Proper way to respond

[MiserereMei25]

A coworker was telling me about her friend who is a novitiate Fransican. Mother Superioir allowed her to leave with supervision to visit her mother in the hospital. While she is telling me this another agnostic coworker is making nasty facial expressions and voicing disapproval for Catholicism and convents.

How is the proper way to respond to this? I rotorted back at her and told her that some people choose to live that lifestyle and know the choice of the vows of obience they make.

I feel bad for snapping at her. But I feel a soft tone would not work…

 

[Seagull]

I sympathize with you.
I wish I had a dollar for every nasty face I’ve seen. Lol.
I’m sure your coworker knows all about this other person.
You now know about this other person too - about how even a ‘soft tone’ wont work.
DON’T feel guilty about your reaction.
These type of people want you to respond like that - that’s when they grin within.
But if you feel guilt, you’ll exhibit an unnecessary shame before them,
and then - your caught - in their web !

The proper way to respond - is not to respond.
Of course, pray about it.
God may use these situations…to make you a stronger believer.

 

[MiserereMei25]

I do think you are right and I need to let stuff go sometimes. But ignorance about the Catholic faith really ruffles my feathers. But then I step back and it makes me examine how I react to other peoples spiritual beliefs I may not fully understand.

 

[angel12]

Frankly, I think the best thing would be to ignore her. She’s trying to get a reaction, and when she doesn’t, it won’t be fun anymore.

 

[Angel_Bradford]

There’s an old African proverb: “The lion does not turn around when the small dog barks.”

 

[Lou2U]

Agree to not discuss religion at work.

 

[MiserereMei25]

My job is my mission field.

 

[guanophore]

While she is telling me this another agnostic coworker is making nasty facial expressions and voicing disapproval for Catholicism and convents.

Personally I think it is not a good idea to talk about religion in the workplace, especially in front of persons who are hostile to it. We are paid to do a job, and that does not need to include discussion of such subjects.

But I feel a soft tone would not work…

Work to do what? Do you think your disapproving co-worker is obligated to have a charitable attitude toward the non-work related chat?

What about telling your co-worker that wants to share that it might be better if you had this conversation another time, so that no one present will be offended by it?

Of course, pray about it.

Amen and Amen!

My job is my mission field.

Indeed yes, everywhere we set foot is a potential mission field, but most of us don’t have that in our job description! We can demonstrate the love of God through the fruit of the Spirit, without sharing personal experiences.

“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” (Gal. 5)

 

[KateriCatholic]

I go to a Christian college, but Catholics are a tiny minority on campus. I have gotten nasty looks and heard all sorts of negative remarks about Catholics. I have found that either ignoring it or asking them about their thoughts helps, even if it is tough and uncomfortable to listen to sometimes. Staying calm is most important. After one of my peers asked a succession of questions involving the Mass, the Eucharist, the sex abuse scandal, and various other questions, and did not give me much time to reply, I explained that I have difficulty verbally explaining things. I said, “If you genuinely have questions, please write them down for me, and I will get back to you.” Not sure if I did the right thing, but she thanked me and stopped asking questions.

 

[poche]

If all she did was make faces it could have been that she ate something that disagreed with her. Many times the best thing is to say nothing.