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LittleFlower378
Guest
haha! I don’t know? I heard it from someone else, although I dont remember who?
What I’m saying now isn’t directed at you, ConfusedLucy, but rather I’m using your post as a jump-in point.I don’t think it’s as simple as telling them the truth. They broadly know what the Catholic church teaches but that doesn’t mean they take it seriously or believe it. Obviously I worry about the fate of my secular loved ones but I cant bring them to faith by nagging them.
Are you suggesting a trade? In return, can we get some of the dissatisfied protestants who are actually living Catholic lives?I have a solution to the problem of gays, unwed moms, etc. who are in an awkward position with regard to the CC.
Send them to my Episcopal church and maybe to the Lutherans. We need the numbers, and we’re willing to minister to them where they are.
If it bothers folks that these people then won’t be in the “one, true church,” then just think of us as a spritual half way house.
I’d rather them have some spiritual home than to be kept at arm’s length, and outside looking in.
OK, later in the thread people remarked about how preaching about hellfire would not work. But isn’t part of the problem that people don’t care about the “final things”? Should that not be motivation enough (unless they are too far gone in their cynicism)? It doesn’t necessarily mean that we “finger-wag” about burning in hell (although that could be a backup plan for troublemakers), but simply asking them “where do you plan on spending eternity”? After all, this never stopped people from using this approach on other threads here on CAF to people who are expressing frustration at the futility of playing by the rules (especially in regards to chastity and dating).But first they need to feel there’s a reason to, that the Church is a place they want to come home to.
As a Lutheran, I’d rather send the Tiber-swimmers to you than into the Evangelical swamp.Are you suggesting a trade? In return, can we get some of the dissatisfied protestants who are actually living Catholic lives?
Deal.Are you suggesting a trade? In return, can we get some of the dissatisfied protestants who are actually living Catholic lives?
OK, we agree on this part. How to get people thinking about that will vary person by person and situation by situation. The “ice breakers” will vary depending on how well you know the person as well as how receptive they are. If you are a testosterone filled male in a locker room who is fielding vitriol from someone who is hostile, you may feel freer to engage in confrontation (“are you just trying to rationalize your own lifestyle?”) than if one of your neighbors that you know from dog-walking lets his/her guard down and expresses vulnerability (one can be freer to respond more gently or calmly then).I think there is a need for a process to get some people thinking about final things. With many of the couples I know this just isn’t their priority or even part of their thought process but living well might be, so trying to model a good Catholic relationship could be the start that leads them there.
“And as the trade deadline approaches…”Deal.