How many friends have you lost this year because they can't stand that you're a faithful Catholic?

[acacia12]

That Christ is risen thing/hostility to Crucifix of course comes from knee-jerk historical hostility to Catholicism from Reformation times. I bought a crucifix once and the jeweler told me about a time someone had brought one in because the body of Christ had fallen off and he refused to fix it. I didn’t say anything because I was confused and taken by surprise. Now I wish I had said with St. Paul, “I resolve to know among you only Christ, and Him crucified.” That’s what I’m going to try to remember to say the next time!

I will remember that quote. Thank you so much.
I have been given books my protestant friends to read. I have said thank you, but I have never read them because all I want to do is read Catholic books. I refused to let myself be confused and swayed. I have a lot to learn and believe that I will only learn the TRUTH from the Catholic Church.

 

[jmjconder]

**Friends??? Not bothered by this. If they are my true friend we do not part ways due to religion…I have one great one!

The ones that hurt the most is family. I have lost family memebers as a source of support due to my Catholic faith. These are family that I could always rely on for support and I no longer can share with them the cross I carry. Hard - very hard.

Firends??? Replaceable…Family?? Not so. **

 

[ProdigalSon1211]

I think I may have lost one. I’ve done my absolute best not to pick fights with anyone, but this has been a year when one has to witness to the truth. There’s just too much at stake. Some feel offended no matter how tactful or diplomatic I try to be. I hold no ill will, but it’s painful to me to lose any friendship. I’ll forgive, I’ll pray for their best good in life, and though I might not miss any tensions there might’ve been from time to time, I’ll miss the good times, the fun, the shared interests, the laughter.

And I’ve tried to put out there the option for some friends of “let’s not argue, let’s just focus on the things we do enjoy in common.” It’s still not enough for some. At least I didn’t get yelled at or cussed out, which is something to be grateful for.

Wondering if I’ll lose more friends as the election draws near, and the culture wars continue to heat up. No matter how delicate I try to be.

Anyone relate?

I took a religion class last year and one of the essay questions on the final was, “Do you think religion brings us closer to people or does it break people apart?” I guess you can say I am serious about being Catholic. I know a lot of people who are Catholics but don’t take it seriously. Most of them sadly to say are cafeteria Catholics. Most of my cafeteria Catholic friends kind of look down on my views. I get some negative comments but I pray for my friends. There is a battle between faithful Catholics and cafeteria Catholics.

 

[3DOCTORS]

**Friends??? Not bothered by this. If they are my true friend we do not part ways due to religion…I have one great one!

The ones that hurt the most is family. I have lost family memebers as a source of support due to my Catholic faith. These are family that I could always rely on for support and I no longer can share with them the cross I carry. Hard - very hard.

Firends??? Replaceable…Family?? Not so. **

I feel your pain, though to a lesser degree. My extended family are in various degrees of drift from the Faith - even the elders - and I end up in the position of the religious freak, also I feel the absence of a kindred spirit that is family… I am thankful for my good Catholic friends, though. :grouphug:

 

[jilly4ski]

I took a religion class last year and one of the essay questions on the final was, “Do you think religion brings us closer to people or does it break people apart?” I guess you can say I am serious about being Catholic. I know a lot of people who are Catholics but don’t take it seriously. Most of them sadly to say are cafeteria Catholics. Most of my cafeteria Catholic friends kind of look down on my views. I get some negative comments but I pray for my friends. There is a battle between faithful Catholics and cafeteria Catholics.

I think this is right, it is sometimes easier to be friends with atheists, agnostics, protestants, and non-Christians, than it is to be really close friends with “cafeteria” Catholics. I think because you expect to have something deeply in common (ones faith) but it turns out not to be the case. So it is hard to overcome that because outwardly you have it in common, as you both profess to have the same faith, even though once you actually talk to them you don’t.

Of course the explosion of anonymous internet comment boxes, and even facebook have given some people a filter to be real pieces of work. So this includes all the groups above.

 

[mommyof4]

I can’t say that I have lost any friends or family, but some relationships have been strained due to our differences over gay marriage issues. Overall, many of my family members are somewhat confused and even dismayed over my husband’s decision to become a deacon, and my nephew’s decision to become a priest. Who would have thought that being a practicing Catholic would be so difficult in an Irish Catholic family?

 

[Gordon_Sims]

Who would have thought that being a practicing Catholic would be so difficult in an Irish Catholic family?

I can sympathize entirely. I come from a similar background, with everyone in my family being cradle Catholics, although most have “graduated” to some degree of cafeteria Catholic. A lot of the hate and negativity we’ve gotten from my family has been due to their perceptions about our behaviors and beliefs and not due to anything we’ve actually said or done. Some of the choices we’ve made (not drinking, etc.) have had nothing to do with our faith, but they make the assumption that they do which causes them to not only get angry at us because of whatever the choice is, but also because they assume it’s a “ridiculous” religious thing on our part. However, the things that breed the most animosity are those things that are clearly religious, or things we do that we defend at least partially from a faith-based viewpoint.

 

[mommyof4]

I can sympathize entirely. I come from a similar background, with everyone in my family being cradle Catholics, although most have “graduated” to some degree of cafeteria Catholic. A lot of the hate and negativity we’ve gotten from my family has been due to their perceptions about our behaviors and beliefs and not due to anything we’ve actually said or done. Some of the choices we’ve made (not drinking, etc.) have had nothing to do with our faith, but they make the assumption that they do which causes them to not only get angry at us because of whatever the choice is, but also because they assume it’s a “ridiculous” religious thing on our part. However, the things that breed the most animosity are those things that are clearly religious, or things we do that we defend at least partially from a faith-based viewpoint.

Are you sure we’re not in the same family? It sounds a lot like us!

 

[SurlyMermaid]

I find this thread about an hour after discovering yet another friend has dumped me from Facebook and sends me a curt message about being “unable to see a future in our friendship, online or off.” The Chick-Fil-A controversy seemingly a final straw for many. Today she noticed several weeks ago I “checked in” at the restaurant. Oh, boo!

Many of my Pagan/Atheist/Wiccan/GLBT/Unitarian/pro-choice buddies are still around and tolerant of me. Some of my conservative gang left a while back for me being “too liberal.” You just can’t win.

 

[3DOCTORS]

I find this thread about an hour after discovering yet another friend has dumped me from Facebook and sends me a curt message about being “unable to see a future in our friendship, online or off.” The Chick-Fil-A controversy seemingly a final straw for many. Today she noticed several weeks ago I “checked in” at the restaurant. Oh, boo!

Many of my Pagan/Atheist/Wiccan/GLBT/Unitarian/pro-choice buddies are still around and tolerant of me. Some of my conservative gang left a while back for me being “too liberal.” You just can’t win.

Ain’t that the truth.

 

[Rhuarc]

I have a friend who was baptized into the church 6 years ago but left and just refuses to come back. Actually told me he was faking it all because he thought it was him. I always remind him he was baptized and there is no faking that. He is just way too caught up in eastern philosophies, Ghandi, and has told me of many occasions of his many lucid dreams and the demons he has encountered. I don’t pray for him as much as I should but one, after knowing truth, has to be held accountable for their own actions. I pray someday he comes home.

God willing he will turn full circle back home like I did. You can chase after new age and feel like you have found the holy grail. But it is a sham, human, self-serving, and it tries to self justify. You can chase after the East but you will be mired in a thick, thick syrup of polytheism. You know it is bad when someone can have a religion but be an atheist and so it is with the east. If the people over there can’t decide who is the end all be all maker of the heaven and earth they don’t have a leg to stand on theologically.

I would tell your friend to think about Christ’s suffering. To think about his DEEP love for each of us as an individual. I like to put it this way that even if someone was the only person in the world the Lord would still allow Himself to be nailed to the cross even if that person still rejected Him.