Respectful dialogue is done man to man not by playing politics over a magazine or the internet. True dialogue doesn't need impersonal letter writing. I question the sincerity and purpose of someone who doesn't have the integrity to speak to him personally or write him personally before he engages in advertising his position.
2) To bring someone to the fullness of Christian truth is not chauvinism - it’s just common sense and charitable.
Again, sincerity of dialogue is achieved by personal association not some advertising campaign for Catholic theology.
3) As the letter says, “I write to you as one Christian to another in order to share with you the opportunity to experience a deeper dimension of intimacy with our Lord and Savior.” That is not chauvinism. It is a desirable Christian charity.
Christian charity is achieved through a letter published openly and now on the Internet? Is that what you call charity? I call it propaganda and impersonal despite the putative sincerity.
4) Also, your last point about converting the other Baldwins is off base. The Baldwin family is clearly a dissenting Catholic family. If Stephen Baldwin were to return to Catholicism with the zealousness of a convert, he would strongly encourage his whole family to return to the faith they clearly have abandoned. It would be a faith they are familiar with, but have fallen away from. Convert Stephen Baldwin and the whole family might convert. No joke. A friend of mine wanted to know why I was so interested in his conversion (he was a fallen away Mormon turned atheist). I told him plainly: if he converted, not only would mean all the difference in the world to him, but he would convert hundreds of others in his life time. He was taken aback. He later converted. He is now heading up a Catholic radio ministry and is converting others.
I guess it would be redundant for me to answer this one given my position above.
You wrote:
“Respectful dialogue is done man to man not by playing politics over a magazine or the internet.”
Incorrect. Respectful dialogue is done in a respectful tone not in a particular medium. Ever read the respectful WRITTEN debates of Joad, Lunn, and others?
“True dialogue doesn’t need impersonal letter writing.”
True dialogue comes from the heart and mind. Impersonality is irrelevant.
“I question the sincerity and purpose of someone who doesn’t have the integrity to speak to him personally or write him personally before he engages in advertising his position.”
I don’t in this case. 1) The motives are clear - evangelization. 2) More conversions may result this way. 3) More personal communications may simply be impossible.
“Again, sincerity of dialogue is achieved by personal association not some advertising campaign for Catholic theology.”
Your either/or is simply nonsensical. 1) This open letter might be the beginning of a more personal association that might otherwise never happen. That’s what happened in the past with others. 2) Sincere dialogue is from a sincere mind and heart and exists irrespective of medium used to communicate.
“Christian charity is achieved through a letter published openly and now on the Internet?”
Yes, if it is charitable in intent and method.
“Is that what you call charity? I call it propaganda and impersonal despite the putative sincerity.”
What you call it is irrelevant. Again, the intent was charitable, the method was charitable under the circumstances. There is no logical reason to doubt the sincerity of the letter. Please remember that St. Paul wrote to the Romans even though he had never visited them yet. Was what he wrote propaganda when he wrote: “For I really want to see you and give you the gift of the Spirit, so that you may be justified through Him, And as one we become justified through faith, yours and mine”?
“I guess it would be redundant for me to answer this one given my position above.”
I don’t think you can answer it. Apparently all you can do is complain about it.
Remember, Paul wrote a letter to the Romans and he didn’t even know them.
Indeed, contrast this with the biblical model exhibited by Aquila & Priscilla taking Apollos aside in Acts 18 and teaching him privately.