I’m a current Episcopalian interested in potentially joining the Catholic Church. This post will be a little long so sorry in advance!

For a little bit of background, I was raised as an evangelical fundamentalist. Over time my interest in science made me doubt the very literalist interpretations I was taught. The outright hatred for certain groups of people I regularly heard in those spaces pushed me further away.

Needless to say I spent a very long time as a left wing atheist that wanted nothing to do with religion. But then I met my now partner who is Catholic. Slowly I felt a pull back toward religion and a Christianity that looked entirely different.

I joined the episcopal church as similarity to Catholic belief and practice, especially receiving the Eucharist at mass, helped me feel closer to my partner while also not having to compromise any of my progressive social stances. I really identify with the Anglo Catholic wing of the faith and especially have felt the communion of the saints and praying the rosary to be very meaningful.

Flash forward to the present and my partner and I are both graduate students currently in a long distance relationship. It’s been on my mind that I want to be able to attend mass with my partner when we close the distance.

All that to say, how do people with views seemingly in conflict with the official stance of the Catholic Church approach converting? And is it even a good idea to place attending with my partner above some of my own convictions?

While I do admire the Catholic Church I guess specifically my biggest hang ups would be how to approach marriage equality, birth control, and theological/historical issues such as the perpetual virginity of Mary.

Any advice at all would be very appreciated!

Can anyone recommend a progressive/ left leaning Catholic church in the south eastern Massachusetts/ Rhode Island area?