On Catholics who object Catholic Teachings on

[Debora123]

this is one important thing I see in these discussions, the person must make the decision to talk to you not the other way around.

Yes. Especially if it’s someone you hardly know.

 

[catholictiger]

Yes. Especially if it’s someone you hardly know.

actually most of these discussions happen on college campuses at-least I believe they do.

I’ve been taught the best way to try and start a conversation with someone is by fist asking them what do you think bout abortion, or something along those lines, if they refuse don’t go further.

What my pro life group did last year was they would set up a table in what we called free speech alley and we would sit at a table and wait for people to come to talk to us. Every once and a while we would have a debate provoking type question. Should abortion remain legal, people would come up and give their opinion every once and a while you would have some lengthy discussions. Great conversation starts, also the only people you can talk to is people who approach the table. You know they are interested so atleast you have their attention

 

[Jordan719]

Correct, but I think there is a right and a wrong way to go about doing that. If you overhear someone you barely know mentioning to someone else that they think abortion is right, do you really think you’ll make a great impression if you randomly go up to them and start arguing? That is very confrontational, and people don’t respond well to that.

In my opinion, the best way to evangelize is by silent and humble example… if someone approaches you and wants to talk about morals or religion or whatever, then yes, by all means, talk to them about it and discuss your views.

However, being too preachy in the wrong time/place will just push people away and make things worse.

I agree that being too preachy in the wrong time/place will push people away.

Ironically, I spent two hours last night with a 78 year old Jehovah Witness who called me to convert me. It was a very fruitful discussion.

 

[danmccormack]

Thank you to everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut on the topic. God bless you all. I will use some of the approaches y’all brought up especially the " trot out the toddler" technique.

God Bless to everyone.

 

[catholictiger]

Thank you to everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut on the topic. God bless you all. I will use some of the approaches y’all brought up especially the " trot out the toddler" technique.

God Bless to everyone.

good luck with that, just don’t let the conversation get to heated. Also always remember its about the unborn Baby, always try to keep the focus on that.

if you get into a discussion about the humanity of human begins at different stages of life you have gotten to them to where you want.

there is a different strategy to going about that.

 

[Jack_Bauer]

This has been bothering me for the last week and a half, I came across a person that stated she loved being Catholic, but went on saying the Church itself was not the best thing.
She was saying that they, the Church, needed to change the stance on abortion along with many other things.
My question in how to deal with someone like this where they clearly have no intentions on keeping to the teachings of the Church?
I know that I am not perfect, but I try to hold to what the Church teaches, was it wrong for me not to get into a long debate on why she should not think that way?
Keep in mind I was at my place at work and the lady was a colleague of my mother.

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut.

God Bless

I’ve asked this many times in many ways, but only directed towards my pastor and friend, a pastor. They both say the same thing. It is not our responsibility to catechize someone, particularly with that setup. This is very common.

Imagine my thoughts/response once we found a friend that agreed to become our children’s godmother and she eventually disclosed all sorts of similar vulgar beliefs. In order to become a godmother, I presume she had to not only attend a class but also sign off that she would be a faithful Catholic. Low and behold, now she constantly challenges my position on faith issues and tries to make me feel stupid. I’m only stupid in her mind because she hasn’t transformed her life to Christ in His fullness. She has a “gay boyfriend” that I cringe when she visits and talks about. We have young children, impressionable. I keep her at a distance now and my friend, a vocations director and soon to be Benedictine Monk down the road, has stepped up for us. We are in constant contact. He’s like my brother. In fact, we call each other brother. So now the children refer to him as their godfather and the other lady as aunt. It’s very difficult, but we only pass through this world once. So do it the best you can and avoid the crazy people. There are lots of them out there.

 

[domandcarols]

I guess i did not make it clear, the statements where said because I said I was Catholic.
And she, I guess, thought to say those things because she saw and opportunity to express, to a younger person, her views or rather influence me into believing her views.
She went on to give justifications for the views, the general ones that people always hear, “well, if my daughter, who is 12 gets pregnant you rest assure that …”
I do not want to go further because it just frustrates me to hear people say such things.
As if it where the babes fault.

Maybe people should focus on teaching their 12 year old daughters not to… you know.

 

[fred_conty]

Usually it is argued that the early stages of the fetus is not a person.
But in truth, no one can say.
It may or may not be. Get them to agree with this.
Then say, “suppose I am going to blow up a big building but I don’t
know if there is anyone inside. Would you say it was ok? Would you
push the plunger?”

Watch www.180move.com It lasts 30 minutes. The last 10 are the best.

 

[Bernadette173]

This has been bothering me for the last week and a half, I came across a person that stated she loved being Catholic, but went on saying the Church itself was not the best thing.
She was saying that they, the Church, needed to change the stance on abortion along with many other things.
My question in how to deal with someone like this where they clearly have no intentions on keeping to the teachings of the Church?
I know that I am not perfect, but I try to hold to what the Church teaches, was it wrong for me not to get into a long debate on why she should not think that way?
Keep in mind I was at my place at work and the lady was a colleague of my mother.

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut.

God Bless

Usually the proper way to teach such individuals is to find someone who is fervent in their belief in Catholic teachings of the church itself, and whom has actually regretted having an abortion or who has had a spontaneous abortion and have that person sit with her and explain the pain in her heart she will feel if she denies that human being life and the chance to get to know her and to love her.

My sister was very much a pro-choice kind of person, until my Mom and I explained the pain one goes through after losing a child. What could have been, how much fun and love could have been expressed, and the grief she would have if she ended up not being able to have another child if something were to go wrong during the abortion, My Mother also said this and explained what she felt when she misccarried our brother David in 1966, and how she still wished he had been born.
and in doing this she brought the message home to my sister, her husband, my brothers, and their wives. That every life is sacred, and has the right to come into existence because it was in God’s plan for it to happen that way. And to not be anxious for the future or worry if that child has health problems. Because as people of God we show love through everything we do that benefits one another.

I hope this helps.
God Bless,
Bernadette173

 

[Neden]

Never underestimate the power of prayer in the miracle of conversion of hearts. I’ve no doubt that when I was (apparently) just like her, it was the power of my loved ones prayers that jump started my own conversion. And pray for yourself that the Holy Spirit will guide you in the way HE would have you interact with her.

I think that you are very right in stating this. It is not our job to do the conversion or the convincing, it is the work of the Holy Spirit in one’s heart. We are here only to present the information and let God do the rest. One can never underestimate the power of prayer for someone.

Neden