Why is the South So Hostile to Catholicism?

[CatholicCajun]

Here i’t more Catholic than other areas of the south, I guess. I am not sure how far south you are talking about. God Bless.

 

[pipper]

You sure you’re from the South? I call everybody “dahlin’”, it’s an old Southern tradition, donchaknow. But if you prefer, I can call you sumpin else. What do you prefer?

Pipper will work jes fahn.

 

[LtPaint]

The hostility I have received since I moved to the South seemed to derive more from the fact that I am open about my religion and I am not afraid to express my opinions, instead of from the fact that I am Catholic.
I guess if you count someone speaking down about Catholicism as hostile, which I don’t really see someone throwing insults around as hostile, the I would have experienced hostility. Most of this, though, is due to misconceptions about the Catholic faith or people just getting mad at me for trying to say what I believe.

 

[Holly3278]

I would say that the reason why the modern South is so hostile to Catholics is because it is a hot bed of Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism. And something needs to be done about this as well. Some educational campaigns about the Catholic Church would likely do some good.

 

[pipper]

The hostility I have received since I moved to the South seemed to derive more from the fact that I am open about my religion and I am not afraid to express my opinions, instead of from the fact that I am Catholic.
I guess if you count someone speaking down about Catholicism as hostile, which I don’t really see someone throwing insults around as hostile, the I would have experienced hostility. Most of this, though, is due to misconceptions about the Catholic faith or people just getting mad at me for trying to say what I believe.

Southeners hate for anyone to rock the boat, or challenge their pre-concieved notions, but I can understand the point.

After all, it took many years to recover from the civil war, and a lot of northeners have terrible pre-concieved notiions themselves.

Stuff like “all southeners are backward hillbillies”. And I think the media has played it’s own part. For those of us old enough to remember there was a show called the “Beverly Hillbillies” that reinforced that stereotype, and it even had spin-off reinforcing that negative view. Pettycoat Junction and Green acres.

 

[Silvereel]

I think we should certainly put in some prayers for the South and those with misconceptions of Catholicism, and most certainly be open about our faith, and not run from questions or hostility, but answer both!

 

[I_Believe]

Why is the US South so hostile to Catholicism?

Albert Pike

Satanist, Freemason, Klansman

 

[mrearly2]

People are generally ignorant of truth, especially the Truth of Catholicism, so one must set a good example in prayer and worship. Doing so will draw more toward salvation than any arguments…
Remember:
“Not 100 in the United States hate the Roman Catholic Church, but millions hate what they mistakenly think that the Roman Catholic Church is.”—Monsignor Fulton J. Sheen

 

[Disciple96]

Pipper will work jes fahn.

Okay, Pipper, dahlin’–oops! I mean, I’ll jes calls ya’ll Pippuh. Not dahlin’ Pippuh, unh uh, jes Pippuh. Awright? Awright!

 

[Timbothefiveth]

I lived in Kentucky for a while. I don’t think the population in general was hostile to catholics, just the extremists. It varies from area to area though, the extremists once vandalised a church.

 

[Disciple96]

I think if more of us Catholics down here in Evangelical Land (which also has its growing share of secular humanists, agnostics and atheists) would truly live our faith and be open about it, then the love of Christ would radiate from us and that would indeed attract others who would want to draw closer to this love. Part of witnessing to others is living our faith and not hiding it; part of it will always be speaking up for the truths of the Church and clearing up misconceptions. (Sometimes you do have to use words. St. Francis realized that; he used a fair number of words himself.)

I try to do this most of the time (though I slip up more times than I’d like to admit). One friend is converting, another has come back to the Church, another told me a few days ago that her heart has been hurting and she wants to come back. Another acquaintance has been doing everything he can to talk me out of being Catholic. As if! I’m in love with Holy Mother Church, I’m in love with the Blessed Mother and I’m in love with Christ. I don’t want to turn away from God, I want to draw closer.

All that young man is doing is making me realize how blessed I am to be Catholic. I’m not seeking the truth anymore. I already found Him. Now I seek to know Him better, more fully, to love Him better and more fully, and to serve Him better and more completely.

If others do not know we love Christ, we have to ask ourselves: did we show them?

 

[pipper]

:extrahappy::getholy:

Okay, Pipper, dahlin’–oops! I mean, I’ll jes calls ya’ll Pippuh. Not dahlin’ Pippuh, unh uh, jes Pippuh. Awright? Awright!

Awright:clapping::tiphat:

 

[Disciple96]

Awright:clapping::tiphat:

Heh.

Hey, you know, I’ve been noticing that ever since I stuck that EWTN bumper sticker on my car, I’ve experienced an increase in road rudeness aimed at little ol’ me. The rosaries hanging from the rear view used to get me plenty of odd looks, but now I’m seeing downright hostility.

Of course, I’ve returned to driving the speed limit these past few months. Could be that. Folks hate that. Especially in my neighborhood where the limit is 25 mph. But I have to follow it, I can’t bear the thought of running over kids and dogs and cats and squirrels and ducks and turtles and, well, you get the idea.

BTW, Pippuh -]dahlin’/-], I tried to quote your reply with all your little smilie thingies, but the post patrol wouldn’t allow that many images in my post. Just wanted you to know that I did not discriminate against any of your lovely smilies.

 

[mark_a]

So why don’t the Catholics do more advertising,

I find advertising by Churches to be very unappealing. I hope the Church does too.

and, as the title of this topic, why is Catholicism so small in the South? It seems most people are hostile to it, sadly.

Most of these folks have been taught lies about the Catholic Church by their own pastors. Shameful, isn’t it?

 

[Disciple96]

I suppose it depends on what is meant by “advertising”…

But aren’t we supposed to be evangelizing?

 

[pipper]

Heh.

Of course, I’ve returned to driving the speed limit these past few months. Could be that. Folks hate that. Especially in my neighborhood where the limit is 25 mph. But I have to follow it, I can’t bear the thought of running over kids and dogs and cats and squirrels and ducks and turtles and, well, you get the idea.

You know back during the first energy crisis (during the Nixon or Ford administration) a lot of people here in Texas had bumper stickers that read “Drive 95 and freeze a Yankee in the dark”, that was before I could drive. When I could drive I did obey the laws. Now I had a stroke and can’t drive, but I still insist on my roomate driving 55 mph. I cannot afford buying tons of gas with my disability income, and wasting it. Oil is a finite resource, I Think.

But like yourself, we get passed like we are parked, by people giving us dirty looks and worse, by people driving HUGE pick-ups, SUVs, and Hummers. Very few people here drive just cars, and when they do it’s huge gas hogs.

I know it’s not a very Catholic attitude to have, But I think that if those people have enough $$s to spend on those huge veehickles, they will have enough $$$s to pay for our gas, if not then they can just have a tiny bit of patience

 

[pipper]

You know I live in the country. I know just waht you mean about cats, dogs, and bunny wabbits, people out here drive as fast as their pick-ups will take them, even tho there are kids playing, and dogs running loose they stll just fly by.

I think having a stroke has changed my attitude, since I can’t drive, I sit in my walker and just watch the bunys, the birds, and I can smell the roses I now have time to fuss over.

At night the coyotes seranade me.

Even tho I have problems with typing and spelling, I still think the stroke was the greatest gift that God ha ever given me.

 

[Disciple96]

I think I’d like very much to sit and listen to the coyotes with you, Pippuh. And perhaps sip on a mint julep or three too.

 

[pipper]

I think I’d like very much to sit and listen to the coyotes with you, Pippuh. And perhaps sip on a mint julep or three too.

Is there such a thing as a virgin Mint Julep lol, I know there is not, but with the 20 odd pills I take everyday, I have to limit myself to one drink a day.

Around here we are more likely to drank margeritas, or mojitos.

I think here in far west Texas, we may be jest a little less southern.

Maybee that is why the darlin thing hit me the way it did, around here two men callling each other darlin would have homosexual overtones.

Come to think of it, he only times I was called darlin was by waitresses, nuthin personal.

You could have the julep (bring your own mint this is a dessert) and I will have a virgin mojito.

HAve you ever seen Friday Night Lights, that movie and tv show are based on my old high school.

 

[Disciple96]

Oh my, I think perhaps you’ve been laboring under the assumption that I am a man when I am, in fact, very much a woman. So you should hear me call you “dahlin’” (if I were to call you “dahlin’”, that is, which I’m not allowed to, so you won’t) in my drop dead gorgeous and extremely sultry southern sotto voce.

And we imbibe our fair share of margaritas here also, don’t you know, and mojitos too.