The most common negative you hear about Catholicism and your response to it

[HeWillProvide]

What is the most frequent negative thing you hear about Catholicism or Catholics and how do you respond?

 

[kathygleeson27]

What is the most frequent negative thing you hear about Catholicism or Catholics and how do you respond?

One time when I was working as a mail clerk at some company. A group of Non-Catholic young women were lined up against the wall near a Catholic lady who happened to be absent for the day. I just brought in the mail from a mail run and I didn’t know they were there. I turned around and they said in chorus "We do not believe in The Immmaculate Conception. I offered that up and took it in stride as a Catholic.I didn’t have time to tell or explain to them. Just kept going to keep peace among the fellow workers. There were a few other Catholic workers they wondered what I did or would do… I kept quiet. My Dad (deceased) said don’t talk abut religion or politics with other workers at work. Only if they ask you about the faith privately.

Then they asked why I got along with everybody there . I said I was brought up in a Christian home. One boss said I was too nice to people around here. I told them the same thing.

I told one other supervisor also non-Catholic “Be ye Perfect as Your Heavenly Father is Perfect”. Sometimes it didn’t really help
to say the things to them. But in the end it helped to prove what was right

I have come across other Catholic girls who didn’t belive in Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception on other times during my life also. I could only pray for them.

Some non-Catholic girls do not like a priest interfering in the marriage encounters.

 

[damooster]

My father does not want me to become a Catholic (he doesn’t know I’m going through RCIA) because he believes Catholics kill Jesus every Sunday and that we worship idols.

I also hear, on a daily basis from co-workers, that all Catholics are hypocrites.

I haven’t argued with my dad because I do not feel it is the right time to tell him that I’m going against his advice by becoming Catholic. My parents separated when I was young, and we do not have the typical father-son relationship. I’m now 31 and he lives in another state, so I’m in no hurry to tell him. But when I do tell him, I would explain to him about the Eucharist (that we don’t kill Jesus), and that we don’t worship idols or saints.

As for my co-workers, I actually have already gone in to “ignore” mode. That should tell you how much negativity I experience at work; I haven’t even been confirmed yet, and here I am already ignoring all the wise cracks. I already feel like a veteran.

 

[narrowpath]

My father does not want me to become a Catholic (he doesn’t know I’m going through RCIA) because he believes Catholics kill Jesus every Sunday and that we worship idols.

I also hear, on a daily basis from co-workers, that all Catholics are hypocrites.

I haven’t argued with my dad because I do not feel it is the right time to tell him that I’m going against his advice by becoming Catholic. My parents separated when I was young, and we do not have the typical father-son relationship. I’m now 31 and he lives in another state, so I’m in no hurry to tell him. But when I do tell him, I would explain to him about the Eucharist (that we don’t kill Jesus), and that we don’t worship idols or saints.

As for my co-workers, I actually have already gone in to “ignore” mode. That should tell you how much negativity I experience at work; I haven’t even been confirmed yet, and here I am already ignoring all the wise cracks. I already feel like a veteran.

try this: your dad says we kill Jesus each Sunday. Therefor, He must believe that Jesus can still suffer in Heaven. If he is a christian, this might get him to think.

 

[kathygleeson27]

The road or pathway on earth for a Catholic/Christian is long and narrow, by obeying God’s Commandments it becomes broad and wide. Jesus taught us His Way of Life how to lead it with his Sacraments and by His Passion and Death on the Cross. It is an ongoing experience for all of us sinners. It doesn’t stop till we arrive in heaven…

St. John Bosco, a friend of St. Dominic said at one time '"one looks to the left and to the right and keeps looking straight ahead on Christ (Christ centered) through one’s whole life till you ge to heaven.

Happy are those who keep my ways watching daily at my gates.

One time I had a discussion with a fellow non-Catholic worker- a lady, we both came to the discussion it is that only God’s know what is in one’s heart about going to heaven. So I pray for all to come to the Knowledge of the Truth about the Catholic Faith

 

[Doc2be]

I am constantly told that Catholics are easy targets because we have a “holier than thou” complex by my Non-denominational friends. They disagree with many Church teachings and the fact that Jesus would ever set sinful humans to lead a spiritual church. It has led to many debates, but we are still friends.

I think the worst is just the constant attacks on general Catholics and how we are hypocrites and don’t know anything about our faith because we can’t quote the whole Bible off the top of our heads. We worship Mary, and not God. We loose focus on God because of the saints and Purgatory is a myth created and kept by the “fake” church.

If there is one thing that keeps me Catholic it is all of this persecution. Because even through all of the nay-sayers and haters, the Catholic Church is still going strong. The gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church! Well, Hell has been giving us all it has and we are still here and strong! We have God in the fullness of truth and that is why I will constantly bear what the devil has to throw at me…God is with me and all Catholics! Take your strength from that.

God Bless.

 

[Junebug999]

My father does not want me to become a Catholic (he doesn’t know I’m going through RCIA) because he believes Catholics kill Jesus every Sunday and that we worship idols.

I also hear, on a daily basis from co-workers, that all Catholics are hypocrites.

I haven’t argued with my dad because I do not feel it is the right time to tell him that I’m going against his advice by becoming Catholic. My parents separated when I was young, and we do not have the typical father-son relationship. I’m now 31 and he lives in another state, so I’m in no hurry to tell him. But when I do tell him, I would explain to him about the Eucharist (that we don’t kill Jesus), and that we don’t worship idols or saints.

As for my co-workers, I actually have already gone in to “ignore” mode. That should tell you how much negativity I experience at work; I haven’t even been confirmed yet, and here I am already ignoring all the wise cracks. I already feel like a veteran.

Wow Damooster – you have a hard row to hoe! I’m in RCIA this year also. I just try to put people in ignore mode at work also. Outside work I do speak up. At work if someone says something i just pray for them. I have a Crucifix on my keychain and put my keys on my desk where I can see it. It reminds me to be careful what I say at work, and reminds me to pray for them.

You are in my prayers – EASTER VIGIL is coming soon!!!

 

[EvelynEVF]

The big complaint I hear is that it is a religion full of man-made traditions instead of sticking to the Bible.

i am so deeply grateful for all of the tradition and Tradition that we have, because i am a person with a body, and i need to taste and touch and smell and hear my faith. It makes all the difference in the world to me, so I barely pay any attention to the complaint anymore. I figure if they want to darken the doors even once, then we can talk, but until then they don’t really know what they are talking about.

 

[PJM]

What is the most frequent negative thing you hear about Catholicism or Catholics and how do you respond?

Always with Charity,

Always with facts (ideally biblical)

Always with THE TRUTH (if you don’t know don’t pretend you do… get the answer and get back to them.

Love and prayers,

 

[de_profundis]

A very good friend of mine at work, who is a muslim convert (from hinduism), recently got pulled into a conversation by two pentecostals at work. I could see them chatting intensely, and guessed that the pentecostals had pulled him aside about his religion. He came over to me a few minutes later, and said jokingly: “Guess what, you’re not a Christian, at least according to (X) and (Y).” I recoiled, and he explained that he had just defended my Catholic faith against the other two, who were telling him that Catholics are in no way at all Christian. I was proud of him and felt quite touched, but it hurt so bad to be told (indirectly) that I’m not a christian. I’m used to accusations of idolatry etc., but that one cut deep.

Oops I’m off topic - the most common would have to be ‘praying you should pray straight to Jesus’ and ‘drinking blood/pagan rites and rituals’.

 

[thekaki]

Timely topic –
My sister and I will soon be flying - from different areas of the country – to Oh to visit my mom in her new apartment in a retirement home. Sis & I will share an apartment across the hall from Mom. We haven’t shared a bedroom since we were 10 & 12! Now we’re 59 & 61! Mom and I are practicing Catholics and love and try to live our faith. Sis is not - Catholics spend too much on buildings and not enough on the poor (we’re the single largest charity in the world, but that’s not enough) those horrible priests and Bishops (Jesus forgave all but she can’t), all those lesbians who use the convent as a refuge (I think we got a handle on that, but she never will), Why do I have to tell my sins to a priest - he has no right to know my private thoughts (it’s a lesson in humilty, silly girl).

The thing is, people will drum up and exaggerate and obsess over individual acts or parts of the Church as an excuse; what is shouted from the rooftops is never the real reason.

Catholicism is tough, rigorous, a constant trial. You cannont be lazy and be Catholic. All of the protestant religions have pealed off because one or another teaching was just too hard to believe or do or not do. Many religions will conform to a local group based on their wants. Well, guess what, as I’m envision Pope Benedict said to Nancy Pelosi yesterday- it’s not about your agenda, Nancy, it’s about God’s agenda! I’m sure she won’t tell that story…I wonder if he offered to hear her confession… Oh, well, that’s another Thread…

Anyway, try to set a good example and be kind. We won’t change our ways, Rosary, Bible reading, prayer, meditation, we’ll invite her to join us at Mass, and as always, pray, pray, pray.

Love & prayers,
Kak

 

[GrahamCE]

Some of my inlaws were “saved” a few years ago. It seems that the most common theme is that Catholicism is not “Bible-based” and questions about Mary. There are a lot of other things too, but mostly it goes back to the Bible-based thing.

I try to answer honestly, simply, and truthfully. If I don’t know the answer, then I tell them I don’t but will get back. The challenge though is that they are so adamant in their beliefs that it is almost like their ears are shut off. If asked about how they know about Catholicism, it’s almost like they have memorized a booklet on it, with Bible verses in excess to “prove” their points (which just are not true). Sometimes you give an answer or ask a pointed question and they immediately switch gears and go off on another tangent like they didn’t even hear you.

Personally it is hard for me though because my husband is not Catholic, but is coming around. I feel like he is stuck in the middle. His sister is really working on him via email with her witnessing.

Bottom line for me - truth and honesty. Prayer. Acting as an example.

 

[ICEArmy]

I had people tell me that im not a “true” follower of Jesus Christ and we worship idols, pray to saints, traditions, and most of all purgatory.

But the worst one i had was when a Non-denominational person who knew i was Catholic came up to me and told me that all Catholics are evil and they will all go to Hell.

I looked at him and told him Who give YOU the right to judge ME. I even tried to explain and defend my faith but he wouldnt listen. He considers himself to be a strong believer in Jesus Christ, but that just took me off guard.

 

[LHN_Apologist]

As I am a Roman Catholic attending high school at a Lutheran high school, I hear daily about all the problems of the Catholic Church. I do my best to correct the many, many, misguided views the students and faculty have, but in the end, everything comes down to one thing: the Catholic Church is heterodox. They (LCMS) say that RC is heterodox because it adds and subtracts from Scripture to fit its doctrines. To this completely offensive statement, I retort: “Just what was Martin Luther doing in the Reformation when he decided what books should be in the Bible and which shouldn’t? And, who gave him the authority to decide which books were/weren’t inspired?” The baffled LCMS faculty and students just stare at me and try to scramble up some pitiful response that usually leaves them questioning the validity of Lutheranism, and wondering if Catholicism is really right.

 

[musicality]

This isn’t necessarily something that I hear from non-Catholics… in fact its probably more often heard from Catholics as well as former Catholics.
One of the biggest things has to be the fact that there are a number of Catholics who don’t practice their faith seriously.
This is probably something that I pray the most about, especially coming from an area where being religious isn’t very socially acceptable. I’ve definitely been in that position–not truly practicing my faith. It really irks me that it seems that the church is very lax about this.

 

[EvelynEVF]

That is a tough one. My father in law is rabidly anti-Catholic, and often comments about a guy he was in the military with in WWII. This guy would use his weekend passes to fornicate with his girlfriend and then go to Confession, say his Hail Marys, and figure he was fine until the next weekend. He lived in fear during the days between sin and confession.

FIL will argue to my face that this kid was a good Catholic, and won’t believe a word I say when I tell him that his comrade was abusing the sacrament by fully intending to go off and sin again. He was most emphatically NOT a good Catholic and either didn’t understand the sacrament or didn’t care. His behavior 60 years ago trumps anything that I, as a trusted family member the FIL knew and loved for ten years before my conversion, could say.

 

[thekaki]

Is it any wonder that non-Catholics have trouble understanding Catholicism, when we show such total disregard for and ignorance of the Sacraments? We profess to all have the same beief system, faith, Mass, Sacraments, but so many misinterpret the very basics – like what’s Confession for – certainly not a weekly washing so you can do whatever you want to and always be forgiven. Somebody missed the concept of Contrition and wasn’t listening to "go and sin no more!

My former Sister-in-law converted to Catholicism before she married my brother - through the Newman Center at College. She thought we ony really had one sin - and since she went to confession the day before they were married, she couldn’t sin anymore…

A Baptist friend of mine once told me she could never be Catholic because we don’t study the Bible - no Adult Sunday School. Maybe she has a point. We need to have a continuing education. My response – you’re right, we should study our Faith more.

Love & prayers,
Kak

 

[de_profundis]

I guess unless you come from a Catholic family where the parents catechise you growing up, then these days you are bound to miss out on 95% of the ‘basics’, like I did myself.

It would be nice to see parishes doing 1hr evening sessions once per week or something.

Anyway, back on topic, has anyone tried sharing the conversion story of Scott Hahn (or similar material) with a protestant?

 

[MaryCatherine08]

I live in a mainly protestant southern town, and I get lots of misconceptions or just plain prejudice about our faith. The most common ones I get are worshiping Mary and that all priests are homosexual child molesters.

When I come across a someone that is really interested in understanding, I will take the time and explain to them. However, when I come across arrogance and prejudice, I simply say that no matter what you want to say about my Church, at the end of the day I am a member of the only Church founded by Jesus Christ, passed down by apostalic succession, guarded by the protection of the Holy Spirit. It is either the Church started by Jesus or one of the Martin Luther off shoots. Who do you follow?

I will say, being where I am has made me alot more sensitive to other people’s faith. I will never bad mouth a religion that I don’t know about- I may not agree with it or believe in it- but I will not be derogatory to someone else’s faith.

 

[Matariel]

I hear all kinds of things. My father is rabidly anti-Catholic and believes the Catholic Church “enslaves people’s minds” etc. He recently told me that “The Popes used to claim to be God” and that “the Church lets native people continue worshipping their gods alongside of the Trinity” and blah, blah, blah.

A co-worker of mine said that “Catholics’re no good, because if they sin they just shrug it off and go to confession and do it again anyway.” I told him, “well, according to Catholic teaching, sins are only forgiven if the person confessing promises to do his best never to do it again.”

My father also claims “Catholics in third-world countries worship Mary”. I told him that that was awfully judgemental to claim to know what’s going on in people’s hearts and such.

He is radically opposed to me becoming Catholic, evenmoreso than when my sister became Amish. To him, Catholic is worse than any other thing, and I’ll burn in Hell probably for becoming Catholic.

I was upset too, because my parish was making a list of relatives of candidates and catechumens’ families that were going to be present and I was the only one who didn’t have anyone coming, except maybe (if I do alot of convincing) my Mom.