10 Reasons Why Catholics Don’t Evangelize

[mrsdizzyd]

He is spot on.

Coming from a Protestant background into the church, I find it so odd that such deeply spiritual people are so adverse to sharing their faith with others. That level of interiority is stifling.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Flopfoot, that is precisely why I’m confused with the term. They seem to be calling on people to self-evangelize by building their own relationship with Jesus, maybe encourage other Catholics to do the same. This is a good thing to do and necessary for anyone who wants to grow in faith, but it’s not really evangelizing in the sense that Protestants and LDS do it.

I often feel that the Catholic Church gets so much criticism these days, deserved or not, that for me to just put a picture of a saint or church on my Facebook with no other message is evangelizing because it stands out so much and people do notice it. Some of them in a positive way, some in a negative way, but people notice.

 

[commenter]

he’s in the USA and people are not as hostile toward religion there? (I’m in Australia)

In the USA people aren’t as hostile to religion, as long as it doesn’t include dogmas, absolutes of true and good, or hierarchy. Religion is sometimes admired, just as I admire my friend who has appreciation for art, music, or Yoga. But no sin, no conversion please.

 

[Genesis315]

It seems to be a continuation of Vatican II stating that the Church of Christ “subsists in” the Catholic Church. Why these distinctions?

To be fair, “subsists in (subsistit in)” is just a special form of “is (est)” intended to convey a complete, permanent, and perduring identity. It was used in the context of affirming that, while there were “elements” of the Church elsewhere (like valid sacraments, etc.), the complete and unique identity of the Catholic Church as the one Church of Christ was not diminished. It does not mean to convey that the identity of the Church is somehow broader than the Catholic Church. The Church has clarified this multiple times (see below), but it is true that this erroneous interpretation has done a lot of damage to Catholic identity.

As Vatican II itself teaches, the Church of Christ is “an entity with visible delineation” (Lumen gentium 8) and “made up of the faithful who are organically united in the Holy Spirit by the same faith, the same sacraments and the same government.” (Orientalium ecclesiarium 2).

Dominus Iesus

The interpretation of those who would derive from the formula subsistit in the thesis that the one Church of Christ could subsist also in non-Catholic Churches and ecclesial communities is therefore contrary to the authentic meaning of Lumen gentium. “The Council instead chose the word subsistit precisely to clarify that there exists only one ‘subsistence’ of the true Church, while outside her visible structure there only exist elementa Ecclesiae, which — being elements of that same Church — tend and lead toward the Catholic Church."
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...con_cfaith_doc_20000806_dominus-iesus_en.html

Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church

In number 8 of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium ‘subsistence’ means this perduring, historical continuity and the permanence of all the elements instituted by Christ in the Catholic Church[8], in which the Church of Christ is concretely found on this earth…the word “subsists” can only be attributed to the Catholic Church alone precisely because it refers to the mark of unity that we profess in the symbols of the faith (I believe… in the “one” Church); and this “one” Church subsists in the Catholic Church.
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...ith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html

 

[YourNameHere]

I am skeptical when it comes to evangelization because it seems so non-Catholic. When I think of Evangelistic Christians I think of Protestants, especially Baptists.

 

[AlbMagno]

Then better think of the Apostles.

 

[Gingersnaps4]

I am one that also read my way into the Church. I think making doctrine more easily accessible would bring in more converts, as well as inform existing Catholics that are otherwise ignorant, and thus susceptible to being drawn away from the faith. I read something recently that opined that millennials and young adults are tired of the appeal to emotion/feel good, soft theology approach to religion that’s been so popular, so I think a more intellectual approach would work better with these people.

 

[Pattylt]

I probably have no business posting on this thread but that’s never stopped me before!

I’ve studied many polls of “why Christians leave the faith” and among the younger members it’s a perception of hypocrisy and they want to walk the walk, not just talk the talk…meaning they very much want to SEE the love and charity that the faith professes. I think Catholics may be missing opportunities here because Catholics are very good at doing lots of charity work but terrible at letting anyone know about it!

I don’t think you need to be screaming it from the roofs but instead, figure out a way to let communities know what your specific churches are doing or have recently completed. Include your success stories! Pass out pamphlets letting everyone know your next planned event with All Are Welcome included. Leave the pamphlets where the young are. Show your charity a bit more! Invite them to participate with no strings attached. The young are very motivated to volunteer for causes they believe in, feeding the hungry, cleaning up neighborhoods, collecting clothes or foodstuffs.

Just my little old outsiders opinion…