To Catholics...

[InLight247]

Thank you for all of your kind words… I got pretty discouraged a few days ago. I almost left without another word but then I decided I wasn’t going to let someone else’s behavior decide my fate with Christ. If Christ leads me to the catholic church Satan is going to try his very best to keep me out. Even use good intentioned catholics to do it. That is not to say that you are led by Satan, I can’t stress that enough, just that he will use anyone and anything to put doubt in your mind. I am still a LONG way from being catholic but I decided long ago that no one but God and myself would decide for me what I believe.

Just remember that whatever you are saying - will it bring them closer to God or will it make their path even rockier and longer than it should be?

I haven’t read the thread “To Protestant”. But you are right that whatever we said makes a difference. Our attitude can either make it or break it. I am sorry if some of us were not careful about what we say.

As a Catholic, I often feel truly sorry about what Protestants have missed, Eucharist, Confession, Adoration, Mass - the heavenly form of sacrifice and worship, just to name a few.

Because I have deeply experienced the amazing grace of so many Catholic treasures, I cannot help lamenting for the loss of Protestants who can not have them. I think some well-meaning Catholics probably have the same feeling but giving out a wrong approach without thinking.

To my fellow Catholics, please always use respectful language to communicate with our Protestant brothers and sisters. If we want to share our treasures, we have to build up report and understanding first. To my Protestant brothers and sisters, please know that we mean well but not every one of us is the best communicator.

God bless!

 

[adventistnomore]

Singingbeauty,

You’ve made some very important points.

Still, I think its important to recognize the psychology of many Catholics on this forum. They generally feel under siege, because of Protestants who have tried to convert them, or told them their faith was inadequate. These experiences drive them to these forums. The name of the forums (“Catholic Answers”) suggests that the Catholics who gather here are primarily here to articulate responses to Protestant “attacks.”

So far as charity goes, being told that we may not be saved, are worshiping idols, adore a false goddess, or practice witchcraft by asking the dead to intercede for us, is unlikely to foster a climate of receptivity. Many Catholics on this forum would venture to say that Protestants fired the opening salvo in their own religious experience–and quite a malicious one at that. Right or wrong, this is the mentality.

 

[lak611]

I just got done reading To Protestants and thought I would return the favor. In the aformentioned thread the request posed to protestants was that we keep an open mind when considering our relationship with God and that catholocism may be the road we need to travel.

I am not so much asking that catholics keep an open mind to a conversion to protestantism but more keep an open mind to what we have to say. You may be surprised. We can be kind of smart sometimes. (shocking, I know :bigyikes: )

Recently, it was indicated in another thread that I participated in that protestants are anything but Christ followers. That they THINK they follow Christ but in actuallity they reject Him. (see Outside the Church) That because we aren’t members of the catholic church that we despise it. I would like to say that just because I am not part of the catholic church I DO NOT despise the catholic church. Nor does anyone appreciate someone telling them that they reject Christ when every day we strive to follow Him and Him ONLY. I said that I follow Christ only and this verse was given in response:

I don’t know about you all but this got me a little hot under the collar as you will see if you read the thread.

Look, I know y’all mean well. That you feel that you have found the Truth and because I am not there with you, you want to make sure that I see it and become a part of it because you care. I get it. BUT, remember the Golden Rule… Treat your neighbor as YOU want to be treated. Just as I know that you would not appreciate being told you are a liar and you hate Christ or any of the other anti-catholic blather, I also do not appreciate the anti-protestant behavior that is sometimes blatant in catholic behavior but also can be a subtle thought process but manacing all the same.

So please, keep an open mind that we protestants are here to learn. Even if they seem that they are idiots and just here to spread anti-cathlolic misunderstandings God brought them HERE to learn. Speak in love and understanding and believe me, you will get a MUCH better response.

I may not be part of the catholic church but I AM part of the Body of Christ. YOUR sister in Christ. To be told I am led by Satan and that I hate Christ is so disrespectful but I still turn the other cheek and stay to learn and I pray that I can keep an open mind that if God wants me in the catholic church I will be open to it. Who knows? God has brought me here for a reason. What it is I don’t know yet but I am here…

Thanx for listening… I pray for unity. Maybe not everyone part of ONE denomination or sect of Christianity but an understanding and love that envelopes EVERYONE who professes that Christ is King and our Savior! Amen!

:hug1: God bless you!

 

[Singinbeauty]

Singingbeauty,

You’ve made some very important points.

Thank you.

Still, I think its important to recognize the psychology of many Catholics on this forum. They generally feel under siege, because of Protestants who have tried to convert them, or told them their faith was inadequate. These experiences drive them to these forums. The name of the forums (“Catholic Answers”) suggests that the Catholics who gather here are primarily here to articulate responses to Protestant “attacks.”

I would think that the title of the forums ‘Catholic Answers’ is more pointing to a place for anyone to come and find real honest answers to questions regarding the catholic faith.

You can head over the the ‘To Protestants’ thread and discuss how hostile protestants can be and such. This thread is to ask that catholics remember who they speak to when they harshly criticize their protestant brothers and sisters even tho there are many threads about how much they don’t appreciate that attitude from protestants. It is such a double standard and there is NO excuse for it on either side.

So far as charity goes, being told that we may not be saved, are worshiping idols, adore a false goddess, or practice witchcraft by asking the dead to intercede for us, is unlikely to foster a climate of receptivity. Many Catholics on this forum would venture to say that Protestants fired the opening salvo in their own religious experience–and quite a malicious one at that. Right or wrong, this is the mentality.

I bolded something pretty important there… It is hypocratic to expect US not to ‘attack’ the catholic faith but then excuse why catholics do the same to protestants. There is no reason for either side to do what they do. I say, take the anymocity as a cry for the need to understand. Turn the other cheek and let God do the convincing. But that is just my opinion.

 

[mercygate]

I bolded something pretty important there… It is hypocratic to expect US not to ‘attack’ the catholic faith but then excuse why catholics do the same to protestants. There is no reason for either side to do what they do. I say, take the anymocity as a cry for the need to understand. Turn the other cheek and let God do the convincing. But that is just my opinion.

I could not agree with you more – at least in your case. Sometimes you come out swinging, but not often. There are people, however, who snipe just for the sake of pounding on us, and depending on the personality, they need somebody like Church Militant to trim their sails.

I grew up as a Protestant being told that Protestants were not Christians and that I was going to Hell. I know where you’re coming from. As I matured, I discovered that a lot of what I grew up hearing came from over-zealous, under-educated Sisters, who were trying to secure the salvation of their little charges by scarin’ 'em to death! Not a good tactic.

 

[mary_bobo]

I agree with the original post. We should all be charitable. Having been Episcopalian (although never of the “hate Catholic” variety) and now Catholic, I would be offended that anyone would called un-Christian or told they followed Satan, etc.

In the same spirit, I would appeal to the original poster and all other protestants to take this same sort of message to their protestant friends and tell them to cease and desist calling Catholics non-Christian, pagans (clearly meant in a derogatory way), etc. When this happens, and it happens a lot, such persons reveal not only their own hatred, but a profound lack of knowledge about their own faith, not just the Catholic faith.

Good thoughts. I don’t remember ever hearing anything negative about a protestant church in a Catholic church. But I sure have heard negative, ney hateful, things about the Catholic church in a protestant church. So much of what our protestant brethren think the Catholic church teaches is just not true. I have said on this forum a number of times that I was away from the church for many years and during that time many people thought that gave them free rein to criticize the Catholic church to me and make remarks that were not only hurtful, but disgustingly ignorant to boot.

I can’t speak for other Catholics, but I personally have not and will not criticize the beliefs anyone holds dear. I only ask that others do the same.

 

[BelFarfalla]

I could not agree with you more – at least in your case. Sometimes you come out swinging, but not often. There are people, however, who snipe just for the sake of pounding on us, and depending on the personality, they need somebody like Church Militant to trim their sails.

I grew up as a Protestant being told that Protestants were not Christians and that I was going to Hell. I know where you’re coming from. As I matured, I discovered that a lot of what I grew up hearing came from over-zealous, under-educated Sisters, who were trying to secure the salvation of their little charges by scarin’ 'em to death! Not a good tactic.

This mean nonsense is not limited to one side or the other. Both have been at fault.

I’ve been told so many times by Protestants that I’m going to hell that its ridiculous. I now have a standard answer… “You worry about your soul; I’ll worry about a mine.”

In my life I’ve run into many mean spirited Protestants. I’ve been called a Satan worshiper, a pagan, I have been told that I am not a Christian so many times that I cannot even count it. Lived in places where the protestant children were not allowed to play with me and my siblings. In one case a boy in our neighborhood used to shoot us with a BB gun because we were ‘evil’. I wonder if we still have those BB’s in our bodies. I was punched in the stomach by a kid in Junior High because I was defending being a Catholic from verbal attacks that came out of nowhere by some classmates. I lived in Amarillo, Texas a decade or so ago.

The ‘Christian’ book stores removed all Catholic books and replaced them with anti-Catholic books. We had to threaten them with law suits to get that turned around.

The point is that it needs to stop on all sides. How many more millions of people have to be hurt before this stupid fighting stops? God will determine who goes to heaven or hell. It is up to each of us to pursue the truth. None of us can know for sure if we have found the truth. So some humility is in order. If a person’s beliefs are attacked they will defend it. It’s that simple. Attacks are not productive at all.

Christianity has enough enemies; we really should be sticking together and finding common ground instead of being at each other’s throats.

Obviously God allows any number of religions and belief systems on earth. Why is that? Why doesn’t He just visit every so often and let people know the truth beyond a shadow of a doubt? Is it because he is sadistic and wants to see us all at each other’s throats? Did He pit one religious belief against the other?

Or maybe it’s like the tower of Babble. It is made to force humility and either the person takes the road of humility or they take the road of arrogance proclaiming themselves the only ones who are right. IMHO, faith and religion is a journey in which each of us needs to be seeking the truth… always aware that we really don’t now everything and perhaps someone else might have a bit of the truth. That even if they don’t belong to the same denomination as you do.

Remember that when we fight, we are making our enemies very happy… …. They are using the words we throw at each other as proof that Christianity is wrong. They don’t need to look any further then the strife between us to find the ammunition to turn countless Christians into atheists, pagans, Muslims, etc.

 

[TOP]

Some of these post are sad. I have been fortunate in that I have been exposed to this division very little. I knew of it in Northern Ireland, but not here in the US. But it is apparent it a problem here. At both of my parents funerals, there was a Protestant minister for my dad and a Catholic Priest for my mom. They came to both funerals to lend support and I saw them greet one another respectfully. My dad’s family where impressed with what the Priest had to say. Maybe thats mountain folk for ya, but quite an example. Tim