[Judith Anne]

I have greatly benefited by my absence from the Religion Forum. Perhaps other Catholics could, as well....? Is it our duty to correct misconceptions? Is that even possible?

[Judith Anne]

Pinging you at your request.

[frogjerk]

Defend what is Holy.

Also, not actively debunking those that have misconceptions about Holy Mother Church and what she teaches would be wrong.

Conversing with fools is another thing all together.

[Campion]

Is it our duty to correct misconceptions?

"Instructing the ignorant" is one of the spiritual works of mercy. Scripture also commands to contend for the faith "once delivered to the saints," and to "give a reason for the hope that lies within [us]". Not to mention that tidbit about "Go and make disciples of all the nations".

So, yes, it's absolutely our duty.

[wagglebee]

I am sort of torn.

On the one hand, I have at times experienced intense resentment and found it necessary to ignore the Religion Forum for a while.

On the other hand, I do not want to see blatant lies about the Catholic Church go unanswered.

[Mad Dawg]

Thanks for the idea and for the ping. I'm wondering if the way to do this is to "abstain for a season." Even those who don't think we should refrain forever could agree for a Lent of silence. I don't know. It's interesting. It's a heck of a challenge. Parable: The other day I was at evening prayer with somebody who didn't usually pray the office. So I'm reciting the Magnificat from memory and this person gets a verse wrong and I am immediately confused and lose my place and have to grab a breviary. Of course, it's silly and not a big deal. But I DID think, "I guess I don't know the Magnificat as well as I thought I did."

THEN I thought, Hey, this is like virtue. I go along being all genial and funny warm and fuzzy and think I'm quite the dude. But when I encounter some gratuitously nasty person, I lose all that niceness in a heart beat. There's a lot I don't know as well as I thought I did, and maybe working here is a good training ground and diagnostic all in one.

[IrishCatholic]

I see my post didn't last long. I'm not surprised.
Got to have a thick skin is what I'm told.

Hypocrisy so thick it wouldn't fit on a sandwich.

Let's just say, you can't reach certain people. They don't want to be reached. Correct those who are honest in their mistakes but quickly recognize those that don't want to be corrected and drive on.

There, that should be bland enough.

[markomalley]

For me, I tend to believe that the correct course of action is to charitably correct the errors a few times. We should do our best to assure that those folks who are against the Church do not have to excuse of invincible ignorance.

But the key is charitably, with patience, but firmly.

Titus 3:

1 Admonish them to be subject to princes and powers, to obey at a word, to be ready to every good work.
2 To speak evil of no man, not to be litigious but gentle: showing all mildness towards all men.
3 For we ourselves also were some time unwise, incredulous, erring, slaves to divers desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
4 But when the goodness and kindness of God our Saviour appeared:
5 Not by the works of justice which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the laver of regeneration and renovation of the Holy Ghost.
6 Whom he has poured forth upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour:
7 That, being justified by his grace, we may be heirs according to hope of life everlasting.
8 It is a faithful saying. And these things I will have you affirm constantly, that they who believe in God may be careful to excel in good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
9 But avoid foolish questions and genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law. For they are unprofitable and vain.
10 A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid:
11 Knowing that he that is such an one is subverted and sins, being condemned by his own judgment.

The point being that you should contend for the Faith, but descending into empty argument is just not worth it:

2 Tim 2
14 Of these things put them in mind, charging them before the Lord. Contend not in words: for it is to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Carefully study^* to present yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they grow much towards ungodliness.
17 And their speech spreads like a canker: of whom are Hymeneus and Philetus:
18 Who have erred from the truth, saying that the resurrection is past already, and have subverted the faith of some.
19 But the sure foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: the Lord knows who are his; and let every one depart from iniquity who names the name of the Lord.

^* The Greek for Study is "spoudazō" -- meaning to be diligent

And if you get too frustrated, you can gain some comfort from reading Psalm 2. Tho' I'm not much of a fan of the KJV, in this case, the KJV is the most satisfying: Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?…

[Kanakabaraka]

I don't know if I qualify as a Catholic Caucus member or not. I'm baptized Catholic, try to pray the rosary daily, and attend Mass but have some steps to take before returning to communion. If I shouldn't be here, please let me know and I'll ask to have my post removed.

I would like to say, while I don't envy the ire directed toward the Catholics who participate in the Religion Forum, and I know I'm certainly not equipped to defend the faith myself, it was as a lurker here that I became convinced that either the Catholics or the Orthodox have it right. If someone here hadn't been answering what was being said, I might not have necessarily believed the things that were being presented, but would probably have continued operating on the assumption that the dogmas of most churches on the subjects we see debated here is mostly a reflection of each group's personal or preferred understanding of things that maybe can't actually be known. It was the demonstration here of the Church's historical continuity and internal consistency through the last 2000 years that has convinced me that it (along with the Orthodox) is the true Church.

(I will admit, it was the contentiousness that kept me reading long enough to learn this; some of the threads here can be gruesomely fascinating.)

[Desdemona]

Yes, it is our duty to correct misconceptions - even those of us who've had to correct world-renowned conductors (not on this forum) when they state errors. We just cannot let errors go uncorrected, particularly when it is blatant or based in ignorance.

That being said - I have deliberately taken breaks from the religion forum when the commentary from those who are not Catholic is particularly caustic and when normally even-keeled Catholics respond in kind. Confrontation is not really my thing. It helps to keep this forum from really getting to me as the same arguments seem to pop up and the same corrections are made over and over again.

Through the back and forth discussions and corrections, I have learned a lot and have learned what sources to trust and which ones aren't worth the time. That's been very valuable. Keeping things balanced, though, can be quite a challenge.

[NYer]

Agreed! There is no reason why Catholics should not know their faith. In fact, it is right here at FreeRepublic, after witnessing an attack on the Catholic Church by a freeper ignorant of our faith, that I took up the mantle and began to study on my own. Sometimes, it takes just this type of encouragement for anyone of us to learn Catholic apologetics. Freepmail me if you need some resources.

[narses]

+

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:

Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.

[the invisib1e hand]

Maybe the time is past for "defending the faith."

Rather think "the faith" is to be asserted. Let those who deny reality do the defending.

I don't see much "defending" of Islam, but it's being successfully asserted all over the world.

"...the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence..."

[TradicalRC]

WWJD? When in doubt, go to the Master.

3.The chief priests accused him of many things.
4.So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
5.But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
-Mark 15:3-5

[annalex]

The very obsession with which otherwise rational people dedicate themselves to the spreading of anti-Catholic propaganda indicates an unease of conscience about the Church. It is therefore our duty to point the way to those people, and it can only be done with personal witness, not references to catechetical material done by others.

However, like in any effort, observe the measure. I take breaks from FR; I wouldn’t deny a break to anyone else.

[Cronos]

well, yes and no. I, personally, have benefitted a lot from my discussions with Orthodox like Kolokotronis and kosta50, with Lutherans like lightman and redgolum, with Anglicans like sionnsar. Even with some evangelicals — to some extent, one can have a dialogue. Staying away completely would have robbed me of the chance to know these people and their beliefs which have enhanced my own.

[markomalley]

The latest anti-Catholic screed, the VATICAN TURNS BLIND EYE TO ISLAMIC TERRORISM thread, was just pulled, as I'm sure many of you know:

This, I think, is illustrative of what we need to do: push these toadies to really identify what they believe and make them come out to be the nasty pieces of work they, in fact, are.

And remember, <he who must not be named> must not be named in the Religion Forum. Not the other fora.

I have two requests for the "defending the faith" folks who have participated on this thread:

1. Please bookmark this thread. (You will note a "Bookmark" link just below the article...if you click on that, it will be saved to your links on your profile)
2. If you run into screeds like the VATICAN TURNS BLIND EYE TO ISLAMIC TERRORISM thread, please post them here and ping folks to that thread (or to your link on this thread)

I think if we confront these folks, we may end up getting some progress. Not with the <he who must not be named>-ista's, but with anybody who is somewhat reasonable...that is, most people.