Despite Latino Pope, U.S. Hispanics Still Attracted to Evangelicalism
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Peccavi
Guest
Simple the Evangelical claim that God will reward evangelical Christians with Worldly success i.e, from Calvin’s teachings. The Catholic Church does not teach this and neither did Jesus. This is why, though lapsed, I have never been attracted to Protestantism.
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pianistclare
Guest
Even simpler.
The Evangelicals and other denoms go out there and help these people. They teach ESL, they give you a ride to the clinic, they hold job fairs, and when you’re in the hospital, they go there and hold your hand and make a lunch for your kids.
People go where they feel wanted.
That’s the long and short of it. Hispanics are emotional people. They thrive on “that person showed us love”.
No one wants to hear this, but it’s very true.
When the Pentecostal church sends literally thousands of pastors to South and Central America to minister to people, and the local priest is driving a battered vehicle to say Mass one a month in every village down there?
Guess who interacts with them on a personal level? Not the poor priest with no resources. He’s killin himself just to get the Sacraments to people. How many amazing homilies can he deliver by himself?
So when they arrive? That’s their same resource.
It’s really not because they don’t WANT to be Catholic.
The Evangelicals and other denoms go out there and help these people. They teach ESL, they give you a ride to the clinic, they hold job fairs, and when you’re in the hospital, they go there and hold your hand and make a lunch for your kids.
People go where they feel wanted.
That’s the long and short of it. Hispanics are emotional people. They thrive on “that person showed us love”.
No one wants to hear this, but it’s very true.
When the Pentecostal church sends literally thousands of pastors to South and Central America to minister to people, and the local priest is driving a battered vehicle to say Mass one a month in every village down there?
Guess who interacts with them on a personal level? Not the poor priest with no resources. He’s killin himself just to get the Sacraments to people. How many amazing homilies can he deliver by himself?
So when they arrive? That’s their same resource.
It’s really not because they don’t WANT to be Catholic.
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JurisPrudens
Guest
I would say more. Nowadays, the African priests come to Europe to evamgelize, not vice versa.
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Peccavi
Guest
In my part of the UK we have 3 young men in training for the priesthood. Most existing priests are from Ireland and are elderly. My own parish has an Indian priest - nice young man but a theological minnow. Soon their will be many parishes bereft of a priest altogether. Here too the Evangelicals are in the ascendancy, though Islam has a growing number of converts. Catholic numbers are declining as are Anglican (Episcopalians in the US ) too.
I am afraid Europe is rapidly being lost to Rome.
I am afraid Europe is rapidly being lost to Rome.
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zz912
Guest
Simply put, the Evangelicals actually believe what they say, and say them clearly, forcefully, and without apology.
True they do reach out and minister to people as well, but that only gets your foot in the door to talk to them. You have to ACTUALLY believe what you teach and live by it, for people to respect you and listen to you.
True they do reach out and minister to people as well, but that only gets your foot in the door to talk to them. You have to ACTUALLY believe what you teach and live by it, for people to respect you and listen to you.
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marymary1975
Guest
^^^ this exactly. Yes they go and minister to people but the key is that these people really believe in it and they reflect it in their lives. Unfortunately too many catholics are Catholics just by name and don’t really reflect the believe and that is a big downer for most Hispanics so they gravitate towards the people that do actually believe in their religion.
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7_Sorrows
Guest
That is pretty much it in a nutshell what you have posted!
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TK421
Guest
This statement is a hyperbole, but: the Catholic Church operates like a secret society that doesn’t discuss anything outside of Mass (or for that matter, not a whole lot in church either).
What’s worse is that you even have Catholics that - to their own shame - defend the situation with replies such as, “The Church is not a social club”, rather than simply admit that the communal life of parishes needs vast improvement.
If this is business as usual, not only will the Catholic Church decline, but she will deserve to decline, and the Holy Spirit will permit her to decline until she ceases her obstinate behavior.
But, as the early Church herself witnesses, the Catholic Church is most certainly a “social club” (though also more than that) in the sense that her members are intimately networked and reliant upon one another. Parishes in Latin America will stabilize once we get this simple idea through our skulls. Until then, it’s open season for evangelicals to pick up the slack of our failures. even if they do suffer an incompleteness of revealed truth. They’re shooting fish in a barrel. Having a Latin American Pope isn’t going to bring them back, and indeed, that would be a banal and borderline nationalistic reason on their part to return home. If we had an American pope elected, and suddenly the attendance at Mass boosted by 50%, I would personally feel hopeful but also extremely leery.
What’s worse is that you even have Catholics that - to their own shame - defend the situation with replies such as, “The Church is not a social club”, rather than simply admit that the communal life of parishes needs vast improvement.
If this is business as usual, not only will the Catholic Church decline, but she will deserve to decline, and the Holy Spirit will permit her to decline until she ceases her obstinate behavior.
But, as the early Church herself witnesses, the Catholic Church is most certainly a “social club” (though also more than that) in the sense that her members are intimately networked and reliant upon one another. Parishes in Latin America will stabilize once we get this simple idea through our skulls. Until then, it’s open season for evangelicals to pick up the slack of our failures. even if they do suffer an incompleteness of revealed truth. They’re shooting fish in a barrel. Having a Latin American Pope isn’t going to bring them back, and indeed, that would be a banal and borderline nationalistic reason on their part to return home. If we had an American pope elected, and suddenly the attendance at Mass boosted by 50%, I would personally feel hopeful but also extremely leery.
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TK421
Guest
I think the situation is improving over time, but I believe there is a widespread contagion of false humility among the Catholic laity. “Me? I can’t do anything. I’m incompetent. I’m ineloquent. I’m married. I need to sit in my pew for an hour on Sunday and then run away faster than a krill in front of the gaping maw of a sperm whale”.
Priests cannot compete with evangelical ministers. They just can’t. Priests are highly educated & formed celibates. Evangelical ministers read the Bible for two years and then start preaching. It’s a numbers game, and priests lose by a wide margin.
You need a stronger laity. You need leaders within the laity community that can lead services when Mass is absent. You need catechists. You need drivers. You need food donors. You need, in short, lovers. Priests are not and cannot be seen as “the Church” otherwise she will be incapable of surviving the storms of false doctrine that come against her.
Priests cannot compete with evangelical ministers. They just can’t. Priests are highly educated & formed celibates. Evangelical ministers read the Bible for two years and then start preaching. It’s a numbers game, and priests lose by a wide margin.
You need a stronger laity. You need leaders within the laity community that can lead services when Mass is absent. You need catechists. You need drivers. You need food donors. You need, in short, lovers. Priests are not and cannot be seen as “the Church” otherwise she will be incapable of surviving the storms of false doctrine that come against her.
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Seamus_L
Guest
Generally speaking, Evangelicals come off looking a whole lot more sincere than your average Catholic, who often seems to be apologizing for being Catholic. People actually do pick up on that.
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ProVobis
Guest
So what happens when a non-Latino becomes Pope?
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FollowChrist34
Guest
Yes, this is true. Though much of evangelical Protestantism is very superficial and light on Christian history and theology. It is every bit as susceptible to corruption as the Catholic Church. I could never become one personally. That said, by keeping things simple, basic Christian doctrine thrives in their communities (though perhaps it is not always embodied in their actions; they often slight the poor). Christianity is, after all, a simple faith, not an intellectual one. The mouth of babes…
I think this appeals to a lot of Christians (including Catholics) not just Hispanics in the US, but especially also in areas where Catholicism loses its commitment to core Christian doctrine or waters it down. Or where the Church essentially joins league with the State or a certain regional or national political influence. Cronyism, careerism, etc. I have heard from Latin Americans that this is a problem there in the Catholic Church; perhaps this mentality comes with Hispanics to the US. Is it really that surprising that the smaller groups of home grown Bible pushing Evangelicals don’t have this baggage?
And also, they do really reach out and connect - like glue (perhaps because they lack a wider, higher structure). Catholics have never been into that in an intuitive way; they focus on their worship in Church; they don’t bond with each other as a priority. (dare I say we “work” at all of this
) We have to be reminded to reach out constantly. Protestants set out to make you family; this IS the Church for them. This naturally builds and maintains community. Because their God is personal and immediate 24/7, they are afraid to stray from him. It’s all or nothing to them.
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utah_rose
Guest
Amen to that! I would add some type of transportation to Mass for the elderly and people without cars. Our parish began an orthodox Bible reading class last fall and its thriving, and a lay person is teaching it. Finally, Pope Francis needs to focus on morals and dogma of the Church! It’s seems to me the Evangelicals here in America are protesting more about the SSS decision, abortion, etc. than you hear our Catholic Bishops and priests. Yes, they’re concerned about immigration, but not so much about teaching the faith.
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Birdpreacher
Guest
Its simple. The Evangelical Churches actually provide the people serivces. Free English Classes, Daycare, Food, and Charity.
Catholic Parishes on the otherhand are more concerned with keeping the people Catholic through CCD, First Communion Classes, Church Renovations, its a very parish as an entity first, people who can donate money second, poor people last.
Evangelical Churches seem to be more willing to engage the poor and have clergy who don’t live a life that is disconnected from the experiences of the poor in that area. (Just look at how many Indian priests get placed in the Churches that are not big money makers for the dioceses, aka the poor neighborhoods)
While a Catholic Church is hitting up the parishoners to expand the church, the Evangelical church is merely scheduling more services and letting contributions go to corporal works of mercy.
Catholic Parishes on the otherhand are more concerned with keeping the people Catholic through CCD, First Communion Classes, Church Renovations, its a very parish as an entity first, people who can donate money second, poor people last.
Evangelical Churches seem to be more willing to engage the poor and have clergy who don’t live a life that is disconnected from the experiences of the poor in that area. (Just look at how many Indian priests get placed in the Churches that are not big money makers for the dioceses, aka the poor neighborhoods)
While a Catholic Church is hitting up the parishoners to expand the church, the Evangelical church is merely scheduling more services and letting contributions go to corporal works of mercy.
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jaimeleglise
Guest
I thought our Pope was of Italian descent.
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ctb95
Guest
That’s true, but he was born and raised an Argentine.
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johnnyc176
Guest
Interesting… not one concern for their souls by any Catholic in this thread that I can tell. Either the Catholic Church is the One True Church founded by Jesus Christ and one’s soul is endangered by walking away from it or it does not matter what church you go to.
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TK421
Guest
This is the stance Pope Francis has taken concerning the spread of evangelical communities in Latin America. Whining about other religions or other sects within Christianity is not going to fix anything. Our criticism needs to be fixed first and foremost on how the Church herself is not living up to her mission, and it is widely accepted that the communal & pastoral charisma of the Church in Latin America is suffering. We can’t expect to just tell people “but we’re right and they’re wrong” and for the parishes to be suddenly exploding with people. The route to conquer the heart of man is far more difficult than that. This wasn’t good enough for the early Church and it isn’t good enough today either. If you want growth & vitality, then you need charity & sacrifice.
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pianistclare
Guest
Yup.
This is precisely why, when we have those threads where people worry about folks on FaceBook I tell them to educate the next generation of Catholics. That will serve us better in the long run. Let’s make sure the kids are well formed. Want to make a difference? become a catechist. Join St. Vincent DePaul. Teach a kid to read. Teach an adult some English skills. In other words, get busy.
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