Surround by Anti-Catholics

[Coustana]

Hi…I am new here, and very glad I joined. One of the reasons I joined is because of this very problem! I am isolated in a little town filled with Baptists…need I say more. It is very difficult off and on. I have had a serious amount of Grace bestowed upon me lately & found the Catholic Lighthouse Media cd’s…they are absolutely wonderful to help us “cornered” Catholics. I gave one to a Pentecostal friend last week that should blow her mind. It was called “Finding the Fullness of Faith” or something similar. My daughter works for our diocese & gave us some for Christmas. She has also given me some workbooks on dealing with fundamentalists, Mormons & Jehovah’s Witnesses, rapture, etc. My husband & I converted in 1981 & raised our kids in the Church; our families were anti-Catholic, but mine are now over it…not his. It was lonely to go through Baptisms, First Communions & Confirmations with no family to share it with, while other Catholic families were surrounded by their loved ones at these pivotal events. I agree about trying to be mum, and letting our lives set the example. However, it can be AWFUL!! I have spent alot of anger at them and myself for not being able to stand up. I have also found the radio program “Women of Faith” on our local Catholic station to be wonderful. I am reading the New Testament for Lent & studying the “dealing with anti-Catholics” material at the same time. It is very enlightening & I am seeing that since most of these people can quote their KJV like robots, it is REALLY helping me to actually see what they quote, the context & understanding their often misguided emphasis in the light of Catholicism. I compare my St. Joseph edition with a KJV I have…it really helps to see they both say basically the same thing!! (yet they believe we don’t read a REAL Bible…augh!) I highly recommend becoming an armchair apologist, waiting for openings, and setting good examples. (I have often not done this in the past, and am trying to make amends for my failure.) The Women of Faith show is making me realize we must stand up…there are so many awful things going on “out there” I think it is very important we are as educated as we can be, and ready with the “why.” I thank God I found this website. I’m sorry this is so long…I’m excited to be here!!

 

[Lief_Erikson]

It sounds like you’re doing very well, Coustana! You’re doing the right thing with the research. Pray a good deal too, for wisdom and grace both for yourself and for those you encounter who believe in false teachings. Prayer, especially through our Blessed Mother, is the most powerful weapon we have. Though all that research certainly helps, and I’m glad you’re increasingly feeling ready to stand up for what you believe.

Remember if you have to suffer during this time that Christ and members of His Body throughout our Church’s existence have suffered for the truth. When we offer that suffering up to God, praying, “Take this cup from me, but not my will, but thine be done,” and receiving the suffering as a gift from Him to be thankful for (that can take prayer to get us to that point), we detach ourselves from our surroundings and our own desires and attach ourselves firmly to Him. Then He has more freedom and power to use us and He causes our sufferings to have eternal value. If you offer these sufferings up to mingle with the sufferings of Christ’s Passion and Mary’s agonies at the foot of the Cross, this causes the tiny part you bring into the anguish to suddenly have great power.

We need to pray with perseverance and surrender ourselves and our desires to God continually.

At the same time, all the mental preparation and research you’re doing, and your increasing resolve to stand up for the truth, are excellent!

 

[fdesales]

My siblings are about 20 years old, young adults. My parents obviously care a good deal about their growth in the faith and don’t want to see them make a serious mistake.

Your parents do need to realize that your siblings have to make their faith in God their own, worshiping God as they see fit. If they care for them so much, they should be supportive and respectfully ask questions on things they disagree on, rather than telling them not to become Catholic. It’s not exactly a cult.

Regards

 

[Lief_Erikson]

I think I would be resistant too if I was a parent and my children were converting to Protestantism. I would try to talk and pray them out of it for sure.

We need to be very respectful, understanding and peaceful in situations such as these. I have no interest in criticizing or judging my parents, though obviously I will continue to support my siblings.

 

[SalemVFrost]

Yeah, people always assume I slaughter animals and things just because of my beliefs and the way I dress. They are FAR wrong.

 

[Rence]

I leave my debates to my online time. In person-to-person, I saw some of the same thing you described, maryrd, and it became an obstacle to my faith for a while.

What has helped me get past that is just dropping the Catholicism out of my conversation while maintaining a strong devotional life. Now those who are interested will occasionally ask questions, but they are curious and not confrontational. If someone does get confrontational, then I don’t have to respond because nothing is more rude than confronting someone about a scapular they are wearing or a piece of devotional art in their home. So this eliminates the religous debates that can be so unfruitful as well as distressing while it witnesses to those who are receptive.

Also, since doing this, the Catholics around me have been increasing in number. Have you ever noticed that when you do something like buy a new car that you think is unusual, suddenly you are seeing that model of car everywhere? Well, the same thing happens in all parts of our lives. If you set yourself to a quiet devotional pattern, you will start noticing other people who have been doing the same thing all along but they have been in the background., You will begin to collect a small community of supportive Catholics around you so that the lapsed Catholics and poorly catechized ones will not dominate your circle of friends, but may benefit from it instead.

Hope this helps.

That is the most sensible thing I’ve read here in quite a few weeks. Thank you so much for your advice and your suggestions (even though they weren’t directly for me). I think it’s useful in all aspects in our lives. And it was nice to hear your perspective

 

[andyandely1997]

As a new Catholic, we have to know our faith to defend the faith. Before becoming Catholic, I was ignorant of the Catholic Church, because most Catholics I came across lived just like me. The average Catholic gives a bad example to the world & doesn’t know much about the Church. We have to know the Catechism & the Bible to defend the faith. I do not believe in keeping silent, although, we have to speak up & defend the faith. If someone makes a negative comment around me about Christ or the Church, I am going to speak up & defend the one truth. We need to have courage & not be afraid. Our defense of the faith could lead to someone seeing the truth of Christ, the Church & hopefully by the grace of God be led to the Church. The Holy Spirit needs to be awakened in many Catholics. The Catechism talks about an interior penance or conversion of heart in paragraphs 1430-1433. There are too many lukewarm Catholics. “But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, not hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)

 

[PJM]

I was raised Catholic, and so were most of my friends. Unfortunately, not many of them are truly practicing Catholics. I was blessed by God with a strong faith. I don’t always feel I can express my beliefs well to others, but I STRONGLY believe in all the faith teaches. I have a group of friends that are Catholic but have negative opinions on the faith they attest to be apart of. For example, last week @ dinner some of my friends said they never heard of a Catechism! These friends were raised in a Catholic home, and attended Catholic schools from kindergarten to college. Others thought the Catechism was a radical book written by any chosen bishop, and that it’s not an official teaching of the church. My one friend kept saying the Catechism is NOT “ordained” or “sanctioned” by the Church. Other people were comparing people who follow the Catechism to radical jihadists. I felt like I was being attacked, luckily I had my husband at my side who could defend our faith. However, it didn’t matter because they wanted to believe what they wanted to believe. Any thoughts? I see this group of people every couple of months, and I’m sure this subject will come up again.

NEVER forget that the environement Jesus and the Apostles lived is was FAR MORE hostile and dangerous than what we experince.

Matt 5: [11] "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you. "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. "*You are the light of the world. **A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. ***]

*You may be the only Bible, the Only Catecheism they ever read. Live your faith publically, humbly, fully, obediently and always be willing to defend it. Keep in mind, one can’t share what they themselves don’t have to “give away.” Know your faith well enough to be able to explain and defend it; BUT never are we to FORCE others to agree with us.
***Our task is to know and share truth; it’s God’s job to handle conversions! ***

NEVER argue or get angry. Say a prayer and let God do the Heavy lifting.

Love and prayers, pray daily for these friends.

Pat*

 

[tpw]

People who were raised Catholic and yet have “negative” views of their faith need to be talked with and not at. In many cases a bad experience with a priest, religious or even lay person can leave negative impressions on a person - especially if this happenned during formative years.

What was passed on by parents can also be a problem. Parents may have been poorly formed or has passed on a child-like faith which doesn’t appear to be a response to questions, issues, etc. someone may experience.

Also there are lots of forms of misinformation out there. For some women (and men) who’ve opted/supported abortion - misinformation spread by well-intended but merciless pro-life people keeps them away. Forgiveness is always a possibility - especially for those who are greatly wounded…

The clergy sex abuse scandal has driven some away. As Pope Benedict said this past week…one can’t blame the media or external forces for matters that were in fact sins of the church. Penance, justice and forgiveness are necessary.

And even more the growth in interest of eastern religions often lead people astray especially if they’re not aware of the monastic and mystical traditions in RC. Here a combination of lack of good formation is at work.

Check to see if your parish has “Welcoming Home” outreach programs. Lots of times a person may simply need to vent and be heard as part of a first step. The Paulists also have some great programs and resources to start

Jesus never promised us a perfect church…only one where reconciliation is possible.