Offended by the fact that some non-Catholics were offended

[Dirk_Skene]

Everything the guest speaker said was spot-on. I see no reason to think he intended to offend, but if he did - O’well - Protestants need to hear this stuff. All of them need to convert to the True Church without exception.

The Protestants of today may not be guilty of the gross sins of their spiritual fathers, but they still need to convert.

The Protestants churches are the ones we were warned about - others will come preaching a different gospel.

 

[HelenRose]

I am a former Protestant. I believe the best way for a former Protestant to address those who are still Protestants is to comment on the how their former church taught them love for Jesus and love for the Bible. This is my approach. Then I add that I lost nothing by becoming a Catholic and I gained so much more. I think this speaker missed a wonderful opportunity to evangelize those who are still - and probably more entrenched - Protestants.

 

[Little_Mary]

Everything the guest speaker said was spot-on. I see no reason to think he intended to offend, but if he did - O’well - Protestants need to hear this stuff. All of them need to convert to the True Church without exception.

The Protestants of today may not be guilty of the gross sins of their spiritual fathers, but they still need to convert.

The Protestants churches are the ones we were warned about - others will come preaching a different gospel.

I am a former Protestant. I believe the best way for a former Protestant to address those who are still Protestants is to comment on the how their former church taught them love for Jesus and love for the Bible. This is my approach. Then I add that I lost nothing by becoming a Catholic and I gained so much more. I think this speaker missed a wonderful opportunity to evangelize those who are still - and probably more entrenched - Protestants.

He did not intend to offend. I’m sure he didn’t realize he had in protestants in the audience. I’m sure no one thought to give him a heads up. I don’t think it was necessary, IMO to give him a heads up. Again, it was a very Catholic function (see my original post) and these three protestants knew that.

Helen Rose, he did make it clear that he owes a lot to his protestant roots. But I think you make a good point…if he HAD been aware that he was speaking to protestants he may have chosen to highlight certain points in the interest of evangelization.

 

[PJM]

Not sure where to post this, so mods, please move if need be.

I just need to vent a little bit.

I work for my local Catholic Diocese. In my particular department, there are three non-Catholic employees. All three of them are baptist. They’ve been with us for years. We all get along great as co-workers go.

This year, our Bishop hosted a Lenten Reflection retreat for all employees at the Chancery. We spent a day at a nearby camp. We had a guest speaker. This speaker is a convert from the baptist faith and spoke of his conversion. During his talk, he said a few things that offended the three protestants.

-Billy Graham’s theology was a little “screwy”
-He, the speaker, did not truly know God’s grace until he became Catholic
-The Catholic faith is the one true faith

These three women said they were so offended that they almost got up and walked out.

So, here’s my thing:

Given the circumstances: they willingly work for a Catholic employer whose “product”, if you will, is the Catholic faith, they were at a Catholic retreat sanctioned by their Catholic employer for the purpose of Lenten Reflection which is mostly a Catholic thing…

…I just don’t think they had any room to be offended. At a different place, time, circumstance, or if the statements were directed specifically at them…maybe, but under the circumstances, no.

We are all adults, this is not a big issue in our office, we all still get along fine, but they did bring it up at the next staff meeting for our department, about how offended they were. Nobody really responded, we just heard their laments, and then we moved on to the next order of business.

So, that’s it. Just venting.

By “offended” here is to mean : “NOT seeking God’s truth” which HAS to be singular per defined issue.

WAS IT mandatory that they attend?

Was it PAID attendance?

God Bless you,

PJM

 

[HelenRose]

He did not intend to offend. I’m sure he didn’t realize he had in protestants in the audience. I’m sure no one thought to give him a heads up. I don’t think it was necessary, IMO to give him a heads up. Again, it was a very Catholic function (see my original post) and these three protestants knew that.

Helen Rose, he did make it clear that he owes a lot to his protestant roots. But I think you make a good point…if he HAD been aware that he was speaking to protestants he may have chosen to highlight certain points in the interest of evangelization.

I think that we - myself mostly - forget to take in account who we are talking to. I know that most of us are absolutely sick of “political correctness” but it is still important that we learn to keep upper most in our minds that we must be kind in our thoughts as well as our speech.

As a Catholic and former Protestant, I would not have appreciated his comments.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

It is my opinion that the speaker overstepped himself with his negativity. The Bishop probably did not know what he would say word for word. I dislike negativity, but love the positive approach. Just my own opinion. Peace.

I agree. Calling Billy Graham’s theology (Billy Graham!) was unnecessary. I was proud that I had never heard a homily that said anything negative about another religion. I sometimes think apologetics has changed the climate of how Catholics talk about other religions and talk with people of other faiths. Not horribly so, but it seems different than years ago. Contrasting that with the stories of Catholics, including converts, who describe hearing derogatory comments made about Catholicism during services and social gathering (because they might not be able to agree on much else but we all know Catholicism is whack).

The Catholic church has so much going for it and something for everyone why not focus on all the authentic Catholic practices and beliefs.

 

[AbideWithMe]

The Catholic church has so much going for it and something for everyone why not focus on all the authentic Catholic practices and beliefs.

Yes—I’m not Catholic, but at a Lenten Reflection retreat, I would expect to be guided in focusing on our Lord, not some guy with “Me and My Conversion Story”. I consider conversion stories–highly subjective as they are–to often be sort of the fast food of theological discourse; meanwhile Catholicism has such a wealth of weighty devotional practices which are what I would expect to be delved into at a Lenten Reflection retreat.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Why is it that people today get so offended by views they disagree with?

Christi pax,

Lucretius

If you mean in the First World, it’s because it’s now part of the culture and has been subsidized and promoted in large measure, and frankly folks who promote it have been allowed in many cases to go unchallenged, because a challenge, would, well, be insensitive and offensive in some cases.

 

[AbideWithMe]

The speaker did emphasize that he is very grateful to his protestant roots as far as forming his love for Christ.

He was positive overall, IMO, but I’m Catholic. I didn’t find out until later that these three people were offended.

I agree with the posts here that we should not water down our faith to avoid offending others. The Truth is the Truth , even if you can’t handle the Truth.

They choose to work there, they know we are all Catholic, so I’m just surprised that they were surprised. Or as I originally said, I’m offended that they’re offended.

Anyway, I’m praying for an opportunity to speak with at least one of them about it again…charitably…I’d like to invite them to challenge themselves to learn more about the CAtholic faith, and then maybe they would better understand where that particular speaker was coming from.

I did point out that he was speaking about his own personal journey and that he had every right to his point of view/opinions that led him to the Catholic Church.

I also would like an opportunity to turn the tables on them about Billy Graham, because I’m willing to bet that, if pressed, Mr. Graham would say in so many words that Catholic theology is a little “screwy” in his opinion. Otherwise, wouldn’t he be Catholic?

You see, I am Catholic because I am convinced that the CAtholic Church is indeed the One True Church and the One True Faith. If I didn’t believe that, I’d still be searching.

These protestant ladies should, IMO, be able to say the same about their faith…that they believe their baptist faith holds the Truth. If they don’t believe that, why would they be content to stay there?

Just food for thought…

I’d take you up on that bet about Billy Graham. He was something of a pioneer in trying to improve respect for Catholicism among Evangelicals. Regardless of his differences with Catholicism, I’d bet, based on his track record, that he’d have enough respect for fellow Christians, and personal dignity, to avoid calling Catholicism “screwy”.

There’s a lot of ground between not believing everything a religion teaches, and calling it screwy.

And there’s also a lot of space between holding an opinion (of another religion, whatever it is) privately and silently, and saying it publically while in a position of leadership.

 

[AbideWithMe]

Now wait. So you don’t think that exCatholics should go around giving out Chick tracts?

(Just kidding. I know you don’t. )

 

[PJM]

Everything the guest speaker said was spot-on. I see no reason to think he intended to offend, but if he did - O’well - Protestants need to hear this stuff. All of them need to convert to the True Church without exception.

The Protestants of today may not be guilty of the gross sins of their spiritual fathers, but they still need to convert.

The Protestants churches are the ones we were warned about - others will come preaching a different gospel.

Extremely well stated, thanks,

God Bless you,

Patrick

 

[PJM]

I am a former Protestant. I believe the best way for a former Protestant to address those who are still Protestants is to comment on the how their former church taught them love for Jesus and love for the Bible. This is my approach. Then I add that I lost nothing by becoming a Catholic and I gained so much more. I think this speaker missed a wonderful opportunity to evangelize those who are still - and probably more entrenched - Protestants.

EXCELLENT suggestions:thumbsup:

God Bless you,

Patrick

 

[PJM]

I agree. Calling Billy Graham’s theology (Billy Graham!) was unnecessary. I was proud that I had never heard a homily that said anything negative about another religion. I sometimes think apologetics has changed the climate of how Catholics talk about other religions and talk with people of other faiths. Not horribly so, but it seems different than years ago. Contrasting that with the stories of Catholics, including converts, who describe hearing derogatory comments made about Catholicism during services and social gathering (because they might not be able to agree on much else but we all know Catholicism is whack).

The Catholic church has so much going for it and something for everyone why not focus on all the authentic Catholic practices and beliefs.

True; BUT WHY:shrug:

The “WHY” is the fact that because of today’s technology non-Christian churches and independently formed faith beliefs are growing at an ASTOUNDING RATE. It’s as IF, TRUTH need NO-LONGER be SINGLE per defined issue.

“TRUTH” is NOT re definable by our “wants”

God Bless you,
Patrick

 

[PJM]

I think that we - myself mostly - forget to take in account who we are talking to. I know that most of us are absolutely sick of “political correctness” but it is still important that we learn to keep upper most in our minds that we must be kind in our thoughts as well as our speech.

As a Catholic and former Protestant, I would not have appreciated his comments.

TRUE, very true!

God Bless you,

Patrick

 

[PJM]

I’d take you up on that bet about Billy Graham. He was something of a pioneer in trying to improve respect for Catholicism among Evangelicals. Regardless of his differences with Catholicism, I’d bet, based on his track record, that he’d have enough respect for fellow Christians, and personal dignity, to avoid calling Catholicism “screwy”.

There’s a lot of ground between not believing everything a religion teaches, and calling it screwy.

And there’s also a lot of space between holding an opinion (of another religion, whatever it is) privately and silently, and saying it publically while in a position of leadership.

I AGREE, Billy was truly a man of God {even if not aligned with what God actually desired}

He was a GREAT model for Christians everywhere

Thanks and God Bless you,

Patrick

 

[Adonia]

Offended? Too bad. It’s our faith tradition and is what we believe. Next time they need to stay away.

 

[PJM]

Offended? Too bad. It’s our faith tradition and is what we believe. Next time they need to stay away.

FRIEND, would JESUS have this attitude?

Matthew 5:
46] For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this? [47] And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this? [48] Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect

God Bless you

PJM

 

[StBenedictLabre]

Sometimes the truth hurts. The Catholic Church represents the Fullness of the Truth and it is very clear that Protestants have not received that message and are in need of doing so. After all, coming to recognize God’s Church on Earth vastly weighs over any feelings of so called “offense” by the employees in question. That evangelization however must in line with the thoughts of the previous poster, PJM be evidently done in great love and charity.

 

[StBenedictLabre]

Didn’t mean to resurrect this thread. Haha, how embarrassing. Forgive me - and I’m conscious I’m making it worse but anyway…

 

[PJM]

Sometimes the truth hurts. The Catholic Church represents the Fullness of the Truth and it is very clear that Protestants have not received that message and are in need of doing so. After all, coming to recognize God’s Church on Earth vastly weighs over any feelings of so called “offense” by the employees in question. That evangelization however must in line with the thoughts of the previous poster, PJM be evidently done in great love and charity.

AMEN!