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carefullytread
Guest
Does the Church view this as a priority? Is it encouraged or frowned upon to actively (as opposed to simply by ‘witness’) convert non-Catholic Christians to Catholicism?
What is the Catholic thought on converting non-Catholic Christians?
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Darryl_B
Guest
From my own experience, it took 20 years of hints and suggestions from the Holy Spirit prompting me in my own time, slowly, at a pace I could handle, converting me from a very anti-Catholic person, though seeking truth, guiding me into the Catholic Church, which to be perfectly honest, I now love.
I have subsequently found that no argument, no witness, no enthusiasm, no history, no beauty, no love is enough to convert a protestant. I keep trying, but I know really that it is only the Holy Spirit that can do it, and I just pray that I can in some small way, help.
I have subsequently found that no argument, no witness, no enthusiasm, no history, no beauty, no love is enough to convert a protestant. I keep trying, but I know really that it is only the Holy Spirit that can do it, and I just pray that I can in some small way, help.
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Rosebud77
Guest
No faster way to deter someone than overt “evangiliising” … think of how "popular?it makes eg JWs…
God can use us in ways we do ntot think of…
Once when I was in a convalescent place after majot surgery, I went to my room to find a young porter with my Bible in his hands. He dropped it, scared he was doing wrong,apparently he had never read the Bible… of course i gave it him and he was utterly grateful… I never saw him after that…God sows the seed and nurtures the plant.
But after that I gathered in more Bibles and gave several away and they were always on my market stall.
Even Billy Graham said that HE did convert anyone…
God can use us in ways we do ntot think of…
Once when I was in a convalescent place after majot surgery, I went to my room to find a young porter with my Bible in his hands. He dropped it, scared he was doing wrong,apparently he had never read the Bible… of course i gave it him and he was utterly grateful… I never saw him after that…God sows the seed and nurtures the plant.
But after that I gathered in more Bibles and gave several away and they were always on my market stall.
Even Billy Graham said that HE did convert anyone…
po18guy
Well-known member
The Holy Spirit works through us, if we do not resist Him. Although we like to see progress being made, it is for our spiritual good that we rarely know what becomes of those whom we seek to evangelize. So, we cooperate with God’s grace and do what we can. In a paraphrase of Saint Teresa of Calcutta (pray for us!) we are called to be faithful, rather than successful.
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Neofight
Guest
Non-Catholic Christians are evangelized, they are not “converted”, and those who become Catholic from other Christian Trinitarian faith traditions, rather than convert, enter in to full communion with the Catholic Church.
All Catholics, regardless of when baptized, are converts, as conversion is the act of turning away from sin, and turning toward God.
Peace and all Good!
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Don_Ruggero
Guest
The Council Fathers, that is to say the Pope and the Bishops of the entire world, gathered together, spoke of this at the Second Vatican Council
vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html
*3. Even in the beginnings of this one and only Church of God there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly condemned. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions made their appearance and quite large communities came to be separated from full communion with the Catholic Church - for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame. The children who are born into these Communities and who grow up believing in Christ cannot be accused of the sin involved in the separation, and the Catholic Church embraces upon them as brothers, with respect and affection. For men who believe in Christ and have been truly baptized are in communion with the Catholic Church even though this communion is imperfect. The differences that exist in varying degrees between them and the Catholic Church - whether in doctrine and sometimes in discipline, or concerning the structure of the Church - do indeed create many obstacles, sometimes serious ones, to full ecclesiastical communion. The ecumenical movement is striving to overcome these obstacles. But even in spite of them it remains true that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of Christ’s body, and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.
Moreover, some and even very many of the significant elements and endowments which together go to build up and give life to the Church itself, can exist outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church: the written word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, and visible elements too. All of these, which come from Christ and lead back to Christ, belong by right to the one Church of Christ.
The brethren divided from us also use many liturgical actions of the Christian religion. These most certainly can truly engender a life of grace in ways that vary according to the condition of each Church or Community. These liturgical actions must be regarded as capable of giving access to the community of salvation.
It follows that the separated Churches and Communities as such, though we believe them to be deficient in some respects, have been by no means deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Church…
- Today, in many parts of the world, under the inspiring grace of the Holy Spirit, many efforts are being made in prayer, word and action to attain that fullness of unity which Jesus Christ desires. The Sacred Council exhorts all the Catholic faithful to recognize the signs of the times and to take an active and intelligent part in the work of ecumenism.
When such actions are undertaken prudently and patiently by the Catholic faithful, with the attentive guidance of their bishops, they promote justice and truth, concord and collaboration, as well as the spirit of brotherly love and unity. This is the way that, when the obstacles to perfect ecclesiastical communion have been gradually overcome, all Christians will at last, in a common celebration of the Eucharist, be gathered into the one and only Church in that unity which Christ bestowed on His Church from the beginning. We believe that this unity subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that it will continue to increase until the end of time.
However, it is evident that, when individuals wish for full Catholic communion, their preparation and reconciliation is an undertaking which of its nature is distinct from ecumenical action. But there is no opposition between the two, since both proceed from the marvelous ways of God.*
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Kliska
Guest
Reading several accounts of Non-Catholic Christians entering the Catholic Church, that is being emphasized more; they aren’t converts, they are reconciled to the Catholic Church. It seems the New Evangelization does touch upon reaching out to both fallen away Catholics and non-Catholic Christians.
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Tomdstone
Guest
Do Roman Catholics evangelize Eastern Orthodox?
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Neofight
Guest
I’m sure some do…your question is of the practice of Roman Catholics, not the policy of the Roman Catholic Church, which I have no knowledge of.
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Wannabe_Monk_16
Guest
I would assume that our Eastern Catholic brothers and sisters would most likely be the ones theologically dialoguing with Eastern Orthodox Christians. As a Roman Catholic living in the western world, I’ve never personally interacted with either an Eastern Catholic or an Eastern Orthodox Christian, and I believe this is mostly due to geography.
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phil19034
Guest
Sure, individuals might. But in general, no. The Catholic Church views the Eastern Orthodox as a Church with valid Sacraments.
The Catholic Church seeks to gain communion with the Eastern Orthodox, not convert them. However, when an individual Eastern Orthodox seek to convert to the Catholic Church, the Church prefers them to become a Byzantine Rite Catholic of the same tradition (or similar) to the Eastern Orthodox Church they left (i.e. become a Ukrainian Greek Catholic, a Romanian Catholic, Russian Catholic, Ruthenian Catholic, etc.)
Personally, I when I engage in talks with Orthodox, my goal isn’t to convert them… it’s to help break down walls. All though, I realize I’m not very good at apologetics with Orthodox.
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LittleFlower378
Guest
Yes why would we not want to convert them to the fullness of Faith found in the Catholic Church!
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Darryl_B
Guest
I am personally a convert, I am not simply reconciled to the Catholic Church. But in my mind I am a revert, because my fathers fathers fathers father was Catholic. I have instead come home. When my fathers left 150 years ago, searched, but never found the Church, and got truly lost in their search, I am going to take the opportunity to say a prayer for those who I never knew.
God I pray for the souls of my fathers, may they enter into your sight by your mercy.
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PJM
Guest
YES so much so that it has initiated “the NEW Evangelazation” { which begins with fallen away Catholics, and extends to the entire word.}
Each and everyone of US has a role to participate in {1st Cor. Chapter 12} this effort. Mt 28:18-20
God Bless you
Patrick
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EnglishTeacher
Guest
Well, as someone who came into the Catholic Church as an adult from a Protestant church, I am forever grateful that a Catholic took the time to evangelize me and point me toward the Catholic Church.
We should always be ready to evangelize and share the good news of the gospel, but how you do it will depend on the person and circumstances. Be a witness with your life, and pray that the Holy Sprit will give you good opportunities to talk about the Catholic faith.
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PJM
Guest
AMEN!
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