Please help me counter my dad

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damooster

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I’m a newly confirmed Catholic (this past Easter vigil) and I’ve yet to tell my father about it. We live about 1 1/2 hours away from each other, don’t talk a lot, and see each other about once or twice a year.

He went to a Catholic school as a child and turned to Protestantism when he became an adult. He is very anti-Catholic and when I was first thinking about enrolling in RCIA, I kind of hinted to him my intentions. He asked me to reconsider and said some things like “Catholics worship idols” and “Catholics kill Jesus every day.”

I’m thinking about telling him soon and I don’t know how to counter the “Catholics kill Jesus” statement. He’s obviously talking about transubstantion, but I’m having a hard time developing an argument to rebute him.

Thanks in advance for your help.
 
damooster said:
I’m a newly confirmed Catholic (this past Easter vigil) and I’ve yet to tell my father about it. We live about 1 1/2 hours away from each other, don’t talk a lot, and see each other about once or twice a year.

He went to a Catholic school as a child and turned to Protestantism when he became an adult. He is very anti-Catholic and when I was first thinking about enrolling in RCIA, I kind of hinted to him my intentions. He asked me to reconsider and said some things like “Catholics worship idols” and “Catholics kill Jesus every day.”

I’m thinking about telling him soon and I don’t know how to counter the “Catholics kill Jesus” statement. He’s obviously talking about transubstantion, but I’m having a hard time developing an argument to rebute him.

Thanks in advance for your help.
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i would be surprised if the first part of the discussion is about transubstantiation. Iv’e not been in this situation, but if I was in his place, i would ask you why you did it (Convert to Catholicism). Your answer should be completely sincere. You know your reasons. Try to share them with him if he is willing to listen. That would be the most healthy thing you can do. Try to keep the discussion on those terms. If he says things that are vehemently anti-Catholic, don’t get rattled and keep it factual. In the specific question you asked, say " Catholics don’t kill Jesus every day. Why would you think that? " Make him state his reasons. That will make it much easier to address.

But my recommendation is to take it slow. Don’t try to win any arguments right up front, Remember, your conversion will probably be a huge disappointment for him. Tell him why you did it and then let him vent if necessary. Don’t fight unless you want to be estranged. Give him time to deal with it in his own way before starting any debates. Above all, be patient, factual and loving and you will win him over. It just will take time.
 
Keep in mind that you are NOT under an *obligation *to explain yourself, argue, defend, or otherwise discuss this.

So, while you are certainly free to present your reasons, discuss various topics of doctrine, etc, you should **also **feel perfectly free to tell your dad you converted to the Catholic Church and the decision is not open to debate or derision.
 
Do a search on the CA web site. It will bring up articles on these two subjects that will explain it very clearly for cases like yours.

As far as the idol thing, most people have grown out of that belief but there are still some who refuse to understand. Notice I said “refuse” instead of “can’t” understand. Some of the worse ones are former Catholics as they sometimes have an ax to grine. Ask your dad why did he leave the Church. That might put some light on the subject.
 
damooster said:
I’m thinking about telling him soon and I don’t know how to counter the “Catholics kill Jesus” statement. He’s obviously talking about transubstantion, but I’m having a hard time developing an argument to rebute him.
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This one is SO easy. 🙂

First ask him if Jesus wants to be killed many thousands of times every day. For there are many thousands of Catholic Masses celebrated each day. He will say “of course not!”. Then ask him if the Catholic priest is more powerful than Jesus, able to kill Jesus against is (Jesus’) will. He will say “of course not!”. And thus he has proven to himself that Catholics don’t kill Jesus. Simple, eh? 👍
 
damooster said:
I’m a newly confirmed Catholic (this past Easter vigil) and I’ve yet to tell my father about it. We live about 1 1/2 hours away from each other, don’t talk a lot, and see each other about once or twice a year.

He went to a Catholic school as a child and turned to Protestantism when he became an adult. He is very anti-Catholic and when I was first thinking about enrolling in RCIA, I kind of hinted to him my intentions. He asked me to reconsider and said some things like “Catholics worship idols” and “Catholics kill Jesus every day.”

I’m thinking about telling him soon and I don’t know how to counter the “Catholics kill Jesus” statement. He’s obviously talking about transubstantion, but I’m having a hard time developing an argument to rebute him.

Thanks in advance for your help.
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I can see how he could come out with the erroneous idea that Catholic worship idols. However, you should ask him if he really truly believes that Catholics can really kill Jesus every day? For sure he will say no, and you will tell him that he is correct Catholics do not kill Jesus every day.
 
VociMike said:
This one is SO easy. 🙂

First ask him if Jesus wants to be killed many thousands of times every day. For there are many thousands of Catholic Masses celebrated each day. He will say “of course not!”. Then ask him if the Catholic priest is more powerful than Jesus, able to kill Jesus against is (Jesus’) will. He will say “of course not!”. And thus he has proven to himself that Catholics don’t kill Jesus. Simple, eh? 👍
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I just wasted to much time before posting my comment, I should have refreshed my screen and I would have seen your answer.👍
 
Typically the “Catholics kill Jesus” statement refers to the Mass and because we believe the Mass to be a sacrifice it follows, according to Protestant reasoning, that we crucify Christ anew at every Mass.

The answer is simple; we aren’t killing Jesus at the Mass, what is happening is that Jesus transcends time and brings us to the foot of His cross because we could not be physically present at the crucifixion 2000 years ago.

“The Eucharist is thus a sacrifice because it *re-presents *(makes present) the sacrifice of the cross,” as the CCC 1366 puts it.
 
Pray for your father, because if he was raised Catholic and he now believes we “kill Jesus”??? and worship idols???, he is sadly brainwashed by Satan’s lies!

Love overcomes hate every time. Love him even more because he has fallen prey to the hateful lies of the deceived.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

Mark
 
Mark77 said:
he is sadly brainwashed by Satan’s lies!

Mark
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The ironic thing is, my father will believe that I’m the one that is brainwashed by Satan and that I am the one needing rescuing.

I don’t really plan on debating him but he will no doubt try his hardest to get me to leave the Church.

Thanks for the help everyone.
 
Chesster said:
Typically the “Catholics kill Jesus” statement refers to the Mass and because we believe the Mass to be a sacrifice it follows, according to Protestant reasoning, that we crucify Christ anew at every Mass.

The answer is simple; we aren’t killing Jesus at the Mass, what is happening is that Jesus transcends time and brings us to the foot of His cross because we could not be physically present at the crucifixion 2000 years ago.

“The Eucharist is thus a sacrifice because it *re-presents *(makes present) the sacrifice of the cross,” as the CCC 1366 puts it.
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Which is why we say at Easter, “He was crucified this day,” not, “He was crucified this day two thousand years ago.”
 
damooster said:
The ironic thing is, my father will believe that I’m the one that is brainwashed by Satan and that I am the one needing rescuing.

I don’t really plan on debating him but he will no doubt try his hardest to get me to leave the Church.

Thanks for the help everyone.
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Maybe he will react this way, but maybe not. Give him the benefit of the doubt until you see. Keep the faith. You never know. The lord works in mysterious ways. When your father sees how you have made a logical decision with good reasons, he may indeed rethink his own position. Stranger things have happened.
 
As cliche as this may sound, show him your faith through your Love. I agree with many of the comments that argument might not be the best route. At most, it seems that the best thing you could do is simply explain why you joined the Catholic church. And tell him that if he is really concerned to pray for you because you are a sinner in need of savior. Perhaps he will open up ask you to do the same for him in return.
 
I’m in the exact same situation as you, except my father has never been a catholic. I don’t know what to do. I know that I can’t just hide the fact that I converted, but I’m afraid to tell him. He’s somewhat of an angry person, and telling him just doesn’t seem like a good idea. I remember in my childhood him saying that Catholics worship the pope and Mary, and all of the other jibber that people always say.

I just don’t know what to do.
 
minorsecond said:
I’m in the exact same situation as you, except my father has never been a catholic. I don’t know what to do. I know that I can’t just hide the fact that I converted, but I’m afraid to tell him. He’s somewhat of an angry person, and telling him just doesn’t seem like a good idea. I remember in my childhood him saying that Catholics worship the pope and Mary, and all of the other jibber that people always say.

I just don’t know what to do.
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It doesn’t have to be a confrontation, but neither should you hide it. Being a Catholic is now a big part of what you are, right? I’d advocate a heart to heart talk with your fathers for both of you. Pick the right setting. Not in public and not when you are pressed for time. Explain your faith journey. What you were seeking and what you found. If you have good reasons that you can articulate, you have nothing to fear. Sure, they might vent or they might be interested in following the same path you did but have faith, if you have love in your relationship, they will come around.
 
damooster said:
I’m a newly confirmed Catholic (this past Easter vigil) and I’ve yet to tell my father about it. We live about 1 1/2 hours away from each other, don’t talk a lot, and see each other about once or twice a year.

He went to a Catholic school as a child and turned to Protestantism when he became an adult. He is very anti-Catholic and when I was first thinking about enrolling in RCIA, I kind of hinted to him my intentions. He asked me to reconsider and said some things like “Catholics worship idols” and “Catholics kill Jesus every day.”

I’m thinking about telling him soon and I don’t know how to counter the “Catholics kill Jesus” statement. He’s obviously talking about transubstantion, but I’m having a hard time developing an argument to rebute him.

Thanks in advance for your help.
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: My suggestions are information, method and psychology.

Info: The information is to focus entirely and never let the subject change that Jesus started the Catholic Church no other. (plenty of stuff on the net). If this controversy is not resolved then nothing else will be.

Method and Psychology: Who can keep the calmest usually wins. Being friendly helps a lot! Discussions about religion are more often about emotions and personal relationships than truth. If the person is older than you and part of your family it is even harder. So I would avoid the information part until he sincerely inquires and he agrees BEFORE you start to discuss it that you both will resolve this ONE issue FIRST.

Good luck:thumbsup:
 
damooster said:
I’m a newly confirmed Catholic (this past Easter vigil)
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Welcome!!!
d5:
and I’ve yet to tell my father about it. We live about 1 1/2 hours away from each other, don’t talk a lot, and see each other about once or twice a year.

He went to a Catholic school as a child and turned to Protestantism when he became an adult. He is very anti-Catholic and when I was first thinking about enrolling in RCIA, I kind of hinted to him my intentions. He asked me to reconsider and said some things like “Catholics worship idols” and “Catholics kill Jesus every day.”

I’m thinking about telling him soon and I don’t know how to counter the “Catholics kill Jesus” statement. He’s obviously talking about transubstantion, but I’m having a hard time developing an argument to rebute him.

Thanks in advance for your help.
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Personally I think those criticisms he uses are smoke screens. They aren’t the real reason behind his anti Catholicism. So providing him a mountain of evidence to refute his criticism (and there IS a mountain of evidence available) won’t get you even to 1st base. IMO, find out what the real reason is that he is anti Catholic, and when you find it, (don’t be fooled by smokescreens) you won’t have to worry about what to say to your dad. You will know exactly what to say, and I’ll bet it will be a short answer after that :).
 
damooster said:
I’m thinking about telling him soon and I don’t know how to counter the “Catholics kill Jesus” statement. He’s obviously talking about transubstantion, but I’m having a hard time developing an argument to rebute him.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Click to expand...
Show him in the bible how in the old test. in Egypt, to be saved from the angel of death who was slaying first born sons, Israel must* eat* the passover lamb. It must have no broken bones, blood must be cast on the doorway and the lamb must be consumed. If you put blood on the door but did not eat the lamb, your first-born would die. During the last supper, Jesus and his disciples were celebrating the passover. “Where shall we prepare to eat the passover?” -his disciples asked him. Jesus broke bread and gave them his body to eat. He is the lamb of God. Jesus is the sacrificed lamb, and we must eat his body to be spared. “I give my flesh for the life of the world…if you do not eat my flesh you have no life in you.”

We must, according to Our Lord’s own command, eat the lamb for our salvation. This is how we receive Jesus. Jesus said this is the way to receive life/him. Imagine if Israel said “We believe you Lord” but they never put blood on the doors or ate the passover lamb.
 
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