Evangelization is every Christian's work, Pope reminds bishops [CWN]

[CWN_News]

Pope Benedict XVI exhorted bishops to foster a “stronger ecclesial commitment to new evangelization” in a September 20 address to prelates participating in a conference organized by the …

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[CreekCrawler]

I have spoken to many Catholics recently on the topic of evangelizing. I was met at each instance with responses like " we don’t bash people over the head with the bible. ", “We don’t ‘door knock’ like those protestants.” Or my favorite… “Always preach the gospel, and if necessary use words”… ( I hate that last ‘quote’ ! ) I say, always preach the gospel, and walk the talk !

I think it is a horrible thing that all my life I have been surrounded by Catholics, and have never once had one attempt to share the gospel with me. Only protestants… In my opinion, while Protestants may have many theological points wrong, Catholics could learn a thing or two from them in the realm of evangelism.

 

[Church_Militant]

I can agree with the caveat that we do it more personally and kindly. I have encountered so many n-Cs who were anything but.

I had one guy tell me that I was “too smart to believe all this Catholic stuff”, which made me smile for that appeal to my ego.

I am one of those Catholics who loves to talk about the faith and share it with others. I agree that many n-Cs have a system that works for them and a zeal that we could do to acquire.

There are a lot of different ways to share the faith, and living it is definitely the first priority, because without that…it’s just talk…noise.

There are a number of very good articles that I can recommend.

• HOW YOU CAN WIN CONVERTS (This Rock: March 1996)
• Winning New Converts
• Friendship: The Key to the Evangelization of Men

I use a number of different Grotto Press Tracts and Our Sunday Visitor’s Tracts and have a growing correspondence ministry to Catholic inmates. I’m also a big fan of my friend John Martignoni’s Bible Christian Society and love to share his MP3 messages on CDs.

I believe that many Catholics are changing and growing into the New Evangelization that the Popes have often spoken of, and I’m a firm believer in counter-evangelization which helps to put an end to the efforts to proselytize Catholics away from our most holy faith.

There have always been Catholics who share their faith, but I think that today that number is growing as more and more of us have discovered the study of our faith and apologetics, which helps inspire confidence to do so.

 

[Koineman]

I have spoken to many Catholics recently on the topic of evangelizing. I was met at each instance with responses like " we don’t bash people over the head with the bible. ",

You might be surprised how many evangelicals use the same excuse.

“We don’t ‘door knock’ like those protestants.” Or my favorite… “Always preach the gospel, and if necessary use words”… ( I hate that last ‘quote’ ! )

So do I. It’s like saying, “Give out your phone number. Use digits if necessary.”

I say, always preach the gospel, and walk the talk !

Amen!

 

[AmbroseSJ]

CreekCrawler:

Or my favorite… “Always preach the gospel, and if necessary use words”… ( I hate that last ‘quote’ ! ) I say, always preach the gospel, and walk the talk !

I believe it was St. Francis of Assisi that gave that advice to his monks.

 

[Koineman]

I believe it was St. Francis of Assisi that gave that advice to his monks.

It’s attributed to him, but I think that hasn’t ever been proven.