Shia LeBeouf Provides MAJOR Update About His Conversion To Catholicism

Last Wednesday, Hollywood superstar Shia LaBeouf provided a significant update concerning his conversion to Roman Catholicism.

As ChurchPop previously reported, LaBeouf told the outlet, "I'm in RCIA [Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults]. I'm scheduled to be confirmed in seven months and I hope Bishop [Robert] Barron comes down to confirm me. But we'll see. I'm in RCIA right now and once a week I get on the horn with Fr. Bobby and we talk shop."

For context, the RCIA process (now called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a process for educating adults who are inquiring about the Catholic faith. It is intended to lead to the full reception of the individual into communion with the Roman Catholic Church.  

As the National Catholic Register reports, Shia LaBeouf was drawn to Catholicism after filming a movie about the life of Padre Pio -- who is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Commenting on what moved him towards Catholicism, LaBeouf told Bishop Robert Barron on his 'Word On Fire' YouYube channel that it was chiefly his guilt that moved him to ponder the claims of the Catholic tradition.

“My life was on fire. I was walking out of hell. … I didn't want to be an actor anymore and my life was a complete mess. I’d hurt a lot of people... I’ve been abusive to women and have been shooting dogs and I’ve been willingly giving women STDs. It’s disgusting, it’s depraved, and my mother is embarrassed beyond all imagination," LaBeouf told Barron during an interview in August of last year, 

LaBeouf continued, adding, "I know now that God was using my ego to draw me to Him. Drawing me away from worldly desires. It was all happening simultaneously. But there would have been no impetus for me to get in my car, drive up [to the monastery] if I didn’t think, ‘Oh, I’m gonna save my career.'” 

As the Daily Wire previously reported, "In preparation for the role he believed would finally restart his career, the director told LaBeouf he would need to do some research and go to a seminary,... LaBeouf ended up going to a seminary near his home and met Brother Jude, who told him if he’s going to play Pio, he needs to read the Gospel. LeBeouf started doing just that at a time when he felt hopeless."

As such, LaBeouf said God's mercy in the face of his sinfulness ultimately made the difference.

"It was seeing other people who have sinned beyond anything I could ever conceptualize also being found in Christ that made me feel like, ‘Oh, that gives me hope,'” LaBeouf told the bishop. “I started hearing experiences of other depraved people who had found their way in this, and it made me feel like I had permission," LaBeouf told Bishop Barron.