Priests criticizing other faiths during homily

[Bruised_Reed]

Apologetics was always a thing. In the Early Church one of our first apologists, Justin Martyr , was martyred in the second century.

I mean amateur apologetics like I might engage in. I remember a quote that Scott Hahn used… You don’t need to defend a lion, you just need to let it out of the cage. Anyone know who originally said this?

 

[Roseeurekacross]

People were killed for getting up in public and professing their faith and defending it. Origen lost his father that way. His mum hid his clothes so he could not go out and become an amateur apologist. He was martyred in his 70s

 

[Pattylt]

As I was Jewish in my youth, my mom allowed me to attend church on occasion with my friends. This was back in the 60’s so I assume much has changed but I remember Baptist’s bashing Catholics and Catholics bashing Jews. I don’t remember it upsetting me terribly, just a bit uncomfortable but I already knew what most faiths felt about others. This was also an era (and in the south) where I was called a Christ killer to my face (not in a church, at school). I guess things like that might still happen but I doubt it would be in church. Society has matured at least a little bit!

 

[Bruised_Reed]

I will say that pre vat11 the Catholic Church wasn’t very good at other religions.

I was born just after Vatican II so I never heard a homily from then. I still don’t think it was done just because I don’t see something like this suddenly changing.

One positive to come out of Vat11 was an end to anti semetic rhetoric, calling Protestants schismatic and heretic , they are now our seperated brethren, and acknowledgement of the Muslim and Asian religions.

It’s interesting that the main place I still observe this is in ultra traditionalist circles. The anti-Semitism is unabashed and ugly.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

The last time and only time I heard a priest be critical about other Christians was way back before Vatican II, when a grumpy old priest warned parents that allowing their children to go into a protestant church, would be sinful.

Not since then have I ever heard a priest critcize another religion, in homily or in casual chat.

Jim

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Catholics bashing Jews

Specifically was it a priest? And was it during a homily? I noted in the post above this that antisemitism is still an attitude in uber traditionalist Catholics and that time period is what they model themselves after.

 

[Hodos]

I don’t think I have ever heard a pastor disparage another faith tradition during his sermon. There are times and places to discuss the differences of one faith to another, but the sermon is where we proclaim Christ crucified. Focusing on something else seems like a waste of a sermon.

 

[Hope1960]

This was also an era (and in the south) where I was called a Christ killer to my face (not in a church, at school).

My daughter dated a Jew and the guys in his fraternity used to tell him, “you killed my Savior.”

 

[LaughingBoy1503]

In a homily the priest said he doesn’t understand why Catholic girls don’t automatically look for Catholc boys. Catholic boys will respect you where these others won’t an only see you as there for their enjoyment.

As I being an “other” and my Catholic wife being one that fell for an “other” that made for some awkwardness…and a bit of frustration on her side.

Oh man… Maybe Father has never heard from some of the women that I have talked to on Catholicmatch.com who told me about “Catholic” guys on that site sending them inappropriate pictures of themselves and asking for inappropriate pictures and/or a live naughty camera show. Then there are of course the ones that were secretly drug or alcohol addicts who end up asking to borrow money to support themselves after only dating a woman for a couple months.

A guy being Catholic in no way makes it more likely he will be a prince charming. I wish it were so, because I am Catholic but it is just not necessarily so.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The priest is also living in fantasy land if he thinks being a “Catholic boy” means a boy is more respectful to women. Often the Catholic boys are downright dirty minded.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

It’s due in part to the misconception that the Jews killed Jesus. Vat 11 unequivocally made it clear they didn’t.

But you know it’s only 60 years ago. Old habits take a while to dissipate

 

[Pattylt]

I was 12 years old at the time. All masses were in Latin and I have no idea if it was traditionalist or not. It was a long time ago. Yes, it was during the homily. I also don’t know if it was indicative of many or just this one church. Back then, antisemitism was rampant among Christianity in general. Soon after things began to change. Thank goodness!

 

[Pattylt]

Yep, I’ve heard it too often from too many fellow Jews to think it was an anomaly. I don’t hear such things now. Not saying it never happens, but so much more rare.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

I hope more we hear more from people who were old enough to remember pre-Vatican II homilies and such, I want a broader experience. If what you experienced was the norm then we can say that post-Vatican II homilies are better models for apologetics and evangelization.

 

[EricF]

I have only been Catholic 11 years, but I have Never heard another denomination being bashed from a Catholic pulpit. Not ever.

Edit to add: I have however for the first 42 years of my life heard various Protestant ministers literally rant and rave falsehoods about Catholicism in sermons.

 

[TC3033]

Ya…we’ve gotten that “out there” vibe from him for a while. I think he may have caught a lot of flack over that. I don’t think I’ve been to a Mass since then, but I haven’t noticed anything in any of his letters.

 

[adgloriam]

As I think about it, in the Summa, Aquinas constantly lists objections to Church teaching, but he rarely calls out any particular group or person.

Just one of many historical examples: Auto-da-fé sermons.

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if you’ve ever heard a priest say anything negative about another faith

Never. A single priest who’s a high profile national personality with his own TV show and it was never negative just accurate historically - he also commented on contemporary issues. Again, he’s considered a heavy-weight among intellectuals.

 

[Allegra]

I think I’ve heard priests criticize certain beliefs or theological errors that might be part of the creeds of other Christian denominations, but they usually don’t call them out by name.

 

[Pattylt]

I forgot to answer if it was a Priest or not… I honestly don’t know. There were 2 men in robes and I assumed they were both Priests. I only went with my friend a few times and she attended Shul (synagogue) with me few times, too. Both of us commented on not understanding most of the services since hers was in Latin and mine was in Hebrew…except for the homilies. I should attend a mass again. It’s been years since I’ve been to one. So many similarities to Orthodox services and wonderful differences!

 

[Lea101]

Not really. I live in Singapore and religious leaders can get into trouble if they said something hostile about a religion. My priest would say ‘in some religions, people believe that they have to ____’ so it’s indirect, and doesn’t promote hostility.