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Marie5890
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This older thread will give you a better idea of our view.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=723514
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forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=723514
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Marie5890
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If it’s also any help with the following insight, NT, when someone is thinking they want to be Catholic, they join what is known as RCIA .
For most parishes’ it’s an 8 month course. Never is there any pressure of anyone to become Catholic. It’s a discernment process. There is no challenge given to an inquirer to “join us”.
It’s a completely pressure free enviroment. And I person can stop at any time, and they dont have to give a reason. And not great effort is put into trying to corral them back.
Just like the scriptures show the Christ let people walk away from Him and without Him chasing after them, so we behave.
My going thru RCIA was such a radically different experience then when I had the lessons with LDS missionaries many years ago.
For most parishes’ it’s an 8 month course. Never is there any pressure of anyone to become Catholic. It’s a discernment process. There is no challenge given to an inquirer to “join us”.
It’s a completely pressure free enviroment. And I person can stop at any time, and they dont have to give a reason. And not great effort is put into trying to corral them back.
Just like the scriptures show the Christ let people walk away from Him and without Him chasing after them, so we behave.
My going thru RCIA was such a radically different experience then when I had the lessons with LDS missionaries many years ago.
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Horton
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When I was in RCIA a co-worker asked why I didn’t consider becoming LDS. I told him I am a christian and only considered christian denominations, coming to the conclusion that the Catholic Church is the true church Christ built. This co-worker set out to “prove” me wrong and claimed the LDS were the true church. As I walked away he became enraged, yelling at me and causing quite a scene.
If that is proselytising…well give me the love of the Catholic Church any day.
If that is proselytising…well give me the love of the Catholic Church any day.
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Marie5890
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There is a famous quote attributed to St Francis of Assisi. Even though there is no real evidence he said it as it appears, there is evidence of his living out the philosophy that portrays.
“Preach the Gospel, always, and when necessary, use words”
And for Catholics, a lot of what the Gospel is can be found in the Sermon on the Mount. It’s not just about things like the Sacramental life of the Church etc.
“Preach the Gospel, always, and when necessary, use words”
And for Catholics, a lot of what the Gospel is can be found in the Sermon on the Mount. It’s not just about things like the Sacramental life of the Church etc.
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RebeccaJ
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Mormon proselytizing targets everyone not Mormon. Encouragement is given to seek out people in crisis, Use Mormon funerals to proselytize any non members that may be there. Find those who are suffering, not to help them in any meaningful way, such as feeding them, teach a skill or comfort them in their mourning, but to take advantage of suffering as the means to making them a Mormon.
Catholics evangelize, and do not evangelize other Christians, but seek to bring people to Christ. Feed the poor, clothe the naked, visit the incarcerated and the ill. Not with an ulterior motive of converting them, but seeing first the person, their need, and doing as Jesus commands us. Love the person, with no ulterior motive. None, whatsoever.
“Loving” someone, with the underlying motivation to convert them, is pretense. Even if you think that pretense is “good” for the other person, it is still pretense. The underlying ambition is kept hidden, in proselytizing, and so any relationship built on that hidden ambition, is a false, or pretend, relationship.
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Marie5890
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I just ran into this kind of attitude recently. When a Mormon I met found out I used to be Mormon, but now am Catholic, they were naturally very curious and asked me about it. I then began to tell.
My story focused more on why I am Catholic and less on why I wasnt Mormon anymore. I said nothing that could be have been seen as anti-Mormon.
As I was telling my story, I could tell by their behavior that they werent listening anymore.
They were not interested in me, they were interested in why I wasn’t Mormon
My story focused more on why I am Catholic and less on why I wasnt Mormon anymore. I said nothing that could be have been seen as anti-Mormon.
As I was telling my story, I could tell by their behavior that they werent listening anymore.
They were not interested in me, they were interested in why I wasn’t Mormon
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NeuroTypical
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Thanks for the link Marie, and thanks for everyone’s comments. You guys do a lot of thinking and talking about that word - I’m seeing where you’re coming from.
A few responses:
A few responses:
Commendable. And also something I have no small amount of experience with. Here in Colorado Springs we have the Marion House soup kitchen run by you folks. I’ve volunteered there 4-5 times over the years. I’ve been on service projects ranging from forest replanting, to road cleanup, to providing activities for the elderly. We have prison missionaries, and they always have tender and sometimes heartwrenching stories.
I can pretty much agree here. And to the extent that this or that LDS person is guilty of such things, that’s a thing they need to weed out of their lives. I think I did well, giving my lesson a few Sundays ago, urging the Elders’ efforts to spring from the heart. Good to know Catholics share my concern over such things.
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Porknpie
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Marie,
Why do you think their curiosity fell apart so fast? What type of answer if any would have kept them engaged?
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RebeccaJ
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Usually Mormons tell me why I’m not Mormon. Lol.
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iepuras
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Let me guess… You wanted to sin! Or maybe someone offended you.
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RebeccaJ
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Let me guess… You wanted to sin! Or maybe someone offended you.
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Marie5890
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I can only guess at this.
But if I were to guess, I would say that if I had focused on the reasons as to why I left Mormonism, they would have felt a need or desire to engage me and debate or something?
But since I didn’t…
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lax16
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During that time he inquired about Catholicism and wanted me to invite him to church and quickly catch him up to speed on all things Catholic. I knew he was very vulnerable and that he had serious issues he still needed to face with his family.
I explained that he was always welcome to attend mass and that God loved him. I told him that the Catholic Church has been around for 2,000 years and wasn’t going anywhere and if in the future he had questions we could talk.
I struggled with how to handle this. After prayer, I determined the right thing to do was to offer him food, shelter and compassion. I pray for him often but haven’t seen him in a while.
In this case, I felt it would be wrong to proselytize.
A couple of years ago, a long time Mormon friend lost his family, home, and job due to alcoholism. He needed a place to stay for a week or two and we invited him to stay with us.
During that time he inquired about Catholicism and wanted me to invite him to church and quickly catch him up to speed on all things Catholic. I knew he was very vulnerable and that he had serious issues he still needed to face with his family.
I explained that he was always welcome to attend mass and that God loved him. I told him that the Catholic Church has been around for 2,000 years and wasn’t going anywhere and if in the future he had questions we could talk.
I struggled with how to handle this. After prayer, I determined the right thing to do was to offer him food, shelter and compassion. I pray for him often but haven’t seen him in a while.
In this case, I felt it would be wrong to proselytize.
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Marie5890
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Lax, you did the right thing. Discernment should be done when one is a good spot. Not a vulnerable spot…
The Ignatian (sp?) spiritual exercises talk something about this as well…
There is no “hurry hurry, rush rush, have to decide RIGHT NOW” wiht Catholicism.
The Ignatian (sp?) spiritual exercises talk something about this as well…
There is no “hurry hurry, rush rush, have to decide RIGHT NOW” wiht Catholicism.
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lax16
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Thanks Marie.
The funny thing is I was really unsure how to handle things at first. He (and his family) had spent the last 23 years trying to convert our family and had been very disrespectful of our Catholic faith.
When we first moved to Utah, he told us that they would not give up on our oldest son until they got him to convert to Mormonism. They would have other teenage boys come over when we were at their house and they would bombard him with Mormonism.
It was so tempting to go for the slam dunk but I knew that was not what Jesus was calling me to do.
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zaffiroborant
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Well of course they desire to do good and bless the lives of others but what you have encouraged them to do is to convert others, that is the focus of the LDS church. You can not “spread the gospel” in the context of the LDS church without talking about the restoration and that discussion is opposed to every other Christian faith. Whether it comes from a desire to help and bless others it is still at it’s root proselytizing
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zaffiroborant
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That is despicable.Thanks Marie.
The funny thing is I was really unsure how to handle things at first. He (and his family) had spent the last 23 years trying to convert our family and had been very disrespectful of our Catholic faith.
When we first moved to Utah, he told us that they would not give up on our oldest son until they got him to convert to Mormonism. They would have other teenage boys come over when we were at their house and they would bombard him with Mormonism.
It was so tempting to go for the slam dunk but I knew that was not what Jesus was calling me to do.
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lax16
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That is just one of many stories.
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Marie5890
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As much as it pains me to say it, many Mormons really seem to be more interested in gaining converts than making friends.
It’s not about the dignity that each and every one of us have. It’s about getting someone baptized and within their doors.
Lax, what an awful experience that must have been. How so unneighborly
It’s not about the dignity that each and every one of us have. It’s about getting someone baptized and within their doors.
Lax, what an awful experience that must have been. How so unneighborly
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lax16
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I have learned what it really means to be Jesus to other people and I am grateful because I was lacking in this area, although I still have so much to learn. Living in Utah has also taught me to be prepared to defend my faith.
Marie - I have so many stories of things that have been said to me by LDS “friends”, neighbors and even missionaries I could write a book.
I have learned what it really means to be Jesus to other people and I am grateful because I was lacking in this area, although I still have so much to learn. Living in Utah has also taught me to be prepared to defend my faith.
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