Why is the South So Hostile to Catholicism?

[Silvereel]

Why is the US South so hostile to Catholicism? In the area I live in, not particularly rural, and yet not quite a suburb either, there are at least 250 Protestant churches within 20 square miles… the King James Only anti-Catholic types make up roughly 80% of these. I know of three Episcopalian churches, one large Lutheran group and two Catholic parishes, one of which is fairly large…
Now, all of these churches seem to do alot of advertising, except for the Catholic ones… even one of the Episcopalian churches, based in someone’s house, puts out news paper ads. Not so with the Catholic churches. The only advertising they do is the sign in front of the church. The JWs and Mormons are fond of coming to everyone’s door about once a month, as are some of the Baptists. And yet the Catholics do nothing. One of the Baptist churches is practically a small city, with churches, support groups, a gym, youth groups, a park and pretty much everything you can imagine. The Catholic church is around the same size as this one, and yet the Baptist church puts out bill boards and any other type of ad you could imagine, attracting a large ammount of people…
So why don’t the Catholics do more advertising, and, as the title of this topic, why is Catholicism so small in the South? It seems most people are hostile to it, sadly.

 

[Seamus_L]

The South wasen’t at all hostile to Catholics in the days of the Confederacy. Of course they didn’t have that many extreme evangelical types back then either. Still there are bastions of Catholicism in Dixie.

 

[Rolltide]

Actually, Catholicism is growing rapidly in the South right now. This is partly due to a growth in converts, but mostly due to a large influx of Hispanics. In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for example, the percentage of Catholics was just 3% in 2000, but this year, hit 6%. By 2012, it is projected to be near 10%. In Tuscaloosa, it is also partially fueled by a large expansion of the university, which is trying to grow from 20,000 to 30,000 students. This inevitably brings in some Catholics from Mobile, New Orleans, and other areas, as well as a slightly larger than normal number of converts. There are two Catholic parishes in Tuscaloosa. One just built a giant new sanctuary that triples it’s capacity to over 1,000 people, and the campus parish just bought the adjacent property so it can undergo a huge expansion as well. However, even with the growth, you rarely see Catholic Churches outside of the larger cities. There are many counties in Alabama that have NO Catholic church whatsoever. Still, the percentage of Catholics, even statewide, is growing rapidly.

 

[phoenix3212]

I can’t really tell you why the South is so hostile to Catholicism. Perhaps that’s just how immigration occurred in that area. Protestants flocked to the South like Catholics did to New England.

You’ll tend to find that Catholic parishes aren’t as keen on evangelizing as other local churches in almost every part of North America. I don’t know why; It boggles me. You’d think that people with the fullness of truth, who receive Christ himself in the Eucharist, would be more enthusiastic about evangelizing than anyone else Clearly, we have a lot of work to do.

 

[puzzleannie]

I don’t know that the South in general is hostile to Catholicism, but I wonder if the scarcity of Catholics in some regions has more to do with Catholic failure to evangelize in those areas, or the failure of Catholics who are their to live openly committed to their faith.

 

[JPUSC]

When I asked a priest how come we weren’t advertising our campus chapel while the Protestants were doing some heavy marketing, he said something to the like of that the Catholic chapel’s main duty was to serve the Catholics who needed the Sacraments while the Protestants were trying to prosletyze and attract people to their services.

Being part of a Protestant organization for a short while, I did notice that their focus was more on attracting new members as they believe that people had to be “saved.”

The Catholic parishes I’ve been a part of focus on serving the needs of already-existing Catholics and serving the poor, regardless of religion. People who sign up for RCIA, do so out of true desire, not because they were tricked into with with some fun social activity meant to attract them.

 

[GratefulDad]

Bubba, the South is very supportive of Catholicism, especially these days. You might find a Protestant Pastor or two who would gig us but just about everyone you’ll meet will respect the Church at some level.

Oh, do you know were EWTN is located? In the Heart of Dixie. Think the Holy Spirit guided Sr. Angelica to that spot by happen chance?

Also, did you see the Gallop Poll from earlier this year about Religion? Check this.

gallup.com/poll/114022/State-States-Importance-Religion.aspx

 

[Silvereel]

Being part of a Protestant organization for a short while, I did notice that their focus was more on attracting new members as they believe that people had to be “saved.”

The Catholic parishes I’ve been a part of focus on serving the needs of already-existing Catholics and serving the poor, regardless of religion. People who sign up for RCIA, do so out of true desire, not because they were tricked into with with some fun social activity meant to attract them.

I can understand this. As far as they are concerned they just have to get the people in there, talk them into saying the ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ and they have ‘saved’ them
But really just letting people know that a Parish is there, or perhaps inviting someone to a Mass, this doesn’t really seem like tricking them into a ‘fun social activity’. Not to say of course, worship can’t be fun
Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if alot of Catholics weren’t even aware that these places were there. Both of them are a bit out of the way, and they really don’t make any effort to let people know.

 

[Walden]

Oh, do you know were EWTN is located? In the Heart of Dixie. Think the Holy Spirit guided Sr. Angelica to that spot by happen chance?

No kidding. What a treasure that is! (and an hour ride from my parents house).

Being a convert myself, I feel like Alabama (and other southern states) is ripe for the Church to make some serious inroads.

Us Southern Catholics really need to be a strong witness for the Faith and not back down if we are challenged.

 

[srlucado]

Here in Texas Catholicism is pretty strong; lots of parishes, even in small towns.

Other parts of the South aren’t quite so open, though; I was in a smaller city (won’t say where) that was so full of Baptist churches that the one Catholic parish church in town looked as out of place as a ham in a mosque.

 

[denwiles]

Why is the US South so hostile to Catholicism? In the area I live in, not particularly rural, and yet not quite a suburb either, there are at least 250 Protestant churches within 20 square miles… the King James Only anti-Catholic types make up roughly 80% of these. I know of three Episcopalian churches, one large Lutheran group and two Catholic parishes, one of which is fairly large…
Now, all of these churches seem to do alot of advertising, except for the Catholic ones… even one of the Episcopalian churches, based in someone’s house, puts out news paper ads. Not so with the Catholic churches. The only advertising they do is the sign in front of the church. The JWs and Mormons are fond of coming to everyone’s door about once a month, as are some of the Baptists. And yet the Catholics do nothing. One of the Baptist churches is practically a small city, with churches, support groups, a gym, youth groups, a park and pretty much everything you can imagine. The Catholic church is around the same size as this one, and yet the Baptist church puts out bill boards and any other type of ad you could imagine, attracting a large ammount of people…
So why don’t the Catholics do more advertising, and, as the title of this topic, why is Catholicism so small in the South? It seems most people are hostile to it, sadly.

You should come to South Texas. where I live 80% Christians are Catholic. This has alot to do with Immagration, and Good ol Louisiana has so many Catholics that their countys are called Parishis. So the Good South loves Catholics

 

[Light_Seeker]

Walk into a Baptist Church & tell the Minister you want to become Baptist.

“HALLELUJAH BROTHER! Welcome to our Church! Lets go do an alter call! Praise be to God!”

Walk into a Catholic Church, tell the Priest you want to become Catholic.

“Well you need to go thru RCIA. That starts in September, takes 9 months. Many times longer. Oh, you’re divorced? You’ll need an annulment. That will take several years. And your children? They need to enroll in our classes when they’re 7 years old. Until they’re 16, and then they’ll be Confirmed.”

 

[JPUSC]

Walk into a Baptist Church & tell the Minister you want to become Baptist.

“HALLELUJAH BROTHER! Welcome to our Church! Lets go do an alter call! Praise be to God!”

Walk into a Catholic Church, tell the Priest you want to become Catholic.

“Well you need to go thru RCIA. That starts in September, takes 9 months. Many times longer. Oh, you’re divorced? You’ll need an annulment. That will take several years. And your children? They need to enroll in our classes when they’re 7 years old. Until they’re 16, and then they’ll be Confirmed.”

LOL, try converting to Judaism…I heard they really make it difficult for you.

Not to mention that adult circumcision you’ll have to endure, ouch.

 

[Crimsonflyboy]

Walk into a Baptist Church & tell the Minister you want to become Baptist.

“HALLELUJAH BROTHER! Welcome to our Church! Lets go do an alter call! Praise be to God!”

Walk into a Catholic Church, tell the Priest you want to become Catholic.

“Well you need to go thru RCIA. That starts in September, takes 9 months. Many times longer. Oh, you’re divorced? You’ll need an annulment. That will take several years. And your children? They need to enroll in our classes when they’re 7 years old. Until they’re 16, and then they’ll be Confirmed.”

It sounds like Protestents are concerned with the quantity of parishoners while Catholics are concerned with the quality of parishoners.

 

[srlucado]

It sounds like Protestents are concerned with the quantity of parishoners while Catholics are concerned with the quality of parishoners.

Yep. Who’d you rather marry–the girl who dated everybody or the girl who had high standards?

 

[Erich]

You’ll tend to find that Catholic parishes aren’t as keen on evangelizing as other local churches in almost every part of North America. I don’t know why; It boggles me.

Strictly speaking, evangelism is all about bringing people to Christ. From the Catholic perspective, Protestants are already Christian (i.e. they have already heard the Gospel message, even though they don’t have the Fullness of it).

On the other hand, a lot of Protestant denominations are all about bringing people into their congregation, even if they’re already Christian (but from another faith tradition). That’s “sheep-stealing.”

That said, I agree with the poster who said Southern Catholics really need to be a strong witness for the Faith (though I would amend that to “all Catholics”).

 

[Disciple96]

I used to experience more anti-Catholicism than I do now, but it’s still alive and well here in the deep south. It really surfaced again when a friend of mine wanted to go to Mass with me and then fell in love with the Church. It’s almost all she wanted to talk about (still is!) and another friend of ours was raised Baptist. Boy, did she ever start making with the snide remarks. Oy ve! I never knew she had such intense prejudices against the Church. It’s gotten to the point of being really irritating but I have made a strenuous effort to patiently explain things.

Of course, if she would stop swilling down the margaritas while I’m making my eloquent elocutions and would listen, we might actually get somewhere! (Note: I, the Catholic, and my friend, the Catholic-to-be, are usually not drinking during these talks. This has made for some amusing moments, believe me.) She also doesn’t usually go to church any more unless it’s a special occasion. But she never fails to make fun of us for going during the week and on Sundays.

“Does going on Friday count toward your Sunday obligation?” No. “Giggle.”

So are you going to church on Sunday? “I would…if I could take my dog.”

Alriiiiight. Thank goodness she’s got her priorities straight, huh?

 

[Tepeyac]

People might want to take a look at the Glenmary Home Missioners. They specialize in evangelizing the Southern & rural U.S.

Who We Are:

A Catholic society of priests and brothers who, along with coworkers and a cooperating community of Glenmary Home Mission Sisters, is dedicated to serving the spiritual and material needs of people throughout Appalachia, the South and Southwest.
Home missioners whose apostolate is concentrated exclusively within the United States and who are dedicated to bringing the Catholic Church to people who live in the small towns and rural areas of our nation.

 

[msugeotech]

Here in Mississippi, I think only about 2%-3% of the population is Catholic. At least that’s the last numbers I heard. There are some who may be “hostile” towards Catholicism, but I don’t believe it’s any worse here. We are in the “Bible Belt”, and in some parts, have a Baptist (usually) church on every corner. I have also heard some REALLY harsh anti-Catholicism on a radio program I ran across once. All the hosts were former Catholics. Again, I just don’t think it’s isolated here in the South. One guy claimed that the Vatican actually hates Jesus Christ, worships Mary, and believe that if we kill Jesus enough times at mass, He won’t come back - that’s verbatim.

 

[mystagogia]

You should come to South Texas. where I live 80% Christians are Catholic. This has alot to do with Immagration, and Good ol Louisiana has so many Catholics that their countys are called Parishis. So the Good South loves Catholics

Do you see the unassailable, true wisdom of this distinction here about the Good South and Texas? It’s true!

I’m a Texan from a strong, fundamentalist Protestant background. I was taught Catholicism was a cult of idolators. My family has an anti-Catholic bias - they look upon Catholics as different from every other Christian denomination. They look upon the Church with suspicion.

I think their level of opposition has waned a bit in recent times, from what I can feel out anecdotally in my experience. I attribute this to Pope John Paul II in many ways, and the current pope. These men have been providing leadership that brings respect from Protestants. The Catholic Church has been earning a lot of respect from what I can tell.

Of course I am a recent convert from Baptism so obviously I would report in this way because this take explains my own and the one that led me to conversion.

On the question of why Catholic churches are not more evangelical I am in agreement with your wonder about it. They simply aren’t very aggressive about bringing people into the fold. The RCIA paradigm is a huge entry barrier, too, especially compared to the welcoming ease that happens in Protestantism where you simply have to walk down the aisle and profess your faith at any given time. This contrast in welcoming practices and various focus on evangelism explains our difficulty to a large degree. The Catholic conversion and welcoming model is simply a vastly different bird than the Protestant one, for better or worse. We do need to work harder at getting people in RCIA and keeping them there, this is true.