Is it immoral to meet with missionaries just to proselytize the Catholic Faith?

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I sometimes meet with missionaries in my area of say Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, but not because I even consider their beliefs, but more that I show an interest in trying to prove to them the Catholic Church is the true Church. Is this immoral or is this actually what we are meant to do to proclaim the truth? It’s something I’ve kind of felt like it may be immoral because im wasting their time but then again maybe I’m not…
 
Immoral? No overall, But be careful! They are good at ignoring you!
 
Jestersage said:
Immoral? No overall, But be careful! They are good at ignoring you!
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I’ve come to realize both seem to be brainwashed and always have some scripture to back it up. It’s like talking to a child where they just refuse to see the truth. There was no apostasy and their scriptures for it are sketchy at best. Mormons love the one in Amos but I always point out that apostasy did happen before Christ. I feel like these groups go out to convert people who don’t know better but I feel as Catholics we have sat around doing nothing long enough. It is time for us to proclaim the truth as well.
 
I don’t proselytize, I evangelize. There is a pretty distinct difference.
 
adamhovey1988 said:
I don’t proselytize, I evangelize. There is a pretty distinct difference.
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What are the differences? That’s a good point. I am just proclaiming the gospel and how the Church is the truth. Proselytize is different how, is it more of an act of deceit to gain members?
 
jas84173 said:
I sometimes meet with missionaries in my area of say Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, but not because I even consider their beliefs, but more that I show an interest in trying to prove to them the Catholic Church is the true Church. Is this immoral or is this actually what we are meant to do to proclaim the truth? It’s something I’ve kind of felt like it may be immoral because im wasting their time but then again maybe I’m not…
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not immoral, just sort of futile.

these are folks who are committed to their faiths and have been trained on how to deal with the usual objections.

i’ve never been to their training, but i’m sure that lds missionaries have answers for catholics, evangelicals, jw’s, atheists or others they might encounter
 
I always invite them in with the understanding that I would be happy to exchange information about our respective beliefs and practice. We often start with prayer which is a good way to begin sharing what we have in common. I always exchange literature with them and have even given catechisms. The individuals I have encountered have always been courteous and respectful, firm in their beliefs as I am in mine, and our discussion does not get argumentative or defensive. I’ve even invited them back for a meal and further discussion on occasion. A couple have said they had never spoken with a Catholic before. I know have learned quite a bit this way especially about Mormonism and I like to think they leave with a better understanding of Catholicism. Who knows what might happen down the road through the work of the Holy Spirit.
 
jas84173 said:
I sometimes meet with missionaries in my area of say Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, but not because I even consider their beliefs, but more that I show an interest in trying to prove to them the Catholic Church is the true Church. Is this immoral or is this actually what we are meant to do to proclaim the truth? It’s something I’ve kind of felt like it may be immoral because im wasting their time but then again maybe I’m not…
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I would just use common sense for etiquette. Allow the other person their turn to speak. Don’t be rude. Be patient. Pray for the other person and for yourself.
 
jas84173 said:
I’ve come to realize both seem to be brainwashed and always have some scripture to back it up. It’s like talking to a child where they just refuse to see the truth.
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Bear in mind that this is exactly how they feel about you as well.
 
The Mormon and Jehovah Witness groups are good at offering fellowship. They are very nice people and their congregations are welcoming.

Catholics have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but we are very poor at explaining what we do at Mass.

Sometimes, our Catholic parishes have study classes around various aspects of the Bible or specific Gospels, but sizes and enthusiasm vary depending on the energy level of the Pastor or Deacon involved.

During my entire life, only twice have I experienced a Mass in which the priest explains each step. After the first such “narrated Mass”, when the missionary priest returned the outpouring was so large, that the enthusiastic crowds around the church building were so huge that I could not get within a hundred feet of the church building.

On occasion, Catholics have established fellowship groups, but then we fell into the battle of the sexes … and abolished most all of the Holy Name Societies.

We still have the Knights of Columbus but many such groups seem to revolve around golf. I don’t play golf.
 
jas84173 said:
I sometimes meet with missionaries in my area of say Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, but not because I even consider their beliefs, but more that I show an interest in trying to prove to them the Catholic Church is the true Church. Is this immoral or is this actually what we are meant to do to proclaim the truth? It’s something I’ve kind of felt like it may be immoral because im wasting their time but then again maybe I’m not…
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If someone knocks on my door with the sole intent of discussing religion, it literally is “opportunity knocking”

What do you think is immoral about it!?
 
adamhovey1988 said:
I don’t proselytize, I evangelize. There is a pretty distinct difference.
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Is there really? Surely it is a good thing to proclaim the word of God so that others will be converted to the one true Church, the Catholic Church?

What is the actual difference between evangelisation and proselytisation? Is one man’s evangelisation not another man’s proselytisation?

Is the point not to call people to conversion? So long as there is no coersion, deceit or subjugation of the person’s free will involved, what is the problem?
 
jas84173 said:
I sometimes meet with missionaries in my area of say Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, but not because I even consider their beliefs, but more that ***I show an interest in trying to prove to them the Catholic Church is the true Church. Is this immoral or is this actually what we are meant to do to proclaim the truth? ***It’s something I’ve kind of felt like it may be immoral because im wasting their time but then again maybe I’m not…
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I’ve always liked to invite them in for a talk, every time they come by.

Too bad they don’t come around anymore. Must have scared them away 😉
 
If you want to evangelize the Jehovah’s Witnesses, then this book may be useful. Though it is written from a Protestant perspective, its aim is to refute the book called What Does the Bible Really Teach? which JWs use in their “Bible studies” with unbelievers. The author has specifically tried to ask questions that the JWs aren’t prepared to answer.

With Mormons, they often claim to have a “testimony” from God that the Book of Mormon is true. They will tell you that they “know” it is true because they asked God if the BoM was true and they felt a ‘burning in the bosom’. However, the Book of Mormon actually says:
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost (Moroni 10:4)
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It literally says to ask if those things are not true, and so the ‘burning in the bosom’ could mean that the BoM is not true.

Another interesting tidbit about Mormonism is the Book of Abraham. Joseph Smith got his hands on an ancient Egyptian papyrus and “translated” it the same way he did the Book of Mormon. He said it was about Abraham. Since no-one at the time could read hieroglyphics, they couldn’t prove Smith wrong. The papyrus disappeared but then turned up again in the 1960s. Egyptologists translated it and it turned out to be a funerary text and not at all what Smith claimed. Since Smith claimed to translate the BoM in the same way, it doesn’t look good for him.
 
I remember when the Jehovah’s Withess person came to my house one day. When she heard that I didn’t have any money to give her she left and I never saw her again.
 
Michael85 said:
If you want to evangelize the Jehovah’s Witnesses, then this book may be useful. Though it is written from a Protestant perspective, its aim is to refute the book called What Does the Bible Really Teach? which JWs use in their “Bible studies” with unbelievers. The author has specifically tried to ask questions that the JWs aren’t prepared to answer.

With Mormons, they often claim to have a “testimony” from God that the Book of Mormon is true. They will tell you that they “know” it is true because they asked God if the BoM was true and they felt a ‘burning in the bosom’. However, the Book of Mormon actually says:

It literally says to ask if those things are not true, and so the ‘burning in the bosom’ could mean that the BoM is not true.

Another interesting tidbit about Mormonism is the Book of Abraham. Joseph Smith got his hands on an ancient Egyptian papyrus and “translated” it the same way he did the Book of Mormon. He said it was about Abraham. Since no-one at the time could read hieroglyphics, they couldn’t prove Smith wrong. The papyrus disappeared but then turned up again in the 1960s. Egyptologists translated it and it turned out to be a funerary text and not at all what Smith claimed. Since Smith claimed to translate the BoM in the same way, it doesn’t look good for him.
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Michael85,

The site you provided said “scheduled maintenance”. Can you give me the name of the book?

Peace,

Dorothy
 
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