Lifeway Christian Store is anti-Catholic

[Matthew_Light]

In the US, when Christian is used as a label without any additional denominational descriptors, it pretty much means Protestant or sometimes specifically Evangelical.

Words change meaning over time.

When the US was majority-protestant, perhaps we could excuse that when people said “Christian” with no qualifiers, they were referring only to protestant flavors of Christianity. As the number of Catholics continues to increase while the number of protestants declines, that usage of the word “Christian” becomes even less and less tenable.

 

[ltwin]

But not Catholics. For some reason. Catholics are told that they are NOT wanted when they ask about specifically Catholic items.

I don’t recall the OP saying he or she was told Catholics were “not wanted.” It appears that the sales people were respectful.

I didn’t say the owners should be forced to respect the Christianity of Catholics.

I just said it is offensive and divisive for them not to do so.

If you want to run a bookstore that caters to “evangelical” Christians and not Catholics, you should make that clear.

I for one had no idea that the local Lifeway store I drive by once a month or so would treat Catholics in that way. I’ve never been in it, but I had the idea that they would be encouraging to all Christians and not snub half of the world’s Christians like that.

Of course, they have the right to be narrow-minded and divisive and tell Catholics they are not wanted. That doesn’t make it anything Christ would approve of, though, any more than He approves of the separation between white and African Americans in churches on Sundays.

It frankly shocks me to see Christians treat other Christians in that shabby way. I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am.

"Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. " - Matthew 7:21

How is catering to evangelical Protestants divisive and narrow minded? Just because they use the word “Christian” in the name? They identify as Christians and they market to like-minded Christians. That’s not narrow minded. It’s normal business practice.

 

[SteveVH]

I don’t recall the OP saying he or she was told Catholics were “not wanted.” It appears that the sales people were respectful.

How is catering to evangelical Protestants divisive and narrow minded? Just because they use the word “Christian” in the name? They identify as Christians and they market to like-minded Christians. That’s not narrow minded. It’s normal business practice.

Yep.

 

[GKC]

Exactly. When I go to Christian bookstore it is always a Catholic bookstore for the simple reason that I do not expect a Protestant bookstore to carry the great Catholic authors and certainly no rosaries or crucifixes or statues if I am looking for a gift. Why should they?

Where I did become a little sick to my stomach was when I went to the miraculous circular staircase which is located very close to the Cathedral in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is a staircase that was built for the nuns by a mysterious man who appeared one day looking for work, and when finished, he was nowhere to be found. To this day, engineers cannot explain how it stands. Long story short, the nuns could no longer afford to keep the chapel and it was sold to some non-Catholics who now run the gift shop associated with it. What you will find now is the KJV on the shelf in place of Catholic Bibles, and nearly everything that was Catholic has been removed. I am amazed that the Diocese of Santa Fe did not take it over and preserve it. It makes me sick because it was very Catholic. Now there is a sign in the front of it that reads “As seen on Unsolved Mysteries”. When you get done visiting the chapel you can then go in the back and see the bearded lady and the two headed calf.

Precisely the reasons I have frequented the RC bookstores in my town, for many years. They have much stuff I’m looking for: books, medals. crucifixes, rosaries.

But there’s only one of them left, currently, and it is struggling. Far smaller selections of books.

GKC

 

[punisherthunder]

I’ve received a few messages from some of you who are criticizing me and my intellectual capital. **I ask that a moderator please lock this thread after this last post from me.
**

I was contacted by a Lifeway Christian Bookstore employee from their corporate office just a short while ago. The employee told me that they offer what they feel is a “wide array of Christian materials for all denominations”. HOWEVER…they cannot “cover all the denominations out there”. I found that these bookstores did carry Catholic materials within the past 5-7 years, however a decision was made by their corporate executive team to cut back on certain items. I asked why remove every trace of Catholicism from the store and was informed that promoting too much of one denomination would be exclusionary for others.

So I found my answer from them. Please stop harassing me now please with messages questioning my intellect.

 

[Matthew_Light]

From the OP

Upon further review, the salesman told me that the Lifeway Stores have been bought and are controlled by the “Southern Baptist Convention” and that it was their decision not to carry ANYTHING Catholic related in their stores.

That certainly sounds like the management of Lifeway stores was intentionally and deliberately excluding Catholics. I didn’t say the store employees he talked to were divisive, I was focusing that on the corporate owners who (apparently!) decided to remove all Catholic materials on the grounds that they were Catholic.

 

[SteveVH]

That certainly sounds like the management of Lifeway stores was intentionally and deliberately excluding Catholics. I didn’t say the store employees he talked to were divisive, I was focusing that on the corporate owners who (apparently!) decided to remove all Catholic materials on the grounds that they were Catholic.

Should Catholic book stores be obligated to carry Protestant materials? I hope not. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

 

[Matthew_Light]

Should Catholic book stores be obligated to carry Protestant materials? I hope not. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

In that case, I think it would be best that Lifeway make it clear that they are a protestant bookstore.

Calling yourself a Christian bookstore, and then basically telling Catholics (no matter how pleasantly) that you don’t carry any Catholic materials “anymore” is not something that engenders a very Christian spirit of fellowship. In my view, anyway.

 

[St_Pancake]

In that case, I think it would be best that Lifeway make it clear that they are a protestant bookstore.

Calling yourself a Christian bookstore, and then basically telling Catholics (no matter how pleasantly) that you don’t carry any Catholic materials “anymore” is not something that engenders a very Christian spirit of fellowship. In my view, anyway.

Me not so much. I have no problem with them choosing which items to sell in their stores. My feelings aren’t hurt in the slightest.

 

[SteveVH]

In that case, I think it would be best that Lifeway make it clear that they are a protestant bookstore.

Calling yourself a Christian bookstore, and then basically telling Catholics (no matter how pleasantly) that you don’t carry any Catholic materials “anymore” is not something that engenders a very Christian spirit of fellowship. In my view, anyway.

Well, I have never been confused by what a store calls itself. Most Catholic bookstores make it very clear that they are a Catholic bookstore and if it just says “Christian” bookstore its a safe bet that it isn’t Catholic. In any event, this is not an issue that bothers me in the least. I don’t want to tell anyone what they must and must not sell in their stores. If they have what I want I will buy it, if they don’t I will go elsewhere, Catholic or not. I’ve certainly never interpreted this as being anti-Catholic in any way.

 

[Brandon_Cal]

In that case, I think it would be best that Lifeway make it clear that they are a protestant bookstore.

Calling yourself a Christian bookstore, and then basically telling Catholics (no matter how pleasantly) that you don’t carry any Catholic materials “anymore” is not something that engenders a very Christian spirit of fellowship. In my view, anyway.

Matthew, do you know what RCIA is and what the acronym stands for?

 

[Matthew_Light]

Matthew, do you know what RCIA is and what the acronym stands for?

I don’t see any RCIA bookstores out there though

I think the only people who hear about RCIA know what the context is. I haven’t seen any evidence that RCIA is being sold on the roadsides via billboards etc. without explaining the Catholic context.

 

[Brandon_Cal]

I don’t see any RCIA bookstores out there though

I think the only people who hear about RCIA know what the context is. I haven’t seen any evidence that RCIA is being sold on the roadsides via billboards etc. without explaining the Catholic context.

This is special pleading! Your contention initially was that in order to properly use the term ‘Christian’ in the bookstore name the store needs to cater to all Christian denominations. You give the Catholic Church a free pass on using the term ‘Christian’ in their official conversion program while excluding information on how to convert to other Christian denominations simply because RCIA isn’t advertised on billboards?

 

[pianistclare]

Exactly. When I go to Christian bookstore it is always a Catholic bookstore for the simple reason that I do not expect a Protestant bookstore to carry the great Catholic authors and certainly no rosaries or crucifixes or statues if I am looking for a gift. Why should they?

Where I did become a little sick to my stomach was when I went to the miraculous circular staircase which is located very close to the Cathedral in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is a staircase that was built for the nuns by a mysterious man who appeared one day looking for work, and when finished, he was nowhere to be found. To this day, engineers cannot explain how it stands. Long story short, the nuns could no longer afford to keep the chapel and it was sold to some non-Catholics who now run the gift shop associated with it. What you will find now is the KJV on the shelf in place of Catholic Bibles, and nearly everything that was Catholic has been removed. I am amazed that the Diocese of Santa Fe did not take it over and preserve it. It makes me sick because it was very Catholic. Now there is a sign in the front of it that reads “As seen on Unsolved Mysteries”. When you get done visiting the chapel you can then go in the back and see the bearded lady and the two headed calf.

??? I was there years ago and saw plenty of Catholic items in the gift shop. I’m from New Mexico.
I don’t know what you saw? I’m really confused. It’s called the Loreto Chapel. The mysterious visitor is purported to be St. Joseph.

 

[Brandon_Cal]

I don’t see any RCIA bookstores out there though

I think the only people who hear about RCIA know what the context is. I haven’t seen any evidence that RCIA is being sold on the roadsides via billboards etc. without explaining the Catholic context.

LifeWay explains the Evangelical/SBC context of their stores right in their Mission Statement and About Us pages:

lifeway.com/article/vision-values-mission
LifeWay:

Core values

…]

1. Assist churches through the operation of LifeWay Christian Stores

Serve people and the churches, associations, state conventions, and agencies of the Southern Baptist Convention by distributing appropriate products through LifeWay Christian Stores.

lifeway.com/Article/Who-we-are
LifeWay:

LifeWay directs its ministries through six divisions:

…]

LifeWay Christian Stores operates nearly 200 outlets in 28 states, serving Southern Baptists and the wider evangelical market.

 

[robertmidwest]

The Loretto Academy was closed in 1968, and the property was put up for sale. At the time of sale in 1971, Our Lady of Light Chapel was informally deconsecrated as a Catholic Chapel.

Loretto Chapel is now a private museum operated and maintained, in part, for the preservation of the Miraculous Staircase and the Chapel itself.

lorettochapel.com/history.html

My guess is the diocese must not have believed it was a valid miracle.

 

[CompSciGuy]

Telling him that their “Christian” bookstore chooses not to carry any Catholic materials is really rather shocking and insulting, and a clear implication that they don’t view Catholics as genuine Christians.

They should rename their bookstores “Protestant” bookstores if that is the way they choose to do business.

Considering that the owners are evangelicals and probably have theological differences with the Catholic Church it wouldn’t make sense for them to carry the kinds of items they disagree with, such as, perhaps, medals. This would violate their consciences.

If you ever talk to an evangelical protestant, you will find many of them object to the term “protestant.” They say “I’m not Catholic or Protestant, I’m just a Christian.” Some even object to the term “Christian” and prefer “Follower of Jesus.” Many of them even deny that they are “religious” but rather insist that they have a “relationship, not a religion.”

At any rate, however, to use the term “Protestant bookstore” seems a bit pedantic.

 

[pianistclare]

The Loretto Academy was closed in 1968, and the property was put up for sale. At the time of sale in 1971, Our Lady of Light Chapel was informally deconsecrated as a Catholic Chapel.

Loretto Chapel is now a private museum operated and maintained, in part, for the preservation of the Miraculous Staircase and the Chapel itself.

lorettochapel.com/history.html

My guess is the diocese must not have believed it was a valid miracle.

I kind of doubt that.
The place is filled with visitors who know the story. In fact, my sister’s Graduating class from St. Mary’s in Albuquerque had their graduation class portrait taken on the staircase before they roped it off and stop allowing people to climb the stairs.

 

[Zenas]

From the OP

That certainly sounds like the management of Lifeway stores was intentionally and deliberately excluding Catholics. I didn’t say the store employees he talked to were divisive, I was focusing that on the corporate owners who (apparently!) decided to remove all Catholic materials on the grounds that they were Catholic.

What you were told is not entirely true. Lifeway Christian Resources is and always has been an arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. Before 1999 these stores were named “Baptist Book Store.” There was a name change, not a change in ownership. When the name was changed nothing was removed from their shelves. The term “Lifeway” comes from John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Ironically they omitted the word “truth” from their name. It was a lot more truthful when they held themselves out as Baptists. However, to appeal to a wider customer base they dropped the Baptist handle and now hold themselves out as a Christian bookstore/publishing house.

I would add that they don’t sell anything that slams the Catholic Church. Moreover, they don’t sell anything that would not or could not be used in a Baptist church. For example, you would not find any stations there, although stations are also used in Lutheran churches. You would not find a baptismal font even though they are used in many Protestant churches. Lifeway is Baptist through and through. They just removed the name to appeal to more customers.

 

[Zenas]

Additionally, the Lifeway store used to sell and abundance of Catholic related items. Yet as the salesman informed me, the SBC chose to remove all Catholic items from the store. He told me that he gets inquiries like mine weekly. Frankly he was jaded from it and I could tell the way he spoke about the SBC changing everything up in the store. He himself told me that it wasn’t fair to exclude Catholics and was deeply sorry. He even tried referring me to a mom and pop Christian store to find some medals, alas they didn’t have any either because they told me they only “carry the crosses” the don’t sell them.

I don’t know what was going on here but Lifeway has never carried Catholic materials. Perhaps this was an independently owned Christian bookstore that had been recently purchased by Lifeway.