A Deeper Look at the Many Evangelicals Turning Catholic

NC Register ^ | August 5, 2010 | MATTHEW WARNER

[Hieronymus]

If you ever show up in our neighborhood, we would be thrilled to have you.

We do have people who knock on doors.

http://www.parishvisitorsisters.org/
http://www.legionofmary.ie/

With the exception of the Shakers, the Albigensians, the Manichees, and other groups that were against reproduction, I’m not aware of any religious group that has had a consistent growth pattern extending more than a century that did not have offspring as a huge component of its members.

Many Catholic cultures did get out of the habit of door knocking because there was no point. In Italy, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain from 1600-1900, there aren’t many non-Catholic doors to knock on, and the situation has been similar in many Catholic cultures throughout the millenium. Some Protestant countries have had similar situations—Scandanavia for example.

[ArrogantBustard]

Stay classy, fatboy.

[melsec]

Thank-you for your kind and thoughtful reply. You do me too much credit. I have not done the sort of reading nor can I expand in any detail the wonderful things many of you do here. I am grateful for all your wisdom and all the hard work you have put into understanding the faith.

Blessings

Mel

[Zionist Conspirator]

Many Catholic cultures did get out of the habit of door knocking because there was no point. In Italy, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain from 1600-1900, there aren’t many non-Catholic doors to knock on, and the situation has been similar in many Catholic cultures throughout the millenium. Some Protestant countries have had similar situations—Scandanavia for example.

Point taken, but Protestant America logically should be missionary territory for the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church (like the Eastern and Oriental churches) has degenerated into an ethnic church. Also, the prevalence of Protestant missionaries has caused Catholics to adopt the same attitude towards proselytization as Jews.

Regardless, I don't believe Catholicism can be adequately explained to a non-intellectual.

[Flying Circus]

Various evangelical/baptist/non-denominational/YIPIOS churches come and go with whatever tickles people’s ears and the popularity of their preachers and no one takes much notice. But when a Catholic church is closed it gets attention because feeling of anguish by displaced parishioners and many old churches are architectural and historic landmarks. The Church is notoriously slow to respond to changes so many of the closings are occurring in old urban ethnic neighborhoods where the most of Catholic population moved or died out long ago. Unlike protestant churches where someone who can point to a divinity degree or is just a really good speaker becomes preacher, there has been a shortage of men willing to take up of the lifelong commitment and cross of priesthood so many dioceses cannot support smaller parishes.

I live in a relatively young diocese so the churches were mostly built in the last 40 years. While most are terrifically ugly and not very “Catholic” in their architecture and decor, they are well attended and none are being closed. My parish has a particularly large congregation (6000 families), despite its unattractive building, because of its fidelity to traditional Catholicism, orthodox homilies, perpetual Eucharistic adoration, readily available confession and a vibrant parish cultural life.