Catholic Church in my area and not one that teaches universalism like you mentioned. Thank you sir.

"Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. " 1:14:00

It’s sinple, the Catholic bros post and I watch

Love your channel! Pax vobis. You really touched a nerve when you mentioned papal failure and pope Honorius... After last Sunday's (SSPX) mass I ended up in a discussion with some brothers who are basically sedevacantists. And my conclusion is that it is impossible to talk with them, because... You know, they just destroy me on any point I will bring up. Well, to be honest they will destroy any position they encounter in their way, like protestants on justification, the rejection of purgatory as non-biblical, orthodoxy and the immaculate conception or the filioque or the Palamist enérgeia vs ousía distinction... The list goes on and on. But when I throw at them that their position on Francis is basically a Donatist heresy, because it does not allow for papal failure of any kind, or that their position is self-defeative (because where is their apostolic succession/authority?) they always have everything so minutely figured out. They will always end up showing one way or another how the Church left them and not the other way around (as Lefebvre also insisted). Long story short: I just cannot debate them (at least not here, in The Netherlands). Their knowledge of scripture, patristics, doctors and especially magisterial teaching throughout the ages is just outright savage. Now, I happen to agree with them on many points, but when it comes to sedevacantism basically all they have to do is to point out cringy stuff that Francis says/does or hammer on magisterial teachings that blatantly contradict the latest encyclical... And they just have these extremely watertight rebuttals - Paul did not really rebuke Peter, Canisius' catechism contradicts baptism of desire.... This is why I am really looking forward on this case study of Pope Honorius! But I do not think I will ever be able to debate a sedevacantist. They tend to be obsessed and just relentless. I even believe Matt Fradd considered taking down this debate between Cassman and the sedevacantist monk or brother. Funny thing is, the modern, ecumenical vibes our church oozes these days with its "exploration of pastoral options" and basically endorsement of protestantism, orthodoxy and other denominations, will ultimately have to end in the contradictory endorsement of sedevacsntists, lol. Lord have Mercy. Complete sidenote: All sedevacantists I know are men. I guess men really are a lot more likely to go down rabbit holes all the way, like chess players, whereas women are more generalistic and people-minded and lest specialistic and narrow or obsessive.

"He was preaching the gospel. Maybe he's on the verge of schism" :D Very funny, but sadly a true question to be asked, at times.

I enjoyed the conversation very much... Thank you! I may nit be a scholor, though I am a kitchen table theologian..ha!i I strongly disagree with you on the credibility of those in the John Henry Weston, Patrick Coffin, the new Taylor Marshall, etc... Anyone who listens to them can hear that they are speaking between the lines, and you know that they have an agenda. Listen for too long and you will find yourself outside of the Church! I know that there was a personal disagreement with Michael Lofton, and honesty I don't know what it was. Though I believe that Michael Lofton defending our Pope is a good thing. Thsts respectfully what all Catholics should be trying to do. Michael has kept a lot of people from leaving the Church, and that is agood thing, no matter how you look at it! I think that most people would agree that Pope Francis has done, or said somethingthat has caused you some grief. He clearly will go down in history as a bad Pope...but none thd less...he is our Pope! There is nothing that he could do to make me leave our Lord's Church! The Catholic Church has endured many ups and downs over the last 2,000 years...and we will also get through Pope Francis! Have faith in Jesus, He knows what we are going through...and have faith that the Holy Spirit will guide us through this mess! Otherwise, the Words that Jesus spoke when He said that the gates of Hell would never prevail against Her...weren't true...and that just isn't possible! Trust in God, trust in His Son, and trust the Holy Spirit! God bless you all! 🙏

I’d never seen this channel before, but I’m intrigued by Ybarra’s story-I’ve read his blog before-and appreciate the interview. I’m writing this comment over a month after you posted the video, so probably no one will see this, but I wonder-I’ve long wondered-what Catholic apologists say for a person who’s getting pulled in the opposite direction. In my case I am a cradle Catholic who deeply loves the Anglican tradition and has a strong pull towards that (my spirituality, to be honest, is more English than Italian or Greek). I also have strong doubts, based on my studies, about papal infallibility and, even more so, universal papal jurisdiction. The upshot of all these stories is that the convert was convinced that Catholicism is true (I’m thinking of Chesterton’s “Why I Am a Catholic,” of course), whether intellectually or spiritually. So what about the person who’s intellectually-and, maybe more drastically, spiritually-unconvinced? I don’t know, maybe there isn’t a good answer, but I keep asking.

I really liked Ybarra’s final metaphor: the archaeological route. That to me seems the most solid, the most trustworthy, the most coherent way forward. Thanks for that. A living magisterium, to my mind, spells-and can only spell-pure human error. Jesus Christ is the heir to the Davidic Kingdom, but he does not sit on a throne in Jerusalem. It is an abstract, spiritual, mystical kingdom…just like Christendom. It is, quite plainly, an Invisible Church. A church unified by love and prayer and common belief. Not by a man-made, structural hierarchy. When I don’t understand something, it makes sense to me to submit to Christ himself. Not some social club that claims to go back to Apostolic times, but which, in no way, reminds me of the Apostles. And the best I can make out, Jesus has forbidden me to join with Rome.

👍🙏

👍✝️🇻🇦

eyyy.. one of my favourite faces on yt...

I really appreciate all three of you. But why did you mislead your listeners concerning the Magisterial Document "Fiducia Supplicans"? It is a beautiful expansion on the 2021 teaching of Pope Francis himself. And your slighting reference to the pre-Cana effort of Cardinal Fernandez to aid the spirituality of newly-weds, written back in the 1990s was unkind and sounded more like gossip than brotherly concern for a fellow Christian. Love is difficult. It makes us vulnerable. It leads to all kinds of pain and disappointments. But when Jesus says to love one another, He doesn't mean to love everyone but your leaders in the Church. guys. Please?

John Henry-Westin said he's not sure that Pope Francis is the Pope.

Isn't it ironic that the "One True Church" has to borrow from the other false/schismatic church's liturgies (Anglican and Orthodox) in order to have any semblance of reverence and tradition?

Guys please take your guest seriously.🙏

Good thing you don't have to choose between Catholic and Orthodox, you can be a member of the Orthodox Catholic Church.

Taylor Marshall very charmingly promotes schism and conspiracy.

STOP interrupting Erick.

Become papist

"...it undermines doctrine..." A pope - "servants of the servants of God" - has the job to do "undermining doctrine."? Is doctrine not based on the truth of Jesus? So, Pope Francis is undermining the truths of Jesus. It is as simple as that.

I can smell a liar in this guy… seems to be elaborating or plain making junk up.