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(Methodist Protestant) This is my "protest" against the Catholic chruch!!!
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SaltySirena
Guest
Okay, I don’t know what Zundrah’s real agenda is on these boards, but I think all of us may be wasting a lot of energy responding to her. On another thread about a month ago (forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=347849), she claimed to be starting RCIA July 7th, and said this (bolding mine):
Then on this thread, she says this:
This, combined with her threads about the “gospel” of Mary Magdalene and the book of Mormon, lead me to believe she is just a pot-stirrer who is having a lot of fun with all of us. I for one am not going to speed my descent into carpal-tunnel syndrome by bothering to type replies to her anymore.
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twopekinguys
Guest
I have to agree with you.
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cthulhubryan
Guest
I learned much from Catholics on this site.But I don’t know any catholics!
A few other things that might have been missed in all the odd back and forth goings on.
- Whereas the Methodist Church has the outline of the service in the bulletin, the Catholic Church does not. There is something called the Missal. You should be able to find them either behind the pew in front of you or on a table near the back of the sanctuary. These are done by dates, you simply find the Sunday that you are currently on (The Missal will have three years in it but only one of the years will have the correct Sunday in it)
This will tell you what responses to say, what scriptures are to be read and any hymns to be sung. If you really want you can do what I did and buy a missal to have at home so that you will know what is going on when you get there. - Catholics do NOT practice open communion. While this may seem strange coming from the Methodist Church, it makes perfect theological sense. Once you accept (as all Catholics do) that the Host (bread and wine) are truly the body and blood of Jesus then it makes sense not to want to have them profaned by someone who considers them to be merely bread and wine.
- Preaching. Well, good homilies in the Catholic Church are like good Sermons in protestant churches. They exist but are not always present. Some priests, like some preachers, are better at it than others. But, like protestant sermons, the more you learn about what is being spoken the more often you will find value in the talk.
- Chit Chat. The main purpose of Mass is the Eucharist. It is holy and sacred. To many people this means that nothing else may happen during this time and therefore they are very unlikely to speak to you during this time. I find that by arriving early you can get your questions answered more readily. Also, and what I about to say may be taken the wrong way but it is not mean that way, if you find out when the Rosary group meets before Mass and attend it (the make up is most often ladies of 40+ years) then immediately afterward you will be able to ask most any reasonable question not asked in a challenging way and get either good answer or at least good direction to go for answers. Trust me, if a few of these ‘Rosary Squad’ ladies inform the priest that he needs to speak to you, he will do so.
Bryan
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SaltySirena
Guest
Bryan, we covered missalettes. She saw them, but ignored them, then complained that no one told her what to do or that she was not allowed to receive Eucharist and why. (That is, if any of the experiences she has claimed to have are actually true!)
See my last post before this one. I don’t think there is any real intention to learn on the part of this person.
See my last post before this one. I don’t think there is any real intention to learn on the part of this person.
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Lancer
Guest
You are kidding right? I understand that you are trying to make a valid point…but you are portraying yourself as being disconnected from reality and facts…running on emotion vice truth.
The Catholic Church is just that…catholic…universal…in ministries, in evangelizing and in charity/relief missions …in every corner of the world. In** the USA** most Catholics subscribe to** the dictum of Saint Francis of Assisi:
**
Specifically…why should I try to (verbally) convert you (or any) fellow Christian to the Catholic faith…simply, pray to the Holy Spirit and He will lead you to the fullness of TRUTH (Our Lord Jesus Christ–John 14:6)…to the One Church with the four marks of the Church Jesus established – ***one–holy–catholic–apostolic ***-- and if you are docile to the Holy Spirit’s workings (graces)…you will become Catholic. To be honest, I personally would rather spend my time, efforts and money on those who are not Christians and have no real knowledge of Jesus Christ – there are only ~2.5 billion Christians out of the ~ 6.5 billion persons on planet Earth.
Now…just look at some facts about the Catholic Church in the USA (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: usccb.org/comm/catholic-church-statistics.shtml)
Just for the record…in 2007 (latest complete data)…49,415 adults were baptized into the Catholic Church in USA…and 87,363 fellow Christians (protestants/Orthodox) entered into full Communion with he Catholic Church…that is they professed the Christian faith as Catholics. These numbers…can be added to the 902,841 infant baptisms into the Catholic Church…giving us a total of 67,117,016 Catholics in USA. No other Christian church/sect comes close to the Catholic Church’s evangelical stature…not even the Orthodox Churches and especially not the mainline protestant sects.
As far as hard-work/in the trenches…evangelizing…preaching the Gospel without words…here it is:
Now I am truly open to hear why I should spend time and effort on converting fellow Christians…like I said…if they have* the will to believe*…the Holy Spirit will take care of all their needs…if I can be an instrument…Thanks be to God…but conversion is a “management” issue…not a “servant” issue.
Pax Christi
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kalt
Guest
So you went to a Catholic church to see what it had to offer you. There’s your problem.I went past on my bike one day and saw the only catholic chruch near my area, it said “Roman catholic diocese of Brentwood”. I’d never seen it there before! I didn’t even know it existed! Any way, I got really excited and thought to my self, “A catholic chruch, I wonder what that’s like!?”
Well, okay I’ll answer your question; ( VERY EXCITED!)
I was an athiest my whole life but only became a christian in a methodist chruch 8 months ago! When I saw the catholic chruch my mind ran wild about what difference it could possibly have to mine!
xxx zundrah xxx
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Bill_Pick
Guest
I have never see that many lies put together in one post in my life, Where is this Church,PLEASE let me know.
If you really are looking to the Cathloic Chruch go see a priest and let Him get you in a class for RCIA.
If what you are saying is right I,m sorry but I have never,never seen a church like you are talking about Cathloic or non-cathloic or other.
Did you have on clothes.
If you really are looking to the Cathloic Chruch go see a priest and let Him get you in a class for RCIA.
If what you are saying is right I,m sorry but I have never,never seen a church like you are talking about Cathloic or non-cathloic or other.
Did you have on clothes.
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headncloudz
Guest
I think this is just a case of “get the Catholics all riled up” but I think what is cool about this, even if the original poster was playing games, is that Catholics from all of the world came to this forum and instead of getting mad and angry, we reached our hand out and even when it kept getting slapped away we kept our helping hand out. None of us have met, or are part of the same parish community yet our faith and the teachings of the Church (all which were attacked here) did exactly what the poster said she had not see from all of us bums, love, compassion and caring for our brethren, Catholic or not. Jesus would be proud of you all 
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Bill_Pick
Guest
Why did you leve the Methodist church,to much talking and why are you calling your self a christian after 6 mos at a church.
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RebeccaJ
Guest
Missionary work is to bring the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to non-Christians. Ecumenism is the focus between the Catholic Church and the Protestant churches, as, the Catholic church recognizes that Methodists (and other Protestant churches) are Christian.It’s sounds a bit much…
I didn’t mention protestant tv ministers, some one else id. Butl it was a very good idea of Fulton Sheen ( who ever he is )!
But why don’t catholics have a program where they deliberately go out in search of protestants to convert them!?
xxx zundrah xxx
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Out_Rider
Guest
My Zundra, but you have stirred up a hornet’s nest. :sad_yes: Take heart; the Church is not a democracy. The Third estate (the laity) may buzz, but the sting is in the hands of the Second 
which rules absolutely, despite common opinion to the contrary. Indeed, the Holy Father Benedict, formerly as Cardinal Ratzinger, Curate of the Congregation for the Holy Faith (known before Vatican II as the Holy Inquisition :knight1
foresaw a much smaller and more obedient Church. You are most likely correct in having felt excluded during your foray into the Church. It is not that the Church is lax in evangelizing, it is that the protestant understanding is so far from the fact that it goes unnoticed. The proper understanding is that there is only one Church (though there are the Western Rite vested in Rome and the several Eastern Rites which call themselves Orthodox). Variations from those, lacking unbroken Apostolic Succession are properly called “Ecclesiastic Communities” by the self same Holy Father. The Succession is a physical thing, not purely spiritual, and you can’t be church by just doing church. The status of such is above my pay grade and apparently above his as the Vicar of Christ carefully defers the issue. As in the Church from the earliest days, seekers are attended to through formal programs of catechists and not immediately admitted to the mysteries. Indeed, in earlier times you would have been admitted only to the Service of the Word (the first half of what you saw) and excluded bodily from the Mass proper. This is admittedly un-American, but then America is in disobedient rebellion to the Church. There are in all parishes formal classes which will answer all your questions about Christianity as instituted by Christ Himself. But I caution you: American culture so inculcates a worldly filter that unless you can lance through it, you may not find the truth to your liking. From what you’ve said, you’re seeing what you’ve been propagandized to see, which is regrettably, exactly the result the “reformers” hoped for 
npatrol:.
As to the “good reason” for the missing books in your Bible; that is simple. When the Jews had to find a reason for the second uprising against Rome in 70 AD, they settled on the presence of Christians in the Synagogue. They set out to purge anything they thought un- Jewish, including those books in broad and common use that were not available in Hebrew, only Greek. This meant nothing to the Church of course, which went on using them, eventually placing them in the Canon, in the “Jerome Bible,” then in the Vulgate, now in the various translations used by the Church. When King James of England, seeking to strengthen his political power dictated that his kingdom should use only the same book, the translators of the “King James Bible” selected a late manuscript of the Jews who had sought to exclude Christians, not that used by the early Church!
:whacky:
My mother spent eighteen years trying to make a good Methodist out of me. Then I took up theology and I’ve spent the last fifty years trying to get over it. I’ll pray that our Lord will be with you.
which rules absolutely, despite common opinion to the contrary. Indeed, the Holy Father Benedict, formerly as Cardinal Ratzinger, Curate of the Congregation for the Holy Faith (known before Vatican II as the Holy Inquisition :knight1 foresaw a much smaller and more obedient Church. You are most likely correct in having felt excluded during your foray into the Church. It is not that the Church is lax in evangelizing, it is that the protestant understanding is so far from the fact that it goes unnoticed. The proper understanding is that there is only one Church (though there are the Western Rite vested in Rome and the several Eastern Rites which call themselves Orthodox). Variations from those, lacking unbroken Apostolic Succession are properly called “Ecclesiastic Communities” by the self same Holy Father. The Succession is a physical thing, not purely spiritual, and you can’t be church by just doing church. The status of such is above my pay grade and apparently above his as the Vicar of Christ carefully defers the issue. As in the Church from the earliest days, seekers are attended to through formal programs of catechists and not immediately admitted to the mysteries. Indeed, in earlier times you would have been admitted only to the Service of the Word (the first half of what you saw) and excluded bodily from the Mass proper. This is admittedly un-American, but then America is in disobedient rebellion to the Church. There are in all parishes formal classes which will answer all your questions about Christianity as instituted by Christ Himself. But I caution you: American culture so inculcates a worldly filter that unless you can lance through it, you may not find the truth to your liking. From what you’ve said, you’re seeing what you’ve been propagandized to see, which is regrettably, exactly the result the “reformers” hoped for npatrol:.As to the “good reason” for the missing books in your Bible; that is simple. When the Jews had to find a reason for the second uprising against Rome in 70 AD, they settled on the presence of Christians in the Synagogue. They set out to purge anything they thought un- Jewish, including those books in broad and common use that were not available in Hebrew, only Greek. This meant nothing to the Church of course, which went on using them, eventually placing them in the Canon, in the “Jerome Bible,” then in the Vulgate, now in the various translations used by the Church. When King James of England, seeking to strengthen his political power dictated that his kingdom should use only the same book, the translators of the “King James Bible” selected a late manuscript of the Jews who had sought to exclude Christians, not that used by the early Church!
:whacky:My mother spent eighteen years trying to make a good Methodist out of me. Then I took up theology and I’ve spent the last fifty years trying to get over it. I’ll pray that our Lord will be with you.
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gurneyhalleck1
Guest
Zundrah,Echoing what several folks have said, you really can’t gauge all Catholic churches based on one visit. That’s true of any church. I have spoken with people who visited “an” Anglican church and said, “oh they’re so cliquish! They’re so snobby and act like they’re at a rotary club! They are the most unfriendly and snobby people!” And yet my former Anglican parish was THE friendliest bunch of folks I’ve ever been around. They go OUT OF THEIR WAY to come over to you, introduce themselves, smile, invite you to this and that, etc.
Same with the Catholic Church. My church is quite friendly. When my wife and I came back from the Anglican church, oh my goodness people were friendly! They still are. But I have been to masses at my church where the culture is a bit different and they’re not so friendly. People can even be different from mass to mass within one church!
All of us in here can probably tell a horror story of a church we visited when out of town that was a disaster. I went to a church in Morro Bay, CA one time and the priest was so bizarre and “out there” that I cannot begin to tell you how surreal it was! My wife and I walked out it was so upsetting!
I will agree with you that Catholic churches tend to lack fellowship right after Mass. I miss the Anglican little tradition of “coffee hour” right after the service. I truly miss that. Catholics are lacking in that department bigtime!
But when it comes to “robotic” behavior at Mass, first of all, a couple things. We can’t totally gauge what people are THINKING and BELIEVING just based on their outward gestures and voices or mannerisms. Some people are just overly-reserved. And then again, there are some folks who just don’t care and they’re in a rutt. But my other point is, if you find them to be robotic and it bugs you GO TO RCIA AND BECOME A CATHOLIC and you teach 'em all how to be enthusiastic! Maybe the Lord is calling YOU to come to the Catholic Church and shake things up! If you’re on fire for God and you feel these folks are duds, heck, join and you be an example for them, salt of the earth!
I hope you’ll go to a different Mass, several Masses, and really read up what the Mass is all about theologically-speaking. Even when the priest is a bore or there are some crying babies out there or some folks in your pew that look about as thrilled as a June bug to be there, Christ is present, sacrificed, loving you, and choirs of angels are coming down from the heavens in a spiritual time-frozen miracle where we are at Calvary. Don’t let the peripherals or duds of the world get you down. They are everywhere.
Sometimes there are “ecstatic” excitable, yelling, jumping bean lunatics at some protestant churches leaping around shouting “praise be!” when they themselves are just going through the motions. We just can’t gauge inner faith and love from exterior covers.
God bless you and I’m thrilled that God has given you curiosity about the Catholic faith. Don’t let one bad experience getcha down! Go again! We all hope you will.
God bless
Scott:thumbsup:
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bklynbrat
Guest
First off buy Catholicism For Dummies. It was the first book I bought when I reverted back. Super easy to understand.But I don’t know any catholics!
Second, maybe you can call that church you attended & speak to someone there that can help & hopefully lead you into the right direction on answering your questions.
God Bless
B
BRB1
Guest
Zundrah … What happened since June 18th, when you felt so close to God in the Catholic Church ?
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LilyM
Guest
Uh, no they don’t, not all, not by any means. Most of the non-Catholic churches I’ve seen are all named in honour of one or other saint just as we Catholics name our churches. Around here we have St Laurence, St Barnabas, St Michael, St Stephen, St Philip - none of them Catholic!
Protestants view praying to saints as blasphemy… and I’m sure you know this!
I’ve been to a high-ish Anglican communion service once. Similar to Catholic Mass in numerous ways including (if memory serves) prayer to the saints. Wesley regularly prayed the Rosary to Mary - as did Luther.
I know there are groups of Protestant Franciscans, for example, who pray to St Francis along with their Catholic Franciscan counterparts.
Methinks you are as wrong in your generalisations about what Protestants as a whole believe as many Catholics are.
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dsears
Guest
I think that is the root of the problems that have existed between Protestants and Catholics. We have not taken time to get to know each other as we should. Until we do that the church will not be one.
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guanophore
Guest
This is not a protest against the Church, per se, but more of a protest against the lack of social warmth in this particular congregation. The fact that you interpret their lack of warmth as “hostile” really has more to do with your own past than the people themselves.
I can see why 2000 years of history would be difficult to grasp.
It is important to distinguish between the Catholic Church, the Holy, pure, and spotless bride of Christ, and the fallible persons who are members of her. As disciples of Christ, we all fall short in many ways.
This is an unfair generalization. Certainly it may be true of the people you saw, and other Catholics in other places, but this is not a charge that can be leveled at the Church as a whole.
Clearly you are a lost sheep that does need tending. I think, however, you might do well to consider where you are posting this complaint.
Such a statement may be more of a commentary on the person who made it, than the Church.
You are new, and you have not been taught.
I am sure it seems this way at times.
Again, I think you need to consider where you are posting this complaint.
Overall, the Church is much more concerned with the corporate and spiritual works of mercy than “converting” our separated brethren.
You have a lot to learn, and you came to the right place.Why is all the writings on the walls in a strange language!?
Why was jesus spelt as Jesvs? Why was Mary spelt as Maria?
Gasp… :snowing:
People always think there are “good reasons” for heresies.
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BernadetteM
Guest
Hello Scott,
Echoing what several folks have said, you really can’t gauge all Catholic churches based on one visit. That’s true of any church. I have spoken with people who visited “an” Anglican church and said, “oh they’re so cliquish! They’re so snobby and act like they’re at a rotary club! They are the most unfriendly and snobby people!” And yet my former Anglican parish was THE friendliest bunch of folks I’ve ever been around. They go OUT OF THEIR WAY to come over to you, introduce themselves, smile, invite you to this and that, etc.
Same with the Catholic Church. My church is quite friendly. When my wife and I came back from the Anglican church, oh my goodness people were friendly! They still are. But I have been to masses at my church where the culture is a bit different and they’re not so friendly. People can even be different from mass to mass within one church!
All of us in here can probably tell a horror story of a church we visited when out of town that was a disaster. I went to a church in Morro Bay, CA one time and the priest was so bizarre and “out there” that I cannot begin to tell you how surreal it was! My wife and I walked out it was so upsetting!
I will agree with you that Catholic churches tend to lack fellowship right after Mass. I miss the Anglican little tradition of “coffee hour” right after the service. I truly miss that. Catholics are lacking in that department bigtime!
But when it comes to “robotic” behavior at Mass, first of all, a couple things. We can’t totally gauge what people are THINKING and BELIEVING just based on their outward gestures and voices or mannerisms. Some people are just overly-reserved. And then again, there are some folks who just don’t care and they’re in a rutt. But my other point is, if you find them to be robotic and it bugs you GO TO RCIA AND BECOME A CATHOLIC and you teach 'em all how to be enthusiastic! Maybe the Lord is calling YOU to come to the Catholic Church and shake things up! If you’re on fire for God and you feel these folks are duds, heck, join and you be an example for them, salt of the earth!
I hope you’ll go to a different Mass, several Masses, and really read up what the Mass is all about theologically-speaking. Even when the priest is a bore or there are some crying babies out there or some folks in your pew that look about as thrilled as a June bug to be there, Christ is present, sacrificed, loving you, and choirs of angels are coming down from the heavens in a spiritual time-frozen miracle where we are at Calvary. Don’t let the peripherals or duds of the world get you down. They are everywhere.
Sometimes there are “ecstatic” excitable, yelling, jumping bean lunatics at some protestant churches leaping around shouting “praise be!” when they themselves are just going through the motions. We just can’t gauge inner faith and love from exterior covers.
God bless you and I’m thrilled that God has given you curiosity about the Catholic faith. Don’t let one bad experience getcha down! Go again! We all hope you will.
God bless
Scott:thumbsup:
Yes I do miss the coffee hour after Mass. But we must remember that most or at least the Episcopal churches I attended were small in comparison to Catholic Churches. Also we only had 3 services one at 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 and the coffee hour was after the 11:00 Mass. Catholic Churches usually have at least 4 or 5 Masses with so many people that it would be more difficult to have a coffee hour. My parish does have a breakfast every month and also many social events.
Sorry but I don’t know how to insert my responses right after the paragraph I want to respond to.
Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Bernadette
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fishisgood
Guest
oh dear… me thinks she be wrestling on the inside… I will pray for Zundrah. Also calling out the Catholic Church for lack of evangelizing is ironic on a Catholic website aimed at evangelizing
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