How should we feel about Protestants?

[RachelB]

I think that we must guard ourselves agains the heresies contained in protestant doctrines. And dont fool yourselves- they are in error, in many ways. If they werent in error, they would still be Catholic.

Try saying that to someone who was raised Baptist, who’s grandfather and great-grandfather were Baptists ministers. “Hey, if you weren’t in error, you would still be a Catholic!”

lol

What you’re saying is probably true on a denominational level, but it has no practical application for evangelizing a cradle-protestant (for lack of a better term) who loves Jesus with all their heart and doesn’t even know what *apostolic succession *means.

If you won’t acknowledge their relationship with Jesus as real, albeti flawed, Christianity, you will never reach them for the Church.

On the other hand, what you’re saying is true - if you care at all about evangelizing Protestants, you’d better be armed with a strong knowledge of your Faith and the scripture. I think maybe that’s what you mean, anyway. God bless!

 

[Abira]

As for catholics not accosting you by selling their beliefs we don’t exactly go for that door to door missionary stuff. Instead we wait for them to come to our’s

Do you think that they will come to your door?

The numbers of people attending church is in decline and I think that the reason Christianity was called to spread the word is because people don’t go knocking on doors.

S

 

[lak611]

Abira, I agree that catholics should do more to spread the faith. And I also agree that it should be done in a friendly manner. I certainly try to communicate my faith, and the fullness of truth present in the Catholic Church.

As for catholics not accosting you by selling their beliefs we don’t exactly go for that door to door missionary stuff. Instead we wait for them to come to our’s

Catholig

A Catholic parish in my neighbourhood actually did send their parishoners door-to-door to evangelize a couple of years ago.

 

[Abira]

A Catholic parish in my neighbourhood actually did send their parishoners door-to-door to evangelize a couple of years ago.

did it work?

It tends to annoy me… but then if I got a Catholic instead of a Jehovas witness I’d probably have more questions. I guess the person going door to door had better know their stuff.

S

 

[jmcrae]

At our parish we have various ecumenical ministries, and we invite Protestants to come and help out with these ministries. (Food-bank, Inn from the Cold, and lunch-bus type stuff - no explicit doctrines that we wouldn’t share with them, it’s a lot more of love one another and be good to the poor, etc.)

It’s interesting that a lot of these Protestants also come to RCIA, when they find out about it, usually because of something kind that the priest said to them, that made them feel welcomed.

I think that a lot of Protestants are interiorly attacted to the Catholic Church, and once they find a reason to do so that makes sense to their friends and family, they don’t hesitate to become Catholic.

 

[on_fire]

the first thing we as Catholics need to do is educate our own members.I am amazed at the lack of knowledge cradle Cathiolics have.(I was one of them also)but through reading the Church Fathers and going to sites like CA and others i have grown in knowledge and faith to a point I can explain church teachings to non Catholics with assurance and confidence.Thats where we must get the message out to !!!

 

[lak611]

did it work?

I don’t know. I found out about it because it was in the newspaper.

 

[francesco920]

1. Interiorly: glad that they seek God.
2. Interiorly: alarmed that they may propagate error.
3. Exteriorly: enthusiastic that they pray to God.

They’re not all mutually exclusive, so 3 of the 4 apply for me.

I agree. I voted the same way.

 

[JoeyWarren]

What do you mean by interiorly and exteriorly?

 

[mdstanzel]

Coming from an evangelical protestant background and reverting to Catholicism, [confusing, I know.] Catholics should be ecumenical in that enough Protestants believe in what they preach. However, on another level they struggle too. They have issues with many messed up applications of scripture. The more educated evangelicals end up caught in family preservation of their life long faith and dare not leave for fear of being cut off from their families. Family that fear losing their children to even another Protestant group instill false teachings about what others believe to maintain their line of defense for their faith. That’s why you hear so much anti-Catholic rhetoric. They’ve heard of others discovering the ancient Church documents and converting to Catholicism or Orthodox. They fear that their children/families will fall into error and end up in hell. oops, baby just woke up.

 

[guanophore]

Some Protestants protest (sorry) strongly against relativism. I realize that in a way they contribute to it but they do fight some aspects of it.

But how does it follow, in any case, that we need to be indifferent? For example, if, as you say, we must open a dialog with them, how does indifference help? If someone is indifferent to you, are you more likely to take an interest in what they have to say?

Can you give me some sample sentences?

I strongly suggest that you familiarize yourself with the tools provided on this website. Most of the Protestant Objections fall in to major categories that you can find good responses for here on the Catholic Answers library and apologetics sections. If you are well equipped about your faith, you will be much more prepared to get into these types of discussions.

 

[ethant]

Maybe I’m too simplistic at times but I honestly feel that we all have the opportunity as christians to know and follow the truth. Protestantism has a fundamental dead end to it that can’t be overlooked and that would be the issue of authority. To some people this would seem as no big deal but to me it’s the difference between life and death. I was raised Catholic but decided as a young adult to disobey the authority of the church and I ended up living as the prodigal son. I was brought to my knees by following my own authority. By the grace of God I’m able to receive Jesus Christ in the Eucharist every day. I refused that gift for so long because I became blind and chose my own way. I won’t judge others’ hearts but I only hope people see where their disobedience lies and root it out. It’s all I can do to keep myself obdedient.

I believe more and more in what St. Francis of Assisi said about preaching the gospel and when necessary use words (paraphrase). I don’t argue, the Holy Spirit will do the work of conversion and I can be an example hopefully.

 

[helly]

Are they in error subjectively? By this I mean, do they inwardly know that they are in error? I have often thought that they do know, that they have a nagging conscience somewhere that human respect dissuades them from acknowledging. But, they nonetheless have all sorts of enthusiasm for Jesus Christ and the Bible, or what they have of the Bible.

I’m not Catholic yet so I don’t really have a fully rounded answer, but before I started actually learning about Catholicism I had absolutely no idea that I could be in error. I saw nothing wrong with being Protestant and figured that it was closer to the truth than Catholicism. There was enthusiasm, there was love and passion. There was no nagging conscience that I was doing something wrong.

It may be different for others, but please don’t assume that Protestants are deliberating trying to ignore truth.

The question is, how, in a relationship, does one build on that? I have always sort of avoided the matter, or tried to provide them with Catholic literature. Frankly this approach is not successful for me. I think they resent it. They believe their faith is sincere, and they in many cases have invested a lot of time in it.

Just talk to them regularly and build a relationship. It may not work to try and convert them right off the bat because they’ll be wanting to do the same to you. The biggest thing that got me was sincerity - I had no idea that there were any Catholics who actually cared about their faith. Honestly (and I mean no offense), it appeared to be a dead religion. I had no idea that it was genuine and alive, and it’s likely that whoever you’re befriending has no idea either. Also, your biggest challenge won’t necessarily be in getting them to believe the Catholic teachings, but could instead simply be to get them to view the Church in something other than a negative light.

Talk to them about what you believe and why you believe it. Prove that you’re not Catholic just because that’s how you were brought up. Tell them that you’re Catholic for a reason, rather than by default. Try not to start with the things they won’t be able to swallow to begin with (purgatory, Mary, papal authority etc… you know the ones) but instead talk about the things that your faith and theirs have in common. This will be a lot more reassuring and won’t set them on the defensive. They’ll be more willing to listen and learn.

I hope this helps.

 

[Other_Eric]

Why is there no selection for exterior alarm that such a person may spread error?

 

[ctos]

Other Eric:

Ne vous decrotez pas le nez avec l’extremité du cannon d’un revolver armeé.

“Don’t stick your nose down the end of a loaded revolver”??
Other Eric:

Why is there no selection for exterior alarm that such a person may spread error?

The likely reason why I didn’t include that is simply because it is so unproductive to exhibit exterior alarm about someone’s faith. Everyone just assumes that such an ‘alarmist’ is loony. I guess a certain kind of personality could pull it off successfully, but I think most people don’t think of it as a productive avenue.

So tell me: Have you had any success with this method? How many people have you brought into RCIA with this method? How many people have tracked you down after your exterior alarm and said, “You know, it was you who showed me that I was in need of taking better stock of Christianity”?

 

[Sixtus]

I refuse to vote

At least I am honest.

How can I vote seeings I am Roman Catholic and Roman Catholics were the first Protestants

 

[Abira]

I refuse to vote

At least I am honest.

How can I vote seeings I am Roman Catholic and Roman Catholics were the first Protestants

I don’t understand that!..lol

signed, puzzed protestant

 

[Abira]

actually don’t answer me sixtus…i’ll spy on the thread you just started regarding this lol

 

[ctos]

What about confirming someone in their sin? This is not permitted. Protestants don’t have the same beliefs Catholics have about things like divorce, ‘living together’, abortion, and so forth. When we spend time with a Protestant, what’s a good way to build up the relationship without failing to acknowledge the truth?

I think the answer must be that if we start immediately lecturing, or start informing them that the Church teaches that divorce is morally evil, then the chances of rapport go dramatically down. Whereas, if the relationship is built up in some way, we may eventually discover an inroad by which to make a favorable showing for the Faith. They may then make further discoveries. The objective, perhaps, is to build a rapport based on what we have in common, without giving in to human respect and without confirming someone in sin.

But it seems that the people who advocate a more strident approach have no success to report.

 

[helly]

What about confirming someone in their sin? This is not permitted. Protestants don’t have the same beliefs Catholics have about things like divorce, ‘living together’, abortion, and so forth. When we spend time with a Protestant, what’s a good way to build up the relationship without failing to acknowledge the truth?

Hey! Not all Protestants think divorce is okay, that living together before marriage (I’m assuming that’s what you meant) is acceptable, or that abortion is an answer. In fact I think (and hope) that most have the same, or at least a very similar view as Catholics do about these things.

The objective, perhaps, is to build a rapport based on what we have in common…

My thoughts exactly. This is what’s been doing it for me.