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

[dessert]

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. 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?? 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. 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!

I think the OP desert this thread long ago but I would like to say that because of Mary I am glad I am back (also a CR C) or revert, as I missed her.

The Catholic Church is more into the depth of the scripture, just as they do in the Mass sermons and all of the Sacraments:thumbsup: Dessert

 

[contramundum7]

Easy big guy!

I have known many a convert and revert (of which I am one) and have yet to find ONE that was convinced of the truth because they were told to “quit being such a damned heretic and join the True Faith!”

Presuming the OP’s original post was with some benign intent to address issues he is still wrestling with, let’s show a little charity. I am taking it on good faith that he came here with a good heart because it seems rather a waste of time otherwise to show up on Catholic Answers forums to proselitize. Then again, I generally find the most combatitive folks in such forums often are more seeker than they care to expose.

Let’s take it easy on the guy and maintain some civility. He might be on the path to leading the next great lay movement in the Catholic Church! Handled a little better, Luther might have been Loyola.

-Simple

I don’t get it - For one thing, i am not a “guy”…
For another thing, how was i rude or whatever, in waht i said?
Frankly, i think people these days are too busy always trying to sugar-coat everything they say… Its like even the slightest hint at… well, @ confidence in one’s beliefs… is seen as arrogant, inconsiderate, blah blah blah…
Luther… another Loyola?? I doubt it. And you know, i have been beat up quite a bit in the Catholic Church myself (as Luther claims?? Frankly, i think he was the one doing the “beating up…”). In any case, i could tell u many stories of being persecuted, etc… yet i am still Catholic. OK, maybe i know a little more than some about history, the early Church fathers, etc… & i guess that’s the reason i am not going anywhere… but whatever… I have been tempted to leave…
I could go on and on but…
Anyway, again, i ask: How was i rude??

 

[contramundum7]

The main difference is that Protestants (mostly Evangelicals) tend to approach visitors like a sales team before the sale.

Catholics approach visitors assuming the sale was made long ago.

Wow - that is an interesting way of putting it… & so on target…

 

[dessert]

I don’t get it - For one thing, i am not a “guy”…
For another thing, how was i rude or whatever, in waht i said?
Frankly, i think people these days are too busy always trying to sugar-coat everything they say… Its like even the slightest hint at… well, @ confidence in one’s beliefs… is seen as arrogant, inconsiderate, blah blah blah…
Luther… another Loyola?? I doubt it. And you know, i have been beat up quite a bit in the Catholic Church myself (as Luther claims?? Frankly, i think he was the one doing the “beating up…”). In any case, i could tell u many stories of being persecuted, etc… yet i am still Catholic. OK, maybe i know a little more than some about history, the early Church fathers, etc… & i guess that’s the reason i am not going anywhere… but whatever… I have been tempted to leave…
I could go on and on but…
Anyway, again, i ask: How was i rude??

I hope you stay, you can tell stories that is what a forum is about discussing , I am sorry to hear you were beat up.

dessert

 

[jmcrae]

The main difference is that Protestants (mostly Evangelicals) tend to approach visitors like a sales team before the sale.

Catholics approach visitors assuming the sale was made long ago.

In my experience, a lot of Catholics approach the Church as though they themselves were the visitors, waiting for someone to come up and welcome them.

The very first time I went to my parish for a Sunday morning Mass, I said “Welcome to Sacred Heart” to the person sitting next to me. (I don’t know why - I was just feeling lonely and contrary, I guess.) He said, “I’ve been coming here for 30 years, and that’s the first time anyone’s ever said that to me.”

I said, “Really? Today’s my first day here, and that’s the first time I’ve ever said it.” That was Brother Kevin, and he’s still making fun of me about being more Catholic than the Catholics, to this day.

 

[dessert]

Sometimes that would be me - one of the ones going home.

I am there for a reason and fellowship is secondary.

There are times when my ability to attend Mass - darker times - has been predicated on my ability to go there and NOT have to be social. Being able to sneak into “St Anywhere” for the 10 am sunday Mass or a weekday Mass somewhere else still, where I could quietly pray, recieve communion, beg for mercy and focus more on the “vertical” nature of what comes down to us through the Mass rather than be focused on the horizontal aspect of congregational fellowship (both have a place!)

So as one of the “Go right home Catholics” let me say I am sorry. It wasn’t you, it was me. I didn’t want to share my problems, I didn’t have the spirit to visit with you. A few years ago I would not have want to have been known - I was coming in as a sinner to try to find a place.

Fellowship has its place, but a few years ago the anonymity protected me and allowed me to go into any random parish and pray before the Blessed Sacrament.

If I would have had to face a group of people who had known me since childhood and all the social pressures attending to participation in groups, I would not have gone to church at all.

“Hey Bob, where were you last Sunday”

“To be honest, Pete, I was still sleeping it off. I drank too much, got high, and had a one night stand. (last names are vague on that one…) and stumbled home where I passed out. When I woke up at the crack of noon, I had a beer for breakfast & a percocet to take the edge off and I spent the rest of the day watching TV, eating everything I had in the fridge, and did not shower.”

“Oh.”

No. I was not in good shape.

When I go back to my hometown, I usually do NOT go to the parish I used to belong to. I don’t want to lie about where I was for a few years, as a matter of fact, I don’t want to be asked about any of it at all. That was taken care of in the confessional.

So forgive me for seeming like a grump - I have read St. Jerome was infamous for being a solitary old grump. There is hope for me yet.

On a different note, there are mens groups and lay groups for the faithful. I think it is telling that a lot of converts from the Evangelical movement to Catholicism frequently end up lay movements - the best of both worlds, close fellowship & fraternity with the persons sharing the faith they love.

This is quite a testimony, i am to welcome you home if others haven’t.
i also when I was in the protestant churches everyyone stood up and said I did this and that all my sins to tell, and stand up at the altar and cry ah…, if my reputation didn’t proceed me but in the Catholic Church back as a revert no one took notice as you may think that they didn’t care but I began to realize this wa just an ego thing with me as I could not brag in a sense of how sinfull I was nd when I first came onto this forum i thought that is what I had to do confess all.
Don’t know why they are forgiveen by my trip to the priest and all my sin for this week is gone anyways, so this is what I can’t understand why they do thid in the protestant churches I mean go over and over their sins calling it testimonies. People accept me as forgiven and that is personal business between God and me.

I got a little bit ego about going on and on as I was a terrible sinner, you can ask some on the CAF I still do it some.

Sounds like Jimmy you know who don’t want to crush anyone’s ah you know people you look up to the most and I have read more of the apostles and read ing into their lives as they certainly made my life seem mild and they seek the Lord through the Catholic church as they are the start of the tradition. Dessert

 

[contramundum7]

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. 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?? 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. 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!

No relics of Mary have ever been found… The Church has the bones of St. Peter and others but not her’s… Also, many saints bodies are still incorrupt in their coffins… Wouldn’t God do that with Mary also - and evne better - get her into Heaven without all that…? Mary wasnt the only one created sin-less. Adam and Eve were too…

 

[contramundum7]

I hope you stay, you can tell stories that is what a forum is about discussing , I am sorry to hear you were beat up.

dessert

I will always stay. If the devil hasn’t driven me out yet, it isn’t going to happen… I love the Church. I find Jesus in a very big way there…

I just remind myself that people are people… Jesus said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” I must do the same… People really DO not know what thye are doing whne they sin… (hard to always remember, but true…)
Anyway, thanks for the sympathy.

 

[Adonia]

what makes a Protestant Church more welcoming?
(in my experience, Baptist church)
Give me 5 answers please

1.people engage in conversation with you prior to the service
2. people seem genuinely interested in you when they first meet you, and make it a point to remember different things that are going on in your life as they get to know you. FOr example, I told someone there that my mom was having a minor surgery that week, and the pastor called me to see how she was (I was not a member or anything, just a casual visitor), and I found out they prayed for her as a church at their prayer group.
3. The service seems more welcoming, in a sense. The praise and worship music session is more welcoming in that all the words are posted on the projection screen for everyone to partake in. WHat I like about that over a hymnal is that it also displays beautiful images of Christ, his creations, his crucifixion, etc., whatever fits with that song. It’s easier to participate with your whole heart by the mood that those visuals offer.
4. The greeters really seem to great you and remember your name. They recognize IMMEDIATELY someone who is not a member of their church, telling me they KNOW everyone in their church.
5.Which brings me to the final point. I can say that everyone really knows everyone. I mean fairly well. I guarantee that if I ran into any one of the people of that church at a grocery store, I could say hi to them and they would know who I am. I am not even a member.

So, to me, those are some ways.

What makes the Catholic Church less welcoming?

1. Greeters at every CC I’ve attending say “good morning” with a (sometimes fake smile) and probably wouldn’t recognize me if I bumped into them somewhere during the week. It’s almost as if they see right through me. I know this isn’t the case everywhere, but honestly, it’s been the case at the last 8 CCs I’ve attended.
2. No one knows you unless you are involved in everything.
3. I feel very seperated from the mass…as if I were just an observer with my silent prayers and rituals of the mass.
4. No conversation prior to mass. Even in the vestibule.
5. No frequent fellowship before or after mass.

Of course, that is not to say there aren’t exceptions. In fact, there are many. But this has been my PERSONAL experience. Also, I do find a lot of beauty in the CC mass and rituals, but I seem to feel closer to Christ after a protestant service.

Hope that helps.

I do not go to Church for fellowship, but for my own personal meeting with Christ! The ritual brings me closer to Him and allows me to worship God. Of course I am friendly with others but that is not the main reason for me at Church. Yes, Protestant folks are somewhat friendlier, But I am happy as a RC.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

I don’t get it - For one thing, i am not a “guy”…
For another thing, how was i rude or whatever, in waht i said?
Frankly, i think people these days are too busy always trying to sugar-coat everything they say… Its like even the slightest hint at… well, @ confidence in one’s beliefs… is seen as arrogant, inconsiderate, blah blah blah…
Luther… another Loyola?? I doubt it. And you know, i have been beat up quite a bit in the Catholic Church myself (as Luther claims?? Frankly, i think he was the one doing the “beating up…”). In any case, i could tell u many stories of being persecuted, etc… yet i am still Catholic. OK, maybe i know a little more than some about history, the early Church fathers, etc… & i guess that’s the reason i am not going anywhere… but whatever… I have been tempted to leave…
I could go on and on but…
Anyway, again, i ask: How was i rude??

Alright Miss, sorry for the mis-ID.

Nowhere did I used the word “rude”. But there is a difference between not sugar-coating and being triumphant.

I too believe that the Catholic Church is the fullness of the Faith and was established by Christ to make disciples of all nations so that we could know God, love God & serve God in this life and be happy with Him for all eternity in the next.

When dealing with folks who have left the Catholic faith, saying things like **"Obviously, you don’t believe (?) that the Catholic (Roman Catholic) Chruch is the ONE True Church? Yet history proves that it is… Look @ the early Fathers of the Church… They were totally Catholic in their worship, their thoughts, their theology, etc… "*well, honestly, there is truth in what you say, and there is a way to frame it.

It is the difference between elaborating on one’s arguments - and you are at the tip of the iceberg there (explain the history, explain the patristics!) - or just bluntly saying “Its obvious we’re right.”

Looking at folks like James Akin, Marcus Grodi, Fr. Al Kimel, Dr. Scott Hahn. I can’t help but wonder if they would be Catholics today if, in the course of questioning about the Faith they had been told “Well its obvious it is true!” To us it may be, but a little delicacy can be warranted.

I won’t make a big fuss of it, but you disagree with me when I say “Luther could have been Loyola” with *** “Luther… another Loyola?? I doubt it.”*** If you wanted to use a bit of socratic method on me, you could have asked why I believe that. If you wanted to disagree with me a bit (and it seems you do) you could have ennumerated some reasons. "Luther… another Loyola?? I doubt it. " sounds to me a lot like “Yea right, whatever!”

When you go on to write: "And you know, i have been beat up quite a bit in the Catholic Church myself (as Luther claims?? Frankly, i think he was the one doing the “beating up…”). In any case, i could tell u many stories of being persecuted, etc… yet i am still Catholic. OK, maybe i know a little more than some about history, the early Church fathers, etc… & i guess that’s the reason i am not going anywhere… but whatever… I have been tempted to leave…
I could go on and on but… "

I am really not sure what you are getting at so I don’t know what to say.

My point originally remains the same. We don’t know much about Traveler or his motives or his level of knowledge. Let’s be as charitable as possible. It does not mean we are tepid in our faith, it means that we are judicious in our approach.

Do you think the Pope is “confidence in one’s beliefs”? I rather think so. But he is not seen as arrogant for a reason.

-Simple*

 

[angiegirl67]

I am wondering if some of these objections don’t come down to your perception of the nature of the Catholic Mass & faith itslef.

When I as a kid I was an altar boy with some of my buddies from grade school. While we were putting our cassocks on, in our vesting area, we would sometimes get to talking about school, gossip, sports, what we saw on SNL the night before. Fr would frequently pop his head in and and admonish “Remember what we are getting ready for!” In the vestibule before liturgy we generally talked in whispers if at all but otherwise observed some silence. The priest would stand would say his vesting prayers and then we woudl recieve a blessing and “get down to business”.

The nature of the Mass - in East & West - has always been a funeary ritual. We are about to partake - in ways we cannot comprehend - Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, and, if worthily prepared, recieve Him in the Eucharist. The silence and social reservation in some parishes is like a funeral home for a reason. In the same way the death of a loved one is a time for some silence and prayer, the Mass is the same.

If you don’t have an appreciation for this - and it seems this is not your conception of the Catholic Church - than I can understand how it would seem we are a bunch of “gloomy Guses” but before the Mass, it is our time to pray and prepare. In parish settings where this is not the practice, some of us feel it a bit jarring.

I am glad you are there. I hope you come again. If you want to wait an appropriate amount of time after the liturgy when I am done with my private prayers and my offerings of thanksgiving, introduce yourself if I don’t notice you first. If you will give me some time to think about some of the things that are on my mind - to say my prayers for my loved ones, we can go to the parish hall and have some coffee, or if I have no family obligations, maybe we can go out somewhere for a cup of coffee and discuss the faith.

(My parents seldom took us to the social hall because we acutally grew up with family dinners - mom wanted to get home to put the roast in the oven, and get the house ready for my grandparents to come over and spend the afternoon with us.)

But put first things first, if you understand the Mass, you will understand why we are doing what we are doing. If you develop an appreciation for the Eucharist, you can understand better the Mass, its prayers, its part in your life. All the praise music, fellowship and knowing and being known by everyone else in a congregation simply would not compare for me.

I couldn’t agree with you more… We need more silent reverence for Holy Eucharist not social circus side shows. If people want fellowship there are plenty of avenues to find it in the Catholic Chruch. Join a rosary making group, a bible study, join the parish food bank, or the knights of columbus. Those are all places that need helpers, are places to meet people and have fellowship.

 

[c659smith]

Boppaid

I understand what you are saying but what did you do about it when you said you felt like a stranger? Remember you knocked at the door of heaven to get in and Jesus stated I do not know you, go away.

Did you get involved with the Catholic Church you were or are at with any of your time, talents, energies, or resources?

You say after a protestant service you feel closer to Christ — more than after you receive the body and blood at communion?

When was the last time you gave Jesus an hour at Adoration? I mean at real hour and talked with Him, used contemplative prayer, and released everything of this world during that hour for Him?
This will allow the Spirit to come to you.

Did you join any of these ministries?

Bereavement Ministry
Bingo
Catholic Young Adults
Choir
Coffee & Donuts after Mass on Sunday’s
Elizabeth Ministry
Annual Winter Festival (CARNIVAL)
HIV/AIDS
Lectors
Ministry of Care
Ministry of Hospitality
Ministry of Mothers
Ministry of Praise
Ministry to the Sick
New Beginnings
Office Support
Prison Ministry
Project 5000 (feeding the Hungry)
Rainbows for All God’s Children (divorced Children)
Spanish Youth Ministry
Respect Life
Teen Bereavement
Youth Ministry
Adoration
Council of Catholic
Legion of Mary
Knights of Columbus
Roary Makers

Sundays are a tough day to want to make friends when we are preparing for Mass. We try not to talk in church as others may be praying. Others may be involved in the Mass as Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, or trying to meet up with family or friends before service.

Make an effort to get involved and believe me the parrish will know you. Most Parrish’s down here in Florida are in the tens of thousands and 1200 to 1500 at a Mass is not unusual.

I know what I am saying is tough but I bet if you do not evangelize, donate lots of cash, or give of your time the friendliness will go away at thosse Protestant Services.

The Catholic Church awaits you to become a part in the Body Of Christ --“the Church” You do not have to do anything you do not want to, but then again

1. I was naked and you clothed me.
2. I was hungry and you fed me
3. I was imprisoned and you visited me

Do I need to go on I think you get the drift.

 

[Chancellare]

what makes a Protestant Church more welcoming?
(in my experience, Baptist church)
Give me 5 answers please

1.people engage in conversation with you prior to the service
2. people seem genuinely interested in you when they first meet you, and make it a point to remember different things that are going on in your life as they get to know you. FOr example, I told someone there that my mom was having a minor surgery that week, and the pastor called me to see how she was (I was not a member or anything, just a casual visitor), and I found out they prayed for her as a church at their prayer group.
3. The service seems more welcoming, in a sense. The praise and worship music session is more welcoming in that all the words are posted on the projection screen for everyone to partake in. WHat I like about that over a hymnal is that it also displays beautiful images of Christ, his creations, his crucifixion, etc., whatever fits with that song. It’s easier to participate with your whole heart by the mood that those visuals offer.
4. The greeters really seem to great you and remember your name. They recognize IMMEDIATELY someone who is not a member of their church, telling me they KNOW everyone in their church.
5.Which brings me to the final point. I can say that everyone really knows everyone. I mean fairly well. I guarantee that if I ran into any one of the people of that church at a grocery store, I could say hi to them and they would know who I am. I am not even a member.

So, to me, those are some ways.

What makes the Catholic Church less welcoming?

1. Greeters at every CC I’ve attending say “good morning” with a (sometimes fake smile) and probably wouldn’t recognize me if I bumped into them somewhere during the week. It’s almost as if they see right through me. I know this isn’t the case everywhere, but honestly, it’s been the case at the last 8 CCs I’ve attended.
2. No one knows you unless you are involved in everything.
3. I feel very seperated from the mass…as if I were just an observer with my silent prayers and rituals of the mass.
4. No conversation prior to mass. Even in the vestibule.
5. No frequent fellowship before or after mass.

Of course, that is not to say there aren’t exceptions. In fact, there are many. But this has been my PERSONAL experience. Also, I do find a lot of beauty in the CC mass and rituals, but I seem to feel closer to Christ after a protestant service.

Hope that helps.

I also evaluate customer focus performances of suppliers and service providers. But when it comes to worshiping God, I know that God is the one who makes call. I am just a disciple. So evaluating a worship service is applicable if we are talking about secular business.

In our relativistic society,this is one of the effects of the creeping secularism in shaping our perceptions, even in the area of worship. One scholar called it “Country Club” mentality - simply put, the tendency of defining all experiences in terms of customer satisfaction. Because our society has been immersed in secular thinking, we forget that our relationship with God is no longer a customer-supplier relationship.

So when we rate our worship service against these criteria, we in effect redefine our relationship with God as that of a customer-supplier. God must be amused with this behaviour.

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

In our newspaper awhile back there was a story about one of these “mega churches”. It is huge!! They were saying in the article that they had greeters at “every” door…ready to show folks where to go…whichever fellowship room they needed to go to and they also have a coffee shop! It was like a mall and truthfully about as big as one of our malls

That is not what I go to church for. Although it is nice when people smile and greet you, to me it isn’t what is necessary. I was just another person attending daily Mass and then I became acquainted with all the regulars and that is nice, but again, not what I go to church for.

:heart:Blyss

 

[lak611]

In our newspaper awhile back there was a story about one of these “mega churches”. It is huge!! They were saying in the article that they had greeters at “every” door…ready to show folks where to go…whichever fellowship room they needed to go to and they also have a coffee shop! It was like a mall and truthfully about as big as one of our malls

That is not what I go to church for. Although it is nice when people smile and greet you, to me it isn’t what is necessary. I was just another person attending daily Mass and then I became acquainted with all the regulars and that is nice, but again, not what I go to church for.

:heart:Blyss

There is a Catholic Church in my diocese that has a coffee shop and bookstore. Of course, the coffee shop and bookstore are open after Mass.

 

[boppaid]

I also evaluate customer focus performances of suppliers and service providers. But when it comes to worshiping God, I know that God is the one who makes call. I am just a disciple. So evaluating a worship service is applicable if we are talking about secular business.

In our relativistic society,this is one of the effects of the creeping secularism in shaping our perceptions, even in the area of worship. One scholar called it “Country Club” mentality - simply put, the tendency of defining all experiences in terms of customer satisfaction. Because our society has been immersed in secular thinking, we forget that our relationship with God is no longer a customer-supplier relationship.

So when we rate our worship service against these criteria, we in effect redefine our relationship with God as that of a customer-supplier. God must be amused with this behaviour.

You make some excellent points. To be fair, though, I don’t rate the CC and Protestant service entirely on the “customer service” factor. In fact, I like many things about the Catholic Church service that are unique to it as well. I was simply answering the question posed in this thread.

 

[AngelRose81]

This is just my opinion on how things work in Protestant churches from my expierence…

When I have gone to Protestant churches lately (the last time was at Christmas) for my dad’s sake (he’s a minister), I’ve not felt truly welcome at all. His congregation of course doesn’t know about my being in RCIA and becoming Catholic so I get the usuall “you know you can come to church sometime other than Easter and Christmas” by EVERYONE. And out of respect for my father I don’t snap back and say “well, I have been going to church, every Sunday and other days for quite a while now”. I don’t want to make things bad or hard for him. Its hard enough having your daughter become Catholic. But every Sunday at the Catholic Church I attend, I am warmly welcomed by the people I know and don’t know. Even during the scruitines, when I got back to my seat someone would lean over and say congratulations or welcome home. Even during the sign of peace I got some hugs. Every one that has said something to me has , in my opinion, been so sincere in their words. But I never felt that in my Protestant church. I just felt like they were being nice b/c I was the minister’s daughter or just because they thought they had to be or something. Kind of a “cold love”. That’s a whole lot of the reason I came to the Catholic church. I’ve never felt anything but sincere LOVE from everyone I meet in the church. I truly feel at home.

So in my opinion its the Protestant church that isn’t very welcoming, it to me is a fake sense of welcome.

 

[dessert]

This is just my opinion on how things work in Protestant churches from my expierence…

When I have gone to Protestant churches lately (the last time was at Christmas) for my dad’s sake (he’s a minister), I’ve not felt truly welcome at all. His congregation of course doesn’t know about my being in RCIA and becoming Catholic so I get the usuall “you know you can come to church sometime other than Easter and Christmas” by EVERYONE. And out of respect for my father I don’t snap back and say “well, I have been going to church, every Sunday and other days for quite a while now”. I don’t want to make things bad or hard for him. Its hard enough having your daughter become Catholic. But every Sunday at the Catholic Church I attend, I am warmly welcomed by the people I know and don’t know. Even during the scruitines, when I got back to my seat someone would lean over and say congratulations or welcome home. Even during the sign of peace I got some hugs. Every one that has said something to me has , in my opinion, been so sincere in their words. But I never felt that in my Protestant church. I just felt like they were being nice b/c I was the minister’s daughter or just because they thought they had to be or something. Kind of a “cold love”. That’s a whole lot of the reason I came to the Catholic church. I’ve never felt anything but sincere LOVE from everyone I meet in the church. I truly feel at home.

So in my opinion its the Protestant church that isn’t very welcoming, it to me is a fake sense of welcome.

You will have to be upfront with your dad sometime and he mat already know, this has got to be a stressful time for you, I will pray special for you.
How are you going to do it?
I will pray your dad will be accepting but you may have a rough road ahead and if you practice with some at your church you may be able to convince your dad of seeing the faith that yoou have grasped. Find areas that you agree on first and then come to a place where it is ok to dis agree.
Your dad may have noticed a change in you and doesn’t know where your tru belief is coming from and I would say just start woith the basics and bless you on your confirmation:thumbsup:
I am a revert and this Easter is the most first glorious EAster of more to come.
I like the way in the CC as I first came back EAster last year, we continue the discussion of the season on for many more sundays and continue to read of the journey of the gospels and not just end it short. Same with Christmas the sundays continue the birth and all after. God Bless you again! Dessert

 

[AngelRose81]

You will have to be upfront with your dad sometime and he mat already know, this has got to be a stressful time for you, I will pray special for you.
How are you going to do it?
I will pray your dad will be accepting but you may have a rough road ahead and if you practice with some at your church you may be able to convince your dad of seeing the faith that yoou have grasped. Find areas that you agree on first and then come to a place where it is ok to dis agree.
Your dad may have noticed a change in you and doesn’t know where your tru belief is coming from and I would say just start woith the basics and bless you on your confirmation:thumbsup:
I am a revert and this Easter is the most first glorious EAster of more to come.
I like the way in the CC as I first came back EAster last year, we continue the discussion of the season on for many more sundays and continue to read of the journey of the gospels and not just end it short. Same with Christmas the sundays continue the birth and all after. God Bless you again! Dessert

I appreciate your prayers. My dad does know I am in RCIA and he approves (in his own way). I just meant that I didn’t want to cause him trouble with his congregation knowing. As some may know, here in the Southern Bible belt, many protestants aren’t approving of Catholics. I remember when JPII died, during the prayer request at his church, he asked that we remeber “our Catholic brothers and sisters in the loss of John Paul II”. Many were angered at that. So he knows, but I’m leaving it up to him to tell anyone else close to him. I guess its my way of having his interest at heart.

 

[jmcrae]

I appreciate your prayers. My dad does know I am in RCIA and he approves (in his own way). I just meant that I didn’t want to cause him trouble with his congregation knowing. As some may know, here in the Southern Bible belt, many protestants aren’t approving of Catholics. I remember when JPII died, during the prayer request at his church, he asked that we remember “our Catholic brothers and sisters in the loss of John Paul II”. Many were angered at that. So he knows, but I’m leaving it up to him to tell anyone else close to him. I guess its my way of having his interest at heart.

What you can say to them is, “Thank you for your concern. I have found a Bible Christian fellowship that is both closer to home and closer to my heart, and that is where I have been attending Church lately. I certainly respect my father’s ministry here, but I have found that my spiritual needs are better met at my new spiritual home.”