Catholics Missing the China Boom?

[happygal]

All the work? Are you familiar with the historical and ungoing contribution of the Catholic Church to the Chinese?

Also, Catholics are Christians. If you mean to refer to Evangelicals/Pentecostals, that’s fine. If you disagree with out teaching as being heterodox or in error (from what I have followed of your writing, you seem to generally hold to that idea…) well that is fine too.

But even if you think us in error and our ancient faith heterodox, please don’t imply that we are not Christians. I was baptized in Christ. I live for Him. I love Him. Even if you think how I do so isn’t the true way to do it (and the Catholic Answers Forums are the place to discuss just that) at least allow us the simple dignity of being called Christians.

Simplesinner

I think before catholic like you start making noise abt protestant disagree with your doctrine, kindly be sensitive enough and stop jumping into conclusion. The problem with heart hardened Catholic pple like you, is quick to jump into conclusion and slow to understand
My English is not solid enough to sing praise, but is not lousy to that extreme to disagree with RC teaching. So where on earth in any part of my sentense pointed Catholic doc are errors/faking!!!

Christian are doing all the work in China , yes we are…The reason why you jump on that, simply becoz in the lst place you don’t even consider yourself a Christian, so you are the one who caught up in your own word. I don’t mind if you want to see yourself differently/separately, becoz only you yrself draw a line btw Christian and Catholic , not me…we do work for God and build up his Kingdom, so you should be happy that they are pple there doing work for God and not jumping into silly conclusion

 

[Scarecrow]

From my blog:

blog.ancient-future.net/2007/08/catholics-missing-china-boom.html

Christianity finds a fulcrum in Asia

atimes.com/atimes/China/IH07Ad03.html

This intriguing article was just sent to me about the growth of Christianity in China. I found it to be a fairly interesting article in and of itself… But what really intrigued to begin with - before even having read it - was the comment offered by the fella who sent it my way.

He writes:

"Pentecostalism is quite obviously the dominant force of neo-Christian evangelization. These people are getting in touch with Jesus without the Catholic Church. However doctrinally deficient their theology, successful (often using untruths) attempts to tear down Catholicism, and often employing the promises of the health and wealth gospel, almost all Protestant methods of evangelization smoke the Catholic methods, hands-down, for a variety of reasons. "

I ask:

Is this the Chinese Century?

Will the Chinese become the missionaries of the West?

Has the Catholic Church dropped the ball on mission work as our numbers worldwide appear - at first glance - to be smaller?

Relative to the ecclesiology and theology of the Catholic Church and Pentecostal/Evnagelical communities… Might this in fact have much to do with it?

China will dominate the west in this century economically and politically (to include militarily. We will need to learn chinese if we want to keep up.

 

[colliric]

China will dominate the west in this century economically and politically (to include militarily. We will need to learn Chinese if we want to keep up.

I disagree. This will not happen until China ditches Communism. It’s not looked upon very well by the entire west.

China is like the odd one out and it keeps trying to catch up but it won’t until ditches communism.

My country has already had 2 Olympic games('56 Melbourne, '00 Sydney), yet We’ve only got a population of 20 million people. And this is China’s first, even though their population is gigantic and apparently they have a better economy. Economically and politically china will remain behind the west, until it gets rid of it’s outdated and flawed political system.

Better economy does not equal better social standing amongst the other nations.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

Simplesinner

I think before catholic like you start making noise abt protestant disagree with your doctrine, kindly be sensitive enough and stop jumping into conclusion. The problem with heart hardened Catholic pple like you, is quick to jump into conclusion and slow to understand
My English is not solid enough to sing praise, but is not lousy to that extreme to disagree with RC teaching. So where on earth in any part of my sentense pointed Catholic doc are errors/faking!!!

Christian are doing all the work in China , yes we are…The reason why you jump on that, simply becoz in the lst place you don’t even consider yourself a Christian, so you are the one who caught up in your own word. I don’t mind if you want to see yourself differently/separately, becoz only you yrself draw a line btw Christian and Catholic , not me…we do work for God and build up his Kingdom, so you should be happy that they are pple there doing work for God and not jumping into silly conclusion

Then this is a difficulty with your English skills or comprehension. I am not making fun - I am envious of your ability to communicate in English at any level - I certainly cannot do the same in Chinese.

My point is that you keep saying “you Catholics” “us Christians.” Catholics ARE Christians.

So, no one is “making noise”. I am saying very clearly - this is a problem if you want to say we are not Christians.

 

[Scarecrow]

I disagree. This will not happen until China ditches Communism. It’s not looked upon very well by the entire west.

China is like the odd one out and it keeps trying to catch up but it won’t until ditches communism.

.

China is ditching communism on the economic front to some degree, enough to make it n econnomic superpower with slow steady growth. I have read many washington reports on the topic and all expectations are that it will surpass the US this century.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

China is ditching communism on the economic front to some degree, enough to make it n econnomic superpower with slow steady growth. I have read many washington reports on the topic and all expectations are that it will surpass the US this century.

That being the case, now is REALLY the time… no YESTERDAY is the time to start supporting the underground Church in China.

See my signature for ways this is possible.

 

[AgnosTheist]

Catholicism promises suffering and poverty in this world, just as Christ did.

Like how your Popes & Bishops in the vatican lavishes in wealthÉ. They are hardly different from Benny Hinn.

 

[colliric]

Like how your Popes & Bishops in the vatican lavishes in wealthÉ. They are hardly different from Benny Hinn.

yes they are, they let us over whenever we want to and then say “it’s not my church, it’s yours too!”! I hardly think Benny would invite us over to his place every single day of the year!

 

[AgnosTheist]

yes they are, they let us over whenever we want to and then say “it’s not my church, it’s yours too!”! I hardly think Benny would invite us over to his place every single day of the year!

From what I observe Christians generally behave the same way whether one is a Catholic or a Protestant.

 

[nonsumd]

Like how your Popes & Bishops in the vatican lavishes in wealthÉ. They are hardly different from Benny Hinn.

Are you serious?

The church as an institution has wealth (though the budget of the Vatican itself, despite its global activities, is not greater than that of a single American university – and the budgets of individual dioceses are separate and each is on the same scale).

The bishops (including the Pope), much less the ordinary priest or religious, are not personally wealthy. They live modestly, even if they happen to have a bed to sleep in inside an ancient palace.

At best, some Catholic religious enjoy the amenities of a middle-class life (e.g. they have access to a TV, refrigerator, maybe an exercise machine); that makes them quite different from the flashy millionaire preachers we see on television all the time. One of those with his or her aptly named “powersuit” (and, if it’s a she, with lots of jewelry to boot) give me a different message about the value of poverty than does a Catholic priest or religious in his or her habit.

 

[AgnosTheist]

The bishops (including the Pope), much less the ordinary priest or religious, are not personally wealthy. They live modestly, even if they happen to have a bed to sleep in inside an ancient palace.

I dont know about what they eat, but their clothes are anything but modest. The cathedrals too are anything but. I dont care about personal wealth too as long as I can live like that!

 

[colliric]

Are you serious?

The church as an institution has wealth (though the budget of the Vatican itself, despite its global activities, is not greater than that of a single American university – and the budgets of individual dioceses are separate and each is on the same scale).

The bishops (including the Pope), much less the ordinary priest or religious, are not personally wealthy. They live modestly, even if they happen to have a bed to sleep in inside an ancient palace.

At best, some Catholic religious enjoy the amenities of a middle-class life (e.g. they have access to a TV, refrigerator, maybe an exercise machine); that makes them quite different from the flashy millionaire preachers we see on television all the time. One of those with his or her aptly named “powersuit” (and, if it’s a she, with lots of jewelry to boot) give me a different message about the value of poverty than does a Catholic priest or religious in his or her habit.

Yeah that’s another way of putting it thats better. The fact is as Catholics, we own the Church. We’re allowed to go to every Catholic church because it’s our Church. The Vatican is everyone’s to share, not just the Pope…

 

[AgnosTheist]

We’re allowed to go to every Catholic church because it’s our Church. The Vatican is everyone’s to share, not just the Pope…

being allowed to visit is one thing, being allowed to share in their enjoyment is another. c’mon there are a lot of hungry catholics out there. Just one gem from the pope’s accessories would help them a lot.

 

[colliric]

I dont know about what they eat, but their clothes are anything but modest. The cathedrals too are anything but. I dont care about personal wealth too as long as I can live like that!

The thing is, WE OWN IT. I can go to any cathedral I want and if I’m a catholic, they can’t refuse me unless I’ve been excommed… You see I and everyone who goes there, own that cathedral.

Unless we ain’t catholic, they have no right to tell us to go away, Any church that has open doors, I can walk right in there to pray. Or it might only be open for mass service, but I can still go there every day to pray and do mass.

See if you get the same treatment at a protestant church that is closed 6 days of the week.

 

[AgnosTheist]

We’re allowed to go to every Catholic church because it’s our Church. The Vatican is everyone’s to share, not just the Pope…

being allowed to visit is one thing, being allowed to share in their enjoyment is another. c’mon there are a lot of hungry catholics out there. Just one gem from the pope’s accessories would help them a lot.

 

[nonsumd]

I dont know about what they eat, but their clothes are anything but modest. The cathedrals too are anything but. I dont care about personal wealth too as long as I can live like that!

The vestments that a priest wears during the liturgy and the churches where the liturgy takes place, indeed where we believe Christ is physically present in the Eucharist, these are splendid – as befits the majesty of God.

Solomon had many sins, but giving God a house to befit His glory was not one of them.

The churches are the property of the whole Catholic people, and their beauty is a gift we share with all people, including atheists.

Outside the liturgy, priests wear simple clothing, a uniform that identifies them as priests, not clothing that says “I am a rich bourgeois” (like the attire worn by flashy televangelists does).

 

[ASimpleSinner]

Those wishing to discuss the merits and demerits of papal/clerical/ecclesial appointments might do well to start a thread dedicated to that very topic.

I know I don’t own the thread, it is not propietary to me, but I started it with a veiw to discussing the Spengler article and the Catholic Church in China. It is my hope that it could in fact be what we discuss here.

Please stay on topic or start new threads. I would just as soon ask the moderator to shut this thread down if it is going to become a discussion of church property.

Pray for the Catholic Church in China.

 

[colliric]

Those wishing to discuss the merits and demerits of papal/clerical/ecclesial appointments might do well to start a thread dedicated to that very topic.

I know I don’t own the thread, it is not propietary to me, but I started it with a veiw to discussing the Spengler article and the Catholic Church in China. It is my hope that it could in fact be what we discuss here.

Please stay on topic or start new threads. I would just as soon ask the moderator to shut this thread down if it is going to become a discussion of church property.

Pray for the Catholic Church in China.

agreed…

I wonder If I ever go to china(my mum’s Chinese and I want to take her back there one day), how do I get in contact with the underground church?

I know not many people would know, but you never know.

And I would never ever get a dispensation. I’d rather not go in that case. maybe I should just organize to be in Hong Kong on a Sunday…

 

[steve_b]

From my blog:

blog.ancient-future.net/2007/08/catholics-missing-china-boom.html

Christianity finds a fulcrum in Asia

atimes.com/atimes/China/IH07Ad03.html

This intriguing article was just sent to me about the growth of Christianity in China. I found it to be a fairly interesting article in and of itself… But what really intrigued to begin with - before even having read it - was the comment offered by the fella who sent it my way.

He writes:

"Pentecostalism is quite obviously the dominant force of neo-Christian evangelization. These people are getting in touch with Jesus without the Catholic Church. However doctrinally deficient their theology, successful (often using untruths) attempts to tear down Catholicism, and often employing the promises of the health and wealth gospel, almost all Protestant methods of evangelization smoke the Catholic methods, hands-down, for a variety of reasons. "

I ask:

Is this the Chinese Century?

Will the Chinese become the missionaries of the West?

Has the Catholic Church dropped the ball on mission work as our numbers worldwide appear - at first glance - to be smaller?

Relative to the ecclesiology and theology of the Catholic Church and Pentecostal/Evnagelical communities… Might this in fact have much to do with it?

Here are some stats by diocese
catholic-hierarchy.org/country/sccn1.html

 

[lak611]

agreed…

I wonder If I ever go to china(my mum’s Chinese and I want to take her back there one day), how do I get in contact with the underground church?

I know not many people would know, but you never know.

And I would never ever get a dispensation. I’d rather not go in that case. maybe I should just organize to be in Hong Kong on a Sunday…

Getting in contact with the underground Church, or trying to, is not a good idea. See this thread from Ask an Apologist.