By what means should Catholics spread Catholicism?

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fakename

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I am asking what methods do you think we as Catholics should employ to spread the faith? Now, I think that we shouldn’t cast pearls to everyone or give people too much of a dose of truth so that they become worse or so that they become a danger to us. Therefore, I really believe in deepening and building up Catholicism within the Church and for those who are already sympathetic to the cause (like anglicans). However, I am skeptical about the success of Christian-inspired laws or movements since a good deal of people do not have the basic understanding of nature that allows these laws or movements to bear fruit.

Any other ideas?
 
As Saint Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words when necessary.” In other words, show then that we are Catholic by our love.
 
The ONLY means that will build up the Church is the living out of the Christian life which is a life of Love and Service.
The building up of a holy people is really the best witness of God in the world…and this includes all Christians and not just Catholics.

Without the above…nothing will bear fruit.

Peace
James
 
Archbishop Vigneron of Detroit led a group of Catholics in prayer in front of an abortion clinic.

There are Catholics that pray near other abortion clinics.

And there are street evangelists.

streetevangelization.com/detroit/

And Catholic pamphlets we can hand out to people as we travel the highways and byways. We need to reach people where they are.

shop.catholic.com/chastity-tract-sampler-pack.html

Getting people interested in the Church requires them hearing about it. And instead of not knowing or misunderstanding what the Church teaches, putting the answers in their hands.

shop.catholic.com/chastity-tract-sampler-pack.html

Peace,
Ed
 
Schatzl said:
As Saint Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words when necessary.” In other words, show then that we are Catholic by our love.
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This assumes that people can rightly interpret our actions and our love. I think they really can’t because they don’t know what love is and this is proved by the fact that they will label anything against their interests as hate or intolerance. Now institutionally I think the Church is better off now than it was in Rome, but in terms of potential growth I actually think that the Church is worse off than when it first started because at least the Romans had a classical culture to which and on which the Church could add and grow. Today, I’m not even sure we have a culture except for some sort of vague materialism/feel-goodiness and therefore I doubt the Church can appeal to a great many people except perhaps other conservative chrisitians (not necessarily Catholic).
 
JRKH said:
The ONLY means that will build up the Church is the living out of the Christian life which is a life of Love and Service.
The building up of a holy people is really the best witness of God in the world…and this includes all Christians and not just Catholics.

Without the above…nothing will bear fruit.

Peace
James
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Isn’t this just the definition of “building up the Church” and not a description of a means of doing it? What must immediately be done is to restore proper Catholic teaching to the bishops or spreading a purer form of religion to a younger generation. We should also encourage the growth of large Catholic families.
 
fakename said:
Isn’t this just the definition of “building up the Church” and not a description of a means of doing it? What must immediately be done is to restore proper Catholic teaching to the bishops or spreading a purer form of religion to a younger generation. We should also encourage the growth of large Catholic families.
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No argument here…But we must always remember that no teaching will mean anything if the ones doing the teaching are not living out the faith at the most basic levels and in the most fundamental ways.

Peace
James
 
edwest2 said:
biblehub.com/romans/10-14.htm

Faith cometh by hearing. If we just sit in our Churches and say or do nothing in public then what is our faith without works?

ncregister.com/daily-news/archbishop-chaput-religious-liberty-depends-on-lay-faithful-not-bishops/

Peace,
Ed
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Is there an obligation for us to spread Christianity if others will not listen? Only in so much as there is an obligation of casting pearls before swine and breaking old jars with new wine.

Anyways, our work will be in building and improving ourselves -Noah wasn’t obligated to take all those who jeered him into the ark and neither is a supernatural ark obligated to save those who would gladly see it sunk. Noah’s faith was seen in his heeding and recognizing the command of God.

There is much practicality in this policy because if Catholics put their independence first and foremost, it would make coercing Catholics more dangerous to the state and it would discourage it from doing like to others perhaps.
 
It depends and is situational. One size does not fit all in evangelization styles, and one size does not fit all in the ability for people to receive the word. Some are good preachers, and others are better at preaching without words. Some are good at both. And some who have neither skill can at least buy a Catholic or Pro-Life bumper sticker for their car and evangelize that way.
 
I wear my Miraculous Medal to my all female workout center. It is a standout gold medal.

Quite a few times, I have been asked about it, and then questions about Mary, and the Catholic Church.

I quite often hear them say they were not informed correctly about our faith.
 
I made Catholic.com cards on Vistaprint and I leave them around. I think if people can go to a place where they can ask questions and get the RIGHT answers then they will be much better off. I also have a bumper sticker for the local pregnancy center and the local Catholic radio station on my car.
 
I think it is important to study, live and love your faith. Being kind, loving others and not being judgmental are important. In addition to the fact that RCC has apostolic authority going back to Peter, all the kind and loving Catholics I have known all my life have unknowingly helped lead me to RCIA.
 
fakename said:
Is there an obligation for us to spread Christianity if others will not listen? Only in so much as there is an obligation of casting pearls before swine and breaking old jars with new wine.

Anyways, our work will be in building and improving ourselves -Noah wasn’t obligated to take all those who jeered him into the ark and neither is a supernatural ark obligated to save those who would gladly see it sunk. Noah’s faith was seen in his heeding and recognizing the command of God.

There is much practicality in this policy because if Catholics put their independence first and foremost, it would make coercing Catholics more dangerous to the state and it would discourage it from doing like to others perhaps.
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I find myself agreeing with this idea more and more. This culture has already rejected God. We should therefore shake the dust off our feet.
 
mathematoons said:
I find myself agreeing with this idea more and more. This culture has already rejected God. We should therefore shake the dust off our feet.
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How can we be so sure that someone isn’t listening unless we try? When I post something on facebook or leave a Catholic.com card around in a public place for a random person to find, I can never guarantee that someone will listen. However, I can be the person to open that opportunity for the Holy Spirit to take action. We don’t always know what is in someone’s heart. A person could be more receptive that they seem.

How awful would it be for someone to never really get to know Christ because the people around them made assumptions and just gave up. Whether we are converts or cradle Catholics, we are who we are today because someone took the time to go out on a limb and suggest God to us. I am glad that no one looked at the culture around me and decided it wasn’t worth a try. Otherwise, where might I be today?
 
mathematoons said:
I find myself agreeing with this idea more and more. This culture has already rejected God. We should therefore shake the dust off our feet.
Click to expand...
Not to mention that not evangelizing people can actually be empowering since more people would be willing to come to Christianity with an open mind and people would be more attracted to Catholics who they consider to be civil and just trying to live their lives.

This would be especially apparent if Catholics decided to show the zeal to return to old traditional ways without speaking much about it, but allowing traditional Catholicism to speak for itself.
 
fakename said:
Not to mention that not evangelizing people can actually be empowering since more people would be willing to come to Christianity with an open mind and people would be more attracted to Catholics who they consider to be civil and just trying to live their lives.

This would be especially apparent if Catholics decided to show the zeal to return to old traditional ways without speaking much about it, but allowing traditional Catholicism to speak for itself.
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My priest has been saying this for years, and like an idiot, I went and did my own thing. I’m seeing more and more that he’s right. No one wants to hear the truth, or if they do, God will lead them to the Church.
 
fakename said:
Not to mention that not evangelizing people can actually be empowering since more people would be willing to come to Christianity with an open mind and people would be more attracted to Catholics who they consider to be civil and just trying to live their lives.

This would be especially apparent if Catholics decided to show the zeal to return to old traditional ways without speaking much about it, but allowing traditional Catholicism to speak for itself.
Click to expand...
I’m not a natural born evangelist and the only way I have ever spoken about my faith with non believers was when people asked me about it. Having answers to their questions and being able to say that I don’t know but can look up what the church teaches makes an impression. Living the faith without being preachy also leaves a good impression. People are so defensive nowadays that every mention of religion is seen as it being shown down their throat. I wonder if such evangelising is worth it. I know I’d never react well to people asking me if I was saved or something like that. Just having a conversation that comes up naturally is much better. Plus, I am convinced that most people are not converted through arguments but because something deep in their soul responds to God’s call.
 
Iheartcoffee said:
How can we be so sure that someone isn’t listening unless we try? When I post something on facebook or leave a Catholic.com card around in a public place for a random person to find, I can never guarantee that someone will listen. However, I can be the person to open that opportunity for the Holy Spirit to take action. We don’t always know what is in someone’s heart. A person could be more receptive that they seem.
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You are right, this is true. I have a friend who has a devotion to the Miraculous Medal and often gives them away to people. Some are happy to take them, others are not, and who knows if those who take them will bother to learn more. But she thinks that even if one person benefits from it, her effort does not go to waste. And I agree. We have different approaches and different talents. I’d like to be more outgoing and able to put my faith out there for the world to see, but I’m not. I think that for now, the best I can do is to live it and give witness when an opportunity comes.
 
Iheartcoffee said:
How can we be so sure that someone isn’t listening unless we try? When I post something on facebook or leave a Catholic.com card around in a public place for a random person to find, I can never guarantee that someone will listen. However, I can be the person to open that opportunity for the Holy Spirit to take action. We don’t always know what is in someone’s heart. A person could be more receptive that they seem.

How awful would it be for someone to never really get to know Christ because the people around them made assumptions and just gave up. Whether we are converts or cradle Catholics, we are who we are today because someone took the time to go out on a limb and suggest God to us. I am glad that no one looked at the culture around me and decided it wasn’t worth a try. Otherwise, where might I be today?
Click to expand...
Maybe it works for you, but I need to win the war against my own sinful self before I can fight the culture war.
 
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