Non-Catholics: How many Catholics do you know?

[Publisher]

While growing up my mom babysat for one of her friends…they were Catholic…every afternnon my mom would call them in from playing with my brother and me and let them know it was time for them to study for catechism…they brought their missals with them…so we had to leave them alone until their mom picked them up as they studied catechism.

My aunt took RCIA when she was an adult…she wanted to make sure her kids “had a religion” and she felt Catholicism least conflicted with her lifestyle. She like to drink, smoke and dance…things which were forbidden in the conservative Evangelical groups my family belonged to. So she converted. She had all four of her children baptized and confirmed as Catholics.

When she died two of her kids were serving prison terms for drug trafficking and armed robbery…but they were allowed to come to the funeral.

My other aunt, her sister came up to me and asked if I would fill in if the priest didn’t show up soon…he was running very late…he finally showed up…and an abreviated funeral was conducted…her kids were the only Catholics at the funeral…they were led to the casket where they genuflected, crossed themselves as best they could with hand-cuffs on and the priest and they took “alone time” at the casket as he prayed for the repose of her soul and spoke with the two young adults…

I have worked and became good friends with Catholic co-workers.

I volunteered with the Sister’s of Mercy at their AIDS house and attended one of their conferences…I drove two of the sisters to the conference…from Portland Ore to San Francisco…that was 6-7 years ago if I remember correctly.

I attended one of the sisters memorial mass…even though I was a Friend and the rest of the sisters knew it…they asked me to come forward during the eucharist…“Sister would have wanted you partake.”…I said “No thank you, I am aware of Catholic teaching and in honor of Sister, I’ll pass.”

 

[Call_Me_V]

also if you could explain what you have learned from your involvement w/ same and/or whatever else you think is important… would appreciate it…

why aren’t u Catholic? **would like to know as much about your background as you are willing to share… **

All right, you seem pretty interested in our stories, so here goes, hopefully this (highly abbreviated) story isn’t too much info

First off, the answer to the question you asked is, I know way too many Catholics to count. I was effectively raised a cradle Catholic (My parents converted when I was about 3-4 years old, and I can’t remember ever not being Catholic). I was a fairly lukewarm Catholic, I believed it all, and went to Mass and what not, but I never took it too seriously, until near the end of junior high. At that point, as a result of meeting several very loving Catholics, who took me under their wing and shared their faith with me, and made me very zealous about my faith, I truly came into my own, and learned more about my Catholic faith, praying often and earnestly and finally taking it seriously Though I later left the Church around age sixteen for atheism as a result of a long intellectual journey, these loving Catholics still comprise the vast majority of my closest friends, and I wouldn’t trade them for any atheist in the world.

So, to answer your question, I know many Catholics (all but two of my closest friends are Catholics), and they are some of the most loving, caring people that I know, and they helped me through a very hard time in my life.

As to my opinion of the Church in general, I tend to respect it more than I do most religions. Its (in general) openness to science (i.e. being excepting of evolution, etc.) is one thing that I respect deeply about it, and it also seems (purely in my observation) to have a much richer intellectual tradition than most other Christian denominations. It just seems to me to be the calmest, most rational of the Christian denominations.

Anyways, I have to end it there, I hope I answered your question, if there’s anything else specific you want to know, just ask.

V

 

[I_Fortuna]

I attended one of the sisters memorial mass…even though I was a Friend and the rest of the sisters knew it…they asked me to come forward during the eucharist…“Sister would have wanted you partake.”…I said “No thank you, I am aware of Catholic teaching and in honor of Sister, I’ll pass.”

Wow this seems like a cold shot to me. It appears you meant to be respectful but looking at the tone of your post it looks just the opposite. Who am I or you to judge? As a Catholic, I don’t feel that I would like you as a “friend”. It seems you have already judged Catholics.

 

[Publisher]

Wow this seems like a cold shot to me. It appears you meant to be respectful but looking at the tone of your post it looks just the opposite. Who am I or you to judge? As a Catholic, I don’t feel that I would like you as a “friend”. It seems you have already judged Catholics.

No it wasn’t intended to be a “cold shot”…it WAS intended to be respectful…there was no offense intended…it would appear to me you have “pre-judged” me already from this post…not everyone can be friends…but I would respect your choices in the matter…but if you were to reject me as a “friend”, please do so because of real infractions…not perceived from a post that cannot provide “tone” and “caring” in a “voice”…but are cold words that some can take wrong.

I provided a very short version of the dialog…I had hoped to be given the benefit of the doubt…guess not.

If I have offended you, please forgive me…but please take no offense where no offense was intended.

 

[JonNC]

=catsrus;6583908]I was a protestant till 12 years ago when I saw “the light” and jumped that Tiber.

I sincerely pray God blesses you in your faith community, with word and sacrament.

Having grown up Lutheran, I totally disagree that lutherans should ever be considered anything but lutherans and followers of Martin Luther. A lutheran by any other name is still…a lutheran.

If you were trained up to be a “follower of Luther”, I’m sorry you were so poorly catechized.

If you want to call yourself Catholic, then get into RCIA, learn The True Faith and join the Holy Catholic Church.

I know that many Catholics do not wish to be called “Roman Catholic”, so I avoid the use of that term out of respect for what my Catholic siblings prefer to be called. If I wish to consider myself evangelical Catholic, my hope is you would respect that wish.
But if not, it does not alter the fact that I am a follower of Christ, and an evangelical Catholic, currently not in communion with Rome.

Jon

 

[tweetymom]

No it wasn’t intended to be a “cold shot”…it WAS intended to be respectful…there was no offense intended…it would appear to me you have “pre-judged” me already from this post…not everyone can be friends…but I would respect your choices in the matter…but if you were to reject me as a “friend”, please do so because of real infractions…not perceived from a post that cannot provide “tone” and “caring” in a “voice”…but are cold words that some can take wrong.

I provided a very short version of the dialog…I had hoped to be given the benefit of the doubt…guess not.

If I have offended you, please forgive me…but please take no offense where no offense was intended.

Dear Puglisher your post was very respectful and very informative. Some people just like to jab others. Sorry. Oh and I know more Catholics than most I think. All in laws and Hubby are Catholics and I was raised Catholic. Plus I atted Catholic church with 3000 families.God Bless you and love to you.

 

[rev_kevin]

i was just wondering what the avg number of Catholics is in a non-Catholic’s life

also if you could explain what you have learned from your involvement w/ same and/or whatever else you think is important… would appreciate it…

thanks

My entire family, friends from the past and some in the present. To put a number on it I would say 50 +or-.
What have I learned is that we don’t discuss religion, we are family no matter what and we are friends because of who we are not because of your religion. A true friend willl accept you no matter what religion you are. If they can’t then they are not a true friend.

 

[Izdaari]

I 'spose I know a fair number of Catholics, but I don’t really know how many, because most of them don’t talk about it.

Technically I’m Protestant, being a member of a church (Assemblies of God) in that tradition. Although doctrinally I’m probably 1/3 Anglican, 1/3 Lutheran and 1/3 Pentecostal.

But I might be Catholic myself in a way: Old Catholic (Utrecht) seems like the best doctrinal match for me, but they have almost zero presence in the US. There are other Old Catholics here, but they’re not as good a match.

 

[BrianH]

i was just wondering what the avg number of Catholics is in a non-Catholic’s life

also if you could explain what you have learned from your involvement w/ same and/or whatever else you think is important… would appreciate it…

thanks

Growing up in Texas I remember one kid very well because he had a huge family and Catholic names. We never talked about it though. As an adult, I quit counting on 50. My brothers all converted, two when they married their second wives who were Catholic. As an adult, I know two people very well that I would consider very devout based only upon they regularly attend and discuss their faith. Many of the Catholics I know will say something to the effect that they do not go to Mass often etc.

 

[RitaKatheleen]

I’m pretty new to this site and very interested in many of the topics but this one caught my eye particularly. I am an new convert to the Roman Catholic faith having just been confirmed at the Easter Vigil. Now, I have been a believer in Christ faithfully for most all of my life (over 30 years) and I’ve been a live out loud Christain for atleast the last 13. I know alot of people in both Prot/Cath sects that no one would ever even know they were a Christian because of their actions or lack of. Having been protestant for most of my life I can truly appreciate the evangelical aspect of it and one of my ministry burdens is to help Catholics see how important it is to live our faith out loud. I know from personal experience that most non-catholics base their concepts of the Church and catholics in general on TV, movies and non-practicing catholics. I am Catholic because I sought truth and it lead me to the Roman Catholic Church whose ENTIRE basis is JESUS! So, you may know more catholics than you think but the reality is this - either catholic or protestant anyone who thinks their a chistain but doesn’t live it is deceivng themselves. If you’re a christian than don’t just say it - convey it!!! Iron sharpens iron! You never know who you can encourage by your everyday life if they can see Christ more than you! Sorry if this went too far from subject, I am a fired up Catholic Christian!!!

 

[nhylan]

I grew up in a mostly Italian and Irish town in the Northeast so most of my childhood friends and their parents were Catholic. I know many Catholics now as well. There are many, many in my Episcopal parish that would say to count them among the Catholics I know.

 

[gbprod]

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[Usbek_de_Perse]

Wow, exclusive, aren’t we!

I know a good number of Catholics, including some family members, and at least 7 or 8 priests (mostly Jesuit), one bishop, and a host of laypeople.

I wonder if any of them meet your standards for devotedness.

I think so highly of some of them that I am considering joining them. I hope I won’t pollute the pool of devout believers.

so what do you think of them? any devout ones?

 

[catsrus]

originally posted by distracted
you remind me of an ex-smoker

You are so correct! I AM one of those too!

 

[catsrus]

originally posted by JonNC
If I wish to consider myself evangelical Catholic, my hope is you would respect that wish.
But if not, it does not alter the fact that I am a follower of Christ, and an evangelical Catholic, currently not in communion with Rome.

Sorry Jon,. you may call yourself whatever you so wish but wishing it does not make it so. As long as you remain a lutheran, you are a lutheran, evangelical or not.
The FACT is you are a follower of Christ.
The WISH is to be called an Evangelical Catholic. There is no such designation within The Holy Catholic Church.
Why not check out RCIA and hear the differences between your beliefs and ours? There is no obligation and it’s fun. If you do, I’ll just bet you are changing your faith affiliation within a year!

 

[JonNC]

=catsrus;6587060]Sorry Jon,. you may call yourself whatever you so wish but wishing it does not make it so. As long as you remain a lutheran, you are a lutheran, evangelical or not.

Yes, I am evangelical Catholic, or usually called Lutheran.

The FACT is you are a follower of Christ.

And so are you. It is a blessing for both of us, not only that we are, but that we recognize it in each other.

The WISH is to be called an Evangelical Catholic. There is no such designation within The Holy Catholic Church.

Not yet. But I’m always honest to point out that I am not in communion with Rome.

Why not check out RCIA and hear the differences between your beliefs and ours? There is no obligation and it’s fun. If you do, I’ll just bet you are changing your faith affiliation within a year!

Thanks for the invite.
Jon

 

[agent_grey]

I am a real live Catholic and I have met very very few Catholics. Most Catholics I have met don’t even know they are Catholic. The Vast majority of people confessing Catholic as there religion are in no way shape or form Catholic.

Its a wonder in our eyes.

 

[rick43235]

Ever since I married my Catholic wife and began attending Sunday mass with her, I know a whole church-full of Catholics. Before I met her, I would have said that I knew about 25…until I read your definition below -

i probably should define Catholic: someone who believes what the Church teaches and practices it to the best of his ability… .is my definition…

Using your definition, I guess I didn’t really know any Catholics.