Can ecumenism result in losing Catholics to other faiths?

[Padres1969]

Stronger together for what, and how? “A kingdom divided amongst itself cannot stand” Mark 3:24. The Catholic Church does not have the same mission as other denominations, otherwise they would all be in one church. Thus a united “church”, as it might be called, with divided missions and beliefs cannot stand as Christ says in this scripture quote. That is why the true Church has always had four marks, ONE, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.

Your quote from Mark is a great example of WHY we should stand together. If we don’t we all still stand as Christians, but are truly divided. Yes we’re not all unified under one banner as Catholics when we stand together ecumenically but we are standing together as Christians who do share many things in common. To do otherwise is to stand as Christians completely divided. And for what, we do so because Christianity and indeed religion, is under constant attack in the modern world. Both big and small. It’s far easier to resist those attacks and that pressure together with those things we have in common, than it is to focus on the things we don’t have in common and stand apart making all of us weaker in the process.

 

[Gorgias]

For several years, I was involved in “ecumenism” … at the request of my pastor … and the non-catholics wanted NOTHING to do with it. [He had to report to his bishop.]

Jews REFUSED TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT AND EVEN FOUND OTHER PLACES TO WORSHIP TO AVOID HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH US.

Muslims ADAMANTLY REFUSED. **

Monte,

Dialogue with non-Christians is “inter-religious dialogue”, not “ecumenism”. If you were doing ecumenism, you were picking the wrong groups to do it with.

The ONLY way to get the non-Catholics [Protestants] to participate was to water down the Catholic part.

 

[Rosebud77]

As a child in urban Lancashire UK, the summer highlight of the Church of England year was Walking Day and I am smiling at the memories that name evokes.

It was a procession all round the villages, Must have been three or more miles, All the Sunday School children were there, dressed in such finery… Grirls carrying flower posies and baskets… The big Church banners were lifted high and we all held the ribbons,.At least two brass bands and heaven help you if you got between them…

Scouts Guides, and of course, in the late 40s and early 50s the armed forces and veterans dearly

We were joined by the Methodists with their banners etc and by the small local Roman Catholics, who carried a statue of Mary aloft…

And after the procession, sports events, a fair ,food,

We all played together, and all the Church ministers were there together.

That is something I have carried into adulthood and old age. And we would also hav joint services with the Methodists on Good Friday…

Needs to be lived in the simplest terms. Eating together, children playing together. No formal ecumenical services can do so much?

Wish it would catch on more here in Ireland