C. S. Lewis and the Catholic Church

 

I'm currently reading The Weight of Glory a small collection of addresses by C. S. Lewis. As I was reading, I thought about how many times I've heard/read folks who wished that he had become a Catholic, and speculation about why he did not come home to Rome. I even own a book by Joseph Pearce talking about Lewis and the Catholic Church called, appropriately, C. S. Lewis and the Catholic Church. (I have not read it yet - mea culpa).

Lewis was an Anglican, starting out in the Church of Ireland. But he had Catholic friends - particularly J. R. R. Tolkien, who was a devout Catholic. His return to faith was heavily influenced by G. K. Chesterton. And he accepted some Catholic beliefs - such as Purgatory and invocation of the saints. He seemed to be moving in a Catholic direction. But never actually crossed the Tiber 

So what stopped him from taking the plunge?

I've seen a number of theories.

One was that he retained some anti-Catholic prejudices from his youth in Belfast, where there were strong feelings among Protestants about Catholics. Indeed, he himself reportedly mentioned that as one reason.

Lewis also said that while he accepted some Catholic beliefs, there were some he did not accept, like papal infallibility and some teachings about Mary. 

And while he was a Christian apologist - a proponent of "mere Christianity", that is, basic Christianity - he did not view himself as a theologian and avoided theological debates over specific issues. 

I have another thought on the matter. When he married Joy Davidman, a divorced woman. In the 1950s, the Church would have frowned on such a marriage. So, I wonder if that helped to prevent him from taking the final step.

Whatever the reason - or combination of reasons - Lewis did not become Catholic. But he remains a favorite spiritual writer among Catholics, including me.