Help with a co worker who is anti Catholic

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mikie11b

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I am a recent convert to Catholicism. I have never felt closer to God than now. I have friends and family who are almost all Protestants and I can usually have a conversation with them and explain my reasons for convert to the Church. I now find myself working with a guy who is a Christian and hates the Church. He will suddenly ask a question, and then any answer I give him is false because the Church teaches it. He says tradition is wrong, scripture alone is the only way. I explain that the Bible says to hold on to scripture and tradition, and that the Bible we know didn’t come around for 3 or 400 years afterwards. He says that is a lie. He says the council of nicea was not Catholic, that Catholicism started with Constantine. Any point I bring up is just a lie. Should I just ignore him? I cannot get even a word in half the time.
 
Simply tell him that based on past conversations, he doesn’t seem to have an open mind to Catholicism, nor has he been respectful of your faith, and you would prefer to not discuss the subject any more at work because you’re finding his constant arguments to be a distraction from the work you’re there to do. Tell him that if he really wants to seriously discuss Catholicism, with respect and an open mind, you will meet him for coffee or dinner outside of working hours, but you’re no longer going to discuss this with him at work.

And then don’t discuss it with him any more. If he badgers you, end the conversation and walk away.
 
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Thank you. That is what I was thinking I needed to do. I am just so excited (really) about my journey I hate to not explain the whole Catholic experience that I have had. I appreciate the advice and will take it.
 
Yeah, just pray for this guy. The fact that he’s so bothered by your Catholicism suggests he is in need of prayers. Welcome Home mikie11b and I hope you continue to be enthusiastic about being a Catholic.
 
mikie11b said:
I now find myself working with a guy who is a Christian and hates the Church. He will suddenly ask a question, and then any answer I give him is false because the Church teaches it. He says tradition is wrong, scripture alone is the only way. I explain that the Bible says to hold on to scripture and tradition, and that the Bible we know didn’t come around for 3 or 400 years afterwards. He says that is a lie. He says the council of nicea was not Catholic, that Catholicism started with Constantine. Any point I bring up is just a lie. Should I just ignore him? I cannot get even a word in half the time.
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Is this during work time? If so, it could be against company policy.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
And then don’t discuss it with him any more. If he badgers you, end the conversation and walk away.
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And just to add, going to HR if he refuses to drop the discussion is also a possibility. Personally, I’d try showing clear intent to avoid the conversation before going to HR, but being harassed about your religious beliefs by coworkers is within HR’s responsibilities.
 
There is a very good book that addresses the issues you mentioned called Unintended Reformation: How a Religious Revolution Secularized Society by Brad S. Gregory but, from what you said about him, I don’t think he will read it.

I know how you feel. I work for county government in a position that deals with the public and many, if not most of the people I work and interact with are not only anti-Catholic, but anti-Christian. It’s very difficult, to say the least since the topic comes up a lot and I’m not articulate or courageous enough to defend my faith, especially considering the limited amount of time I have to respond, maybe a minute or two, if that. On the few occasions when I do say something, they always throw the sex-abuse scandal, the crusades, the inquisition, in my face, as if that sums up the Catholic religion…or the right-winged evangelicals/flyover states who they claim are responsible for everything that’s wrong with this country. What’s more is that they would never disparage or insult any other religion: Islam, Hindu, Jewish, etc. the way they belittle Christianity/Christians/Catholics or the Catholic religion.

I feel very guilty for not standing up to them especially since I’ve spent almost 20 years reading and researching in pursuit of the Truth–so obviously absent in our day and age–which has led me to the belief that the only answer to all of our problems is true Catholicism. Although I’ve always believed in Jesus Christ, it took me almost 20 years to believe in the One True Church, so how can I sum up everything I’ve learned in one to two minutes.
 
First of all, congratulations to your conversion! I’m a convert from Protestant faith, too. Sadly, many people in my Protestant church have rejected me because I am now a Catholic. The main reasons for them to reject my conversion was common misconceptions of the Catholic faith- such as that we “worship Mary and the Saints”. I believe the reason why your friend is so against the Catholic Church is because of the misconceptions he has about the Catholic Church. Although both Protestants and Catholics are Christians, but due to the differences among their view of Christianity than what we believe, this creates division. I had a friend who was also not convinced of my beliefs and said that “all you believe is wrong”- so I understand how devastated you are!

I would say, continue to show him the love of Jesus Christ and follow the steps of Saints who approached non-believers with love and kindness, but tell him to be respectful of your beliefs as all believers of Jesus Christ are Christians. Also, I suggest to pray for him so that he will be able to respect you and is willing to know about the Catholic Church.

Also, I think it might be against your company’s rules to disrespect one’s religion during work…it’s bothering someones work time, and he could be charged with the law (I don’t know where you live, but I’m just generally speaking North America) for bothering you with issues about one’s own respective religion.

I’m praying for you.
Pax Christi!

Michelle
 
This is a great idea. I pray the rosary daily, but have never done that.
 
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