Handling anti-Catholic bigotry online or in person

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lovinglight
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
“There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Sadly, he was wrong about that. There are more than a hundred, and they hate the Church knowing it to be the True Church of Christ, and do all they can to undermine and destroy it. They aren’t the little old Baptist ladies at bakery sales who’ve been misinformed, they’re genuine enemies of God and the Church.

When I encounter anti-Catholic nonsense from my family or other people, I just do my best. That’s all I can do other than praying for them.
 
Seriously don’t worry about it. Those who espouse anti-Catholic bigotry are not dust mites to be swept away. They’re confused, quite possibly loonies, and we ought to love them still. However, proper philosophical discourse goes a long way.

“Why?” is a purgatory of a question - for you, and for them. Remember that there is no ‘other’ when it involves your ability to understand a brother. There is only love, only unity, because our experience of the world is just as inferred.
 
The worst is when Protestants state that Catholics aren’t Christians. Thankfully not all Protestants think this. I know a Protestant who rooms with a Catholic. He said he once got asked “What is it like rooming with a Catholic as a Christian?” He just stood there saying, “Uh, pretty normal. We can still talk about Jesus and God since he is a Christian too.”
 
my feeling is that we should seek a truce against “protestants”

the bigger battle (and one that the Catholic Church is losing big time) is against secular humanism, atheism & radical religions who seek to convert by sword

just leave the protestants alone; they are going extinct
 
Last edited:
Lovinglight said:
Online or in person…How do u handle the blatant horrible attacks of untruths, accusations and put downs by pentecostals (and other protestant sects) who think theyre litteral prophets, who hate Jews and the Catholic Church? Ppl who think Jesus wasnt a Jew etc etc etc

I spent literally hours defending the faith online for the benefit of ppl reading the discourse, because i feel its my duty, and because quite frankly it really upset me to hear the vile things they say about the Pope and our Church. This was supposed to be a Christian forum!

I didnt resort to name calling but i did eventually call martin luther a heretic and the reformation evil…in a very angry way. I guess u could say i picked up the mud they were slinging at me and threw it back at them.

How are we supposed to handle ppls bigotry like that? I find most protestants litterally hate Catholicism to varying degress across all denominations.

Why do they hate the Catholic Church so much?
Click to expand...
If they are such persons like you said, then don’t. Leave them alone. There is nothing good coming out of it; you will more likely be frustrated or ended up quarreling with them.

However, if there are audiences, then for their sake you can take that opportunity to explain and clarify of the misunderstanding about Catholicism that the person may has, according to what the subjects are.

You see, people can make judgement and decide for themselves on who has the better argument. Therefore, to be sure you have good facts before you and present them adequately.
 
Last edited:
Lovinglight said:
Online or in person…How do u handle the blatant horrible attacks of untruths, accusations and put downs by pentecostals (and other protestant sects) who think theyre litteral prophets, who hate Jews and the Catholic Church?
Click to expand...
Reply with the truth. That usually makes them even angrier. But perhaps you’ll plant a seed.

Keep up the good work!
 
The most anti-Catholic Christians I’ve come across are the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA), especially the more traditional ones. To them, it seems that the Catholic Church is solely to blame for changing the Lords day from Saturday to Sunday. For that, we are all heretics and the pope is anti-christ.

…Seem a little outrageous? Well, it is. And they tend to be very legalistic in their faith.

After dealing with them, I’ve given up defending both the Church and the pope against other Christians. It’s especially never worth debating an SDA. Useless endeavor. :roll_eyes:
 
Last edited:
Fortunately, Christian Forums has far more Catholics than SDA. So for a while, we ganged up on them and reported everytime the bad mouthed Catholicism. After a while, the mods who were sympathetic to the SDA grew tired of dealing with a multitude of reports, so they backed off… Now we don’t have to listen to the hate anymore. 😄
 
I’m a member there, as well. But it seemed a bit slow. Any good topics being discussed lately?
 
It’s hit and miss. I typically stick to news and current events.
 
When it comes to dealing with anti-Catholic’s on-line I generally stay away from the the one’s who ask ignorant questions or statements or are just out to cause as much hatred as they can. if and when I reply to and statement or question its with the purpose of planting the seed especially to those who are just lucking . I know its easy at times to reply in kind to vicious attacks on Catholic beliefs and or the Catholic Church or Pope, but I feel its better to refrain from returning the attacks and just inform of what one believes and let them decide. if they don’t like what is said or disagrees due to hatred, I won’t reply nor will i reply to personal attacks. I just pick and choose which posts to reply to and leave the rest alone.
 
Last edited:
Unfortunately there are hardcore Catholics who act just like this toward Protestants too. Though I concede many are converts from Protestantism. Really makes you wonder what those Evangelicals put in the water or soda pop or coffee and donuts, whatever. It ain’t Christianity. I realize we all sin but we need to try and whiten our black (sinful) hearts so to speak. And those folks get black. I sometimes worry we should be evangelizing them more if we really loved them.

I deal with this too. Online I would not waste much time. I think it is very entertaining and sometimes actually productive to exchange ideas, comments with others on a forum. But if you are hit by a troll, someone who just has it in for the Catholics or the Protestants or whoever, sign off. You are wasting your time. Doesn’t take very long to figure out if the person is really interested in exchanging information or attacking.

With sincere anti-Catholicism, Protestants who really believe all of the slander, I just explain the Church’s position. This happened to me with a Protestant friend recently. She has not touched the subject since. I am not saying you’ll win every time. But I would say stick to your guns, it’s ok if you lose your temper but try not to. Just remember you represent the Church. You are more effective acting like a Catholic (Christian) than talking about being one. I think I got across - ironically - how much better Catholics deal with ugly anti-Catholicism from Protestants than vice versa. We stay respectful, civil. She got it. Could be temporary though.
 
FollowChrist34 said:
Unfortunately there are hardcore Catholics who act just like this toward Protestants too. Though I concede many are converts from Protestantism. Really makes you wonder what those Evangelicals put in the water or soda pop or coffee and donuts, whatever. It ain’t Christianity. I realize we all sin but we need to try and whiten our black (sinful) hearts so to speak. And those folks get black. I sometimes worry we should be evangelizing them more if we really loved them.

I deal with this too. Online I would not waste much time. I think it is very entertaining and sometimes actually productive to exchange ideas, comments with others on a forum. But if you are hit by a troll, someone who just has it in for the Catholics or the Protestants or whoever, sign off. You are wasting your time. Doesn’t take very long to figure out if the person is really interested in exchanging information or attacking.

With sincere anti-Catholicism, Protestants who really believe all of the slander, I just explain the Church’s position. This happened to me with a Protestant friend recently. She has not touched the subject since. I am not saying you’ll win every time. But I would say stick to your guns, it’s ok if you lose your temper but try not to. Just remember you represent the Church. You are more effective acting like a Catholic (Christian) than talking about being one. I think I got across - ironically - how much better Catholics deal with ugly anti-Catholicism from Protestants than vice versa. We stay respectful, civil. She got it. Could be temporary though.
Click to expand...
I am hoping you will kindly explain to me how your comment quoted below upholds your claim that you “stay respectful, civil.”

Quote: “Really makes you wonder what those Evangelicals put in the water, soda pop, or coffee and donuts, whatever. It ain’t Christianity.”

I have trouble processing that, maybe you can help me?
 
bend don’t break; the “anti-catholic” nutjobs in what is left of the “protestant” church are not the problem

secularism, humanism & fundamental religions who seek to convert by sword are a FAR greater threat

EWTN & CA does little or nothing to address these 😦
 
Dear Loving

There are a few things that I would do. First, like Deacon Jeff says, ask a bunch of questions.

Sometimes they make general statements but do not provide specifics. In another thread, a poster said that doctrine and rituals were added to the Church. So I asked him what doctrines and rituals? When the poster responds to my query, I can do some research. But a general statement does not add to the discussion. Make them be specific.

Next, if they say, “The Catholic Church teaches X” (whatever X happens to be) and if you know it is wrong, just ask them “What Catholic document teaches that; what Catholic document did you get that from?” Make them come up with the document. It could be that they are just repeating what they heard from someone else, and there is no Catholic document that teaches X, or they misunderstand the context of the statement. You can correct them if needs be if they misunderstand.

Lastly, I would advise that if they are making you angry, to walk a way from it for a while. Don’t do things in the moment. There is nothing wrong with walking away and coming back to it hours or even days later. That will give you time to do research, or to study what they are saying. I like to respond to posts in this forum better than in a live debate because I tend to be a bit slow sometimes. It might be a day or two before I respond to a post.

I wish you well. Keep up the good work.

Blessings
 
the CA compass is so askew

militant atheists, secular humanists & sword converters are the problem

wake up & smell the coffee…
 
Last edited:
I have to say that yes there are those Catholic’s who are so seemingly hardcore towards Protestants just as those of the fringe protestants who are anti-Catholic. All that does is to add fuel to the fire where each tries to ram down the throats each others opinions as though they are facts without listening to the other, except to distort what each says.

In confronting an anti-Catholic in person its always wise to never answer a question unless they answer yours. if they refuse its best to end it and walk away. On the internet its so much easier to belittle and distort and misrepresent, promote lies etc. because its on line and not in person so they can be disrespectful as one likes in other words easier to hide behind the internet.

For me personally, I like just to inform what I understand. I do not try to convince anyone or try to change their beliefs as that would be fruitless in my opinion. One I believe, can state the Catholic position and understanding and leave the rest to decide if they want to believe it or not. Its not about trying to win over the other but informing with the truth. If someone is really interested in what you have to say and exchanging information all well and good but if not, why waste time with them as one would be better off talking to the wall.
 
Last edited:
Opinions are like noses. Every one has one. I don’t get defensive when people criticize Catholicism. I always laugh when people compare praying (asking) Mary and the saints for help and prayers to God on our behalf as worship of idols.
 
That is what I say after I and the RCC have been described as a cult of Mary worshipers carrying out blood drinking rituals. Oh, and the Pope is the Anti-Christ. And my Church is ‘dead.’ I don’t think one who walks with Christ says these kinds of things to a Catholic. Or believes them. This is what I call ‘hate.’ I honestly cannot remember an occasion in my life where I have made similarly provocative accusations to a Protestant, let alone believed them. Ever. In person or online.
 
Last edited:
FollowChrist34 said:
That is what I say after I and the RCC have been described as a cult of Mary worshipers carrying out blood drinking rituals. Oh, and the Pope is the Anti-Christ. And my Church is ‘dead.’ I don’t think one who walks with Christ says these kinds of things to a Catholic. Or believes them. This is what I call ‘hate.’ I honestly cannot remember an occasion in my life where I have made similarly provocative accusations to a Protestant, let alone believed them. Ever. In person or online.
Click to expand...
I guess I misunderstood. I thought you were saying Evangelicals sure ain’t Christianity. I agree that some Evangelicals leave a lot to be desired but to be fair I have also run into hateful Catholics. It is unfair to swipe all with a wide brush. There are good and bad in both.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top