Relating to Former Catholics

[SoldierOfGod]

I’m working on a short series of stories that’s aimed at helping deal with some of the problems Catholics are facing these days. The chapter I’m working on deals with Catholics who have left the Church because of persecution or misinformation about the Church. From my experience, I only drop people from my life when they persist in being ugly to God and the faithful people in my life. From what I understand after reading a lot of Catholic literature (the Bible, the Catechism, apologists, etc), we are called to be there for them, answer their questions, and help them back over time as best we can.

Anyone else have different experiences? I’m just looking for some other perspectives so I can properly respond in the series.

 

[captainrick]

Sounds right to me! I don’t even know the religion of half my friends. I just try to treat people with kindness, help when I can, and live the example of a good life.

 

[3DOCTORS]

I’m working on a short series of stories that’s aimed at helping deal with some of the problems Catholics are facing these days. The chapter I’m working on deals with Catholics who have left the Church because of persecution or misinformation about the Church. From my experience, I only drop people from my life when they persist in being ugly to God and the faithful people in my life. From what I understand after reading a lot of Catholic literature (the Bible, the Catechism, apologists, etc), we are called to be there for them, answer their questions, and help them back over time as best we can.

Anyone else have different experiences? I’m just looking for some other perspectives so I can properly respond in the series.

This is what I try to do too. Sometimes I find I have to drop back 20 yards and punt if my ways of trying to touch their hearts to reconsider seem to be counterproductive. You might enjoy reading Patrick Madrid’s books about converts, particularly the “Surprised By Truth” series and the book “Search and Rescue.” Ignatius Press and Our Sunday Visitor also have some convert stories, and this site and Catholics Come Home would be good places to learn a variety of people’s experiences both as returnees and those who help people return. Good luck on your writing, sounds like a great project.

 

[patmiron]

=SoldierOfGod;13199672]I’m working on a short series of stories that’s aimed at helping deal with some of the problems Catholics are facing these days. The chapter I’m working on deals with Catholics who have left the Church because of persecution or misinformation about the Church. From my experience, I only drop people from my life when they persist in being ugly to God and the faithful people in my life. From what I understand after reading a lot of Catholic literature (the Bible, the Catechism, apologists, etc), we are called to be there for them, answer their questions, and help them back over time as best we can.

Anyone else have different experiences? I’m just looking for some other perspectives so I can properly respond in the series.

Hi I have been a Catholic Catechist for about 30 years.

Now retired, I continue my Ministry from home with a FREE OF ALL COST Home study e-mailed course.

Most of the people I am Blessed to share our faith with are other faith-Christians; and some Catholics who just want to REALLY know what we believe and WHY we practice and believe what we do. So I stress evidence.

I have also had a few fallen away Catholics. From my experience with them; they all have a poor record of RIGHT Catechizes; notably a lack of understanding of One God; One Faith and One True Church all bionically provable, AND not understanding the Sacraments; especially Sacramental Confession and the Real Presence. NOT understanding that Jesus IS Really, Truly and Substantially to US in Catholic Holy Communion [testified to by FIVE different authors of the NT]AND that GOD"S way to forgive our sins is Sacramental Confession [1 Jn 1:6-7; 1 Jn 5: 16-17 & John 20:19-23]. Without this understanding Catholicism is no “better” than any and all non-catholic religions.

Keep in mind that it IS God’s Grace that leads to conversions. WE are judt conduits of our faith; God has to do the HARD work.

May God guide and Bless your efforts,

Patrick
So this kind of information ought to be included IMO:thumbsup: