Tim Tebow's dad wants to convert Catholics in the Philippines?

[Lost_Wanderer]

“Street preaching” is primarily a western, predominately American practice started in the days before mass communications.
They must look pretty ridiculous.

Indeed they did which is why I can only be glad that they remain an uncommon appearance. Once, I saw another street preacher in a palengke (marketplace).

Ah the sight of a man in a suit… surrounded by guys in sleeveless sandos while heaving carts of fruits/vegetables, store owners staving flies off their fresh meat/fish products, the occasional live chickens/pigs/ducks, and once again… the wonderful sight (and smells) of local BBQ stands.

Indeed, I see the likes of Tebow’s ministry and can only laugh.

 

[JustaServant]

Indeed they did which is why I can only be glad that they remain an uncommon appearance. Once, I saw another street preacher in a palengke (marketplace).

Ah the sight of a man in a suit… surrounded by guys in sleeveless sandos while heaving carts of fruits/vegetables, store owners staving flies off their fresh meat/fish products, the occasional live chickens/pigs/ducks, and once again… the wonderful sight (and smells) of local BBQ stands.

Indeed, I see the likes of Tebow’s ministry and can only laugh.

You’re making me hungry.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

You’re making me hungry.

Well if it helps, a palengke is actually quite a smelly place minus the BBQ stands.
Then again, it kinda makes preachers wearing suits look more out of place. XD

Ooh! Another thought hit me regarding a potential culture clash. Another common urban feature here in the Philippines are cheap net cafes. I’ve seen more than my share of foreigners use them.

I hate to see a missionary in one though around 3-4 in the afternoon. Oh I can only imagine Mr. Tebow’s shock as throngs upon throngs of students swarm in, the musical throng of local (and intense) gamer talk ringing his ears, as well as the occasional roar of team victory.

 

[Little_Mary]

We certainly know what his dad thinks of Catholics in the Philippines:

More…
btea.org/theplan.asp

Here is what is most disturbing to me: The pic on that website of all the newly “ordained ministers” - all Filipino.

Here is my question: What are the existing Catholic parishes over there doing about evangelicals coming over with the attitude that these Catholic souls need to be “saved”?

JustaServant - just a comment on some of the more caustic responses to your original post: I can’t believe some people don’t appreciate what you’re pointing out here. I, for one, thank you for bringing this to my attention. It is yet ANOTHER way that Catholics are discrimated against, and this isn’t even subtle.

I think Mr. Bob Tebow should be called out for this, but he wouldn’t listen to just me.
That’s why I want to know what the local Catholics in the Phillipines are doing about people like Bob Tebow.

 

[JustaServant]

Here is what is most disturbing to me: The pic on that website of all the newly “ordained ministers” - all Filipino.

Here is my question: What are the existing Catholic parishes over there doing about evangelicals coming over with the attitude that these Catholic souls need to be “saved”?

JustaServant - just a comment on some of the more caustic responses to your original post: I can’t believe some people don’t appreciate what you’re pointing out here. I, for one, thank you for bringing this to my attention. It is yet ANOTHER way that Catholics are discrimated against, and this isn’t even subtle.

I think Mr. Bob Tebow should be called out for this, but he wouldn’t listen to just me.
That’s why I want to know what the local Catholics in the Phillipines are doing about people like Bob Tebow.

What is maddening to me is liberally-minded cradle Catholics who put their head in the sand in the name of ecumenical harmony. Being a former Baptist and evangelical myself I know quite well how Catholics are viewed by these people.
Perhaps Bob Tebow could be contacted to answer for himself.

 

[Little_Mary]

What is maddening to me is liberally-minded cradle Catholics who put their head in the sand in the name of ecumenical harmony. Being a former Baptist and evangelical myself I know quite well how Catholics are viewed by these people.
Perhaps Bob Tebow could be contacted to answer for himself.

How about these guys? Albeit if they are not already aware of it …well…they should be don’t you think???

vatican.visahq.com/embassy/Philippines/

And I understand what you mean about ecumenical harmony. Yes we should all co-exist peacefully but I think that includes and is not limited to RESPECT of ALL others, not just all others who think like you do.

When something like this is happening (to be specific, implying that a 65 million strong Catholic population has never heard the Gospel) a line has been crossed and should be addressed.

 

[Filii_Dei]

How about these guys? Albeit if they are not already aware of it …well…they should be don’t you think???

vatican.visahq.com/embassy/Philippines/

And I understand what you mean about ecumenical harmony. Yes we should all co-exist peacefully but I think that includes and is not limited to RESPECT of ALL others, not just all others who think like you do.

When something like this is happening (to be specific, implying that a 65 million strong Catholic population has never heard the Gospel) a line has been crossed and should be addressed.

But what can they do, without giving people like Bob Tebow an opportunity to complain about a conspiracy to restrict religious freedom?

I know some countries consider the propagation of offensive views to overstep the boundaries of the freedom of religious expression, and sometimes even criminal, but does the Philippines hold the same principle?

 

[Little_Mary]

But what can they do, without giving people like Bob Tebow an opportunity to complain about a conspiracy to restrict religious freedom?

I know some countries consider the propagation of offensive views to overstep the boundaries of the freedom of religious expression, and sometimes even criminal, but does the Philippines hold the same principle?

No, no, no, I am thinking more along the lines of catechizing the Catholics there so that they can easily and readily defend their faith when someone like Tebow approaches them.

Sorry if I did not make myself clear.

If the resident CAtholics over there know it’s coming, they can be ready and maybe even teach Tebow and his “missionaries” a thing or two.

And yes, to make a statement like he did on his website, I don’t see the problem with asking him for clarification/explanation in an equally public fashion.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Here is what is most disturbing to me: The pic on that website of all the newly “ordained ministers” - all Filipino.

Here is my question: What are the existing Catholic parishes over there doing about evangelicals coming over with the attitude that these Catholic souls need to be “saved”?

JustaServant - just a comment on some of the more caustic responses to your original post: I can’t believe some people don’t appreciate what you’re pointing out here. I, for one, thank you for bringing this to my attention. It is yet ANOTHER way that Catholics are discrimated against, and this isn’t even subtle.

I think Mr. Bob Tebow should be called out for this, but he wouldn’t listen to just me.
That’s why I want to know what the local Catholics in the Phillipines are doing about people like Bob Tebow.

There’s nothing much parishes can do. Priests do preach form the pulpit to clarify Catholic beliefs and warn people of errors from these other groups. But there is a lack of personal connection in parishes in the Philippines. I guess thats part of what having half-a-dozen parishes within a 15-minute drive (a short distance given the kind of traffic we have in Manila) and people generally go to Mass whereever. When I was still living there, I’ve gone to parishes for years without knowing the priest. A huge difference with my current situation where I get invited to the Bishop’s residence from time to time. But that lack of personal connection means many people do get proselytized by those who take their time to sit down and explain their version of the Bible to them.

 

[Little_Mary]

There’s nothing much parishes can do. Priests do preach form the pulpit to clarify Catholic beliefs and warn people of errors from these other groups. But there is a lack of personal connection in parishes in the Philippines. I guess thats part of what having half-a-dozen parishes within a 15-minute drive (a short distance given the kind of traffic we have in Manila) and people generally go to Mass whereever. When I was still living there, I’ve gone to parishes for years without knowing the priest. A huge difference with my current situation where I get invited to the Bishop’s residence from time to time. But that lack of personal connection means many people do get proselytized by those who take their time to sit down and explain their version of the Bible to them.

Well then our Catholic shepherds over there need to wake up!!!

 

[ConstantineTG]

Well then our Catholic shepherds over there need to wake up!!!

The biggest and main concern there of the Catholic Church is helping the poor. Most of the country is poor and a good number (over 20million) are below the poverty line (they live on less than $2 a day). Plus parishes just have a huge amount of people, there is not a parish that has less than 1000 people attending Mass on a Sunday. Even the little ones that cannot sit more than 200. They’ll be overflowing with people literally hearing Mass from the street, and they’d probably say anywhere from 7-10 Masses on a Sunday.

In such a high density city like Manila, you can’t really break parishes in to small parishes with about 500 or less members. That would mean a parish in every block of the city.

 

[Little_Mary]

The biggest and main concern there of the Catholic Church is helping the poor. Most of the country is poor and a good number (over 20million) are below the poverty line (they live on less than $2 a day). Plus parishes just have a huge amount of people, there is not a parish that has less than 1000 people attending Mass on a Sunday. Even the little ones that cannot sit more than 200. They’ll be overflowing with people literally hearing Mass from the street, and they’d probably say anywhere from 7-10 Masses on a Sunday.

In such a high density city like Manila, you can’t really break parishes in to small parishes with about 500 or less members. That would mean a parish in every block of the city.

I like those numbers, though. Hope it stays that way/increases.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Here is what is most disturbing to me: The pic on that website of all the newly “ordained ministers” - all Filipino.

Here is my question: What are the existing Catholic parishes over there doing about evangelicals coming over with the attitude that these Catholic souls need to be “saved”?

In addition to some of the things ConstantineTG stated, most of the parishes here are in fact quite poor in of themselves. (This goes especially in southern provinces like mine.) Heck, even in my large neighborhood, we only have this tiny chapel that can barely contain the crowd that attends. The inside is decent but renovation is so slow, even the expansions to the local SM mall are happening faster. (Don’t even get me started on how even the church I attended when I was boy has only so much as constructed a bell tower in all these 15 years. The inside is as decrepit and dusty as ever.)

I think Mr. Bob Tebow should be called out for this, but he wouldn’t listen to just me.
That’s why I want to know what the local Catholics in the Phillipines are doing about people like Bob Tebow.

Frankly, people’s minds here (including mine) are just too concerned with putting food on our table, paying our bills, and trying to improve our economy in our own simple ways without government/political meddling to care about what Protestant missionaries have to say, much less contemplate a shift in religion. We’ve had people like him since the 90s and beyond. Not much has changed. Heck, the subtle cultural barriers surrounding modern Pinoy society more than make up for our lack of counter-evangelical action.

 

[Little_Mary]

In addition to some of the things ConstantineTG stated, most of the parishes here are in fact quite poor. (This goes especially in southern provinces like mine.) Heck, even in my large neighborhood, we only have this tiny chapel that can barely contain the crowd that attends. The inside is decent but renovation is so slow, even the expansions to the local SM mall are happening faster. (Don’t even get me started on how even the church I attended when I was boy has only so much as constructed a bell tower in all these 15 years. The inside is as decrepit and dusty as ever.)

Frankly, people’s minds here (including mine) are just too concerned with putting food on our table, paying our bills, and trying to improve our economy in our own simple ways without government/political meddling to care about what Protestant missionaries have to say, much less contemplate a shift in religion. We’ve had people like him since the 90s and beyond. Not much has changed. Heck, the subtle cultural barriers surrounding modern Pinoy society more than make up for our lack of counter-evangelical action.

So, what you’re saying is, people like Mr. Tebow are not really a “threat” - for lack of a better term - ?

His website makes it look like they are making great strides…that’s why I mentioned the picture. They even have a picture of the “national guy”…

That said, it’s also the man’s attitude that really gets my goat. " nobody’s ever heard the gospel until MY team gets down there… come on boys, we;ve got souls to save"

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

So, what you’re saying is, people like Mr. Tebow are not really a “threat” - for lack of a better term - ?

His website makes it look like they are making great strides…that’s why I mentioned the picture.

I’ve seen the same rhetoric in Catholic magazines and other publications. You’ve heard one evangelical pitch, you’ve heard them all.

Besides, Mr. Tebow has bigger fish to fry if he truly intends to convert anybody. The secularism and downright opposition to any forms of religion is rising amongst the middle and upper classes here.

Though in that case, the Church already has beaten them to that punch (and not without stiff liberal opposition either, if the RH Bill controversy has anything to say about it).

They even have a picture of the “national guy”…

That said, it’s also the man’s attitude that really gets my goat. " nobody’s ever heard the gospel until MY team gets down there… come on boys, we;ve got souls to save"

I don’t know, I find the naivete of foreign missionaries like him humorous actually.

 

[AbideWithMe]

CopticChristian and Little Mary----

Regarding Shalom Place, the forum I spoke of several pages ago—thanks, CopticChristian, for saying you would keep a pm private. I do have some reservations about posting this website publically here, but not huge reservations, so here it is: shalomplace.com

To anyone who may visit Shalom Place----please be respectful and be “quick to listen and slow to judge”. It’s mostly geared as support for Christian contemplative practice. The moderator, in the course of Christian prayer quite a few years ago, experienced what some people call a kundalini awakening. While I haven’t experienced that and don’t really wish to, the moderator is a level-headed and seasoned Catholic spiritual director.

 

[CopticChristian]

CopticChristian and Little Mary----

Regarding Shalom Place, the forum I spoke of several pages ago—thanks, CopticChristian, for saying you would keep a pm private. I do have some reservations about posting this website publically here, but not huge reservations, so here it is: shalomplace.com

To anyone who may visit Shalom Place----please be respectful and be “quick to listen and slow to judge”. It’s mostly geared as support for Christian contemplative practice. The moderator, in the course of Christian prayer quite a few years ago, experienced what some people call a kundalini awakening. While I haven’t experienced that and don’t really wish to, the moderator is a level-headed and seasoned Catholic spiritual director.

Abide,

It was my understanding that you were seeking what you don’t understand about Catholicism from someplace. I visited this site. In my opinion this is not the place to start to learn about Catholic Christianity. Contemplatives, Mystics and the like are part of the Church. St. John of The Cross and others are part of the Church. I have investigated and looked into this realm. It is not a starting point.

The Catholic/Christian Church is the home for many different expressions of Faith. Within the Church there are celibate or eunochs for the kingdom, laity, evangelists, apologists, missionaries and a variety of different types of people expressing their Faith. I suppose you could learn some things from those that express their faith and I would not doubt you would.

You say you do not understand Catholic/Christianity…this is Catholic Answers…in my opinion it would be my suggestion to voice what you do not understand here.

 

[ConstantineTG]

CopticChristian and Little Mary----

Regarding Shalom Place, the forum I spoke of several pages ago—thanks, CopticChristian, for saying you would keep a pm private. I do have some reservations about posting this website publically here, but not huge reservations, so here it is: shalomplace.com

To anyone who may visit Shalom Place----please be respectful and be “quick to listen and slow to judge”. It’s mostly geared as support for Christian contemplative practice. The moderator, in the course of Christian prayer quite a few years ago, experienced what some people call a kundalini awakening. While I haven’t experienced that and don’t really wish to, the moderator is a level-headed and seasoned Catholic spiritual director.

And what makes you think they’d go after those who have secularized? Those people aren’t interested in religion anymore. So who will they go after? Catholics. I mean, I’d be glad if these neo-Atheists would even want to be Protestants. But they’re not, and these Protestant denominations are targeting Catholics who want to be more faithful to God but unfortunately is not getting the catechesis and attention from the Catholic Church.

 

[AbideWithMe]

Hi Constantine—

Are you addressing me, or did you get the wrong quote in your post?

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

And what makes you think they’d go after those who have secularized? Those people aren’t interested in religion anymore. So who will they go after? Catholics. I mean, I’d be glad if these neo-Atheists would even want to be Protestants. But they’re not, and these Protestant denominations are targeting Catholics who want to be more faithful to God but unfortunately is not getting the catechesis and attention from the Catholic Church.

That doesn’t make them very good missionaries then. They’re scared of the actual evils posed by anti-religious secularization so they go after Catholics because we’re ‘easy game’.

Sounds like the missionaries of old are rolling in their graves.

Should we even call Mr. Tebow a missionary at this point? Coward seems more appropriate. Given the statistics, they don’t even have a large audience to target when it comes to the excessively secularized crowd. In other words, they’re scared of the smaller population of middle-class individuals whilst boldly declaring charge towards the larger population of Catholic yet poverty-stricken. Oh yes, that sounds like a very brave messenger of God all right.