How should I handle this?

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Clairdelune_89

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I’m not sure if this is the right place for this or not, sorry if it isn’t! :o

I’m having a big problem. I’m a Catholic convert who attends/lives at a Southern Baptist university in south carolina. I live with 3 southern baptist girls.

Here’s the problem:
A guy friend of mine who claims he wants to become Catholic (currently episcopalian) carries his rosary everywhere, a book of prayer and the bible. He labels himself as Catholic, even though he isnt. He has a nasty habit of lashing out at protestants (even my room mates!). Last night he was on the phone with me, and he told me to hand the phone to my protestant room mate. He proceded to talk down to her, stating that " there’s no way she’s getting to heaven", " your church is inferior because it doesn’t have a solid gold tabernacle" “it doesn’t have an expensive-top of the line altar” “your service is not in latin, so you have no hope.” and so- on. :eek: and as a result, it made my friends have a more negative view of catholicism. I’ve been trying to influence them by leading a good example of what a Catholic should be, and they even prayed the Rosary with me once, but I’m afraid my episcopal friend has shut them down on Catholicism for good.
The worst problem is that I’ve discovered that he doesn’t believe in some very central Catholic ideas, such as priestly celibacy, he’s in favor of women priests, he’s fine with abortion :eek: and birth control. AND HE TOOK COMMuNION LAST WEEK AT A CATHOLIC CHuRCH!!! I did tell him NOT to ever do that unless you are in a state of grace and have been initiated into the Catholic Church. Yet he took it anyway! I showed him the biblical passages about having to prepare yourself before you receive the eucharist, and it didn’t seem to impact him at all. I have also found out that he is going to the Catholic sacrament of Reconcilliation!!

Clearly I’m going to have to talk to him, but how can I be charitable when I am so outraged at what he has done! What can I do? Please help me. This cannot go unchecked. I’m afraid he might profane the Body and Blood of Jesus again!
 
He is being guided by The Liar not by The Holy Spirit that’s for certain.I would go immediately to the Catholic church where he received and tell the priest.If nothing else he must be stopped from attempting to receive Holy Communion again.I’d also include prayers to St Michael the Archangel in my daily routine.

And all of you are now in my prayers.This is a SERIOUS situation!
 
Maybe you can have the priest talk to him. I think he sounds a little loosely tied IYKWIM, and you should probably let someone else deal with him until he’s better.
 
Thanks for the advice. The problem is that he goes to the Catholic center at the university of south carolina, and I’m about 2 hours from where he is. however, I’m planning on calling the priest and alerting him to the situation. This cannot be allowed to continue. If the priest does nothing, I have no problems going down there and bodily stopping him. I wish I knew another catholic on his campus who would be willing to help. All I can do now is call the priest and hope for the best. Please pray for this guy, as he REALLY needs it! :nope:
 
He definately needs to learn Catholic Church teaching, and the next time he asks you to hand the phone to someone, tell him NO.
He sure has no business doing what he is doing.
 
I’ve been thinking about you and praying for all of you today.Perhaps you would want to add this information over at the Prayer Thread.

I’m very surprised that you haven’t received more replies.Where is everybody???🤷
 
Mammalama,

thanks so much for your prayers. I’m going to add him to the prayer list, as he defininitely needs it. I’ve tried contacting him and haven’t had any luck yet. 😦
 
update:
I messaged my “friend” on facebook. He hasn’t replied so far, but my message has been read. A second ago,
He changed his facebook status to " I have offended people with his orthodoxy. At least I’m doing something right" :mad: :eek:

Please pray for this guy! He needs some serious help. I’m calling his priest ASAP and informing him of the situation. He clearly doesn’t care that he’s profaning the Body and Blood of Christ! I’m so upset!
 
Clairdelune_89 said:
I’m not sure if this is the right place for this or not, sorry if it isn’t! :o

I’m having a big problem. I’m a Catholic convert who attends/lives at a Southern Baptist university in south carolina. I live with 3 southern baptist girls.

Here’s the problem:
A guy friend of mine who claims he wants to become Catholic (currently episcopalian) carries his rosary everywhere, a book of prayer and the bible. He labels himself as Catholic, even though he isnt. He has a nasty habit of lashing out at protestants (even my room mates!). Last night he was on the phone with me, and he told me to hand the phone to my protestant room mate. He proceded to talk down to her, stating that " there’s no way she’s getting to heaven", " your church is inferior because it doesn’t have a solid gold tabernacle" “it doesn’t have an expensive-top of the line altar” “your service is not in latin, so you have no hope.” and so- on. :eek: and as a result, it made my friends have a more negative view of catholicism. I’ve been trying to influence them by leading a good example of what a Catholic should be, and they even prayed the Rosary with me once, but I’m afraid my episcopal friend has shut them down on Catholicism for good.
The worst problem is that I’ve discovered that he doesn’t believe in some very central Catholic ideas, such as priestly celibacy, he’s in favor of women priests, he’s fine with abortion :eek: and birth control. AND HE TOOK COMMuNION LAST WEEK AT A CATHOLIC CHuRCH!!! I did tell him NOT to ever do that unless you are in a state of grace and have been initiated into the Catholic Church. Yet he took it anyway! I showed him the biblical passages about having to prepare yourself before you receive the eucharist, and it didn’t seem to impact him at all. I have also found out that he is going to the Catholic sacrament of Reconcilliation!!

Clearly I’m going to have to talk to him, but how can I be charitable when I am so outraged at what he has done! What can I do? Please help me. This cannot go unchecked. I’m afraid he might profane the Body and Blood of Jesus again!
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You may be dealing with an Anglo-Catholic. An Episcopal who believes that the High-Episcopal Church is part of the Catholic Church. Many do tend to be highly traditional. Explain to your roomates that his views are not the views of the Catholic Church, and that you would be happy to explain why if they are interested.

Tell him to “back-off” and quit talking to your roomates in that manner. Actually to stop talking to your roomates period. That he is to follow the rules of the Catholic Church regarding the reception of the Sacraments or you will no longer attend Mass with him. You can offer to introduce him to the pastor who can explain this to him.
 
Anglo-Catholic??They don’t attend Catholic Mass do they?Boy.I sure am confused.:confused:
 
mammallama said:
Anglo-Catholic??They don’t attend Catholic Mass do they?Boy.I sure am confused.:confused:
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Sometimes they do view themselves as Catholic and therefore able to receive any Catholic Sacraments in any Catholic Church.
 
First things first:
  1. I’d offer some form of reparation on his behalf for profaning the Blessed Sacrament. Make a Holy Hour, do some form of fasting this Friday, say a Rosary for this intention.
  2. Deal with your roommates. Your “friend” is far enough away right now that he’s not a daily issue. Make it very clear that the word “Catholic” means “universal” and if someone claims to be Catholic, yet denies Church dogma and doctrine, he is not practicing his Catholicism. Let them know that if they ever have any questions about Catholicism, you’d be more than happy to provide answers or point them in the direction of resources for those answers. Then apologize profusely for ever letting your “friend” speak to your roommate in such a manner.
  3. Explain to your “friend” Catholic teaching on those who are not in full communion (no matter if they THINK they are) with the Church receiving the Eucharist. Explain to your friend if he wishes to come into full communion with the Church you fully support him, then back off. Your “friend” sounds a wee bit addled, and other than praying for him, I can’t think of anything you’re going to do to help him.
 
My son lives in England and there are Churches like St. Michael’s Catholic Church which are Anglo-Catholic. I think they are called High Church, a form of the Anglican church which has a liturgy and practice very close to that of the Roman Catholic Church. My son says one has to be very careful to pick the right Church when traveling about. It is not always obvious.

This young man sounds like he has a bit of a mental problem. I would avoid him and alert the Priest at his University as to what’s going down and let him deal with it. Having informed the proper authorities, in my opinion, it is no longer your problem. Your nattering at him is not likely to wreak much if any change; perhaps even increase the problem. 🙂
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
You may be dealing with an Anglo-Catholic. An Episcopal who believes that the High-Episcopal Church is part of the Catholic Church. Many do tend to be highly traditional. Explain to your roomates that his views are not the views of the Catholic Church, and that you would be happy to explain why if they are interested.

Tell him to “back-off” and quit talking to your roomates in that manner. Actually to stop talking to your roomates period. That he is to follow the rules of the Catholic Church regarding the reception of the Sacraments or you will no longer attend Mass with him. You can offer to introduce him to the pastor who can explain this to him.
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👍 Don’t try to track this guy. It’s for your own safety. My dad was a traditional Catholic… I mean really traditionalist. Very similar beliefs. Dad was a bit wacco too. Stay away. Make a new friend and distance yourself from this guy. Tell your room dogs that he is not really Catholic and why.
 
He does consider himself “anglo-catholic” but he told me he was going to be initiated into an Anglican- use parish (one who has come to Rome). It ended up being a lie. Yes, I have been praying for him profusely.I’m making a Novena to St. Michael on his behalf and have been praying the rosary and the chaplet of divine mercy. I did let my room mates know the difference between us, and they were very understanding. I have decided to distance myself from him, like you all recommend, because I truly do think he has lost it. 😦

Thanks so much for everyone’s advice. It means a lot. I’m really happy that CA forums are here in times like these.👍
 
Your friend sounds very confused. Forgive me for asking, but does he suffer from a mental illness? I ask because it is highly unusual that an individual would behave like this. I mean, he’s not even Catholic! And he can’t be called a “traditional Catholic” because the extreme trads don’t support the idea of female priests.

I suggest you contact his priest and let him know. After you’ve done this, it’s up to the priest. You have done all you could.

You should stress the fact that he is not a Catholic to your room mates. Just tell them to ignore him because he’s obviously confused. I wonder where he got these strange ideas, or beliefs from?
 
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