Your Worst Anti-Catholic Experience

[U R my Sonshine]

One of the most frustrating aspects about talking to Protestants is that they have an "either/or" mentality, rather than a "both/and".

Hi, I like you avatar.

Not all of us do, just like (I HOPE), not all Catholics have that attitude toward protestants.

 

[Ave Maria]

Yea, but only extremists take her seriously. Far too many people openly accept Jack Chick and his publications.

That's for sure! Even I as a liberal Christian had ideas that came from Chick until I read a tract on Catholic Answers that refuted it.

 

[U R my Sonshine]

That's for sure! Even I as a liberal Christian had ideas that came from Chick until I read a tract on Catholic Answers that refuted it.

Could you post that link?

 

[Ave Maria]

Could you post that link?

Sure! Here you go!

 

[U R my Sonshine]

Sure! Here you go!

Thank you. I will give it a look.

 

[Auntie]

I've oftened wondered what will happen in the future. What if there does come a day when all Christians are persecuted and are being killed(not mattering what Chucrch you go to, just that you believe in Christ)Will be suddenly become "Christians in THEIR eyes?

I think that's already a reality in some parts of the world.

 

[lonnienord]

if being a Christian were a crime is their enough evidence to convict you?

 

[HisKid1973]

Holly. Thanks for the link..It was an eye opener"..I have been using " This is our Life" for 30 years and it have been well recieved. Brother Lonnie, I guess one way they could get me would be passing out these booklets with the Gospel. Grace and Peace to you..YBIC..Kim
PS. could someone tell me how you put a link up with "Here" and connect with an address..Thanks..kim

 

[U R my Sonshine]

if being a Christian were a crime is their enough evidence to convict you?

Boy! That is definately something to think about.

 

[The Black Knight]

It's one thing to have someone honestly attempt to share their faith with you, but it really gets me down that some folks turn it into a bash of the Catholic Church. I mean, why not simply present the Gospel without attacks on some other faith. Some folks don't seem to be able to offer a witness without that sort of attack.

I LOVE to talk about the faith and I love when there are Christians of any ilk that are trying to win souls. There is much that we can all share and that is good for all of us I think.

I focus my faith sharing on those who have no faith and/or no church. If one has a Christian faith, then I do what I can to encourage them, and let it go at that.
Pax vobiscum,

 

[Ave Maria]

What was the worst anti-Catholic experience you have ever had and how did you handle it?

 

[Ave Maria]

Okay, I'll go first. I had been up all night reading a book about Catholicism and for some reason I went out of my apartment in the morning to go up front. Well, Jeree, my landlord, was there and I told her that I had been up all night. She asked me what I was doing up all night and I told her I was reading. She asked me what I was reading and I told her that it was a book about Catholicism. I can't remember if I told her I was converting or not but she ended up saying that Catholicism was a Pagan religion and stuff. Needless to say, I don't remember exactly how I responded but I think I simply told her that I respectfully disagree and that I didn't want to argue about it because she seemed like as though she wanted to argue. And that was about the end of that.

And of course there was the time when I was at my neighbor's church and I told the pastor that I was going to convert to Catholicism to which he pointed out in the Bible the part about the harlot of Babylon and showed how it is so similar to the Catholic Church (I believe the harlot of Babylon was Ancient Rome) and then he proceeded to say that he didn't know for sure but the Catholic Church sure seemed to fit the description of the harlot of Babylon quite well.

And then of course there's been the times when people distributed Chick tracts to me to which I brought home and burned in my kitchen sink.

 

[holyorders]

Okay, I'll go first. I had been up all night reading a book about Catholicism and for some reason I went out of my apartment in the morning to go up front. Well, Jeree, my landlord, was there and I told her that I had been up all night. She asked me what I was doing up all night and I told her I was reading. She asked me what I was reading and I told her that it was a book about Catholicism. I can't remember if I told her I was converting or not but she ended up saying that Catholicism was a Pagan religion and stuff. Needless to say, I don't remember exactly how I responded but I think I simply told her that I respectfully disagree and that I didn't want to argue about it because she seemed like as though she wanted to argue. And that was about the end of that.

And of course there was the time when I was at my neighbor's church and I told the pastor that I was going to convert to Catholicism to which he pointed out in the Bible the part about the harlot of Babylon and showed how it is so similar to the Catholic Church (I believe the harlot of Babylon was Ancient Rome) and then he proceeded to say that he didn't know for sure but the Catholic Church sure seemed to fit the description of the harlot of Babylon quite well.

And then of course there's been the times when people distributed Chick tracts to me to which I brought home and burned in my kitchen sink.

Ashes to Ashes they all fall down.

 

[Colabomb]

I used to be an anti-Catholic.

 

[Spyridon]

I used to be an anti-Catholic.

Me too. Forgive me.

 

[ps139]

It pains and saddens me as I am looking over this.

Bolded parts are my emphasis:
(in chronological order)

I wrote to some anti-Catholic website that had a page on how we supposedly worship Mary. Below is our email exchange. For this person's sake I will not include their email address.

Dear brethren,
I appreciate your outreach efforts but your page about Mary has some major exegetical flaws. I used to believe a lot of the same things, and I understand why you do, but I have found out they are simply incorrect statements. I would like to discuss your claims with you if you'd allow me to.

Peace in Christ Our Savior,
Bill

Bill, only one point needs to be considered: Do you agree with the rosary prayer that Mary is "our life, sweetness and hope"? If you say yes, you are guilty of idolatry and deceived. If you say no, then you are not really in agreement with the RC church over a major Tradition and prayer in this religious system.

Do you realize that is not what the prayer says?

"Hail Holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our
hope."

Who is mercy? Jesus.
Who is our life? Jesus.
Who is our sweetness? Jesus.
Who is our hope? Jesus.
Who is His mother? Mary.
What is the problem here?
When I say yes, I am guilty of worshipping Jesus, and honoring His mother. In other words, guilty of following 2 of the 10 commandments.
-Bill

Stop lying about what the RC church believes and teaches! REPENT.

Do you believe that to be an effective approach to evangelization? Will you even have a discussion with me or can you not defend your assertions? I do not know who you are, but you will be in my prayers.
God bless you brother.
-Bill

Bill:

As a former Catholic I KNOW from experience that Catholics believe it is MARY that is their "life, sweetness and hope." Besides that Liguori wrote his famous book "The Glories of Mary" around the "Hail Holy Queen" prayer to Mary.
When he gets to this part, he cites multiple authorities in the Catholic church (Popes, Catholic "saints," etc.), and they give reasons why MARY is our "life, sweetness and hope." How can you be ignorant of these things? Your denial is just like Catholics saying they don't pray TO Mary. That is a LIE too. Will you tell me you don't pray TO Mary also?

Hello friend,

There is a lot of stuff in the Catholic tradition that I'm ignorant of. These things also happen to be "optional" for Catholics. 99% of Marian devotion is like this.

I do pray to Mary, what is wrong with that? She is a member of the Body of Christ. I pray to you as well. What is wrong with that? Well, nothing, unless you equate "prayer" with "worship." I invite you to look up the etymology of the word "pray." I speak Italian. I know that when you want to say "ask" you use the verb "pregare." And when you want to say "pray," you use the verb "pregare." You know that Italy is where Catholicism grew up, can you expect Catholic terms not to reflect parts of the Latin and Italian languages?

Prayer to anyone other than God is a request for them to pray to God, for me. So whether I ask Mary to pray for me, or I ask you to pray for me, I'm doing the same thing, just "praying to" different people. Have you ever heard the English phrase "praytell"? Churchhill used it a lot, Shakepeare is famous for it. (Among other things . I means "I pray you to tell me" or "I ask you to tell me."

I guess my point is that I do not worship Mary, and if we were both native Italians, this would not be an issue.

*I have heard troubling things about Alphonse Liguori and the Glories of Mary. And I can honestly not defend the quotes I'm shown. Then again I know nothing about him, and I have not read his book. It is something for me to investigate.

Lastly, even though I think you are wrong, I respect you for doing your part, and according to how you know best, to spread what you believe to be true. That is a sign of charity and I am grateful.

In Christ,
Bill

Bill:
Liguori was one of the elite in the history of the Catholic church to be labeled a "doctor" as well as a "saint." He was also a Bishop and therefore VERY ACQUAINTED with Catholic doctrine. He wrote his famous book "The Glories of Mary" to defend the Catholic position regarding Mary from the "Hail Holy Queen" prayer against those that opposed it. Before you go any further in your attempts to defend Catholicism you need to become informed. Also, your LYING will not get you any where with those that are informed about the RC church besides revealing your "lost" spiritual condition. See Rev. 21:8.

Dear friend,

What have I lied about? How do you know I am lost. Surely you can not claim to know my realtionship with Christ. I do not understand.

About Catholic dogma and doctrine: One man does not make this. It is all based on Scripture and Apostolic Tradition. (1 Thess. 2:15). A saint is one who is in Heaven with Our Lord. Not one who had was 100% correct on everything. "Doctors" of the Church have made great contributions. But their speculations, beliefs, opinions are not infallible.

However your case is that if St. Alphonse Liguori is held in such high esteem, AND, his intepretation of the "Hail Holy Queen" is not in line what I'm saying, then there must be a problem. I understand your point and you are spurring me to find out about this.

Brother, why accuse me of lying? Do you think I am to intentionally deceive both me and you? I believe that you are incorrect on a number of issues, however, I would not accuse you of lying. I assure you I am not. And as to whether I will be tossed in the fiery lake described in Rev. 21:8, that is up to God, not up to you. I suggest you reread what Our Lord said in Luke 6:37.

By the way, what is your name? We have exchanged a few emails, I am curious as to your name.

In Christ Our Lord,
Bill

Bill:
I am NOT your spiritual brother so please don't call me such.
You refuse to acknowledge that RC teaches that May is "our life, swetness and hope." Until you admit this very thing that the RC church teaches then don't write me back.

Hello friend,

You should ask yourself one question. Are you being a good witness to Christ? Is rudeness the way you expect to make converts? Are you following St. Peter's instructions for witnessing found in 1 Pet 3? I will get back to you. Why will you not tell me your name?

In Christ Our Lord,
Bill

Did Jesus call people liars? YES: "Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word." (John 8:55)

I never wrote back.

 

[Spyridon]

I never wrote back.

Best option to take.

 

[Colabomb]

It pains and saddens me as I am looking over this.

Bolded parts are my emphasis:
(in chronological order)

I wrote to some anti-Catholic website that had a page on how we supposedly worship Mary. Below is our email exchange. For this person's sake I will not include their email address.






























I never wrote back.

Sadness

 

[InnerPhyre]

I think that it's best not to dwell on such experiences Speaking from my own personal experience, dwelling on such things can breed resentment and anger, which is poison for the soul. I had to confess a lot of anger and resentment toward anti-Catholic folks the last time I went to confession and the priest to whom I confessed came out and told me straight out that I was "being totally stupid" for allowing such feelings to well up inside of me when that's the opposite of what Jesus would feel for these people.

When you see someone being anti-Catholic, correct their misconceptions gently as best you can, and if they won't listen, leave the rest to the Holy Spirit and walk away.

 

[Forest]

I think that it's best not to dwell on such experiences Speaking from my own personal experience, dwelling on such things can breed resentment and anger, which is poison for the soul. I had to confess a lot of anger and resentment toward anti-Catholic folks the last time I went to confession and the priest to whom I confessed came out and told me straight out that I was "being totally stupid" for allowing such feelings to well up inside of me when that's the opposite of what Jesus would feel for these people.

When you see someone being anti-Catholic, correct their misconceptions gently as best you can, and if they won't listen, leave the rest to the Holy Spirit and walk away.

I don't think you were stupid at all.

Having resentment and anger is part of the natural human reaction that we all have to fight from time to time.