If Catholicism is the True Church of Christ, Why Are Not Catholics Knocking on Doors?

[rinnie]

I recognize my church’s efforts in spreading the gospel, by knocking on doors as the Jehovah’s Witnesses as well (I have had countless JWs knocking on my door), why if the Catholic church is the true church of Christ are not Catholics knocking on doors and spreading Catholicism?

Are Catholics ashamed of the Roman Catholic church or what? If the rest of the world should be converted to Catholicism, as you profess, why are not the average Catholic not actively spreading Catholicism? Why does it take Catholic.com or other apologists more active in this effort than a typical Catholic?

Because we respect other people, and do not feel the need to try to push our faith on others. As a RC I was always taught to share my faith with others if they ask but never try to push my faith on anyone.

When Jesus left he said to Peter you are Peter and on this rock I will built my Church. Peter was told to build the visible church for all to come. Peter and the APostles have build Church’s all over the world for all to see the way God told them to.

And it looks like Gods idea was the best. Because the word got out. And the Catholic CHruch is still here after 2000 years for all to see. And I didn’t have to leave the porch!

 

[rinnie]

[SIGN][/SIGN]

I don’t disagree here either, but we should be evangalizing because we do have the fullest expression of the truth of god

For a number of years, particularly durring the horrible first few decades after Vatican II durring which the new church document was sorely misunderstood we became terrible at this. [S IGN]We should evangalize.

[/SIGN]

Yes I agree with you. But you know the best way I learned to do it? Live my faith. Try to be as much of a true example of CHrist that I can. And guess what? People will come to you, and ask you how do you have such faith. They come to me all the time and ask me things.

Like why do you have a statue of the Blessed Mother in front of your house? I say because I want to ANd then they LAUGH like crazy. Then they say are you Catholic, and I say what gave it away.

Then they say but isn’t that a false idol? I say what do you mean? What do you think she looked like? Then they laugh again.

Then they say but don’t you pray to her. I say well it depends on what you mean. Do I pray and ask her to pray with me and for me. Yes. Do I think her prayers have alot of power, I say yes. BUt I think yours do too. But I do think she has a little more pull then you. Then they laugh again. I tell them I think she was full of Grace. But I think you are full of other things. Then they really laugh.

But when its all said and done, they can see they can really talk to me, and I can really explain things to them too. Thats my way of doing it. But we all have our ways.

I get alot of depressed people, especially now, with the money and jobs now, and the Holidays. THey say what do you want for Christmas. I say Grace. They say Grace why.

I say well if you have alot of grace you can handle anything. Grace gives you power. power over evil. THen I say I don’t like to waste my time praying for something I am not going to get. They say why. I said because my Dad said God will only give you what you need, not what you want. SO I know I need grace, SO I am gonna get it.

I said my Dad said never pray for money, you won’t get it. If God wants you to have it, it will come anyway. They say OH, SO you never pray for money. I said I never said that, I said my dad said never pray for money God wont give you money he will only give you health and happiness. They said but you pray for money anyway. I say sure, HEY. I never said my Dad knows everything. Just in case! Humor. That my way! ANd it works.

 

[Filioque]

While Bishop Buddy of San Diego did have a door to door campaign for lapsed Catholics, we can’t forget that there are and have been public outreach programs among Catholics for years. Let’s not forget about the Catholic Evidence Guild, (Sure not much has been heard about them since Vatican II) I can remember seeing (even recently) Ads in newspapers and magazines for the free courses that used to be published by the Knights of Columbas, and now I think the Paulists have taken over the adverts. They would send out books with texts, you would take the tests and mail them back in, they would be graded, questions answered, and a new set sent out, giving you instruction. Nowadays they mail out the books, and you can take the tests online, as well as have questions clarified. Two examples, of many that the Catholic Church offers.

 

[crazzeto]

[SIGN][/SIGN][/SIGN]

Yes I agree with you. But you know the best way I learned to do it? Live my faith. Try to be as much of a true example of CHrist that I can. And guess what? People will come to you, and ask you how do you have such faith. They come to me all the time and ask me things.

Normally I would not disagree wtih what you write here (I’m responding mainly to your opening point). Here’s the problem, we’re facing a unique problem. Historically our church is quite used to it’s layaty being immersed in the faith. There was a time when we as catholics, actually knew our faith! It feels like every day, more and more this is less and less the case. People literally don’t know what they have. The don’t understand the real presence, they can’t explain the faith and because of this traditional American Catholics are falling off faster than we’re getting new Catholics (our only source of hope are the Latino Immagrents).

I think that because of this unique new situation, it’s time to take more direct action as the church has in the past. True, I wouldn’t say this is directly compariable to fighting the old heresy’s in the old days, say Southern France c. 1,200AD. Now we’re faceing our seperated breatheren. I think it’s time we started fighting misinformation, and misteaching with more direct evangalization.

 

[rinnie]

[SIGN][/SIGN]

Normally I would not disagree wtih what you write here (I’m responding mainly to your opening point). Here’s the problem, we’re facing a unique problem. Historically our church is quite used to it’s layaty being immersed in the faith. There was a time when we as catholics, actually knew our faith! It feels like every day, more and more this is less and less the case. People literally ]don’t know what they have. T[/SIGN]he don’t understand the real presence, they can’t explain the faith and because of this traditional American Catholics are falling off faster than we’re getting new Catholics (our only source of hope are the Latino Immagrents).

I think that because of this unique new situation, it’s time to take more direct action as the church has in the past. True, I wouldn’t say this is directly compariable to fighting the old heresy’s in the old days, say Southern France c. 1,200AD. Now we’re faceing our seperated breatheren. I think it’s time we started fighting misinformation, and misteaching with more direct evangalization.

Yes I agree, but we are fixing that. Thats alot what Vatican ll is all about. Father just got me to become part of the Pastoral Council at my Church, and we are addressing these problems. And we are going to make progress. But you must remember it took years for People to get laxed in our faith, its gonna take years to get it back.

But hey! We are working on it. ANd we have the Holy SPirit to guide us, and we will succeed. The problem is everyone wants it, but no one wants to take the time. I am number one for it at times. Everytime we leave Church I say to my husband don’t make eye contact with Father, don’t make eye //////////////////Ah too late he got us again

But I am learning I do have time. I will make it if I do not. I have to. I know its what God wants now. But we all gotta do our part. And let me tell you, it takes Alot of time. Trust me it does. I have my Mom to do for, My husband is a only child his Mom, our work and the CHurch. And its hard. Father got my next 6 Sat until Christmas. Maybe more. But its okay. Its for God. But its not easy.

We are all going to have to step up to the plate and take our swing. If not we are not going to have the Church’s we have today. Father is so so busy, He can’t do it all anymore. And no one wants to help.

 

[skiglidu]

I accept with information: The EOC and OOC likewise think that they are respectively the true church of christ, and both also recognize that theosis is a much greater means of spreading the Gospel than door to door proselytism.

 

[wmscott]

Consider Matthew 5, just after the Sermon on the Mount

Matt 5:14-16

14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. 16 Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

 

[thecourt]

Are weddings?

If you are referring to temple weddings, I never said anyone could go into a temple without a temple recommend.

I have gone to number of time weddings, in our churches, and as far I know no one who wanted to attend that they could not do so.

 

[wmscott]

Bravo!!

I do the same thing.

Many of the ones I have done it with, have actually come to Mass. Several have remarked at how beautiful it was, and several stated they learned many of the things they *thought *they new about Catholocism was very much off the mark.

While I don’t think any of them have converted. (They haven’t come through our RCIA if they did) I think it has helped with eccumenical relations in the community.

My thoughts were that they must not have been to secure in their faith.

 

[wmscott]

If you are referring to temple weddings, I never said anyone could go into a temple without a temple recommend.

I have gone to number of time weddings, in our churches, and as far I know no one who wanted to attend that they could not do so.

Can I go to any LDS service at any time without an escort? If not why?

 

[estesbob]

If you are referring to temple weddings, I never said anyone could go into a temple without a temple recommend.

I have gone to number of time weddings, in our churches, and as far I know no one who wanted to attend that they could not do so.

If Catholics not going door to door is , in your opinion, an indication that they are ashamed of their faith does Mormons not allowing outsiders in their Temples an indication they are ashamed of what goes on in there?

 

[Kdesiel]

Even LDS leaders recognize that door-to-door missionary work is very unfruitful. I seem to remember being told that only 1 of 1000 door contacts wound up with someone entering the LDS Church. The better method of evangelization occurs when an LDS member fellowships a non-LDS person. I think Catholic evangelistic work is generally of that nature. It seems to be more successful than LDS efforts – there are many more adults in our area entering the Catholic Church than the LDS Church. I would say there are 20X as many new adult Catholics in my area as there are new adult LDS. So I would say the Catholic Church doesn’t do door-to-door work because it is ineffective. The number of converts who stay Catholic after conversion seems to be higher than the number of LDS converts who remain LDS as well.

I remember that stat as well while attending the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo. Tracting or going Door to Door isn’t a very effective Missionary tool for the very reasons previous posters have stated. I mean when my family and I have just said grace over the dinner and are about to catch up with each other, to hear a knock on the door only to find two missionaries there…it’s a little frustrating.
Referals are the way the LDS church would prefer. They would rather their members befriend a non-member, get them interested, then bring in the missionaries. This is the system that produces the most converts to the Mormon Church.

It was also the great contributions in my local area here that drew my curiosity to the Catholic faith. The Catholics were just so involved with helping the homeless, the battered wives, the orphans, the soup kitchens, the free immunizations for poor families. The medical centers, the centers for people out of work needing to brush up on their skills to make them more viable. When I attended Mass for the first time I noticed it was all about Jesus and it was withheld from no one. All walks of life were there at that Mass, and it was such a feeling of community, I felt as though I had come home from a long trip. It was life changing.
So I would say that Catholics are just a tad better at teaching through example rather than well rehearsed door approaches. Actions speak louder than words, action is the transcendent language, our actions define us more thoroughly than our words ever could.

However when it is dinner time and the Elders show up at my door, I feel for them, I was once a Mormon Missionary, they are always welcome to a hot meal, shade from the heat, discussion about anything, and a place of refuge if needs be.

 

[gmcbroom]

I feel left out. I’ve lived in my neighborhood for around 5 years and only 2 times have religious people come to my door. In each instance they had their Bible in hand asked if I spoke spanish and when I gave a negative they would leave. Never mind that they asked me this question in english. I would have loved talking to them about their faith even if I didn’t share it.

 

[twopekinguys]

So I would say that Catholics are just a tad better at teaching through example rather than well rehearsed door approaches. Actions speak louder than words, action is the transcendent language, our actions define us more thoroughly than our words ever could.

You hit the nail on the head with this.

 

[swariffin]

I recognize my church’s efforts in spreading the gospel, by knocking on doors as the Jehovah’s Witnesses as well (I have had countless JWs knocking on my door), why if the Catholic church is the true church of Christ are not Catholics knocking on doors and spreading Catholicism?

Are Catholics ashamed of the Roman Catholic church or what? If the rest of the world should be converted to Catholicism, as you profess, why are not the average Catholic not actively spreading Catholicism? Why does it take Catholic.com or other apologists more active in this effort than a typical Catholic?

Because it is Jesus Himself who would call the people, not the Catholics. See John 15:16. The RCC teaches that the Catholics must be fruitful, then we can automatically spreading Catholicism. We need to spread Catholicism based on what we do, not based on what we argue. Well, we still need to learn though, and we do thank you for reminding us for that. The Tzu Chi Buddhist foundation really gives us a shock therapy on what we can do.

 

[dzheremi]

I don’t understand this thread. Abba Antony was following the true faith when he went out into the desert. How many doors do you think he knocked out there? No, after some time people came to HIM, as they likewise came to St. Maroun on Mt. Lebanon, as they still come today to Mt. Athos, etc.

 

[benidict]

I recognize my church’s efforts in spreading the gospel, by knocking on doors as the Jehovah’s Witnesses as well (I have had countless JWs knocking on my door), why if the Catholic church is the true church of Christ are not Catholics knocking on doors and spreading Catholicism?

Are Catholics ashamed of the Roman Catholic church or what? If the rest of the world should be converted to Catholicism, as you profess, why are not the average Catholic not actively spreading Catholicism? Why does it take Catholic.com or other apologists more active in this effort than a typical Catholic?

interesting that you should state," if the rest of the world should be converted to Catholocism, as you profess,why are not the average Catholic not actively spreading Cotholicism?
the reason this is interesting is because,just as was predicted by the prophet malichi. the Catholic Church Can be found in every nation in the world. also congregations have been started by Catholics in such persecuted lands as sudan. and very recently i might add. No,Catholics are not ashamed of our Church. and yes i do have many people, mostly protestants and the like who love to challenge Catholics and our beliefs. i welcome these discussions. we dont have to go door to door. the Lord sends people to us, and adds to his Church daily. we dont need marketing ploys and slick advertising. yes its nice to have ewtn and such. but its been my experience just being who i am that draws people in to a discussion. and my feet dont feel so tired afterward?

 

[benidict]

I feel left out. I’ve lived in my neighborhood for around 5 years and only 2 times have religious people come to my door. In each instance they had their Bible in hand asked if I spoke spanish and when I gave a negative they would leave. Never mind that they asked me this question in english. I would have loved talking to them about their faith even if I didn’t share it.

WHAT! YOU DONT HAVE THE GIFT OF TONGUES! YOUR KIDDING! lol! just having a little bit of fun.

 

[thirdn6]

Luke10:1-12
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come.
2 And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road.
5 Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house!' 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; ***do not go from house to house.*** 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9 heal the sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,
11 `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’
12 I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

(Emphasis was mine.)
It might’ve started from these words of our Lord why Catholics don’t go house to house knocking on doors…

 

[cecilia97]

I recognize my church’s efforts in spreading the gospel, by knocking on doors as the Jehovah’s Witnesses as well (I have had countless JWs knocking on my door), why if the Catholic church is the true church of Christ are not Catholics knocking on doors and spreading Catholicism?

Are Catholics ashamed of the Roman Catholic church or what? If the rest of the world should be converted to Catholicism, as you profess, why are not the average Catholic not actively spreading Catholicism? Why does it take Catholic.com or other apologists more active in this effort than a typical Catholic?

Your question assumes that knocking on doors is an efficient, if not the most efficient, way of spreading the Gospel. Is there proof of this?