I meant there are no "simple" converts in the USA. Here the Catholic Church appeals only to intellectuals. I think it's the only kind of person they want.
So, the only reason to adhere to one’s own faith is that one hates Jews? To participate in a non-Catholic rite is to suggest that one accepts that rite as theologically valid, that’s all.
You have completely misunderstood my point in that comment. Your co-religionist Cronos has been lambasting Orthodox Presbyterians (or whichever it is) for at least a year as anti-Semites because they are opposed to chr*stian seders, supposedly unlike the wonderful, tolerant, liberal Catholic Church which allegedly has no problems with them. I merely called him out on his hypocrisy in condemning a denomination for an attitude that exists just as much in the Catholic Church. If you want to argue with someone who believes chr*stian seders are a wonderful thing, then you'll have to argue with him, not with me.
Satan’s attacks on the Church in the 20th century struck major blows. However, we appear to have turned the corner with our German Shepherd, and I think he will continue to draw a line in the sand.
You mean the German shepherd who, before he was pope, wrote a book on Genesis rejecting its facticity and even the concept of original sin? Some "conservative" that guy is.
“Not in this country (Illiterate peasants can become converts. American Catholics think the Baptist church was created by G-d to pick up the simpletons who don’t have the mental acumen to be Catholics.”
What country are you living in? Maybe I should ask first what planet you are living on.
I live on the planet where during six years in the Catholic Church begging someone to speak to my mother about joining (and yes, I did speak to her myself--I'm the only one who ever did) they absolutely refused to do so because, as a visiting priest told me, the Baptist church is perfectly fine. That's the planet I live on. What planet do you live on where the Catholic Church actually wants people--not just intellectuals, but ordinary people--to join it??? It sure ain't earth, buddy.
The only way I managed to join the Catholic Church was by taking the initiative myself. The Catholic Church doesn't really go to any effort to attract or convert anyone, and most Catholics ridicule those denominations that go door to door and try to convert people. I've never understood why; at least those other churches care about ordinary people.
Joining the Catholic Church is like joining the Masonic lodge; the "seeker" as to petition to enter.
You’re right about one thing: some dioceses here in America suck. And I don’t mean the generic “OK on TV” G-rated “suck.” (Self-censored) I mean “suck” from back when it was a *really* dirty word.
I really don’t think there is a single intellectual in the diocese I find myself stuck in at present. I’m not sure there is anyone of normal intelligence. I’m sitting here trying to think of a single good thing to say about this diocese, but I can’t. I was going to mention the music at Easter, but I went to congratulate one of the trumpet players and he snubbed me with an extra helping of scorn, so that kind of spoiled it.
I’ve been trying to get my two youngest in catechism classes. They were supposed to start today. We were at the appointed place at the appointed time, but no one else was. Just about the time I was giving up on looking and asking people, the teen life mass or whatever was ending. I hung back until no one was waiting to shake hands with the priest (a protestant custom that I heartily detest), then I went up and said, “I’ve been trying to get these two into catechism classes, but there is nothing on your web site that gives the dates and times. I called, and was apparently told the wrong time, because I can’t find anyone here. This is a bad, *bad* place to be a Catholic.”
He is a young fellow, a new priest, and looked a little shocked, but I’m willing to bet that no one calls me back, that the only thing that comes of this is that they will try to stop taking my calls. This is the last straw, though. It’s been five years of torture in this diocese, and nastygrams are going to fly in all directions—even Romeward.
Our bishop is a genuine protector of sodomites, almost as bad as the Catholic-haters think Catholic bishops are. He was a protégé of Phony Mahoney of Los Angeles. Our first couple of weeks here, we discovered that it is a “Catholic tradition” that confessions are not heard for the week before Easter, then went to Mass and were treated to gross liturgical abuse and outright heresy. These Stepford parishioners just sat there with glazed expressions and let it all wash over them. I really think the priest could deflower little girls on the altar and they’d just sit there. Intellectuals? They’re *morons.*
But that is not the Catholic Church at work. That is the result of generations of bad seminaries, bad bishops, and bad priests. That bad stuff is not the Church, nor is it a fruit of the Church. It is the toxic fruit of Satan’s attacks on the Church, and I believe the corner has been turned.
I don’t know what His Holiness wrote about Genesis, but back in 1917 my mother was taught by the Priests and Sisters that there is a good deal of allegory in Genesis, so that idea is nothing new. Further, I believe that the Bible contains both historical truth and theological truth, the latter presented through allegory and parable. I’m betting that His Holiness wrote something similar to that, and I have no problem with it.
I can easily believe what you say about your mother, and should you want to hire anyone to slap those people in the face, I volunteer. Still, they are not the Church. They are asshats who have wormed their way into positions of authority because good men don’t do it.
“The only way I managed to join the Catholic Church was by taking the initiative myself.”
I like it that way. I will talk to anyone who wants to talk, but if they don’t, I don’t nag them.
“The Catholic Church doesn’t really go to any effort to attract or convert anyone, and most Catholics ridicule those denominations that go door to door and try to convert people. I’ve never understood why; at least those other churches care about ordinary people.”
I don’t favor going from door to door or haranguing people. I do think ordinary people should be able to go down the street to the Church and find a priest to talk to.
“Joining the Catholic Church is like joining the Masonic lodge; the “seeker” has to petition to enter.”
I’m fine with that.
That's just a bad priest. My wife was told much the same thing (by one priest), except s/Baptist/Episcopalian/g. (Then she went to a priest who was an ex-Episcopalian, instead of a wannabe Episcopalian, and got the truth.)
Although, having said that, unless your Mom (a) had specific questions she wanted answered; or (b) had already expressed interest in joining, they would have a case that talking to her about it was really *your* job. Having a priest descend on you out of the blue to try and talk you into becoming a Catholic can be pretty off-putting and intimidating.
Joining the Catholic Church is like joining the Masonic lodge; the "seeker" as to petition to enter.
Pretty much the way it's been since the beginning, that. High-pressure evangelism isn't part of our tradition.