Question for non-Catholics

[TJ_2582]

I’d like to ask a question for all the non-Catholics on this site. I don’t really have anyone to talk to about this so I thought this would be a good place for it.

Whenever I read or listen to a conversion story, a common theme in a lot of them is that after the person becomes Catholic, their family and friends distance themselves from them. Just a couple examples…someone who after they converted, his brother no longer trusted him to watch his kids without someone else there so their minds wouldn’t get “poisoned” by the Catholic brother, and the other story was of someone pretty much getting disowned by their family because they became Catholic(from Mormonism). His own mother told him he was dead to her, you’re not my son anymore, etc.

I realize that these two are probably extreme cases(although these days, you never know), but it just makes me scratch my head every time I read stories like that about people who claim to be good Christian people. If that’s the case, why are so many non-Catholics like this? You never or rarely seem to hear stories like that from Catholics who had a friend or relative leave the church. At least I never really have.

So non-Catholics, and I ask sincerely, why the sudden change of heart when Catholic conversions happen to people you know and you no longer treat them the same as before?

P.S. Please don’t think I’m generalizing all non-Catholics into being like this. Don’t mean it that way at all, but I’ve just read about alot of them that are that way and have always wondered about it.

 

[stephe1987]

Many non-Catholics are heavily brainwashed against the Catholic Church, most likely by pastors who fear their members will leave Protestantism if they learn about Catholicism or view it favorably in any way. It is one thing to disagree with the teachings of the Catholic Chuch. It is quite another to teach blatantly false to downright hateful/evil things about the Church. Some of these things include:

1. Catholics worship Mary instead of God, so they are a cult of idolatry.
2. The Pope is the anti-Christ.
3. Catholics are not Christians.
4. The Catholic Church is a cult that does not want its members to use birth control so they can gain more members.
5. Catholics are puppets of the Pope, incapable of thinking for themselves.
6. Purgatory is a false teaching, and if you believe in purgatory you are going to hell.
7. Catholics use a Bible with false (they call it apocrypha, aka what Catholics call deuterocanoncal) books in it.
8. Catholic Church is run by Satan.
9. Catholics cover up their priests’ sexual abuse charges, and most priests are pedophiles (this is very sick, as it’s a lie and also damaging to the reputation of the 99+% of priests who are in no way involved with nor have been accused of sex abuse of anyone, as well as Catholics who love and rspect their priests).
10. Our Lady (Mary, especially Marian apparitions approved by the Church) is a demon goddess.
    etc…

I think that many of these people are misinformed. They do not understand Catholic teaching, nor do they care to learn about it. Perhaps they think that by shunning their relative they will make said relative want to go back to their old religion or way of thinking. Many of them are blinded by hatred and tricked by the lies of the devil, who has been attacking and leading people away from HMC for centuries.

 

[confusedius]

I think Stephe1987 lays it out pretty well, although I have not noticed any such reactions from people I know.

I have, however, witnessed a good bit of hate masquerading as religious fervor. I think it comes from a blend of ignorance (not taking the time and effort to understand another faith), more ignorance (not taking the time and effort to understand the teachings of Christ), another heaping portion of ignorance (not taking the time and effort to understand the history of Christianity) topped with conceit and hubris.

This is so sad and stupid it is beyond understanding. My daughter married a Catholic and has just converted to his faith. I am an ex-JW and ex-Methodist and I am very proud of her. These people need to pray for understanding and tolerance - including the understanding of what this is doing to people they are supposed to care about.

As a JW, I have seen the effect of shunning first-hand, and it is ugly. How can anyone think this is what Christ had in mind?

James

 

[Lutheranteach]

Many non-Catholics are heavily brainwashed against the Catholic Church, most likely by pastors who fear their members will leave Protestantism if they learn about Catholicism or view it favorably in any way. It is one thing to disagree with the teachings of the Catholic Chuch. It is quite another to teach blatantly false to downright hateful/evil things about the Church. Some of these things include:

1. Catholics worship Mary instead of God, so they are a cult of idolatry.
2. The Pope is the anti-Christ.
3. Catholics are not Christians.
4. The Catholic Church is a cult that does not want its members to use birth control so they can gain more members.
5. Catholics are puppets of the Pope, incapable of thinking for themselves.
6. Purgatory is a false teaching, and if you believe in purgatory you are going to hell.
7. Catholics use a Bible with false (they call it apocrypha, aka what Catholics call deuterocanoncal) books in it.
8. Catholic Church is run by Satan.
9. Catholics cover up their priests’ sexual abuse charges, and most priests are pedophiles (this is very sick, as it’s a lie and also damaging to the reputation of the 99+% of priests who are in no way involved with nor have been accused of sex abuse of anyone, as well as Catholics who love and rspect their priests).
10. Our Lady (Mary, especially Marian apparitions approved by the Church) is a demon goddess.
    etc…

I think that many of these people are misinformed. They do not understand Catholic teaching, nor do they care to learn about it. Perhaps they think that by shunning their relative they will make said relative want to go back to their old religion or way of thinking. Many of them are blinded by hatred and tricked by the lies of the devil, who has been attacking and leading people away from HMC for centuries.

I don’t know a single mainstream protestant who believes any thing on that list. I guess I’m blessed that way.

 

[jericho777]

Many non-Catholics are heavily brainwashed against the Catholic Church, most likely by pastors who fear their members will leave Protestantism if they learn about Catholicism or view it favorably in any way. It is one thing to disagree with the teachings of the Catholic Chuch. It is quite another to teach blatantly false to downright hateful/evil things about the Church. Some of these things include:

1. Catholics worship Mary instead of God, so they are a cult of idolatry.
2. The Pope is the anti-Christ.
3. Catholics are not Christians.
4. The Catholic Church is a cult that does not want its members to use birth control so they can gain more members.
5. Catholics are puppets of the Pope, incapable of thinking for themselves.
6. Purgatory is a false teaching, and if you believe in purgatory you are going to hell.
7. Catholics use a Bible with false (they call it apocrypha, aka what Catholics call deuterocanoncal) books in it.
8. Catholic Church is run by Satan.
9. Catholics cover up their priests’ sexual abuse charges, and most priests are pedophiles (this is very sick, as it’s a lie and also damaging to the reputation of the 99+% of priests who are in no way involved with nor have been accused of sex abuse of anyone, as well as Catholics who love and rspect their priests).
10. Our Lady (Mary, especially Marian apparitions approved by the Church) is a demon goddess.
    etc…

I think that many of these people are misinformed. They do not understand Catholic teaching, nor do they care to learn about it. Perhaps they think that by shunning their relative they will make said relative want to go back to their old religion or way of thinking. Many of them are blinded by hatred and tricked by the lies of the devil, who has been attacking and leading people away from HMC for centuries.

I’m glad you asked. Let’s look at it another way. What about Catholics who become born again Christians and how they are viewed by the Catholic Church. We are called anathema which means if we die in our state without returning to the church we are damned to hell. Maybe nine out of those 10 complaints you say are focused on you, Catholics believe the reverse of non Catholics. For example we are called separated brethren. Martin Luther was satanically inspired. We don’t have a real bible. Our faith is lacking because we don’t have Mary and on and on. And I have heard all those right here and more first hand on this forum.

 

[rick43235]

1. Catholics worship Mary instead of God, so they are a cult of idolatry.
2. The Pope is the anti-Christ.
3. Catholics are not Christians.
4. The Catholic Church is a cult that does not want its members to use birth control so they can gain more members.
5. Catholics are puppets of the Pope, incapable of thinking for themselves.
6. Purgatory is a false teaching, and if you believe in purgatory you are going to hell.
7. Catholics use a Bible with false (they call it apocrypha, aka what Catholics call deuterocanoncal) books in it.
8. Catholic Church is run by Satan.
9. Catholics cover up their priests’ sexual abuse charges, and most priests are pedophiles (this is very sick, as it’s a lie and also damaging to the reputation of the 99+% of priests who are in no way involved with nor have been accused of sex abuse of anyone, as well as Catholics who love and rspect their priests).
10. Our Lady (Mary, especially Marian apparitions approved by the Church) is a demon goddess.

I don’t know a single mainstream protestant who believes any thing on that list. I guess I’m blessed that way.

Most of the people I know are probably mainstream protestants. My experience with them is the same as LT’s. I have never heard anyone express opinions such as these.

So non-Catholics, and I ask sincerely, why the sudden change of heart when Catholic conversions happen to people you know and you no longer treat them the same as before?

The question should probably be, why is anyone treated that way when they make a religious conversion? I have a good friend who, several years ago, left the Catholic Church for another. Her family all but disowned her. Rather nutty, if you ask me.