"I thought about suing for the return of 4 years worth of tithes."
Interesting. I heard the Catholic Church has just topped paying 1 billion dollars in the sex scandals. I wonder how many have considered the same.
I said "...Check out the fact that many such communities consist of the same middle to high class socialites. Is there really a melting-pot in some of these churches?"
You responded "...That's not been my observation at all."
I have observed this, as my wife and I went to a few Protestant "non-denominational" churches before I came back to the Catholic Church. And I found that there were so many churches locally that one could pick and choose what to believe and what group of people one wanted to hang out with. One church we went to was filled with rich people because the preacher taught the wealth and health gospel. I am certain that is not the case everywhere, but the temptation is there esp. in Protestantism BECAUSE you choose which set of people and beliefs that you will maintain.
"... embezzlement scandal broke"
Unfortunately, I have seen this here in the local community (not catholic) as well. However, I try not to use this (or the sex scandal) as my reasons for staying with or refuting a particular denomination's belief system. Christ said in several parables that the Church would undergo such trials from within - the weed, the bad fish, the wolf in sheep's clothing... With this in mind, the scandals of various churches isn't as big an issue with me personally, as my belief is wedded to the history and belief that Christ formed an apostolic community that continues substantially within the Catholic Church. When one reads the Acts of the Apostles, one also finds scandals and such. It shouldn't be surprising that man is in need of God, both now and then.
"...{evangelization} it's by no means a US phenomenon."
Of course. Evangelicals are also very active in the Western Hemisphere as well. My point is that it is difficult to see this work unless we are there or know someone who was there. Are you in a position to know many Catholics who were missionaries? Unless you are in contact with religious (the vocation) men and women, you wouldn't find the Church is very active.
It would be interesting to see some study on evangelism in the US and the reasons behind why some are active and others are not. I think the emphasis is different in the Catholic Church - evangelization has, in the past, been the field of the religious, laity being perhaps only from the third order of religious brothers or sisters. Everyday Catholics, however, generally do not, nor have they been told to go door to door. I have, however, been reading of more campus ministry, for example. It is a slow process, but I think with the influx of Protestant pastors and such, we are beginning to see an upsurge of apologetics and active evangelization. I believe God is behind this more active role - and it is the formerly Protestant members of the Church who are leading the charge.
"True of Evangelicals too. But the few who do, especially in the college environment, make a big impact."
Watch EWTN one of these days and check out some of the shows, especially "Life on the Rock" and other such youth oriented apologetic programming. You will find that the Church is becoming more active. It isn't going to happen over night, but I think you will begin to appreciate that there are also Catholic out there who are active in evangelization. You just need to actually look for them. I don't imagine you will find them posting flyers on cars in the parking lot of your church, but there are Catholic radio, TV, and campus outreach programs - if you choose to look for them.
Regards
In my experience the name-it-and-claim-it, health & wealth gospel tends to draw in the poor, the down-and-out, the chronic losers, who can't succeed on their own and think they can "faith" their way into financial success. If you found a wealth-gospel church where the people are actually rich, part of me wants to say, "Hey, it finally WORKED somewhere!" /sarcasm>
It would be interesting to see some study on evangelism in the US and the reasons behind why some are active and others are not. I think the emphasis is different in the Catholic Church - evangelization has, in the past, been the field of the religious [orders]...
I thought of that too. In Evangelical circles, Matthew 28:18-20 is interpreted and taught as a command to all believers. Perhaps in Catholic teaching, it is traditionally interpreted as a command only to the Apostles (and ordained successors)? That would explain a lot of the difference, if true.
...with the influx of Protestant pastors and such, we are beginning to see an upsurge of apologetics and active evangelization. I believe God is behind this more active role - and it is the formerly Protestant members of the Church who are leading the charge...
That's actually a real intellectual difficulty for me. If the RC church is the sole lawful successor of the Apostlic church, then how is it that they have to get their best evangelists from the ranks of "heretics"?
Also, related to this: the doctrine of the RC church has been for centuries, "No Salvation Outside the Catholic Church". Yet every last one of these Protestant pastor converts speaks fondly of his evangelical background, and if asked, "When did you get saved?", every last one of them would say they were already Christians while still Protestants. This seems to be a contradiction.
Watch EWTN one of these days and check out some of the shows... Catholic radio, TV... if you choose to look for them.
Actually I did recently look. We don't get EWTN, nor are there any Catholic TV or radio shows that i can find. There's nothing at all, at least not in English. This being Los Angeles, you'd think there'd be SOMETHING, somewhere. Evangelicals are all over the place, however.