Protestant Missionaries to Catholic countries

[RLT]

Catholicism needs to do more to oppose the protestant heresies. We cannot allow Catholics to be corrupted by false prophets. Souls are at stake, but most hierarchs seem content at standing by and shrugging their shoulders.

Yes.
We seem to forget the bold part is what is paramount.

 

[Lil_M]

Just wanted to express that I share the OP and PP’s frustration with evangelical missionaries in “Catholic” countries. Such efforts can permanently divide families and obviously has made Catholics insecure and vulnerable to further missionaries. My fiance’s church (he is now converting to RC thankfully) annually goes to Nicaragua, and he went once himself. I understand they have the best of motives but it still seems like an insult, and they may not realize the harm they are causing.

Thanks for reminding me to pray for Catholics to be able to defend their faith in these countries!

 

[woodyww]

I am a new convert to the Church. My wife and I hope to be confirmed at the Easter Vigil this year.
Unfortunately, I have direct knowledge of these missionaries to Catholic countries. My daughter and son in law with my 3 grandchildren are currently in Mexico serving as Assemblyof God missionaries. Their number one priority is to “save” the indigenous Indians from the “Catholic Church” This has caused an unbelievebly painful rift in our family. It is too painful and personal to talk about. As the head of my family, I would ask you all to pray for my family.

 

[lizaanne]

My take on it is that if the bishops in those countries are not doing what needs to be done to keep the Faith strong in their parishes, they will get what they have coming to them. Just because a country has always been traditionally Catholic does not mean they no longer have to work for it, it is a constant struggle against evil to keep people Faithful when there are more “easy” and “attractive” alternatives out there.

We all have to struggle in our own lives to remain Faithful to the Church, no one ever said it was going to be easy. So when an entire country starts converting to something other than the Truth I put that squarely on the shoulders of their bishops.

~Liza

 

[ReginaNova]

My take on it is that if the bishops in those countries are not doing what needs to be done to keep the Faith strong in their parishes, they will get what they have coming to them. Just because a country has always been traditionally Catholic does not mean they no longer have to work for it, it is a constant struggle against evil to keep people Faithful when there are more “easy” and “attractive” alternatives out there.

We all have to struggle in our own lives to remain Faithful to the Church, no one ever said it was going to be easy. So when an entire country starts converting to something other than the Truth I put that squarely on the shoulders of their bishops.

~Liza

I find this statement to be pretty outrageous–blame the bishops! That’s incredible.

I agree that we have to struggle to remain faithful to the Church. But first level of responsibility is the individual, and perhaps the parents of young adults. The bishops??? Like they don’t have enough on their plate with vocations and priests, other religious, financial? When are we Catholics going to take full responsibility for where we and our families are in our spiritual journeys?

 

[leonie]

We might as well blame ourselves. After all, Protestants make big sacrifices tithing to fund their missionaries. Are we doing the same? Other than the child we sponsor through CFCA, I think I sent, oh, maybe a $100 to Missionary orders last year.

 

[lizaanne]

I find this statement to be pretty outrageous–blame the bishops! That’s incredible.

I agree that we have to struggle to remain faithful to the Church. But first level of responsibility is the individual, and perhaps the parents of young adults. The bishops??? Like they don’t have enough on their plate with vocations and priests, other religious, financial? When are we Catholics going to take full responsibility for where we and our families are in our spiritual journeys?

Yes, this is all true, but if they are not receiving proper catechesis from the beginning, entire generations of Catholics will have no basis for their Faith. It has to start somewhere, and if a family has no basis for the Faith, and some Protestant missionary comes along and offers them something where there is nothing else for them, well I don’t blame them for taking it.

~Liza

 

[ReginaNova]

Yes, this is all true, but if they are not receiving proper catechesis from the beginning, entire generations of Catholics will have no basis for their Faith. It has to start somewhere, and if a family has no basis for the Faith, and some Protestant missionary comes along and offers them something where there is nothing else for them, well I don’t blame them for taking it.

~Liza

Before I’d blame the bishops, I’d blame the Catholic parents:

– who fail to take advantage of the catechesis programs available for themselves or for their children,

–who don’t participate in Catholic life, living, or activities,

–who don’t attend Mass or follow the tenets of our faith,

–who don’t ensure that their children get the sacraments,

–who don’t practice their faith and learn more about their faith as a life long activity and a model to their children,

–who let their children drop out of available Catholic religious education or youth programs once those young people have been confirmed (at age 12 or 13),

–who let their young people participate in “non-denominational” Christian (non-Catholic) youth groups whose unspoken purpose is to evangelize poorly catechized or “unchurched” or “unChristian” youth (often specifically targeted at Catholic youth),

–who disparage the Catholic Church and its leaders with abandon.

Before we blame the bishops, let’s do a little Examination of Conscience here, folks!

 

[lizaanne]

Before we blame the bishops, let’s do a little Examination of Conscience here, folks!

We are not talking about your basic American family with 2.5 kids, a dog and a Volvo. We are talking about countries where there might be a high rate of poverty or illiteracy, or perhaps where Catholicism is now being repressed for whatever reason. If the Bishops don’t ensure that the Faith is strong starting from the priests on out to their flocks, then how can we expect an unsupported Faith to grow and prosper without the richness it can only get from our clergy?

~Liza

 

[Veritas41]

Ummm, I’ll bet anything it has such statements as:

The Bible is the final authority on all matters.

The only mediator between God and Man is Jesus Christ.

Such statements are not Catholic and are very much aimed at Catholic beliefs–ie, the authority of the Pope and Magisterium, and the mediation of saints. Catholics should not go along with such statements without objection (and of course, any group that has such statements are not open to discussion or they wouldn’t have a faith statement in the first place).

I have never seen a Catholic group that has a faith statement that members are required to sign. A faith statement is the hallmark of Protestant groups.

I agree with much of what you’ve said because I’ve been involved in inter-denominational pro-life ministries that require those involved to sign a statement of faith, which is always very Protestant (the Bible is the only authoritative Word of God, etc.)

I would point out one mistake in your post --it is also Catholic teaching that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. Mary and the saints mediate between man and Jesus, but Jesus alone mediates between us and the Father.

the Catechism:
**480 **Jesus Christ is true God and true man, in the unity of his divine person; for this reason he is the one and only mediator between God and men.

 

[ReginaNova]

I would point out one mistake in your post --it is also Catholic teaching that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. Mary and the saints mediate between man and Jesus, but Jesus alone mediates between us and the Father.

the Catechism:
**480 **Jesus Christ is true God and true man, in the unity of his divine person; for this reason he is the one and only mediator between God and men.

Point well taken.

 

[ReginaNova]

We are not talking about your basic American family with 2.5 kids, a dog and a Volvo. We are talking about countries where there might be a high rate of poverty or illiteracy, or perhaps where Catholicism is now being repressed for whatever reason. If the Bishops don’t ensure that the Faith is strong starting from the priests on out to their flocks, then how can we expect an unsupported Faith to grow and prosper without the richness it can only get from our clergy?

~Liza

So, the bishops in third world countries where there is poverty and illiteracy are to blame for their poor, illiterate–which means they can’t read the Bible and aren’t educated, as well as not catechized–Catholics being easily evangelized by the wealthy American evangelical Protestants who target poor, illiterate Catholics in third world countries? Ummm, I don’t see the logic in that.

I am assuming you have never been to an underdeveloped, third world country (with poverty and illiteracy)–Catholic or otherwise. Although life there may seem simpler and uncomplicated, the roots and effects of poverty and illiteracy are extremely complicated, deep-rooted, and difficult to remediate.

 

[prv]

Maybe this is slightly off topic, but what do you think of people like Mother Teresa - her work was often not focussed on explicitly evangelising people - she was known to arrange Hindu burials for the poor Hindus she worked with because others couldn’t care less about giving them one. Is this not part of the mission of the Church - respecting anothers’ faith even if you don’t agree with it? In this way, maybe some Protestants could learn from this approach because this is the sort of stuff that opens the door to Christ, even if you don’t get around to speaking about him directly - and, in the right circumstances, it often makes a more profound impression.

For some people, a lifetime is not long enough for them to make their journey all the way into Christ’s Church, and I don’t believe that it is ‘right’ for some people to become Christians. I think that the direction one is travelling in is as important as the destination.

You respect another’s faith insomuch as it agrees with the teachings of Jesus Christ, which we believe is taught by this Catholic Church. You also respect another person who professes another faith. You don’t respect another person’s faith insomuch as it doesn’t agree with the teachings of Christ. I don’t have any respect at all for devil worship, for example.

The Church teaches that all people are called to Christian unity—all. Therefore, I do not agree with you that it is not ‘right’ for some people to become Christian.

In this respect, I respect the Protestants even when they come to “Catholic” countries. At least they have zeal for their work. To my fellow Catholics, I say wake up!

 

[Marat]

First off don’t assume that because a contry “was” catholic
that it still is. an example France.
a recent poll found that only 8 % of french attented mass on a
regular basis, and of that 8% most were older people.
it’s clear that france is in need of all the help it can get.
Also as stated by catholic author Malcia Martin(sp) ( The one who pened "keys of this blood and hostage to the devil)
refered to europe as “post Christian”

So Catholics should be glad that us prostants are trying to fix your shortcommings, and at the same time shamed by your
poor performance

Why don’t the Protestants spend their time and energy on “post Christian” nations such as Sweden or Denmark or other Protestant nations? Aren’t they just as in need of the gospel as say France? I think the motives for missionaries in Catholic nations isn’t as noble as you might think.

 

[leonie]

Why don’t the Protestants spend their time and energy on “post Christian” nations such as Sweden or Denmark or other Protestant nations? Aren’t they just as in need of the gospel as say France? I think the motives for missionaries in Catholic nations isn’t as noble as you might think.

The missionaries I’ve come into contact worked in Poland and South America. These are two areas that still have a strong Catholic Church. I don’t know anyone working in France or Italy or even England.

but, that is just my experience.

 

[rr1213]

But, one of the moms has a daughter who is a missionary to a Catholic country in central America.

Perhaps the topic will never come up, but should I express my dismay that a Protestant is going to a Catholic country as a missionary?

What is a good response?

Christian missionaries, Catholic or otherwise, are workers in the vineyard. Do not despise them.

Mark 9:
38"Teacher," said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40for whoever is not against us is for us. 41I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

 

[leonie]

Christian missionaries, Catholic or otherwise, are workers in the vineyard. Do not despise them.

Mark 9:
38"Teacher," said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40for whoever is not against us is for us. 41I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

Despise is not the word I would use. Frustrated!!!. I’m referring to missionaries that go to other Countries to “save” Catholics.

The two experiences I have had with Protestant missionaries are ones who have missions in South America and Poland.

And, they target Catholics.

 

[rr1213]

Despise is not the word I would use. Frustrated!!!. I’m referring to missionaries that go to other Countries to “save” Catholics.

The two experiences I have had with Protestant missionaries are ones who have missions in South America and Poland.

And, they target Catholics.

Countries are not Catholic or Protestant or Christian, people are. There are people needing the witness of Christ in South America and Poland as well as countries where people have traditionally been Protestant. Shoot, we are at the stage where the US is being evangelized by missionaries from Africa. I don’t care whether the missionaries are Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant, if they are reaching people for Christ then it is a good thing. Go and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

[leonie]

Countries are not Catholic or Protestant or Christian, people are. There are people needing the witness of Christ in South America and Poland as well as countries where people have traditionally been Protestant. Shoot, we are at the stage where the US is being evangelized by missionaries from Africa. I don’t care whether the missionaries are Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant, if they are reaching people for Christ then it is a good thing. Go and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

But, not by pulling them out of the Bride of Christ.

 

[a_cermak]

Just to put the shoe on the other foot here. If the Protestant missionaries (and I get the impression these missionaries aren’t mainline Protestants (Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians…) and may not even acknowledge that they are Protestants cause harm by breaking up families along faith lines, don’t the Catholic (and Protestant) missionaries do that in India? If the reason it’s bad is because of the harm it does families, then why is it only bad for Protestants to evangelize in “Catholic” nations but not for Catholics to evangelize in Buddhist or Hindu nations?