Born Again Christian views of Catholic

[FabiusMaximus]

I am a Catholic and my partner is a Catholic but his parents recently converted to Born again. They are very against the cathloic religion now (although they were once catholic). My partner and I will be marrying in Catholic church, but they refuse to attend as it is a catholic church. Can any one please shed some light on this? We all believe in Jesus Christ, why does our demoniation have to be such an issue? We are not asking them to participate but just be present.

I’d say it depends on the church and the religious background of its people.

Those like your partner’s parents are anti-Catholic because they were once Catholics so they have a personal issue with Catholicism. My parents are the same way - they both converted into Pentecostalism and have usually been rather anti-Catholic (although their views have become much softer in recent years). However, in churches I’ve attended, most people have an Evangelical background, and because they don’t have personal grievances against the Catholic Church, they will tend to regard her more positively. I remember at one of my youth groups we had a Roman Catholic study with us. I even remember people doing the sign of the cross when taking Holy Communion. It’s a rather rare sight, but no one got bothered by it.

 

[4Squarebaby]

I am a Catholic and my partner is a Catholic but his parents recently converted to Born again. They are very against the cathloic religion now (although they were once catholic). My partner and I will be marrying in Catholic church, but they refuse to attend as it is a catholic church. Can any one please shed some light on this? We all believe in Jesus Christ, why does our demoniation have to be such an issue? We are not asking them to participate but just be present.

They sound like they are at the extremist position closer to the Jehovah Witness or Inglesia Ni Cristo position of attending no other services or places of worship be it Jewish, Islamic, Catholic, Baptist or Adventist.

But generally there is some sort of similar actions among the more fundamental adherents to many faith groups. Few go as far as the JW’s, INC’s to say you can’t visit for any reason but some do place restrictions on what you can do if you visit. Or say you should not visit because one party you are visiting was once nominally a member of your church and left. Or they are doing something like holding a commitment ceremony to someone of the same gender or someone who has divorced.

 

[FabiusMaximus]

They sound like they are at the extremist position closer to the Jehovah Witness or Inglesia Ni Cristo position of attending no other services or places of worship be it Jewish, Islamic, Catholic, Baptist or Adventist.

But generally there is some sort of similar actions among the more fundamental adherents to many faith groups. Few go as far as the JW’s, INC’s to say you can’t visit for any reason but some do place restrictions on what you can do if you visit. Or say you should not visit because one party you are visiting was once nominally a member of your church and left. Or they are doing something like holding a commitment ceremony to someone of the same gender or someone who has divorced.

I do not think it’s fair to characterize their entire denomination (if they have one, there are a huge number of non-denominational, completely autonomous churches in the Evangelical world) on the basis of what this man’s family believes. His parents are ex-Catholics, it’s natural they will have some bad blood against Catholicism. There are many Catholic converts here who seem to have disrespect for their former churches (not all, naturally).

There are zealots in every faith community. When my parents converted to Pentecostalism my parents’ families refused to attend the wedding because they thought Pentecostalism was some cult group.

 

[Anna_Scott]

Since you are baptized according to the bible you are born again. . . . .

Adamski,

Exactly right!

I am a Catholic and my partner is a Catholic but his parents recently converted to Born again. They are very against the cathloic religion now (although they were once catholic). My partner and I will be marrying in Catholic church, but they refuse to attend as it is a catholic church. Can any one please shed some light on this? We all believe in Jesus Christ, why does our demoniation have to be such an issue? We are not asking them to participate but just be present.

c_dufaut,

The problem lies in beliefs regarding the “means” through which one is born again…

For Catholics, Anglicans, and some other Christians; one who is truly repentant is born again through Holy Baptism: God does the saving, imparts the graces, as we are unable to save ourselves.
**
Acts 2:38**

1. 
   *] Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
   Acts 2:37-39 (in Context) Acts 2 (Whole Chapter)
   
   Many (not all) Protestants believe one is born again by praying some version of the “Sinner’s Prayer.”
   
   Ironically, all the elements of the “Sinner’s Prayer” are contained in the Catholic Liturgy (and the Anglican Liturgy.) This article is short and effective: “How Do Catholics Hear The Gospel?”
   
   Keep in mind, CAF Apologists have warnings regarding Catholics attending weddings outside the Catholic Church.
   
   Was I wrong not to attend my sister’s wedding?
   
   What are the rules for attending weddings?
   
   So, right or wrong, your partner’s parents are acting according to their conscience.
   
   Hopefully, civil and loving discussion will lead to a better understanding of Catholicism.