Posted on 05/02/2015 9:53:03 AM PDT by ebb tide
The Catholic church never works for conversions. There are people who misunderstand the mission of Christians, especially of the Catholic church, said Cardinal Mar George Alenchery, the major archbishop of Syro Malabar Church.
The major archbishop, who is on a pastoral visit to the diocese of Belthangady till May 5, said, "Conversion is a personal response of a person to God. Nobody can force or coerce a person. The church witnesses the charity of Christ and proclaims Christian values—truth, justice, love and harmony—to others. This attracts people. It is not something which we create, it is something they (people) request.
"Evangelization is not converting people. Actually conversion is not a business of a pastor or missionary. Conversion happens in the mind of a person while listening to the word of God. Ghar Wapsi is too simple a reaction to a complex problem," he added.
The archbishop said his pastoral visit is to maintain a contact with the clergy, laity and an occasion to rejuvenate the energies of those engaged in the work of church. ``A pastoral visit helps the bishop to evaluate the effectiveness of the structures and agencies designed for pastoral services, take account of the circumstances and difficulties and determine more accurately the priorities,'' he said adding this was the 16th year of the establishment of Belthangady as a diocese.
The archbishop visited St Alphonsa Forane Church, Kankanady, where he was met Mangalore diocese bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza, bishop of Belthangady Mar Lawrence Mukkuzhy and vicar general Fr Joseph Valiaparambil among others.
A religious harmony meet was also held on Bishop's House Campus in Belthangady on Friday. Religious leaders Sri Kshetra Dharmastala dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade, Kukke Sri Narasimha Mutt seer Sri Vidyaprasanna Thirtha Swamiji, Maulana Abdul Aziz, Union minister for law and justice D V Sadananda Gowda, ministers B Ramanath Rai, Vinaykumar Sorake, U T Khader and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel were present.
I guess Cardinal Alenchery thinks all the Catholic missionary martyrs deaths were in vain.
and, for example, John the Baptist was doing...what?
Missionaries spread the good news of the Gospel. They do not work to convert people per se.
Very misunderstood.
leading people to Christ.
When people criticize a priest or a bishop they don’t take into condideration that they are arguing with a theologian and take on the argument from an equally intelligent point of view. And forget it when anti catholic bigotry is behind it.
But the truth is that the bishop is just talking about the teaching of the Church.
Anyone can read the Catechism and see what he’s talking about.
do you know what metanoiete means, brother?
“Beauty will save the world – Gaudi’s basilica inspires conversions”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3284925/posts
[16] And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. [17] And seeing him they adored: but some doubted. [18] And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. [19] Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.
Matthew; Chapter 28
[18] All power: See here the warrant and commission of the apostles and their successors, the bishops and pastors of Christ’s church. He received from his Father all power in heaven and in earth: and in virtue of this power, he sends them (even as his Father sent him, St. John 20. 21) to teach and disciple, not one, but all nations; and instruct them in all truths: and that he may assist them effectually in the execution of this commission, he promises to be with them, not for three or four hundred years only, but all days, even to the consummation of the world. How then could the Catholic Church ever go astray; having always with her pastors, as is here promised, Christ himself, who is the way, the truth, and the life. St. John 14.
“Missionary, called Metanoite. An Armenian, he was born at Pontus, on the Black Sea, in Asia Minor and entered a monastery at Khrysopetro. He was then sent as a preacher to Crete, and after enjoying considerable success, he went to his native country and Greece. He was given the title Metanoite because of his common use of penance as a theme for his sermons. He was noted for his miracles. He died in Peloponnesus. “
do you know what ‘miracle’ means?
I see ‘teach’
Where do you see ‘convert’?
Well, proselytism is solemn nonsense.....duh.
Actually, I guess it is when one believes it isn’t necessary to be Catholic in order to be saved.
He is right.. conversion is the work of God in a man through the word of God..
Missionaries are to bring the word of God to the world.. the rest is up to God..
The job of Pastors is to feed, encourage and protect the sheep
Did you read the last sentence of the posted article?
That was a perfect example of false ecumenism. Alencherry is certainly no St. Thomas the Apostle, who happened to be martyred in India.
The Twelve Apostles
10 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: ...(this is confession, by the way)
The Mission of the Twelve
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. ...11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. ...but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town...
Coming Persecutions
16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves... 19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour;
20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next...
well. talking past each other i see.
anyway for others who maybe watching, a former jesuit brother translated it for me from the greek.
he said it, metanoiete, means “be totally transformed or be totally converted.”
it’s what John said to those who came to him as he dunked them.
God bless brother.
One of the problems of churches in Islamic lands
is that Islam has always been intolerant of those who convert to something else (usually the penalty is death);
and also intolerant of preaching.
Unfortunately, churches in those regions often have grown insular, and had “adapted” to the conditions (ie, they will do good works, but not preach).
And while not understating the difficult conditions in which they have survived for hundreds of years, nevertheless I think that they have accommodated themselves too much to the local culture in that regard.
Did I read it? Of course I read it.
I think we’re done here.
I can never hope to convert you to think that Catholics speak the truth, for instance. so that’s not what Catholics do.
But keep in mind that the good Bishop is very highly educated and experienced in these matters and you would do well to approach arguing against his point on his intellectual level
convert:
Cause to change in form, character, or function.
“be totally transformed or be totally converted.”
it’s what John said to those who came to him as he dunked them.”
And where does he take credit for the conversion? It is apparent that he gives that credit to the Holy Spirit
You apparently don't even know when you're talking to a Catholic. As far as "educated", Jesuits are some of the most educated of Catholics, and except for a few, are the most unorthodox.
What’s your point?
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