No Non-Catholics Allowed

[blueadept]

As you’ve witnessed, a Catholic Bible study class can unfortunately be hostile to non-Catholics and you might not be yet ready to try RCIA. May I suggest that your friend see if there is someone from the Legion of Mary group that might come and visit you. That’s one of their duties as well as visiting the hospitals and shut-ins of the parish. We’re providing this service for a non-Catholic in our community right now.

I’m glad your friend is being a positive influence.

 

[nickybr38]

in my experience protestants are just as hostile to catholics. never join or not joina church based on those who attend. join based on what the church believes is truth.

 

[blueadept]

in my experience protestants are just as hostile to catholics. never join or not joina church based on those who attend. join based on what the church believes is truth.

Oh my. I posted about a beloved priest in our community who passed away 3 weeks ago. I was impressed that more non-Catholics posted their love on my FB page than Catholics did and how he crossed denominational lines and some joined because of him.

 

[Bernadette173]

Oh my. I posted about a beloved priest in our community who passed away 3 weeks ago. I was impressed that more non-Catholics posted their love on my FB page than Catholics did and how he crossed denominational lines and some joined because of him.

Try not to worry too much about these things in that more of us will be praying for this man in the future.
God Bless You,
Bernadette173

 

[GlobalWolf]

I think that it’s probably a good idea to not have the signs say “Bible Study: both Catholics and non-Catholics are welcome” just because some people would probably read that as “DEBATE FORUM: Catholcism - right or wrong? Evangelize us all right away”.

If you want inquirers to come in, then all you have to say is that it’s a Catholic Bible study. That allows the inquisitive, and doesn’t extend an open invitation to problem-guests

 

[SurlyMermaid]

I’m sorry to hear folks feeling there can be some hostilities toward non-Catholics. I have been treated nothing but warmly and lovingly by members of our parish. The Catholic moms group barely knew me and threw me a baby shower-my first shower and this is my 4th child!

The priests have all taken time to talk with me. I’ve been treated to lunch and had offers to sit with me during Mass should I need guidance or have questions.

I strongly believe groups such as the OP’s should be open to nonCatholics. Just don’t advertize either way. Have a good facilitator who will keep the group focused and be able to dismiss participants of any religious persuasion who want to turn the group into a debate.

 

[fred_conty]

Depends on the people and on the reading selections.
A lot of the old testiment could go smoothly.
Much of the new testiment could be discussionary.
It might turn into an apologetic group instead of a Bible group.

You might want to start two groups, one Catholic, one mixed.
See how it goes.

 

[nickybr38]

I’m sorry to hear folks feeling there can be some hostilities toward non-Catholics. I have been treated nothing but warmly and lovingly by members of our parish. The Catholic moms group barely knew me and threw me a baby shower-my first shower and this is my 4th child!

The priests have all taken time to talk with me. I’ve been treated to lunch and had offers to sit with me during Mass should I need guidance or have questions.

I strongly believe groups such as the OP’s should be open to nonCatholics. Just don’t advertize either way. Have a good facilitator who will keep the group focused and be able to dismiss participants of any religious persuasion who want to turn the group into a debate.

I think people are more expressing that there will be hostility FROM non-Catholics. The thing is, many non-Catholic Christians are taught that the Catholic Church is an evil institution. Some are even taught that Catholics are not Christian. There is a great deal of animosity towards Catholics in the Protestant world.

I should know. I’ve been there.

I have not experienced as much hostility from Catholics TOWARDS non-Catholics. Maybe online but I’m talking in real life, in face to face encounters. For the most part Catholics seem to perceive Protestants as fellow Christians who go to a different church while Protestants seem to view Catholics as poor, lost sheep who’ve been blinded by an evil pope.

There are exceptions of course but this seems to be the majority opinion.

 

[fred_conty]

I think people are more expressing that there will be hostility FROM non-Catholics. The thing is, many non-Catholic Christians are taught that the Catholic Church is an evil institution. Some are even taught that Catholics are not Christian. There is a great deal of animosity towards Catholics in the Protestant world.

I should know. I’ve been there.

I have not experienced as much hostility from Catholics TOWARDS non-Catholics. Maybe online but I’m talking in real life, in face to face encounters. For the most part Catholics seem to perceive Protestants as fellow Christians who go to a different church while Protestants seem to view Catholics as poor, lost sheep who’ve been blinded by an evil pope.

There are exceptions of course but this seems to be the majority opinion.

There may be truth in what you say, but then in this environment, a catholic setting, those
who came, do you think they would be of this bend? A good chance that they are the unbiased kind and really want to share God’s thoughts with others.

Just a thought.

 

[nickybr38]

There may be truth in what you say, but then in this environment, a catholic setting, those
who came, do you think they would be of this bend? A good chance that they are the unbiased kind and really want to share God’s thoughts with others.

Just a thought.

I’m uncertain. I have heard of anti-Catholics coming to RCIA sessions under false pretenses so why not Catholic bible studies?

I think Protestants wishing to learn more about the Catholic faith should be going to a group specifically set up for this purpose, not bible study. I suppose I just think Catholics should have a safe environment to learn about the Bible without having to worry about explaining the most basic concepts about the Catholic faith…

 

[fred_conty]

That’s a good point. I think another one would be to have a bible study group of catholics so that they might know how others interpret differently and what our interpretations are.
Especially the main ones.

Just a thought.

 

[nickybr38]

That’s a good point. I think another one would be to have a bible study group of catholics so that they might know how others interpret differently and what our interpretations are.
Especially the main ones.

Just a thought.

I think apologists would have to be present at such meetings so that no one gets confused.

 

[Absolution]

Aren’t all people who were baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Catholics in the eyes of the Church? So maybe the Church just wanted to avoid putting in print something that might appear to contradict this?

 

[fred_conty]

I think apologists would have to be present at such meetings so that no one gets confused.

I believe the New American Bible has a number of pages in the center of it dedicated to this. For instance did Jesus have brothers? Is the Eucharist the real body and blood?
What church is the original church? and so on. And these have many references to the Chapter and verse of the Bible.

Just an idea.

 

[AllSeasons]

A Catholic Church currently has two women bible studies and no men bible studies.
A male parishioner has volunteered to facilitate a men’s bible study using materials from Scott Hahn and Jeff Cavins. The parishioner wants the bulletin insert to advertise the upcoming men’s bible study by welcoming all Catholic and non-Catholic men to the in-church bible study. However, the non-Catholic part of the welcome notice was removed.

What do the forum members think of the decision to invite only Catholic men to the bible study which uses only Scott Hahn and Jeff Cavins Catholic resources?

Personally, I don’t think specifically excluding non-Catholics is a good idea. There may be non-Catholics who are interested in learning more about the faith but aren’t Catholic yet. I think a healthy and constructive debate is welcome, provided that it comes from non-Catholics who are genuinely interested in learning more about the faith. In my opinion, excluding non-Catholics sends a wrong message.

 

[fide]

A Catholic Church currently has two women bible studies and no men bible studies.
A male parishioner has volunteered to facilitate a men’s bible study using materials from Scott Hahn and Jeff Cavins. The parishioner wants the bulletin insert to advertise the upcoming men’s bible study by welcoming all Catholic and non-Catholic men to the in-church bible study. However, the non-Catholic part of the welcome notice was removed.

What do the forum members think of the decision to invite only Catholic men to the bible study which uses only Scott Hahn and Jeff Cavins Catholic resources?

This always is painful to someone. In the Bible studies in my parish, no one is explicitly or implicitly uninvited - but to lead the study is always difficult when Catholics in a mixed marriage are present, when Catholics having many non-Catholic and/or anti-Catholic family members are present. When the non-Catholics do come, it requires special nuance and care to not be offensive, while still being truthful. Much time out of the planned Bible study is needed to navigate the situations that arise.

 

[nickybr38]

Personally, I don’t think specifically excluding non-Catholics is a good idea. There may be non-Catholics who are interested in learning more about the faith but aren’t Catholic yet. I think a healthy and constructive debate is welcome, provided that it comes from non-Catholics who are genuinely interested in learning more about the faith. In my opinion, excluding non-Catholics sends a wrong message.

I have to wonder if you’ve sat through a study with a non-Catholic? I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again… those seeking to learn more should have groups in place for that purpose. But Catholics wishing to more deeply form their faith should have a safe environment in which to do so… and if there is a non-Catholic present there won’t be as much diving into the deep, difficult stuff for the Catholics because everything will have to be explained from the ground up for the non-Catholic.

But this is assuming the Catholics attending aren’t poorly catechized. Of course those who are poorly catechized might have the same questions a non-Catholic would have and that would make the whole scenario moot.

 

[AllSeasons]

I have to wonder if you’ve sat through a study with a non-Catholic? I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again… those seeking to learn more should have groups in place for that purpose. But Catholics wishing to more deeply form their faith should have a safe environment in which to do so… and if there is a non-Catholic present there won’t be as much diving into the deep, difficult stuff for the Catholics because everything will have to be explained from the ground up for the non-Catholic.

But this is assuming the Catholics attending aren’t poorly catechized. Of course those who are poorly catechized might have the same questions a non-Catholic would have and that would make the whole scenario moot.

I think we’ll just have to agree to disagree. My take is that Jesus never turned away anyone just because he/she wasn’t Catholic. If we are to imitate Christ, why should we turn people away?