As a former cradle Catholic, I have found many Protestant churches much more welcomin

[kellie]

P.S Sorry LilyM, just read your post after submitting mine.

I guess Aussies think alike hehehehe

 

[LilyM]

P.S Sorry LilyM, just read your post after submitting mine.

I guess Aussies think alike hehehehe

So do great minds

 

[water]

It sounds like the OP is going to … list other things to debate.

hmm… I was wondering what is the reason for starting off with just “welcoming” thingy problem…

 

[Subrosa]

It sounds like the OP is going to … list other things to debate.

hmm… I was wondering what is the reason for starting off with just “welcoming” thingy problem…

I am thinking that the OP has some real issues with Catholic teachings and either would like to challenge them, or is sincerely interested in finding out the realities of them.

Let’s be charitable and assume the second, shall we?

Sub

 

[JLSacred]

I am so sorry that you experienced this in Christ’s Church. I wonder what we catholics can do to rectify this problem? I’ve heard this complaint before and I have some relatives who have been attracted by the more friendly atmosphere in other churches. I think we should pray about this and try to improve!

 

[water]

Let’s be charitable and assume the second, shall we?

I am trying. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[JLSacred]

We should all pray for this Traveller. That is our best option. Trying to win an argument often makes people more set against us. We should rather heap coals of kindness on those we disagree with. We ought to love this fellow Christian who felt unloved in one of our parishes. This is a tragedy for the Body of Christ.

 

[cestusdei]

I became Catholic because I sought the fullness of truth about Jesus Christ. Fellowship is nice and we probably should do a better job, but truth trumps it everytime. I don’t believe in Catholicism because of Catholics, good or bad, but because it is true.

Trav asked how one person could change the truth? No person can change the truth. But in the Anglican church they decided to ordain practicing homosexuals, women, and change many other teachings. Who gave them the authority to do those things? Where do we find them in the early Church?

 

[Tietjen]

Why does the Roman Catholic church really lack that zeal for fellowship and out reach?

Not really sure that I follow you. The Catholic Church has more “zeal” and is more alive than any other Church I’ve ever encountered. We (Catholics) have always reached out into the communities in which we live. We practically invented hospitals for example. St. Vincent De Paul has been around since 1833, helping and assisting those who need help. Perhaps it was not really the “out reach” that you were referring to. Perhaps you wanted things that are more fun. More social. Things like World Youth Day maybe? CYO? Knights of Columbus? Legion of Mary? Opus Dei? There are 100s of fellowship groups within the Church. I am sorry that you did not find one. Perhaps you did not look very hard. No one ever said that being a Catholic means that you only go to Mass once a week and that’s it. YOU should have been more active if you wanted more fellowship. God bless and remember… it is not too late to come home.

 

[Tietjen]

I take offense to one referring to Anglicanism as junk or containing junk. I didn’t enter here in a fury about all the wrongs of Catholicism but yet this is what I am being faced with. There are many reasons why I left Catholicism and social behavior is just merely one of the smaller reasons. True tradition and doctrine would be two much larger ones.

I’d be interested in hearing what these reasons are since in your first post, you said that the reason you left wasn’t so much to do with Church teachings. Now you seem to be reversing your reasons. If we should discuss this further, please try not to double back, twist truth, or say one thing one minute and then something different a minute later. I really dislike people who cannot stay focused and forget the untruths they spoke earlier.

 

[Eden]

I have heard that the LDS are very welcoming and family-oriented, as well. That doesn’t make their theology any less heretical. So, while that’s interesting, it’s not an excuse for abandoning the Church Christ founded.

 

[guanophore]

I take offense to one referring to Anglicanism as junk or containing junk. I didn’t enter here in a fury about all the wrongs of Catholicism but yet this is what I am being faced with. There are many reasons why I left Catholicism and social behavior is just merely one of the smaller reasons. True tradition and doctrine would be two much larger ones.

would you be willing to start a new thread on this, so I can understand more about your thoughts on tradition and doctrine? BTW, I left the church for very similar reasons. Feeling very lonely in a crowd.

 

[guanophore]

I agree definitely. Those who were born Catholic are so very blessed. I wish I had had the opportunity to know God so closely and be raised in His Truth as a child.

Well, don’t make too many pollyanna assumptions. Some of us that were born Catholic were not raised in His truth as children, and had some horrible experiences as Catholics. the grass is NOT greener!

 

[guanophore]

There is a very encompassing notion when you are a Catholic to only accept that which comes from the magisterium if it is not written in scripture and sometimes accept what the magisterium says even in contradiction to scripture. This is much more focused to one that has been out of the Catholic realm for quite some time.

I am not sure what you think was taught by the Magisterium that is contrary to scripture, but since this is an impossibility, there must be a misunderstanding somewhere. Nothing that the church teaches is contrary to scripture, and vice versa.

Why do you believe that mary was taken into heaven body and soul? First, I do not believe this at all, but you must in order to be Catholic. What is the belief built upon??

It sounds like you did not get a very good education in Catholic teaching. It also sounds like you do not have an appreciation for sacred scripture.

Certainly not scripture, you won’t find a hint of this. It was a pope who declared this as dogma. This disproves your belief of the truth as never changing.

Actually, there are hints of this in scripture. And yes, a pope, with the support of 1400+years of sacred teaching confirmed the understanding of the council. You make it sound like he did this all by himself!

If you believed this to be true before the pope of this time declared it as dogma you would have been involved in heresey. If you didn’t believe it after the pope declared it dogma, again you would be in heresey. How can the truth change all in one person?? Scripture does not speak to that ever!

Scripture does speak to this, and this is a teaching that has gone back to the beginning of Christianity. You have not studied your historical theology, and your patristic writings.

However, this is covered in other threads,so if you really want to understand it, go to the CAF library and search for mary, or search for mary using the “search” tool. It seems to me like you will probably not, since you have already made up your mind before you know the facts.

 

[Vanessa]

A agree that Catholic churches seem colder and suspect it’s because there is not a time or a place to socialize. The newer churches being built have places for people to talk and meet. My tiny, family church in Ark always talk outside the church and then go in when the five minute bell rings before mass. My big, town church doesn’t have enough room on the sidewalk even for that.

But another thing I’ve noted. Protestants fake friendship for the sake of evangelization. Perhaps the ends justifies the means in this case, but it certainly is painful to find out that all those people who talk to you and invite you over don’t really like you. They’re just evangelizing.

And also, the public schools keep the kids so busy, no one has time or support to build any activities in the churches. Perhaps the Church bishops and priests are at fault for not dealing with this problem.

 

[JLSacred]

Perhaps we should look to our Separated Brethren to see how they bring people together? What can we learn from their strengths? We should be open to positive change. How are they able to get people involved and what can we do to emulate these worthy traits?

Maybe we tend to be too bogged down in red tape in ways that hinder this? How can we empower our parishioners to start ministries the way Protestants do? They have many programs that bring people together.

 

[guanophore]

Does being involved in so many groups make you feel close to God?

We are told at the end of every Mass to go forth and spread the Good News.
That can’t be done standing in the foyer talking to fellow Catholics.

Yes, all the points you make are good. But we are also told:

Heb 10:24-25
4 and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,

Where else are the faithful to find the encouragement to do all those good works, if not in the fellowship if the saints? CAtholics have a lot of work to do in this area.

 

[NVBurch]

Why does the Roman Catholic church really lack that zeal for fellowship and out reach?

One reason I was afraid to enter the Catholic Church was fear of loss of fellowship. It took a life changing experience to finally convince me to join the Church immediately without reservation. I am actually relieved to say I came to the Church for Jesus and not for any other relationship. I say “relieved” because I have been accused by my evangelical friends of having succumbed to Catholic seduction. That is laughable because friendship-with-an-agenda is the way evangelicals gather people into their churches, not Catholics. In fact, Catholics are oblivious, indifferent as to whether or not you want to join their Church. They just assume you do not.

The Church is not hurting for numbers. The clergy shortage makes keeping up with the faithful a challenge let alone chasing down the reluctant. This explains lack of “outreach.”

I too have wondered why the lack of “fellowship,” and I think, after observing the Church since 1999, I have the answer: FAMILY. Have you ever been in a denomination where so many of its members are blood relatives? Who needs a youth group when you have six or seven kids plus cousins in a family? Catholics have more intact families and more extended family than Protestants do. When I was going to Catholic school, every Protestant student in the school, including myself, came from a divorced family.

I like going to a church where people do not swarm me before and after to make small talk or ask why my husband/teenager is not with me this morning. I have come to love the privacy, the quiet, the worship of mass, the focus on Jesus, not on the preacher or the music…or the “fellowship.”

Volunteering where you have strong interest is the quickest way to make friends. There is a subterranean Catholic social/spiritual life in our community that is very satisfying. Also, there’s Catholic school!
I hardly feel a need for “fellowship” after my children and I have been with Catholic school families and CYO sports all week.

Katherine

 

[jack_hawkins]

Protestants fake friendship for the sake of evangelization. Perhaps the ends justifies the means in this case, but it certainly is painful to find out that all those people who talk to you and invite you over don’t really like you. They’re just evangelizing.

what a poor response to a valid point!
so anything Protestants do must have a sinister purpose?
what a terrible attitude to have - as if being friendlier must be due to something other than the work of God, perish the thought!

 

[Tietjen]

A agree that Catholic churches seem colder and suspect it’s because there is not a time or a place to socialize. The newer churches being built have places for people to talk and meet. My tiny, family church in Ark always talk outside the church and then go in when the five minute bell rings before mass. My big, town church doesn’t have enough room on the sidewalk even for that.

You should NOT be socializing in the pews before Mass. We should be focusing on why we are there, praying, or at the very least sitting quietly so as not to disturb those around us who are praying. I’m all for socializing, but there is a time and a place for that and it ISN’T in the pews just before Mass. Your Church in Ark sounds as though it understood this.

But another thing I’ve noted. Protestants fake friendship for the sake of evangelization. Perhaps the ends justifies the means in this case, but it certainly is painful to find out that all those people who talk to you and invite you over don’t really like you. They’re just evangelizing.

I can’t say whether or not Protestants are faking friendship, but many of them do place evangelization high on their lists of things to do so I suppose some many take it to an extreme and be dishonest with those they meet in order to “win souls for Christ.”

And also, the public schools keep the kids so busy, no one has time or support to build any activities in the churches. Perhaps the Church bishops and priests are at fault for not dealing with this problem.

What?! I apologize but if the “public schools” keep your children “so busy” how can you blame the Bishops and Priests for “not dealing with the problem?” Parents have far more say in this regard than does a parish priest. School boards listen to parents. They are not so impressed with individual religious leaders. Most Catholic Churches have CYO as a minimum as far as social activities for children and teens. Larger more populated Churches have other activities and organizations setup for kids (CCD classes, Retreats, Life Teen, Youth Conferences, etc).

Okay, this will be my last post on this thread because I will have said everything that I have to say on this subject. For those of you who find that the Catholic Church isn’t “friendly” or doesn’t allow for enough socializing, I feel sorry for you. Perhaps you really have not looked into all the MANY social and other groups within the Church that could have filled this need for you. However, in the end, we are Catholic because we wish to belong to the Church we KNOW was founded by Jesus Christ. What other condition is as important as that?! What other condition matters?! There are some that will turn their back on Christ’s Church because they did not find a knitting club or some other social activity? That is absolutely ridiculous; especially, since there ARE so many activities going on within the Church! Just because these activities do not happen just before Mass or directly after Mass does not mean they do not exist. What it means is that you may have to visit your local Church more than once during the week, which might not be a bad thing! God bless.