I still remember the slap to my face for confronting my Baptist Sunday School teacher. I had the temerity to confront her and say “You’re doing wrong. We’re supposed to be here learning about God’s love.” She had been leading the class in chants of “The Catholics are the enemy.” I’ve never seen that kind of thing in any other church, but we were asked to leave because of my “disruptive” behavior.
My ex-brother-in-law decided at one point that he didn’t like the fact that one of my nephews was converting to Catholicism (he’s a fundamentalist). He called the parrish priest and demanded to bar his son from the service. Said he would sue the church for violating his religious rights. He said “I’ve got a good lawyer.” The priest responded “We’re the Catholic Church and we have plenty of lawyers. Bring it on.” Since, my sister has converted to Catholicism.
Strangely enough, this whole thread made me take the time to go look up Martin Luther’s 95 theses.
Paul
I cannot imagine going to Church and hearing other people being labelled “the enemy”. That would be enough for me to find another Church, because that is surely not the way that Christ would want us to behave, particularly when we are guests in His house.
In Church you shouldn’t have enemies. All people, no matter what they believe and what they have done, should be prayed for.
“We’re the Catholic Church and we have plenty of lawyers. Bring it on.”
Now that’s funny, I don’t care who you are.