i think what several people are arguing about is the idea that the Catholic Church deliberately hands out FALSE information about Mormons.
If the publication contains factual inacuracies and the authors/publicists have been contacted about those inaccuracies, and additional editions still contain those inaccuracies, then it is deliberate, by definition.
MOST denominations have some kind of statements or books or what not on how to answer any of the door to door proselytizers.
Mormons don’t. Care to do a search on
lds.org for ‘southern baptists’ or “catholics” and see what you come up with? Oh, here…let me. There are 614 entries under “Catholicism.” As far as I could see (and I looked at the first hundred of them…I think that’s a fair sample) I found only one article that directely addressed the beliefs of the Catholic faith;
here. Please check for yourself if there is any inaccuracy, or even, except for the basic statement that Catholics believe that Jesus founded His church upon Peter, and Mormons believe that it was founded upon revelation, any comparison between LDS and Catholic beliefs. I don’t see anything that is presented in a negative manner. Since I am LDS, not Catholic, I can’t assure you that nothing is misrepresented, but I can certainly claim that there is no attempt to belittle or deride Catholicism in this article.
For instance, I’m sure that you know that Mormons have very strong beliefs regarding infant baptism; we don’t do it and we do not believe it is required. At all. If we were to write an article about Catholicism that was critical of that faith, I’d predict that the policy of infant baptism would be a prime target; it is a very big difference between Catholics and us…but this is how the article I’m talking about presents infant baptism in Catholicism:
"Catholics believe that man is responsible for his own sins, both mortal (grievous) and venial (less serious), but that he is also born into the sinful state known as original sin. This is the depraved condition of the material world of flesh and corruption that has prevailed since Adam’s transgression. The condition of original sin can be overcome by the spiritual covenant made in baptism. For this reason, the advantages of baptism are given to the infant as soon as possible. "
Is this not the Catholic position on infant baptism simply and accurately stated? Do you see any attempt to belittle it, or present it in a slanted manner? No…and neither is this statement surrounded by any argument against it.
None of the other articles in that 100 refer to Catholic beliefs. the vast majority of them, when they refer to Catholics at all, do so in a positive manner–or else they are by Catholics refering to US in a positive manner.
since, for example, i have never heard of door to door Quaker or Buddhist missionaries, i dont need to be as prepared to understand what they are saying and how it differs from my religion…
but the Jehovas Witnesses and Mormons send people door to door… so you are VERY likely to encounter them (usually when you are least prepared to answer any questions)
Why do you have to? You have your faith; I hope you know it well enough to defend it no matter who asks questions. If you aren’t in the mood, say 'thanks but no thanks."
(grin) I can tell you that all I have to do to get rid of the Baptists or the Jehovah’s Witnesses is to tell them that I’m a Mormon…
does the Catholic Church, or its members, have information about how to answer a Mormon who is intent on preaching their doctrine? sure.
Yep…and I haven’t seen a single publication of that sort that does not present our beliefs inaccurately at some point. I don’t give a hoot about ‘negatively,’ though that’s bad enough. Inaccuracy, though, is counterproductive, it seems to me. Dishonest, too.
there are also books on why you cant follow Buddhism and be a Catholic. in fact right now thats one of the things on “ask an appologist”
…OK, so you do it to Buddhists too. This is supposed to make everything peachy?
its just that the Buddhists dont knock on yoru door and ask to talk to you about their religion… while telling you they are “fellow Christians” and trying to get you to convert and come to their church.
at least not around here
but i have Mormon missionaries and JWs do that all the time
Yes, we do. All you have to do to ‘defend’ yourself against that is to know YOUR religion.
i dont consider it false information to hand out a book saying "this is the Catholic Answer to Mormon challenges to yoru beliefs.
It is if it presents Mormon beliefs inaccurately…and as I have mentioned already, I"ve never seen a publication that does not, to some degree or other…and if it presents even one thing inaccurately, how can you trust anything else it says?