Actions Louder Than Words

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Cricket2

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Hi everyone. I want to share some things I have experienced as a Convert, that frankly have not served to encourage my continued presence in the Church. I share them, because I do believe many people lose sight of how important their everyday behavior effects others and can influence others to more toward God or away from God.
  1. I came to my belief in God through a near death experience at the age of 4. If that experience had not happened to me I would probably be an Atheist or at least Agnostic.
  2. Some of the worst behavior I have ever witnessed has been from supposed Christians or even Catholics. These were neighbors that abused their kids, admittedly stole construction supplies with each others help, were guilty of “peeping” in windows at women, known to molest their daughters friends or other family members. And that was just in the short block of my childhood home.
  3. My sister has shared with me that the worst day to work as a waitress is Sunday. Why? That is when there are the most “walked tickets” (customer leaves without paying), the greatest number of men making unwanted passes at waitresses even in front of wives and children, the most "road rage in the parking lot after the local Churches let out and everyone races to get to breakfast, rudest behaving children, family fights and actual exhibits of violence.
  4. I have been slandered by individuals working for the Church in positions of trust
  5. Was subject to inappropriate sexual advances by a married parishioner
  6. Heard of volunteers stealing candle money and poor box money
  7. Shopping on Sunday is something I avoid but if absolutely necessary will do and it is a nightmare with screaming disobedient children, rude behavior by adults, impatience, road rage in the parking lot and yes they are all folks dressed like they just came from Church.
These are just a few examples. Work has had its share of deviant behavior by supposed Christians that is nothing to imitate. It is a sad reality and sometime it is hard for me to rationalize that amount and level of inappropriate things I have seen and heard in the Church and from “fellow Christians.”
 
The best you can do for them is show good example and offer prayers for them. They aren’t to be envied because there will come a day when they will have to answer for their actions. I don’t know that anyone would want to be in their shoes when they must answer. So feel sorry for them, genuine sorrow, and ask God to be merciful for they will need mercy.

If we saw someone in the store that was ugly or crippled, we would say a prayer for them. Their soul is in this condition which is far worse. So please say prayers for them and continue the work of saving sinners as Jesus did. For Jesus listens to this kind of prayer.

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.
 
I’m a convert, too. This June 29th will be my 17th year as a Catholic. I, too, have seen deplorable behavior from clergy and laity, including those in Cursillo and Cursillo-type groups. I’ve found that the Scriptures about gossip, detraction and calumny are pretty much ignored even by daily Communicants, which is rather grave. I’ve been deliberately snubbed more times than I care to count. If it weren’t for a special grace from God, I would have left the Church. I’m glad I’m still here, though, as leaving would only give those people more power over me than they deserve.

Fred Conty is absolutely correct in saying that God will repay them. All of us will have to stand before God and be held accountable for our sins. This gives me great consolation knowing that I don’t need to seek revenge- God will avenge me someday.

Looking back on my years as a Catholic, I can honestly say that I don’t regret converting at all. But one thing really struck me: when I first read that Jesus said to pray for our enemies, I thought He meant politicians, world leaders, that sort. I didn’t fathom that some of my greatest enemies would be fellow Catholics. I do pray for them a lot. Some have hurt me so much I can’t even pray for them by name- the Lord knows.

May God bless you, console you and give your strength and peace.
 
Hi Cricket2,

I agree with the others where you can pray for others. That is what I do.

In fact, I like praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. That is asking for God’s Mercy to open up on the world.

Stay close to God, Cricket, especially when you feel discouraged. That is what I do.
 
Best thing to do is not to focus so much on the horizontal bar of the Cross but the vertical…

Truth is, you are failing others and much as other are failing you so the best thing to do is focus on Christ!!
🙂

In the end, it has to do with our humility before God, and not our humility before each other or what we esteem is our personal humility…

God bless!!
 
Cricket2 said:
Hi everyone. I want to share some things I have experienced as a Convert, that frankly have not served to encourage my continued presence in the Church. I share them, because I do believe many people lose sight of how important their everyday behavior effects others and can influence others to more toward God or away from God.
  1. I came to my belief in God through a near death experience at the age of 4. If that experience had not happened to me I would probably be an Atheist or at least Agnostic.
  2. Some of the worst behavior I have ever witnessed has been from supposed Christians or even Catholics. These were neighbors that abused their kids, admittedly stole construction supplies with each others help, were guilty of “peeping” in windows at women, known to molest their daughters friends or other family members. And that was just in the short block of my childhood home.
  3. My sister has shared with me that the worst day to work as a waitress is Sunday. Why? That is when there are the most “walked tickets” (customer leaves without paying), the greatest number of men making unwanted passes at waitresses even in front of wives and children, the most "road rage in the parking lot after the local Churches let out and everyone races to get to breakfast, rudest behaving children, family fights and actual exhibits of violence.
  4. I have been slandered by individuals working for the Church in positions of trust
  5. Was subject to inappropriate sexual advances by a married parishioner
  6. Heard of volunteers stealing candle money and poor box money
  7. Shopping on Sunday is something I avoid but if absolutely necessary will do and it is a nightmare with screaming disobedient children, rude behavior by adults, impatience, road rage in the parking lot and yes they are all folks dressed like they just came from Church.
These are just a few examples. Work has had its share of deviant behavior by supposed Christians that is nothing to imitate. It is a sad reality and sometime it is hard for me to rationalize that amount and level of inappropriate things I have seen and heard in the Church and from “fellow Christians.”
Click to expand...
In point #2 you state “Christians or even Catholics”, Catholics are Christians. Unfortunately everything else you say is right on. There are many that talk the talk but do not walk the walk. We must pray for sinners everyday; sinners in the Universal Church, those in our own home and those within our family. You, Cricket2, by the way you live and love, can be that light in the darkness that surrounds you. Satan will do all he can to put doubts in your mind, to shake your faith, but that is when we pick up the cross and draw the line in the sand.
 
KrazyKat said:
In point #2 you state “Christians or even Catholics”, Catholics are Christians. Unfortunately everything else you say is right on. There are many that talk the talk but do not walk the walk. We must pray for sinners everyday; sinners in the Universal Church, those in our own home and those within our family. You, Cricket2, by the way you live and love, can be that light in the darkness that surrounds you. Satan will do all he can to put doubts in your mind, to shake your faith, but that is when we pick up the cross and draw the line in the sand.
Click to expand...
Oh, yes I know Catholics are Christians, but there are those who distinguish between the two. Also, I simply didn’t want it to sound like just Catholics have this problem. That’s all.

It is a sad state of affairs when one observes such obvious actions against the faith. Some of the most difficult things to accept is sins against the faith that come from within the very place that is supposed to be the light in the darkness. Holds true for each us as we all sin, but some of the stuff I have seen really seems like there is no effort at all to live up to being a true Christain.
 
Jennifoo said:
I’m a convert, too. This June 29th will be my 17th year as a Catholic. I, too, have seen deplorable behavior from clergy and laity, including those in Cursillo and Cursillo-type groups. I’ve found that the Scriptures about gossip, detraction and calumny are pretty much ignored even by daily Communicants, which is rather grave. I’ve been deliberately snubbed more times than I care to count. If it weren’t for a special grace from God, I would have left the Church. I’m glad I’m still here, though, as leaving would only give those people more power over me than they deserve.

Fred Conty is absolutely correct in saying that God will repay them. All of us will have to stand before God and be held accountable for our sins. This gives me great consolation knowing that I don’t need to seek revenge- God will avenge me someday.

Looking back on my years as a Catholic, I can honestly say that I don’t regret converting at all. But one thing really struck me: when I first read that Jesus said to pray for our enemies, I thought He meant politicians, world leaders, that sort. I didn’t fathom that some of my greatest enemies would be fellow Catholics. I do pray for them a lot. Some have hurt me so much I can’t even pray for them by name- the Lord knows.

May God bless you, console you and give your strength and peace.
Click to expand...
Yes, I have been tempted to leave, but it is the Grace of God that maintains my belief in Him and my Faith. I am not perfect at it for sure. The first couple of years after my baptism I was in constant disbelief at some of the stuff that happened within the Church. Now I think I am mostly saddened by it. Prayer is the answer I know. It helps though to share this experience and to get responses from those that have also had the same thing happen to them.
 
Cricket2 said:
Hi everyone. I want to share some things I have experienced as a Convert, that frankly have not served to encourage my continued presence in the Church. I share them, because I do believe many people lose sight of how important their everyday behavior effects others and can influence others to more toward God or away from God.
  1. I came to my belief in God through a near death experience at the age of 4. If that experience had not happened to me I would probably be an Atheist or at least Agnostic.
  2. Some of the worst behavior I have ever witnessed has been from supposed Christians or even Catholics. These were neighbors that abused their kids, admittedly stole construction supplies with each others help, were guilty of “peeping” in windows at women, known to molest their daughters friends or other family members. And that was just in the short block of my childhood home.
  3. My sister has shared with me that the worst day to work as a waitress is Sunday. Why? That is when there are the most “walked tickets” (customer leaves without paying), the greatest number of men making unwanted passes at waitresses even in front of wives and children, the most "road rage in the parking lot after the local Churches let out and everyone races to get to breakfast, rudest behaving children, family fights and actual exhibits of violence.
  4. I have been slandered by individuals working for the Church in positions of trust
  5. Was subject to inappropriate sexual advances by a married parishioner
  6. Heard of volunteers stealing candle money and poor box money
  7. Shopping on Sunday is something I avoid but if absolutely necessary will do and it is a nightmare with screaming disobedient children, rude behavior by adults, impatience, road rage in the parking lot and yes they are all folks dressed like they just came from Church.
These are just a few examples. Work has had its share of deviant behavior by supposed Christians that is nothing to imitate. It is a sad reality and sometime it is hard for me to rationalize that amount and level of inappropriate things I have seen and heard in the Church and from “fellow Christians.”
Click to expand...
Just an added note: I even had a few people tell me I had a boring life when there were questions being asked about my behavior as a child or in high school and college. I really never went out of my way to do anything wrong and a good many folks looking for that one great sin I might be trying to hide found themselves rather “bored” to quote them. If going out of the way to try and do right makes me boring I’ll stay that way.

Not trying to say I have never sinned, because we all do, but I sure have tried to do things the God would expect me to .
 
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