Question

[BlalronResurrected]

Does the Catholic church focus very much on converting others? Seems to me that most missionaries to foreign countries are Protestant.

 

[Wolseley]

Yes; in fact, there are entire religious orders devoted to converting the unsaved. The Society of African Missions of the S.M.A. Fathers works in a number of African countires, and the Alexian Brothers work in the Philippines; these are only two examples. There are dozens more.

There are also dozens of lay ministries which depend on volunteers to go to foreign countries, usually Africa or Asia; and there is even a department in the Vatican (Congregation For the Evangelization of Peoples) that has as its full-time job the coordination of missions.

 

[ZooMom]

Seems to me that most missionaries to foreign countries are Protestant.

I've been thinking about this statement. And I'm still wondering why anyone would think that. And what do you mean by 'foreign'. Do you mean under-developed, or third world, or tribal, or industrialized, or...what? I mean, when you stop and think about it, the Church is already established in most industrialized nations. And has missions in many others. What do you think Mother Teresa was doing in Calcutta? What about the martyrs in Vietnam, China, Japan, and Korea? All of whom were missionaries to these countries before 1900. Doing just a little research showed missions, and martyrs, going back into the triple digit years. Very interesting reading.


God bless...


Sandy

 

[Tesseract]

I dont have the info on the numbers of the missionaries, but I know there are a lot of Catholic missions out there. There are even specific orders (of priests and nuns) that are devoted to becoming missionaries.

The patron saint for the Philippines, San Lorenzo Ruiz, was a missionary to Japan. We've had amazing saints who died as martyrs because they were on missions.

Perhaps you werent aware of them, because youre Protestant, and you only know your own religious circle-?

Wols, nice of you to mention the Philippines! :waves:

 

[KC Catholic]

Welcome Tesserkitt!

 

[Augustine the Canadian]

Does the Catholic church focus very much on converting others? Seems to me that most missionaries to foreign countries are Protestant.

I think you'd have to differntiate (in this case, sadly) the "Church" and the major part of those who adhere to Her.

The Church will always have an evangelical mandate; at the heart of Her very constitution is the command of Christ, "go and teach all nations", and baptizing these nations (which directly refers to making converts, but indirectly refers to the "baptism" of their culture and civilization.) Historically, the Catholic Church has done this, and with great zeal and success.

Unfortunatly the current leadership doesn't seem to emphasize this very much. While it is true there are entire congregations that are "missionary" (like the groups in many parts of the third world), a lot of the emphasis seems to be on these groups acting as social workers, or humanitarian relief organizations with a religious bend.

While clothing the poor, feeding the hungry, etc. are all laudable and necessary objectives for Catholics (the corporal works of mercy are not optional - we will be questioned about them on the day of judgement), Christ also taught that we are to pursue the kingdom of God first, and told us that after this (if done sincerely) all things will follow. Indeed, Godly missionaries whose goal is to make new Christians, would never think of not trying to improve the social/economic conditions of their converts and the society they're witnessing to at large - the history of the Church makes that very plain.

However if missions are reduced to social work, they are failing to fulfill the "apostolic mandate" Christ gave to the Church.

I believe the major problem causing this situation is the "new theology" sponsored high and low in the modern Church, which pretty much views men as being "Christian by default", and a rampant, overly ecumenical ideology. Besides this, the desacralization of the sacraments and priesthood has not helped.

Most Catholic missions lack the sense of urgency, and zeal which should be at their heart. And this is why the Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormons, with their "other gospels" are eating our lunch. Indeed, they're even making inroads into areas which used to be considered staunchly Catholic (mainly Latin America, which I know from intimate knowledge is in shambles, spiritually speaking).

 

[Wolseley]

Hmmm.......Augustine, might you by chance happen to be a sedevaticanist??? SSPX, or one of those?

Just curious......

Blessings,
---Wols.

 

[nyj]

Augustine said:

Unfortunatly the current leadership doesn't seem to emphasize this very much.

NYJ replies:
Ah of course, which is why the Pope is spending all this time talking about the new evangelization, and utilizing modern technology (radio, television and internet) to reach the world. Boy, he had me fooled.

And in case you don't believe me, would you like me to pull some Zenit articles for you?

 

[Wolseley]

But nyj---the Pope's methods and message is irrelevant if the Pope really isn't the Pope.

There hasn't been a legitimate Pope since Pius XII died in 1958, y'know. John XXIII started it all with that evil ole Vatican II council, when "the smoke of Satan filled the sanctuary", etc., etc., etc., ad infinitum et nauseam et absurdum.

And if you believe all that, I need to talk to you about some prime development property in Florida.

Blessings,
---Wols.

 

[Tesseract]

Hi, KC!

 

[panterapat]

The common everyday Catholic NEEDS to think more about evangelism. As I heard in Mass today, "Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel".
In Christ, Patrick