Schoeman's a Shoo-In...

...to be on any list of the most exciting Catholic authors today. Roy Schoeman, author of Salvation is From the Jews, and the just-released Honey From the Rock (which catalogues the conversion stories of twelve people from Judaism to Catholicism), both of which are published by Ignatius Press, will be speaking here in Toronto at a Marian conference on Saturday. For location info and tickets, $12 in advance, $15 at the door (youth:$5; clergy: free), call (800)663-MARY.

I know I'll be there. I can't recommend this man's work highly enough. Salvation is From the Jews is the best book I've ever read on the link between Judaism and Christianity. The title is a quote from Jesus himself in John 4, and has to do with the role of Judaism from Abraham to the Second Coming. Schoeman was trained by some of the most influential rabbis in American Judaism, and was a former professor at Harvard Business School before entering the Catholic Church.

There have actually been several prominent Hebrew-Catholics, as they are known, who have come to know Christ as the Messiah and entered the Catholic Church in recent years - people like Bob Fishman and Rosalind Moss, to name two of the more well-known converts.

And, for reasons that are made clear in the book, if a Jewish person comes to realize who Jesus is, it is far more likely that person will become a Catholic than a Protestant Christian.

In an interview with Ignatius Insight, Schoeman explains some of his prior misconceptions about Catholicism and what led to the writing of his first book:

IgnatiusInsight.com: As a convert from Judaism, what do you think are the major misconceptions that many Jews have about the Catholic Church? As a Catholic, what are the misconceptions that many Catholics have about Judaism and the Jewish people?

Roy H. Schoeman: Prior to my conversion, the central misconception I held about the Catholic Church was, of course, that it was in fundamental theological error, a misguided, naïve illegitimate offshoot of the true Judaism. I saw Catholics as misguided followers of a false Messiah engaging in a host of childish and superstitious practices.

To read the rest, click here.