New Evangelization

[Paxvobis]

I have been mulling over this issue for a while now and feel the need to share it with someone.

Many of the problems the Church is encountering are mostly the product of two heresies: Protestantism and Modernism. Each of these promotes it’s own mindset, it’s own worldview, which leads to distortions about people’s ideas about God and the Church. How many times have you heard:

“Well there’s no proof that God exists.”

“Get your rosary’s off my ovaries. It’s my body and I’ll do what I want with it.”

“You’re a bigot because you don’t support homosexual marriage.”

“Jesus said didn’t say anything about a Pope or Confession so why do you believe in them.”

“How could a loving God send people to Hell?”

I hear these kinds of things alot. They are so prevalent in the popular culture because of Protestantism and Modernism. The problem is that Catholic education doesn’t seem to be teaching the great intellectual tradition of Catholicism through which these and other misconceptions can be easily debunked. Catholic schools and evangelization teach the what of Catholicism but not the why. And teaching the ‘why’ - the great intellectual tradition of the Catholic Church - is increasingly important to a generation which does not accept authority for it’s own sake.

I think that what the Church needs is a new evangelization which combats from an intellectual standpoint the many misconceptions about the Catholic faith. We need someone that comes along that has the philosophical, informed mind of someone like Fr. Robert Barron and the great yearn for preaching the truth apologetically and without obfuscation like Michael Voris.

Just something I’ve been thinking about. I wouldn’t know how to start something like this though.

 

[funion987]

A good start is to inform yourself the best you can. My way of doing this is asking and seeing answers here at CAF and, more recently, by reading apologetics books. With regards to most of the quotes in your post, a good book for those is the one I am currently reading, Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating.

Once armed with a solid grounds of the Catholic faith, each individual can then respond to those quotes with confidence and also can answer fellow Catholics’ questions.

 

[Joe_5859]

The Church is way ahead of you.

 

[WatchfulPilgrim]

The Godless Delusion By Patrick Madrid, Kenneth Hensley is a good book also.

I can totally sympathize with your concerns about the various beliefs in the Church - it has been troubling me for many, many years. When I first reverted to the CC about 13 years ago I wasn’t sure what to believe as a Catholic since people seemed to have many different opinions and no real, solid teachings to provide me with. I was so thankful to EWTN for helping me learn about the Catholic faith.

About 8 years ago I was aspiring to start a Eucharistic Apostolate - attempting to re-educate Catholics about the Real Presence in the Eucharist and eventually promote Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. A lot has happened in those 8 years - many trials of my own - but recently our parish did begin a 12 hour daily Adoration and we hope to expand on this.

Anyway, my belief is that prayer and most especially propagation of Adoration in our parishes, will bring people closer to God. I firmly believe that if people spent more time dedicated to prayer and the Eucharist, they would hunger more and more for learning the truth and loving the truth and this would solve a great many of our problems within the Church.

So I guess I’m saying that my solution - at least for me - has been to pray, a lot… and talk to people - try to get people interested in spending time with the Lord outside of regular, weekly Mass - try to stir the interests of those who are most involved in the parish and see if you can work together.

I think more can be learned about the faith at the feet of our Eucharistic Lord than in any school, CCD class, RCIA, etc… - those are all good things, but without prayer, it is only head-knowledge and not a real relationship/heart-knowledge of God.

A good place to start is with children. This is an excellent place to start:
childrenofhope.org/

I’m so glad for you post. Evangelization within the Church has been on my heart for a long time - especially recently. It’s time to help Catholics really embrace their faith with zeal and love. What a witness to the world our faith would be if every Catholic were on fire with the faith! :extrahappy:

 

[Golden_Tongue]

There is a new evangelization implemented in parishes all over the world recognized by popes…the neocatechumenal way…but it seems enormous priests and bishops doesn’t want such radical way of evangelization that this movement offers…how sad…

 

[Carolus_Martell]

Well better late than never.

Michael Voris has addressed most of these questions years ago in these pod-casts at theonetruefaith.tv/index.php?nav=04&content=20 a good listen while on the web.

Also the ex-catholic but God fearing Frank Turek and his CrossExamined.org has a lot worthwhile apologetic answers proving the existence of God and the truth and veracity of the bible on his ‘I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist’ show…lot of it on youtube as well.

 

[WatchfulPilgrim]

There is a new evangelization implemented in parishes all over the world recognized by popes…the neocatechumenal way…but it seems enormous priests and bishops doesn’t want such radical way of evangelization that this movement offers…how sad…

Unfortunately, many priests and bishops (and laypeople…) see the signs of the times and figure there isn’t much use in trying to turn people around.

2 Tim 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people reject the idea of evangelization b/c there’s going to be a great falling away in the end. But I believe this is a general falling away and doesn’t mean that some people will not, at the same time, have a conversion. I believe the church is going to be vibrant and zealous in the end, and many people will fall away as the church endures persecution, but also some will be saved as a result of the witness of faithful people.

We know that there is much rejoicing in Heaven over the conversion of one person. We have to try to save as many as possible while there is time yet. We cannot look at the present world situation and say, ‘oh, it’s too late…’. Besides, it is our duty as Christians to speak the truth, and “…being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you…” ( Pet 3:15).

 

[Rkirby]

I have been mulling over this issue for a while now and feel the need to share it with someone.

Many of the problems the Church is encountering are mostly the product of two heresies: Protestantism and Modernism. Each of these promotes it’s own mindset, it’s own worldview, which leads to distortions about people’s ideas about God and the Church. How many times have you heard:

“Well there’s no proof that God exists.”

“Get your rosary’s off my ovaries. It’s my body and I’ll do what I want with it.”

“You’re a bigot because you don’t support homosexual marriage.”

“Jesus said didn’t say anything about a Pope or Confession so why do you believe in them.”

“How could a loving God send people to Hell?”

I hear these kinds of things alot. They are so prevalent in the popular culture because of Protestantism and Modernism. The problem is that Catholic education doesn’t seem to be teaching the great intellectual tradition of Catholicism through which these and other misconceptions can be easily debunked. Catholic schools and evangelization teach the what of Catholicism but not the why. And teaching the ‘why’ - the great intellectual tradition of the Catholic Church - is increasingly important to a generation which does not accept authority for it’s own sake.

I think that what the Church needs is a new evangelization which combats from an intellectual standpoint the many misconceptions about the Catholic faith. We need someone that comes along that has the philosophical, informed mind of someone like Fr. Robert Barron and the great yearn for preaching the truth apologetically and without obfuscation like Michael Voris.

Just something I’ve been thinking about. I wouldn’t know how to start something like this though.

Someone has already started this. classicalliberalarts.com or classicalliberalarts.net

He is starting with children and teaching the parents alongside their children. This process must start somewhere. Teaching adults is wonderful, starting with children is even better. (Adults take his courses by the way.)

 

[PJM]

=Paxvobis;8214435]I have been mulling over this issue for a while now and feel the need to share it with someone.

Many of the problems the Church is encountering are mostly the product of two heresies: Protestantism and Modernism. Each of these promotes it’s own mindset, it’s own worldview, which leads to distortions about people’s ideas about God and the Church. How many times have you heard:

“Well there’s no proof that God exists.”

“Get your rosary’s off my ovaries. It’s my body and I’ll do what I want with it.”

“You’re a bigot because you don’t support homosexual marriage.”

“Jesus said didn’t say anything about a Pope or Confession so why do you believe in them.”

“How could a loving God send people to Hell?”

I hear these kinds of things alot. They are so prevalent in the popular culture because of Protestantism and Modernism. The problem is that Catholic education doesn’t seem to be teaching the great intellectual tradition of Catholicism through which these and other misconceptions can be easily debunked. Catholic schools and evangelization teach the what of Catholicism but not the why. And teaching the ‘why’ - the great intellectual tradition of the Catholic Church - is increasingly important to a generation which does not accept authority for it’s own sake.

I think that what the Church needs is a new evangelization which combats from an intellectual standpoint the many misconceptions about the Catholic faith. We need someone that comes along that has the philosophical, informed mind of someone like Fr. Robert Barron and the great yearn for preaching the truth apologetically and without obfuscation like Michael Voris.

Just something I’ve been thinking about. I wouldn’t know how to start something like this though.

Pope Benedict Agrees with YOU

He founded a Curia Level department for this very precise purpose. It’s so knew we have yet to hear how they will ATTACK the problem.

QUESTION: Do you know the correct responce to each of the comments you shared?

That is after all the first necessary step, right?

God Bless,
Pat

 

[GloriousOrder]

Much of the rubbish you quoted from our fallen-away and pagan friends is directly spread by the internet. I dare say a lot of their false arguments are generated on forums. We need a specifically internet-based apostolate. There must be a Society with a charism devoted entirely to the destruction of the false notions that so easily build up over the world-wide-web. Would Dawkins, Hitchens, and all their cohorts be so popular without the viral world, and Christians being basically ignorant of its possibilities? Atheists have taken over the internet, and the only famous Christian websites are radical protestant ones (like jesus-is-savior).

Something must be done… as part of the New Evangelisation!

 

[smitchell]

I think what is happening is that we confuse catechesis with evangelization. Most of what you are talking about is catechesis. Why would anyone care what the Church teaches, what God wants for their lives until they have a relationship with Him. Evangelization is about bringing people to the threshold, to the person of Jesus and offering them a living and real relationship with the Father, in the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Once people’s hearts are converted and the Holy Spirit takes up residency in this living temple, he convicts and convinces people of these things. A hunger for scripture and learning what pleases God in this relationship takes root and lives are transformed.

For too long we’ve confused teaching the faith with evangelization, which is clearly part of the overall evangelization process, but we must begin at the starting point of faith, Jesus, him crucified and raised from the dead. This is the starting point of faith, a person, a God who came to dwell and live with us, to have a relationship with us. The rest comes once this relationship is established and until it is why would they care about these topics: birth control, abortion, same sex marriage (name whatever you want)?
Focus on the kerygma, bring people to the person of Jesus first, with hearts converted and softened the job of catechesis and discipleship comes in a more ordered way.
By the way, Alpha does a great job of this: www.alphausa.org/catholics

 

[Rkirby]

I think what is happening is that we confuse catechesis with evangelization. Most of what you are talking about is catechesis. Why would anyone care what the Church teaches, what God wants for their lives until they have a relationship with Him. Evangelization is about bringing people to the threshold, to the person of Jesus and offering them a living and real relationship with the Father, in the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Once people’s hearts are converted and the Holy Spirit takes up residency in this living temple, he convicts and convinces people of these things. A hunger for scripture and learning what pleases God in this relationship takes root and lives are transformed.

For too long we’ve confused teaching the faith with evangelization, which is clearly part of the overall evangelization process, but we must begin at the starting point of faith, Jesus, him crucified and raised from the dead. This is the starting point of faith, a person, a God who came to dwell and live with us, to have a relationship with us. The rest comes once this relationship is established and until it is why would they care about these topics: birth control, abortion, same sex marriage (name whatever you want)?
Focus on the kerygma, bring people to the person of Jesus first, with hearts converted and softened the job of catechesis and discipleship comes in a more ordered way.
By the way, Alpha does a great job of this: www.alphausa.org/catholics

I agree that catechesis and evangelism are often mixed up. I also know that before you can evangelize anyone you must be living the life that you are calling others to live. To do otherwise would be like giving financial advice when you’re going through bankruptcy, or giving child-rearing advice when your own children have turned out terribly or you don’t even have children. We cannot call people to live for Christ until we first do the same.

 

[Paxvobis]

For too long we’ve confused teaching the faith with evangelization, which is clearly part of the overall evangelization process, but we must begin at the starting point of faith, Jesus, him crucified and raised from the dead. This is the starting point of faith, a person, a God who came to dwell and live with us, to have a relationship with us. The rest comes once this relationship is established and until it is why would they care about these topics: birth control, abortion, same sex marriage (name whatever you want)?
Focus on the kerygma, bring people to the person of Jesus first, with hearts converted and softened the job of catechesis and discipleship comes in a more ordered way.
By the way, Alpha does a great job of this: www.alphausa.org/catholics

Hmm. I think that you have a point about confusing teaching the faith with evangelization, but all too often in our discourse people don’t treat the Catholic view as valid. They talk about being “open minded”, “inclusive”, and “welcoming diverse opinions” but when someone says “I think sex outside of marriage (or contraception, abortion, or anything of that nature) is wrong” they are shot down like they don’t have an informed, valid opinion and they don’t know what they’re talking about. We need to show people - in both catechesis and evangelization - that the Catholic view is a valid one, and is backed up by reason. Then will the nay sayers truly open their minds and at least consider Catholicism.

 

[PJM]

=Paxvobis;8263770]Hmm. I think that you have a point about confusing teaching the faith with evangelization, but all too often in our discourse people don’t treat the Catholic view as valid. They talk about being “open minded”, “inclusive”, and “welcoming diverse opinions” but when someone says “I think sex outside of marriage (or contraception, abortion, or anything of that nature) is wrong” they are shot down like they don’t have an informed, valid opinion and they don’t know what they’re talking about. We need to show people - in both catechesis and evangelization - that the Catholic view is a valid one, and is backed up by reason. Then will the nay sayers truly open their minds and at least consider Catholicism.

***The “New Evangualazation” as invisioned by our Pope aims at Fallen AWAY Catholics, of which there are Many.

I humbly suggest to do what both you and His Holiness desire, that that best, quickest and most effective ways would be to 1. No Communion in the hand 2. Eliminate lay Ministers of the Most holy Eucharist 3. Command priest to teach on Catholic beliefs not only what the current Gospel teaches.***

God Bless,
Pat

 

[smitchell]

Yes, we don’t back away from the truth, but unless a person’s heart is converted and they are a follower of Jesus, unless the have a relationship with God, do they care about sex outside of marriage or contraception or anything else the Church teaches? I don’t think you will convert hearts with the logic of Catholicism. Convert hearts to Jesus and when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in their hearts, he will convict their hearts about the sin in their life and the world. The Holy Spirit will give them a heart and mind of God. They will actually start to care what God thinks about our lives.

 

[PJM]

=smitchell;8267169]Yes, we don’t back away from the truth, but unless a person’s heart is converted and they are a follower of Jesus, unless the have a relationship with God, do they care about sex outside of marriage or contraception or anything else the Church teaches? I don’t think you will convert hearts with the logic of Catholicism. Convert hearts to Jesus and when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in their hearts, he will convict their hearts about the sin in their life and the world. The Holy Spirit will give them a heart and mind of God. They will actually start to care what God thinks about our lives.

THANK you for your post,

Only God, yes, ONLY God can convert anyone. It’s not our task to convert, but to teach; plant seeds so that a soul becomes more fertile ground; more open to God’s grace.

That said; if the RCC cannot do this task; then quite simply, this task can’t be rightly accomp,lished.

ONLY the CC has been given the “keys to the kingdome of heaven” [Mt. 16:18-19]

ONLY the CC has Jesus:REALLY and truly Jesus [John 6, Mt. 26, Mk.14. Lk.22, Paul 1st. Cor. 11]

ONLY the CC has KNOWN forgiveness of sins [not just hope or asle belief; but certitude[
[John 20:19-23] WITH GOD"S POWER and Authority

ONLY the CC can Corectly share the FULL TRUTH of the Bible having “birthed it” and have Christ to warranty this truth [John 14:16-17; John 17:15-19]

Salvation if it comes; MUST flow through the CC; because God Himself has so declaired it

My dear friend in Christ. You are misinformed. Salvation is a process with many steps. Faith of course is the First necessary Step; BUT Faith stems from Grace; a gift of God, given as God desires. However God does grant everyone suffivcient grace to know Him. Yet more disown than accept His offer. [The narrow gate is FACT] Mt. 7:13.

If my friend you’d like to question any of these ponis, I will be most happy to engage you in discussion. If you’d like to see why I make these claims; TAKE THE TIME; MAKE THE EFFORT to look up these passages…

God Bless you,
Pat, a brother in Christ

 

[jmj1984]

There is a new evangelization implemented in parishes all over the world recognized by popes…the neocatechumenal way…but it seems enormous priests and bishops doesn’t want such radical way of evangelization that this movement offers…how sad…

The Neocatechumenal way is a VERY and I do mean VERY controversial movement, Opus Dei compared to them is non-controversial, they’ve had problems in virtually every diocese they’ve set up in and If I remember correctly the bishops conference of Japan complained to The Pope and tried to get them expelled from Japan. Besides that they have over the years been subject to severe criticism regarding their Orthodoxy from numerous theologians and bishops, I hardly think therefore that they are going to be the ‘new evangelisation’ or rather the return to the old evangelisation which The Church so desperately needs. It is also worth nothing that their liturgical life explicitly embraces what many call the ‘excesses’ or abuses of the NO and indeed has what many people refer to as ‘abuses’ of the NO written into its constitutions.