How to Speak to militant Protestants

[Friend_Of_Rome]

A few weeks past, i was carrying on correspondence with a Baptist gentleman, and when he found out I was catholic he sent me an email saying, “You’re going to hell, don’t write to me anymore.” i didn’t, but i felt that my numerous previous emails of apologetics hadn’t made a dent. I spoke with someone about this, my vocations mentor, and he said that most Protestants who are militant and aggressive are doing so through a lack of faith and understanidng, and are acting more on emotions than logic. What are your thoughts?

 

[mikeledes]

You should pray for him. If he no longer wants to talk to you, he probably won’t read any of your material. However, not all militant Protestants are the same.

God bless,
Michael

 

[dal11]

You might write him again and ask him as a christian dosen’t he have a responsibility to try and save you. Then why can’t we talk anymore? Please can we dialog?

 

[Gamera]

Based on this information, my vote would be to respect his wishes and refrain from further contact with him. People have a right to be left alone.

Sorry that this happened to you. Remember not to hold this person’s rudeness against other Protestants — every barrel, including ours, contains a few bad apples. Other Protestants (even other anti-Catholic ones) are not responsible for this individual’s rudeness.

Any time you are mistreated for your Catholic faith, remember that it’s a blessing to receive such an honor.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

A few weeks past, i was carrying on correspondence with a Baptist gentleman, and when he found out I was catholic he sent me an email saying, “You’re going to hell, don’t write to me anymore.” i didn’t, but i felt that my numerous previous emails of apologetics hadn’t made a dent. I spoke with someone about this, my vocations mentor, and he said that most Protestants who are militant and aggressive are doing so through a lack of faith and understanidng, and are acting more on emotions than logic. hat are your thoughts?

Wow. I would write him back and say Im sorry you feel that way and I will pray for you and honor your wishes. Leave it at that.

 

[tonyg]

I married a Protestant who’s from a family of fallen away Catholics. All I can say is, “patients is a virtue” good luck!

Tony

 

[MariaG]

Any time you are mistreated for your Catholic faith, remember that it’s a blessing to receive such an honor.

This is a good reminder.

The servant is never greater than the master.

Christ was horribly mistreated. We should expect no less and truly, it IS a blessing when we can unite our suffering with Christ’s.

 

[Reepicheep]

Pray for him, certainly: but I would not write him back. Doing so would be a violation of his clearly stated wishes.

 

[DeFide]

Pray for him, certainly: but I would not write him back. Doing so would be a violation of his clearly stated wishes.

But it might be permissible to send him a note acknowledging that you won’t write him any more, but since you harbor no ill will, you’d be open to discussion again if he wanted to show you the “errors” of your ways and save you from hell out of the motive of love for neighbor and obedience to God’s command to teach all nations.

Leave out the quotation marks, though.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

But it might be permissible to send him a note acknowledging that you won’t write him any more, but since you harbor no ill will, you’d be open to discussion again if he wanted to show you the “errors” of your ways and save you from hell out of the motive of love for neighbor and obedience to God’s command to teach all nations.

Leave out the quotation marks, though.

I agree, send him just one more email, maybe thats all you need to get a conversation going.

The best question you can ask him is “Why am I going to hell?”
From there you will see any misconceptions he has and can plan on responding to those.

 

[Sixtus]

DeFide

but since you harbor no ill will, you’d be open to discussion again if he wanted to show you the “errors” of your ways and save you from hell out of the motive of love for neighbor and obedience to God’s command to teach all nations.

Good suggestion. That way you are not violating his request seeings you are opening up an opportunity for valid dialogue.

Such a response is also reconcilatory. I have done this myself. You may even get an opportunity to witness and put him right on some mistaken beliefs.

More likely though, he will ‘hit you’ with about 10-20 things about Catholicism he absolutely hates. You will be lucky if you get the chance to defend two of them. You also run the serious risk emotional harm. It can be very distressing to hear someone you love very much called ‘a whore’. Are you strong enough for it?

Most likely he will tell you:

  'you are an idol worshipper'
  'we have only one mediator'
  'worshipping the pope is against the 1st commandment'
  'Statues are forbidden by the 1st commandment'
  'A cross is an implement of torture why do you worship it'
  'The bible is all you need'.
  'It is idolatrous to worship a wafer'-that one really stings
  'You worship dead people who you call saints'
  'Every Christian is a saint'
  'Why do popes wear funny hats'?
  'Why do your clergy wear robes and tassles'?
  'Catholics do not read the bible'?
  'Why does the catholic church forbid you to read bible'?
  'Why are bibles banned in catholic churches'?
  'Why do you venerate statues and wafers'?
  'The catholic church is the whore of babylon-stings!
  ' The bible warns against the whore of babylon'
  ' The catholic church teaches false doctrines'
  ' The catholic church teaches things not in the bible'
  ' Why do catholics come out of church and go into a pub'
  'There is no proof in the bible for purgatory'
   etc etc etc

These are some of the questions I was asked. I managed to answer about two of them. The problem is he will be so angry that he will have his agenda and not really be interested in what you have to say, so as you try to answer, he will probably just talk over you and hit you with the next criticism on his list.

Remember you have not asked him to listen but to tell you what he objects to. He will tell you, have no fear of that.

If you want to know more, go to the catholic apologetics and catholic morals sections, Even ask your pp.

If you think you can cope with the emotional assault, go for it. Good luck and please keep us informed.

Tell us when and we shall pray for you, that the Holy Spirit will be with you,