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

[Ignatius]

Honestly, as a former Protestant…

When I realized I was welcome at the Lord’s banquet every Mass, I no longer needed the welcoming committee on Sunday. I needed Mass every day. My parish is VERY involved with it’s famly and vice versa…but besides the usual greeters and ushers, you will only find people who are there to be with Him.

I feel it’s like this: Protestant churches worry about being welcoming…you have always been welcomed at His church.

Precisely! Very well stated.

Yours in Christ.

 

[Ignatius]

Yeah but it’s that 10% the Anglicans lack that is critical.

Hi Lily. Yes, that’s exactly the crucial point. Well put.

As for fellowship and outreach - more Catholics than all other Christian denominations combined! No other faith has more followers, though some come close.

I don’t think any denomination even comes close in numbers to the 1.05 Billion Catholics?

I was able to find this information:

Church****Number of AdherentsCatholic

1,050,000,000​

Pentecostal

105,000,000​

Reformed/Presbyterian/Congregational/United

75,000,000​

Anglican

73,000,000​

Baptist

70,000,000​

Methodist

70,000,000​

Lutheran

64,000,000​

Adventist

12,000,000​

Apostolic/New Apostolic

10,000,000​

Stone-Campbell (“Restoration Movement”)

5,400,000​

New Thought (Unity, Christian Science, etc.)

1,500,000​

Brethren (incl. Plymouth)

1,500,000​

Mennonite

1,250,000​

Friends (Quakers)

300,000​

Other

200,000​

I thought it was interesting anyway.

Yours in Christ.

 

[buffalo]

There can be NOTHING more welcoming than Jesus being present in Eucharist. Nothing!

 

[Freshman88]

Precisely! Very well stated.

Yours in Christ.

I agree.

I have been looking into the TLM, and I found it hard to understand why there is almost no participation on the part of laymen. I thought it was taking away from the community, from being part of a congregation.

In my search for answers I came across this article:
latin-mass-society.org/dietrich.htm
I highly recommend it.
*
The depersonalizing “we experience” is a perverse theory of community.

The communion in Christ has nothing of the self-assertion found in natural communities. It breathes of the Redemption. It liberates men from all self- centeredness. Yet such a communion emphatically does not depersonalize the individual; far from dissolving the person into the cosmic, pantheistic swoon so often commended to us these days, it actualizes the person’s true self in a unique way. In the community of Christ the conflict between person and community that is present in all natural communities cannot exist. So this sacred community experience is really at war with the depersonalizing 'we-experience" found in mass assemblies and popular gatherings which tend to absorb and evaporate the individual. This communion in Christ that was so fully alive in the early Christian centuries, that all the saints entered into, that found a matchless expression in the liturgy now under attack-this communion has never regarded the individual person as a mere segment of the community, or as an instrument to serve it. In this connection it is worth noting that totalitarian ideology is not alone in sacrificing the individual to the collective; some of Teilhard de Chardin’s cosmic ideas, for instance, imply the same collectivistic sacrifice. Teilhard subordinates the individual and his sanctification to the supposed development of humanity. At a time when this perverse theory of community is embraced even by many Catholics, there are plainly urgent reasons for vigorously insisting on the sacred character of the true communion in Christ. I submit that the new liturgy must be judged by this test: Does it contribute to the authentic sacred community? Granted that it strives for a community character; but is this the character desired? Is it a communion grounded in recollection, contemplation and reverence? Which of the two – the new mass, or the Latin mass with the Gregorian chant evokes these attitudes of soul more effectively, and thus permits the deeper and truer communion? Is it not plain that frequently the community character of the new mass is purely profane, that, as with other social gatherings, its blend of casual relaxation and bustling activity precludes a reverent, contemplative confrontation with Christ and with the ineffable mystery of the Eucharist?
*
Now look, I’m not trying to bash the NO mass, I still attend the NO mass and think it to be a valid mass. But what I want to get out of this article is the what the author is talking about regarding community.

The so called “problem” is the nature of the mass. It isn’t focused on bringing about community in the normal everyday sense. Rather it is a much deeper experience.

My own thoughts is that the NO mass seems to be a hybrid. It still has the valid communion, but it seems to be placing in aspects of the everyday community into the Sacrifice of the Mass. So I disagree with the author because I feel our current mass still provides that sense of communion. The only problem is people are emphasizing the other everyday sense of community that the NO mass now provides somewhat. But don’t focus on that aspect, focus on what the Sacrifice of the Mass really is, communion. We can see from the OP what problems happen when we lose sight of what Communion truly means.

When many Catholics go to mass, they are seeking the above. The problem with people who go to Protestant Churches is that they are seeking the normal conception of community when Church is ment to provide an extra-ordinary supernatural sense of community as described in the article.

Perhaps we fail to create the more Earthly sense of community after Mass, but for many Catholic they already have this sense of community elsewhere. It is because the Protestants don’t have our deeper sense of communion that they try to fill in that void with normal sense of community. Sometimes they do a good job of it and provide a very strong community, but they are still missing the higher sense of community that the Mass offers. We should have that other sense of community, but it isn’t necessary IMHO.

Just some thoughts I had. Throwing it out there to see what y’all think.

 

[LilyM]

I don’t think any denomination even comes close in numbers to the 1.05 Billion Catholics?

I was thinking of non-Christians - I think there are nearly a billion Muslims for starters.

 

[jack_hawkins]

I was thinking of non-Christians - I think there are nearly a billion Muslims for starters.

Muslims claim they number 1.4 billion but that is very questionable. They routinely claim to be the fastest growing faith also and that is definitely untrue (and the growth of Islam is largely down to the jihad of the womb anyway).

 

[Subrosa]

I personally think this is good, but I’m very surprised some of your hard core Catholics weren’t outraged.

Quite honestly those “hard core” Catholics need to stand up and be real christians - they need to practice what they preach.

Ecumenism has been gathering steam since it became a mission of the Church during Vatican II.

Sub

 

[goitalone]

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.

Don’t feel bad, they are like that to all people in all other religions here in this forum apparently.

 

[cestusdei]

go it alone, Yeah, we are so mean. Not like those nice sda’s who tell me that I am satanic.

 

[JLSacred]

I don’t think he said we are mean, I think he just wanted better social support from his parish. That’s understandable. It’s nice when the Body of Christ can come together for fellowship. It’s nice when the Church can fullfill our human needs for friendship. We can be stronger Catholics if we socialize with strong Catholics and encourage one another.

 

[cestusdei]

I was responding to goitalone an sda.

 

[jmcrae]

Welcoming begins with ourselves.

Here’s an experiment to try: smile and wave at everyone you see in the parking lot at Church, whether you’ve ever seen them before, or not.

It’s an interesting experiment. I’ve been doing this now for three months, and I’ve only had one person get that puzzled look and say, “Do I know you?” The rest of them all smiled and waved back - and I’m discovering that I have a lot more friends than I ever realized.

 

[JLSacred]

I was responding to goitalone an sda.

Oh sorry. I missed that. Thanks

 

[ukdal1]

One of the very reasons I left a Baptist church and started searching for a different type of faith is the same reason you joined!!! I left because it seemed to me that all the Protestant chuches I went to were there as a social event. In my humble opinion, I don’t think Jesus wanted us to come to church to talk about the football or basketball game thats on tonight or argue about doctrine (like ALL Protestant churches I have attended do).When I came to the Catholic church it was about me and my relationship with God, not my relationship with the other parishioners. Now I’m not saying that you don’t need other Christians to fellowship with, because you do. That to me is what Catechism studies and my RCIA meetings are about. You gain a bond with other Christians there. But when you come to Mass you are coming there to make your relationship with God closer with the Homily and the Eucharist. I’ll pray for you, please pray for me. God bless.

 

[chevalier]

Hmm… to be honest, I believe if you talk to a fellow Catholic, there is some kinship to be felt and it’s not the same as you feel with a fellow Christian from a different denomination. That would be it about welcoming. Then again, we may be somewhat apathetic. As a side note, the emphasis on the role of active laity in Protestant communities may well be coming from the fact they don’t have sacramental priesthood, so it’s all about laity.

 

[guanophore]

blamers and complainers are a problem -why?
the same sort of problem?
they are the problem and the church is not, ever?

Because if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem!

 

[guanophore]

an ecumenical service? I’ll object. Shouldn’t we be converting and bringing people into the faith instead of giving credibility to other denominations? Doesn’t * Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus * ring a bell?

It’s ideas like “ecumenical services” that push me more and more into Traditional Catholicism. I am told the Truth is within the Church, but at the same time I am told that we should be giving credibility to other denominations that do not contain the fullness of the Truth. If that’s the case, why don’t I join a denomination that is way easier to practice than Catholicism. Why don’t I just succumb to modernism and join the Episcopolians. At least I wouldn’t be a “bigot” then, at least I wouldn’t be made to feel ashamed of my faith during class… But I don’t want to bust my butt to follow my faith or to defend my faith and be labeled as a bigot or made to feel like an outsider, only to be told that some other denomination is acceptable because thats exactly what an ecumenical service says to me, that their form of worship is “okay” or at least “well they have most of it right, let’s focus on that”. What garbage! If we honestly have the Truth, then we should have a zeal for that Truth, anything less then the Full Truth is unacceptable.

Anyway, if that’s the rant the above poster was wanting, there it is.

Ok, Freshman, breathe…breathe.

How will we ever reunite with our separated brethren if we refuse to associate with them?

 

[Future_Prodigy]

What did Jesus give as the criteria on which people are judged? Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, look after the sick and imprisoned … Catholics do all of these par excellence - none better.

Nothing in there about ‘make people feel welcome’ ‘campouts’ ‘fellowship’ or ‘outreach’ or other similarly warm and fuzzy concepts.

I fear you’ve substituted the meat and potatoes of Catholicism for the attractive but ultimately unnourishing junk of Anglicanism. I have a friend who’s extremely active in her Baptist church, and have been around her enough to see the ultimately empty core that this activity masks.

Do you know ANYTHING about anglicanism AT ALL!? I am a high anglican thinking of converting to RC and these stupid, ignorant, and arrogant response to nothing to nourishing ecumenism let alone anything CHRISTIAN.

I to side with the OP, RC is centered around the mass in most parishes and that is horrible. No wonder the church is losing so many young people these days to other protestant churches.

 

[kellie]

Hi. I wanted to answer your questions as to how they relate to me: a Catholic who has been going to a Protestant church (as well as my Catholic Church) because I get so much more out of the Baptist service.

Yes. It keeps me on the right path by hanging around other Godly women. It also enables me to see Christ within these people. Finally, it gives me the opportunity to study His word in fellowship with other Christians who are going through the same struggles as a sinner that I am.

I think both. Good quality service is important, but if you’re only serving others once a year, then how is that living the Gospel?

You are never in any obligation to join x number of groups. But it certainly is nice having many options open to you. It seems in the Catholic church that there are so few fellowship groups that if one doesn’t fit your schedule or spiritual need, then you are out of luck.

Protestants believe that the Holy Spirit lives within each believer. So, to a protestant, Christ already lives within them.

Sometimes it does. We need to have fellowship as believers. We need to learn from each other. We need to lean on each other and pray for each other. I know that I, personally, have become a better Christian since joining the Ladies Bible Studies, Women’s mentoring group, etc.

I have never seen a protestant service that was not humble to the Lord. Have you ever listened to the words in their praise & worship songs? The pastor at the baptist church is extremely humble in his sermons as well.

What is a “stand out in a worship group”?

Where? I don’t remember seeing that.

Absolutely. I don’t think you’ll find an argument here from even a non-Catholic. I think of all the missionary work that Baptist Church does, and all the charity as well.

They are done by Catholics through hospitals, St Vincent de Paul Societies, charities, outreach groups and so on.

Just because Protestants hang out in the foyer before service doesn’t mean they don’t do all the outreaches that the Catholics do.

I have yet to hear a Catholic spread the good news. Doesn’t mean they don’t, but I’ve never heard them.

What does visiting have to do with spreading the news? And further, yes it can be done that way. Many times people bring non believers to protestant services, who enjoy visiting with people “in the foyer” and start coming to church, thus start listening to and reading God’s word.

You failed to see my point. Catholics don’t need to “hang out” at the building we call our church to perform fellowship.
That isn’t why we turn up each Sunday.
We too have the Holy Spirit within us, through the Sacrament of Confirmation, but we receive Jesus at every Mass. Protestants do not.
It was the OP that said his son is a “stand out in a worship group” not me. I am not sure what is meant by it but I fail too see how it makes him a better Christian.
If I was to go by what you are saying, and hang with many many many people who are Catholic, how would I be evangelizing? Jesus mixed with the non-believers, and changed them.
That is what I try and do too. I don’t need to hang in the foyer, hoping a fellow Catholic has brought a Protestant friend with them to Mass.

 

[Freshman88]

Do you know ANYTHING about anglicanism AT ALL!? I am a high anglican thinking of converting to RC and these stupid, ignorant, and arrogant response to nothing to nourishing ecumenism let alone anything CHRISTIAN.

I to side with the OP, RC is centered around the mass in most parishes and that is horrible. No wonder the church is losing so many young people these days to other protestant churches.

wow wow wow and wow. wow.
hold on there.
I may not know Anglicanism inside and out, but I know this much about Catholicism. The mass is central and this absolutely fundamental to the faith.

Community is good, and it should be sought after but to suggest that it’s “horrible” that the mass is central is to misunderstand what exactly the mass and community are. So let’s keep things in perspective. The community is our brethren in faith. Very good. But the mass is the Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. I love my fellow man, but I love Jesus more, and unlike my fellow man Jesus was willing to be crucified for my sake. So I think it is absolutely pivotal that we keep the mass central, for by keeping the mass central we remind ourselves that there is something far more important than “us”, that is being the community or lack there of.

And speaking as a Catholic youth, it was EXACTLY what protestant Churches were doing that was keeping me away from my faith. It was also exactly what some Catholic youth groups do that was also keeping me from my faith. It was only until I was exposed to reverence, that I was able to stand back and see God for who He was. And for me, finding that reverence was stepping back from the so called youth community lures of kumbaying, the bowling allies, clapping and bongo drums and guitars . It was only after finding out that He was the Almighty and much more then my “best pal” that I knew that importance of Him and my faith.