Anti-Mornonism in the email from Catholic Answers!

[why_me]

This is email is being spread by catholics. I have to feel sorry for these catholics who have lost their way from Chirst:

Confronting the New Mormon Threat

Why the rise of Mormonism could harm our fellow Catholics if we don’t act now.

Click here to donate

Think the Mormons are just a group of nice folks who uphold family values, clean living, and American patriotism? Think again.

Think the Mormons are just a strange offshoot of Protestant Christianity? Think again.

Think Mormons are actually Christian? Think again!

The truth is, Mormonism is far different from what most people think it is.

If asked, most Catholics would not be able to explain what Mormons believe. Nor do they have a clue what’s wrong with Mormonism.

And therein lies the danger–especially today, as Mormonism is enjoying a resurgence in popularity and interest, in part because of election news coverage.

But the news media aren’t providing useful information about Mormonism.

This worries me–because the majority of converts to Mormonism are ill-informed Catholics who are highly vulnerable to Mormon proselytizing.

That’s why Catholic Answers is now sprinting into action to head off a potential disaster among our fellow Catholics.

And we’re going to need your help to make this new project successful.

Here’s what it’s all about…

It seems that Catholic Answers is responsible. If true, I have to wonder about this organization:

Facts about the Mormon Threat

FACT: In 1984, sociologist Rodney Stark predicted that the Mormon church would grow at a rate of 30%-50% per decade for the next several decades, reaching from 70 million to possibly as high as 280 million members by the year 2080. He said it would be “the first new major world religion since Islam.”

Indeed, from 1984 to 2000, the church actually grew at an average rate of 52% per decade, outpacing the upper bound on Stark’s prediction.

FACT: When Mormon missionaries make their first contact with a person in the home of a Mormon friend or relative, a conversion will result 50% of the time.

FACT: Each year, the Mormon church baptizes 300,000 converts. (That’s 800 a day–or another million every three years.) Half or more of them are Catholics.

The time to act is now–or we risk losing many Catholics to the Mormon faith in the decade ahead.

Simply put, we must not allow false teachers to mislead Catholics. Yet that’s exactly what Mormon theology is doing, even as you read this letter.
Won’t you please make a special sacrifice and send your gift of $35 … $75 … or perhaps $150 or more today for this important project and all the good works of Catholic Answers.

I hope that it is a sick joke!

 

[Jerusha]

Mormonism is a sick joke.

 

[ibkc]

why me, Mormonism is not Christianity and the LDS church is a false church. I don’t understand why you have a problem with CA trying to make sure that the truth gets out.

 

[TOmNossor]

I have not been to Catholic Answers for a very long time and for some reason I was not graced with this email.

That being said, Catholic Answers is at its best when it defends Catholicism from attacks by ill-informed Protestants (and LDS for that matter). Catholic Answers scholarship is comparable to anti-c ultist Protestants when it attacks Mormonism (and anti-cultist Protestant scholarship against Mormonism is of the same quality –often worse- as anti-cultist Protestant scholarship against Catholicism).

Half-Truths, Partial quotes, attacking LDS for issues present in Catholic past, and … are some of the examples in the current CA documents on Mormonism.

Charity, TOm

 

[majick275]

LDS seem to be okay with claiming all other religions are false and that Christianity in particular is apostate. they state this in their scriptures and it is usually the first lesson taught to investigators. They feel compelled to go and spread this message of apostasy and restoration to the world and generally attempt to baptize as soon as they can get a person to agree to it. this would seem to make it difficult for that to be an informed decision.

SO now we have Catholic Answers attempting to provide additional catechesis for catholics and information for non-catholics from a catholic perspective. so what exactly is wrong with CA claiming that Catholicism is the church that God established and that the LDS are wrong about the apostasy, their doctrines and practices incorrect?

isn’t this similar? if you believe that the Catholic church is the one that God established and entrusted with his gospel then you MUST speak up and denounce false prophets, doctrines, teachings, etc. and inform folks about the true faith. labeling those who disagree as “anti” whatever is just a blanket ad hominem that serves no purpose. LDS wannabe missionaries come her to proselytize and some even pretend to be catholic trying to make a connection just hoping to snag one person to send the missionaries to.

So is it wrong for CATHOLIC ANSWERS to give a catholic answer to the mormon message of apostasy and restoration? I think not.

 

[Jerusha]

I see nothing objectionable in the Catholic Answers materials on Mormonism. I especially approve of their discussion of racism in the Book of Mormon.

 

[TOmNossor]

LDS seem to be okay with claiming all other religions are false and that Christianity in particular is apostate. they state this in their scriptures and it is usually the first lesson taught to investigators. They feel compelled to go and spread this message of apostasy and restoration to the world and generally attempt to baptize as soon as they can get a person to agree to it. this would seem to make it difficult for that to be an informed decision.

SO now we have Catholic Answers attempting to provide additional catechesis for catholics and information for non-catholics from a catholic perspective. so what exactly is wrong with CA claiming that Catholicism is the church that God established and that the LDS are wrong about the apostasy, their doctrines and practices incorrect?

isn’t this similar? if you believe that the Catholic church is the one that God established and entrusted with his gospel then you MUST speak up and denounce false prophets, doctrines, teachings, etc. and inform folks about the true faith. labeling those who disagree as “anti” whatever is just a blanket ad hominem that serves no purpose. LDS wannabe missionaries come her to proselytize and some even pretend to be catholic trying to make a connection just hoping to snag one person to send the missionaries to.

So is it wrong for CATHOLIC ANSWERS to give a catholic answer to the mormon message of apostasy and restoration? I think not.

The problem is when one compares and contrasts using false info or half-truths. Catholic Answer’s documents on Mormonism are poor. Catholic Answers document in response to anti-cultists are much better.
LDS do on occasion spread false information when they discuss other religions. When they do, they are just as condemnable as Catholic Answers.

Dialogue is to be encouraged. But Catholic Answers defining the CoJCoLDS or the CoJCoLDS defining Catholicism is often a problem.
Charity, TOm

 

[jmcrae]

I doubt that that e-mail was actually sent by any official of Catholic Answers - it is definitely not their “style.”

I didn’t receive it, either, and I do receive e-mails from Catholic Answers.

I think you are the victim of a hoax of some kind.

 

[Lucania]

I doubt that that e-mail was actually sent by any official of Catholic Answers - it is definitely not their “style.”

I didn’t receive it, either, and I do receive e-mails from Catholic Answers.

I think you are the victim of a hoax of some kind.

I received it in my email. Addressed from “Catholic Answers Projects” <projects @ Catholic.com> . It said at the end, Sincerely in Christ, Karl Keating.

 

[majick275]

The problem is when one compares and contrasts using false info or half-truths. Catholic Answer’s documents on Mormonism are poor. Catholic Answers document in response to anti-cultists are much better.
LDS do on occasion spread false information when they discuss other religions. When they do, they are just as condemnable as Catholic Answers.

Dialogue is to be encouraged. But Catholic Answers defining the CoJCoLDS or the CoJCoLDS defining Catholicism is often a problem.
Charity, TOm

i would agree with you BUT… just what do you consider to be false info or half truths i this case? It is very easy to see revisionist history in the case of the LDS and when coupled with the milk before meat type issues the LDS themselves can be labeled with this about themselves.

 

[Mirdath]

i would agree with you BUT… just what do you consider to be false info or half truths i this case? It is very easy to see revisionist history in the case of the LDS and when coupled with the milk before meat type issues the LDS themselves can be labeled with this about themselves.

Think the Mormons are just a group of nice folks who uphold family values, clean living, and American patriotism? Think again.

This reads like a racket: give us money or those scary, scary Mormons will get you! Not saying it isn’t just an honest, open attempt to better inform Catholics who should already know that their religion isn’t fond of people converting away from it, but, well… think again.

 

[why_me]

Of course if the mormons would have submited such an email about the catholic church, I can assure you there would be heck to pay on this forum. Lets just say that catholic answers made a mistake with this email. But it does show that some catholics may need to go to confession this saturday or sunday before mass.

And I don’t say this mockingly at all as someone who does go to confession with a priest.

 

[why_me]

Mormonism is a sick joke.

You know that this email was a blatant antimormon piece that the catholic church would never endorse, right? I know that catholic answers is just a zealous organization that defends catholicm but I do think that mainstream priests would not condone this email at all.

 

[mary_bobo]

I have not been to Catholic Answers for a very long time and for some reason I was not graced with this email.

That being said, Catholic Answers is at its best when it defends Catholicism from attacks by ill-informed Protestants (and LDS for that matter). Catholic Answers scholarship is comparable to anti-c ultist Protestants when it attacks Mormonism (and anti-cultist Protestant scholarship against Mormonism is of the same quality –often worse- as anti-cultist Protestant scholarship against Catholicism).

Half-Truths, Partial quotes, attacking LDS for issues present in Catholic past, and … are some of the examples in the current CA documents on Mormonism.

Charity, TOm

I was not “graced” either. Mine came via snail mail.

 

[RebeccaJ]

whyme, maybe you missed the part where Catholicism is Christ’s church, and has been defending the Truth since the time of the Apostles.

LDS is just yet another heresy in a long line of heresies, that apparently you believe is benign and should not be defended against.

I was thinking for while whyme that you were truly seeking for Truth. I am not so sure now. I’m thinking that you are just looking for ways to insert mormonism into faithful Catholic’s lives.

Especially when you state on a mormon apologetic board that you are “defending mormonism” here. You have already chosen mormonism. Stop pretending that you are Catholic, or even considering becoming Catholic.

 

[J_C]

I’m afraid i will have to agree on the styole of CA solicitations, especially by mail. They are pretty indistinguishable from those that come from extreme political organizations, and frankly I am embarrassed by them. My roommate has been receiving these mail solicitations for a couple of years, mostly they go immediately into the trash because they all seem to be trying to pump up fear and loathing.

I am totally in favor of all efforts to oppose the cults and sects that cause the divisions in Chrisitianity, and I applaud CA efforts and hope hope they continue to oppose these. Yet the STYLE of this especailly in the solicitation of money, is not worthy of a Catholic organization, that is my opinon.

 

[why_me]

whyme, maybe you missed the part where Catholicism is Christ’s church, and has been defending the Truth since the time of the Apostles.

LDS is just yet another heresy in a long line of heresies, that apparently you believe is benign and should not be defended against.

I was thinking for while whyme that you were truly seeking for Truth. I am not so sure now. I’m thinking that you are just looking for ways to insert mormonism into faithful Catholic’s lives.

Especially when you state on a mormon apologetic board that you are “defending mormonism” here. You have already chosen mormonism. Stop pretending that you are Catholic, or even considering becoming Catholic.

It is true that I am defending mormonism here. And I can just as well defend mormonism on the mormon apologetic site. But I would also defend catholicism if it is attacked. I tend to see good in both faiths and both faiths have something to do with my past and present. I am not a zealot for either faith and so, I can take a more christian-humanist position and see commonality between both faiths and not attack either.

I think that I take a more middle ground and this would be true for most people in the mainstream of their faith. People are not catholic bashing or mormon bashing after mass or after the mormon service. Everyone just wants to get along and see goodness, beauty, love, kindness and charity in their neighbor. And hope for a better world, regardless of their religious faith.

And catholic answers made a mistake with this email, big time. It doesn’t create harmony or love when such an email is sent out. And truth will always take a back seat to love and harmony for those people in the mainstream of society who are oot zealots for a cause.

And didn’t christ disappoint the zealots? I think that he did.

 

[why_me]

I’m afraid i will have to agree on the styole of CA solicitations, especially by mail. They are pretty indistinguishable from those that come from extreme political organizations, and frankly I am embarrassed by them. My roommate has been receiving these mail solicitations for a couple of years, mostly they go immediately into the trash because they all seem to be trying to pump up fear and loathing.

I am totally in favor of all efforts to oppose the cults and sects that cause the divisions in Chrisitianity, and I applaud CA efforts and hope hope they continue to oppose these. Yet the STYLE of this especailly in the solicitation of money, is not worthy of a Catholic organization, that is my opinon.

I agree and this is why I said on the mormonapologetic site that such an email is not representative of the catholic church at large. But I would have to question the intent of the email. Most mainstream mormons and mainstream catholics are not about creating divisions. But they are about creating unity of purpose in being good human beings so this world will become a more loving place.

 

[J_C]

But I would have to question the intent of the email.

You only question the intent of it because you are promorman to the hilt. I have spent many months observing these forums and have never seen you engage in any defense of Cthaolic faith with the fundamentalists or moslems. Maybe I missed that. If I have mischaracterized you then show me in what way by pointing to any defense of Catholic faith with the likes of whatisthetruth or other fundamentalist who comes here for the same reason you do, which is to promote a sect.

Most mainstream mormons and mainstream catholics are not about creating divisions. But they are about creating unity of purpose in being good human beings so this world will become a more loving place.

No you are describing religious indifferentism, which is a road to Hell. I disagree that “most” mainstearm Mormans or mainstream Catholics are religiously indifferent. If mormans were so then they wouldn’t have their children on the streets promoting your sect. You wouldn’t be here defending the morman sect, and Zerinus would hav e a paying job. I don’t know very many mormins but i know lots of mainstream catholics and none of them would have anything to do with the undifferentism you pretend to here to desire.

 

[YADA]

I received it in my email. Addressed from “Catholic Answers Projects” <projects @ Catholic.com> . It said at the end, Sincerely in Christ, Karl Keating.

WhyMe,

If your email said the same thing and you were concerned or questioned its authenticity … why would you not contact Karl Keating directy and discuss it with him? …

It seems bad form to start a thread here about this without contacting Karl directly … especially since Karl is accessable and a ‘known’ entity here at CAF … it is not like discussing an email received from someone unknown and for whom you have no method of contact …