Proselytizing is widely denounced

[commenter]

I agree proselytizing can be a problem, just as there is a problem with individuals, parishes, Dioceses, and Religious orders that never try to evangelize.

The Fail to Evangelize problem is far more common. The occasional proselytizing problem seems to get far more attention in this pontificate.

 

[Genesis315]

Here’s how the Church distinguishes the two.

The term proselytism originated in the context of Judaism, in which the term proselyte referred to someone who, coming from the gentiles, had passed into the Chosen People. So too, in the Christian context, the term proselytism was often used as a synonym for missionary activity. More recently, however, the term has taken on a negative connotation, to mean the promotion of a religion by using means, and for motives, contrary to the spirit of the Gospel; that is, which do not safeguard the freedom and dignity of the human person. It is in this sense that the term proselytism is understood in the context of the ecumenical movement: cf. The Joint Working Group between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches, “The Challenge of Proselytism and the Calling to Common Witness” (1995).

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...th_doc_20071203_nota-evangelizzazione_en.html

This isn’t all that new–if you do a search in the old Catholic Encyclopedia for proselytize and its various derivatives, while it is occasionally used neutrally as a synonym for missionary activity, it usually is associated with non-Catholic activity among Catholics (and therefore negative) or used in the manner defined above.

An example of bad proselytism would be “souperism” during the Irish potato famine, when certain Protestant groups would condition material aid on conversion to Protestantism.

And to answer the question in the OP, at least in my experience, I’ve never seen this bad version of proselytism from Catholics–if anything, we’ve become too passive about making converts. Maybe it is a problem elsewhere…

 

[Calliope]

Basically the mentality that you’ll go to hell if you don’t convert type of thing. It’s absolutely alive and well in some Catholic groups.

I’ve come across this two significant times in my life. Catholics who, upon finding that I was baptized Catholic as an infant but do not practice the faith, who used various scare/psychological tactics to get me back into the fold.

Their tactics were similar to those I’ve experienced far more often from Evangelicals of various stripes, or others who want to lure people into doing something they would not do on their own. Basically using the same “tricks” that con artists, drug dealers, snake oil salesmen use.

It was kind of interesting to observe, both their approach and my reactions to it.

Overall, I would say that once I graduated from Catholic high school (in Catholic grade and high school such tactics were basically an everyday thing) I’ve received significantly less of this type of attention from Catholics than I have from Evangelicals, JW, Mormons and con artists.

I live in the United States.

 

[Joe_5859]

Well, Im not an expert but the Holy Father has roundly denounced proselytizing but exhorted everyone to evangelize. I assume he is drawing a distinction between coercion and persuasion, and that he is speaking of the present day.

That’s exactly right. And this isn’t some clumsy new distinction being made by Pope Francis. John Paul II and Benedict XVI also made the distinction. So did the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (as genesis315 linked to above).

I think when some people hear the word “proselytism”, they get a picture in their heads of “forced conversions” as though some Catholic is walking in front of a line of bound prisoners and executing anyone who doesn’t convert. That’s not really the form that proselytism takes in the first world West in the 21st century.

Proselytism is more the type of negative peer pressure that can happen in certain places. Calliope gave a good example in sharing her experience. That’s the type of “spreading the Gospel” that is actually counter-productive. It’s also not rooted in love for the other person.

It is worth pointing out, though, that the Church has not always made this distinction between proselytism and evangelization. So you may find texts from centuries ago that use the word “proselytism” favorably as it did not have these negative connotations back then. That doesn’t mean that “forced conversions” or manipulation were acceptable back then. It’s just the nature of language evolving and words taking on different meanings over time.

 

[masuwerte1]

I know of a few people who were pressured to convert, usually by a spouse or a parent.

 

[Emeraldlady]

Zealots of far-leftism seem to love proselytising, from what I can tell.
[/quote]

You aren’t understanding the correct nature of proselytising then. Extreme liberals go the opposite end and risk syncretism. Those are opposite things.

 

[graciew]

We don’t talk about “ to convert” around.
We talk about continuous conversion of the heart …our hearts
So to “ force someone to convert” isn’t really proselytising . To force sb to convert is what? Abuse? Submitting by force? I don’t know. You made the parallels I think between “proselytizing “ and “ force someone to convert” whatever that means in real life, it sounds like violence to me.Violent .

 

[Emeraldlady]

I do love the military’s approach to church. If you don’t go to church, you’ve got some extra chores to do in the barracks. It’s definitely not a bad way for someone to make the choice to go to church.

My parents did it the Vatican II way ie. after Mass we stop at the bakery for a cream bun with jam each. That was back in the day when those sorts of things were ‘heavenly’ treats. It wasn’t every Sunday but probably once a month. Enough to make the Mass an occasion of anticipating something wonderful. I think that worked for me because even to this day Sunday Mass has that lingering feel of something good to come (which there technically is).

 

[whichwaytogo47]

My parents did it the Vatican II way ie. after Mass we stop at the bakery for a cream bun with jam each. That was back in the day when those sorts of things were ‘heavenly’ treats. It wasn’t every Sunday but probably once a month. Enough to make the Mass an occasion of anticipating something wonderful. I think that worked for me because even to this day Sunday Mass has that lingering feel of something good to come (which there technically is).

If you’re able to have a house without sweets, it’s still only an occasional treat.

 

[commenter]

Zealots of far-leftism seem to love proselytising, from what I can tell.

You aren’t understanding the correct nature of proselytising then. Extreme liberals go the opposite end and risk syncretism. Those are opposite things.
[/quote]

Not just extreme.
I would say “all” liberals, based on my experience, as a former liberal.

 

[Emeraldlady]

Emeraldlady:

Zealots of far-leftism seem to love proselytising, from what I can tell.

You aren’t understanding the correct nature of proselytising then. Extreme liberals go the opposite end and risk syncretism. Those are opposite things.

Not just extreme.
I would say “all” liberals, based on my experience, as a former liberal.
[/quote]

Absolutely untrue. There are many Priests and bishops devoted to the New Mass and the spirit of Vatican II who firmly profess the one true Church.

 

[ontheway1]

I trust the Pope. When he says something is an issue, I believe him. But I want to know where this is becoming an issue. At school? At work? In Africa? In the family?

When in doubt, refer to the Pope’s other pet peeves. United States is one such concern. He takes every opportunity to criticize this country. (see the latest on China). He is particularly critical of the American church and when he lectures the world on proselytizing he is likely tto be directing his comments at us.

 

[ontheway1]

The Fail to Evangelize problem is far more common. The occasional proselytizing problem seems to get far more attention in this pontificate.

Isn’t that an unusual position to take for the head of the church?

 

[commenter]

There are many Priests and bishops devoted to the New Mass and the spirit of Vatican II who firmly profess the one true Church.

Orthodox Catholics support Vatican 2, the “new” Mass, and evangelization. Liberals support the new Mass and the “Spirit of Vatican 2”. The ones I have known equate evangelism with proselytizing, and tend not to do it.

 

[Emeraldlady]

Emeraldlady:

There are many Priests and bishops devoted to the New Mass and the spirit of Vatican II who firmly profess the one true Church.

Orthodox Catholics support Vatican 2, the “new” Mass, and evangelization. Liberals support the new Mass and the “Spirit of Vatican 2”. The ones I have known equate evangelism with proselytizing, and tend not to do it.

Perhaps you don’t get out enough. I used to regard myself as conservative and orthodox until those terms were monopolised by the “faction”. I now regard myself to be liberal like Pope Francis. And I’m grateful that I’ve raised my children in the spirit of Vatican II and they are still practicing faithful young adult Catholics. Two of them are very involved in the youth ministry in our diocese and are on the adoration rosters. And yet we as liberal as Pope Francis and many of his faithful clergy. So don’t go making judgements about us please.

 

[po18guy]

proselytize |ˈpräs(ə)ləˌtīz|
verb [ with obj. ]
convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another: the program did have a tremendous evangelical effect, proselytizing many | [ no obj. ] : proselytizing for converts | (as noun proselytizing) : no amount of proselytizing was going to change their minds.
• advocate or promote (a belief or course of action): Davis wanted to share his concept and proselytize his ideas.

Compare and contrast:

evangelize |əˈvanjəˌlīz|
verb [ with obj. ]
convert or seek to convert (someone) to Christianity.
• [ no obj. ] preach the Christian gospel: the Church’s mission to evangelize and declare the faith.
DERIVATIVES
evangelization |əˌvanjələˈzāSH(ə)nˌēˌvanjəlīˈzāSH(ə)n| noun.
evangelizer noun
ORIGIN
late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin evangelizare, from Greek euangelizesthai, from euangelos (see evangel) .

compel |kəmˈpel|
verb (compels, compelling, compelled) [ with obj. ]
force or oblige (someone) to do something: [ with obj. and infinitive ]

convert (Pruned)
verb |kənˈvərt|
• [ no obj. ] change one’s religious faith or other beliefs: at sixteen he converted to Catholicism.
• persuade (someone) to do this: he was converted in his later years to the socialist cause.
noun |ˈkänˌvərt|
a person who has been persuaded to change their religious faith or other beliefs: he is a recent convert to the church.

Anything forced is a violation of the free human will and conscience granted us by God. Yet, as Christians, we are compelled by commandment and conscience to preach he fullness of the Evangelium.

That being said, we are also advised to shake the dust from our sandals if the Gospel will not be heard.