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Kim M.
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| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
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| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 11:09 pm |
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For those who have been Protestants and converted to Catholicism, or for those on the way to Catholicism:
What was your persecution experience like as a Protestant vs. now as a Catholic or pre-Catholic?
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"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
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CajunRick
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 12:48 am |
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Kim, I don't know that it's a fair question, since geography is very significant. If you live in the bible belt, you will feel more persecuted as a Catholic. If you live in an Hispanic, Irish, or Polish community you're likely to feel more persecuted as a Protestant. As a Cajun, you'll probably feel left out (but not persecuted) as a Protestant, but as a Filipino, you'll feel persecuted if you're not Catholic. An Arab, Indonesian, or Oriental (Chinese, Japanese, or Korean) will likely feel persecuted as a Christian of any kind, while a Vietnamese will feel persecuted as anything but Catholic, and an Indian Catholic will suffer rather severe persecution.
So geography is a major factor here. Maybe you should revise your question.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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kimdyuma
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 12:53 am |
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In my case biggest difference is that my former fellow Anglican parishioners joined the sneering and hostily of my secular/new age family and the disaproval of my Southern Baptist side of the family. In all fairness though persecuted is a strong word for what takes place here in the States- People overseas die for their beliefs-
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mrsbmoo
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| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | former Methodist. RCA, Presbyterian, Holiness, Wesleyan... Catholic as of June ... |
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 01:20 am |
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Well, Rick has a good point about geography being important.
I started out as a protestant in a mostly Catholic area and ended up as a Catholic in a mostly protestant area. I don't think I was very persecutes as a protestant child, just sort of looked at as a second class citizen. Public school busses took Catholic and Jewish kids to religious intruction every afternoon and excused them from school for religious observances but us protestant kids didn't get any breaks. I had a good friend whose family was nominally Catholic in spite of the fact she had never been baptized or darkened the door of a church in her life. In spite of this her parents would not let her come to any church related event with me since I was not Catholic. Kids had to leave any weekend Girl Scout event to go to Mass but protestant religious needs were ignored. So in that case it was a subtle thing. As a young adult I would say I got some hassle from professors for having any faith at all but again nothing agressive.
Even now, surrounded by Evangelicals, I haven't had too much trouble. My ex has tried to talk the kids out of being Catholic but he is not very skilled and his religious beliefs, while nominally Baptist, are pretty inconsistant and off the wall, so it has been in vain.(truly your life speaks louder than words) There is the occasional comment about being a cult or not Christian but not overt hostility. In the home school community, Christian groups only accept Protestants and Catholics are lumped into groups with atheists, Buddists and Wiccans, who are much more accepting of people different than them. My 3 year old attends a Baptist preschool part time and although it is stated on her enrollment form that she is Catholic, nothing has been said to me or sent home that offends. Ironically, it is the same Baptist church my ex-husband attends, which further shows how his odd ideas are not actually Baptist(for example, that you can lose your salvation but you are predestined for Heaven or Hell regardless or your actions or deisires).
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Becky
Wife of Michael(called Moo) and stay at home mom to 5 daughters between 7 months and 16
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David W. Emery
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 01:43 am |
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Kim, in spite of the looseness of the terminology, I do believe that persecution exists, and regardless of where one lives it exists in a variety of forms, from public criticism and ostracization to being considered a criminal or a subhuman. In the United States, it is more the former kind of persecution, although I am aware of a few instances of a much more serious variety.
Now as to my personal experience: As a Protestant, my religion and I were subjected to theoretical criticism and ridicule by non-Christians, especially atheists. As a Catholic, my religion and I were subjected to a much more severe and angry criticism not only by non-Christians but also by people who considered themselves Christians, even those of my own family.
In the bible we read of incidents where the pagans, in order to show their contempt for Judaism, forced Jews to eat pork (cf. 2 Maccabees 6:18; 7:1) and otherwise to desecrate their most dearly held beliefs and practices (cf. 1 Maccabees 1:47). Similar things were done to me in the decade after I became Catholic. I was systematically treated in ways calculated to outrage and “break” me. Somehow, God kept me from lashing out at these people. In the end no physical harm was done, but I must say that the treatment I was subjected to is impossible to forget. If anything, it confirmed me in my beliefs rather than dissuading me, for I saw just how desperate these people were that they would resort to such tactics to show how much they hated Catholicism.
In my current environment, on the one hand working in a completely secularized office where I am one of only three people who have an active belief in God and on the other spending all my spare time communicating with Protestants and those of other backgrounds who have a desire to come closer to God, I am no longer bothered by the slurs and smears, much less by the ignorance and inconsistencies. To me, these are my brothers in Christ whom I must teach more by example than ideology the meaning of life.
David
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Christine Ann
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 02:44 am |
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Kim,
There has not been much difference between persecution as a Lutheran Protestant (in the Bible belt) and that I am receiving as a "pre-Catholic". I attended an independant Baptist Church for fifteen years because my husband was Baptist. Worship as a Lutheran had been liturgy, the sacraments, the creeds, infant baptism, holy communion and some scripture. I was very much out of place in a Baptist Church, in the Bible belt, but I went as far as being baptized (again) by submersion in an effort to be accepted. When I would cautiously venture to speak about my faith, I was openly criticized and my salvation questioned. So Protestant denominations persecute each other (my Lutheran friends have great disdain for Baptists as well.)
Now that I'm becoming Catholic, I'm sure I'm thought of as completely lost and deceived. Being Catholic here where there are very few of us, means being ostracized. Since I live in a small village it's much like being in a fishbowl...everyone knows your business. Our parishes (two in the county) are quite small. But Catholics have welcomed me with open arms and I am happier than I've ever been. I'm not bothered by the remarks made to me any longer, because I know I have found the way, the truth and the life in the Catholic Church. I am so grateful for the grace our Lord has extended to me. My prayer is that I may live the Christian life as it is meant to be, being kind and charitable even in the face of persecution and ignorance.
Any persecution I experience is far, far less than that experienced by many Christians throughout the world.
In His Love,
Christine Ann
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Kim M.
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| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
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| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 03:35 am |
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Rick, I have no idea how to rephrase it. Could you do the honors? I've got to leave the board for a bit so I might not get to it right away. You have my permission to rephrase things if you want. 
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"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
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Intercessor
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 05:27 am |
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Kim,
As a Protestant, any persecution I suffered was from persons who were not that close to me. I also had the support and comfort of family, dear friends, and fellow church members.
As a Catholic, I lost the support and comfort of most family members, some dear friends, and fellow church members. In some cases it was because they were so shocked, hurt, and confused. In other cases, they were just too uncomfortable associating intimately with a Catholic, not wanting to deal with critical comments from others. The loneliness and sense of separation have been profound. There is also the loss of position. I used to be the rock solid Christian they respected and trusted. Now, my judgement, or my stability, is questioned by those whose good opinion mattered to me; and they worry that I will lead other family members astray.
Some were/are willing to be with me but with the restriction that I not talk about anything Catholic. Since I devote my time to Mass, Adoration, Liturgy of the Hours, Catholic reading material, a home Catholic Bible study, a Catholic prayer meeting in another home, CHNI forum activity, phone calls and visits with Catholic priests and Catholic friends, Catholic retreats, virtually all of my life except for doggy and grandbaby is off-limits in conversation with these folks.
In a few cases, persons from my previous church are still very cordial; but because we no longer worship together, we've just lost contact.
God has been very merciful in sending me special persons who have held my head above water as I have learned to cope with my situation. He does not give us more than we can bear, and He uses our suffering to purify us.
I rejoice every day that God has made it possible for me to enjoy the riches and graces of being in the Catholic Church. Now I pray that friends and relatives will join me. Somebody had to be first. (A sister-in-law was confirmed at EV. Praise God!)
Last edited on Tue Apr 1st, 2008 05:38 am by Intercessor
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"If our charity is arrested by the difficulties encountered in dealing with our neighbor, . . . our relations with our brethren are not regulated by our love of God, but by our love of self." Divine Intimacy p. 781, Fr. Gabriel, O.C.D.
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Steven Barrett
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 06:14 am |
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Becky,
Love the living hell out of them. Period. Act like nothing they can say, sneer or hiss will ever separate the love you have for them because you know it comes from God. And that's true because we're only human and our natural tendency is to      and eventually walk away waving our arms in disgust that somebody so close could also be so dense, insensitive, blockheaded and thoroughly dedicated to making your life a slow dripping hell. Yes, and you might be tempted to ask when the bars open next. Been there, done all that, but--I didn't stand outside waiting for the barkeep, hit my head against the walls or completely "lose it." Stormed out of the house, well a few times.
But what did bring peace to all of us was simply what I mentioned at the top: Love the living hell out of them. Mother Teresa has said so on numerous occasions or in various books of hers.
Cajunrick is right about the geographical angle and as long as the US remains and is likely to remain a defacto Protestant Nation (which should give us all chills whenever some bigshot pol or preacher man on the idiot box starts flapping his yap for making this a "Christian Nation." Frankly that bullcrap is what scares the living hell out of me as it did to James Madison, no less!)
I can still recall all the picky and snide comments I heard from Prof Smartbuns' kids at my "progressive" collegetown's public h.s. when I told them I was going off to a Catholic college, even in Miami, not exactly a place you'd expect to have much opportunities to avoid occa sions of sin. (Well, my college was out, waaaay out in the boonies of Opa Locka.) Oh, I got it up and down and both ways sideways. But hell I figured, I was going to be in Miami next winter; sure as hell beat Icebox Univ.
While liberal Catholics and sneering secularists gave it to me on one side, the holier than thous had it in for me on the other. Don't you know by now that Catholics run gambling casinos, unlicensed beer joints, swear, in addition to all that idol worshipping, uttering vain repetitious prayers?
Well. So what? And some protestant denominations don't recognize each other as legit "bible Christians" at the same time two Southern Baptists won't recognize each other in a Hooters, strip clubs, "adult theatre," honky tonks or package stores.
On the other hand, I'm not at all ashamed that our Church is what Jesus wanted it to be: a haven for sinners and a place where they could eventually turn their lives around and be fully healed through His full literal presence, not the figurative kind one'd get just from relying on The Book. Not long ago I was listening to Toby Keith sing his popular song about a rather raucous bar: "I like this place." He listed 'em all.
This should give you some comfort: We can outdo any church on the face of the eath when it comes to going all out in high style, and that includes the C of E or Russian Orthodox. On the other hand, we can also make anyone feel just as much at home as they would in their living room. And why? Jesus is present. Nobody can top Jesus' Real Presence and no other church outdo us when it comes to offering the fullest truths and demonstrations of the God's love in all aspects of life.
Darfur stands for persecution. Saudi Arabia stands for persecution, and so do China, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, etc. How did I forget parts of Ulster? The Bible Belt, well that stands for something else, but persecution aint it unless somebody's dry-cleaning business is running a special deal for hooded sheets. On the other hand, how could I forget those lovely PC storm troopers I encountered during my years working for academia in two of the Five Colleges, Inc. version of the Five Familes of New York City.
 Last edited on Tue Apr 1st, 2008 06:21 am by Steven Barrett
____________________
For anyone suffering from a mental illness or has a loved one with a mental illness, my book "Lead kindly Light: A Devotional For The Mentally Ill" might be of some help: http://www.lulu.com/ (Use search box at the top of page.)
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CajunRick
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 12:01 pm |
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Kim M. wrote: Rick, I have no idea how to rephrase it.
I didn't mean to suggest that you should, Kim. I don't think you meant "persecution" as the early Church experienced it, or as Catholics experienced it after Henry VIII took the Church of England out of Roman hands, or the way the Jews experienced it in World War II. I just wanted to point out that the experiences of each person will be largely based on their geographical location, experience with family and friends, etc., so I'm not sure that any answer you receive will be generically meaningful. As a Catholic visiting in the bible belt (a story I have already recounted on the forum), I experienced a mild form of persecution (I prefer to think of it as discrimination) for being Catholic back in the 60's, but of course it's nothing compared to those who have been ostracized by friends and family, lost jobs, lost lives, etc.
Two people on the same path from Protestantland to Catholicland if the first is the pastor of a church and has to leave a job, friends and family behind to swim the Tiber alone, compared to someone on the same journey with the support of friends and family.
It's not a bad question, Kim. I'm just not so sure it can be fairly answered. But you've gotten some good responses already, so I'll just sit back and read.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Credo Catholic
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 02:50 pm |
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It's a good question! (Sit, alligator. Good boy.) Of course the area of the country you live in has an effect on what people around you are thinking and doing. Growing up as a Baptist in the Bible belt, I felt no persecution, but I was aware of a general sneer from the rest of the country. Sort of like we were lumped in with snake handlers, etc. It wasn't until the evangelical community became a political force that had to be dealt with, that I began to get over the idea I was part of an uneducated and way way behind the times group. The only catholics I knew growing up, were very kind and generous hearted people, and I still have some contact with a few of them.
As an adult who has converted to catholicism, I have been subjected to ridicule and insult by protestants, some of whom are my own family. They suspect I am getting early senility! Recently, I was outright snubbed in a Baptist bookstore. I nearly walked out, before finally a lady came to check me out at the register. Two other employees had turned and walked away. I was wearing my crucifix, that's the only thing I can think of that would have made me different from the other customers. I was buying little Easter basket gifts for my grandchildren, who are protestant.
I can't imagine being ostracized by catholics. Maybe it happens someplace else, but I think protestants are much more hostile, willing to make rude and wrong accusations.
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Kim M.
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| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 02:50 pm |
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I'm not sure that any answer you receive will be generically meaningful.
Rick, I'm not hoping for a generic overall answer, just individual experiences we can all, in different ways, relate to. The definition of the word "persecute" (as seen below) would fit any harrassment situation. Although, I would never say that our sufferings in this free nation are anything close to what some Christians experience.
Being treated differently as a Protestant Christian vs. as a Catholic Christian would definitely be different depending on your location, I agree. And I would welcome that being brought up in individual stories, if it makes a difference in their experiences.
Living in the Bible Belt, as a Catholic, I expect I'd suffer much more ostracism than, say, someone in New York or in Cajun Country. I'd like to hear from other Bible Belters. But I'd equally like to hear from New Englanders and Pacific Coasters, and...everyone else! 
Maybe what I should've asked was, "What has your persecution experience been since changing from a Protestant to a Catholic? Were you persecuted as a Protestant? Is it better or worse now?
Hmmmm, not sure that was any clearer than my original question.
persecute
Main Entry:per·se·cute Pronunciation: ˈpər-si-ˌkyüt
Function:transitive verb Inflected Form(s):per·se·cut·ed; per·se·cut·ing
Etymology:Middle English, from Middle French persecuter, back-formation from persecuteur persecutor, from Late Latin persecutor, from persequi to persecute, from Latin, to pursue, from per- through + sequi to follow — more at sue
Date:15th century 1: to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict; specifically : to cause to suffer because of belief2: to annoy with persistent or urgent approaches (as attacks, pleas, or importunities) : pester
Last edited on Tue Apr 1st, 2008 03:06 pm by Kim M.
____________________
"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
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Kim M.
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 03:01 pm |
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Thanks for the responses, everyone! This is what I was wanting to see. 
____________________
"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
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kimdyuma
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 03:22 pm |
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Kim how are you progressing on the home front with your Tiber explorations?
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Kim M.
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 03:31 pm |
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kimdyuma wrote: Kim how are you progressing on the home front with your Tiber explorations?
Very well. Thanks for asking, Kim! My heart is opening up more and more, as well as my mind. Last night's Journey Home was very helpful. I felt that God put it in my life at exactly the right time. I feel closer to Christ than I ever have. 
____________________
"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
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kimdyuma
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 03:37 pm |
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Good for you- how is the family taking your journey?
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Free
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 07:33 pm |
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I came back to Christianity after a long absence in the world and in anti-Christian beliefs. To become a born-again Christian in the midst of atheists and New Agers was mighty uncomfortable, and I experienced shunning from friends and family members. The worst part of the shunning was/is from one of my sons who has cut off contact with me and I am not seeing his children. If any of you are grandmothers, you can imagine how deeply that wound pierces my heart. In the midst of all this, I was able to share my faith with my older brother, who was dying of lung cancer at age 55. He returned to a wholehearted love of God before he died. And in the midst of that, my younger brother, after railing at me for being a "damned fundamentalist," wrote me a letter when he got back to his home in northern Canada, asking me to buy him a Bible. He and his wife are now active members in a little Pentecostal church near their wilderness home. My dad had gone to church (PCUSA) for about 60 years, and knew nothing of what the Bible taught except some morally correct teaching. He was also a Freemason, which I now believe blinds men to the truth of Christianity. I had to learn far more about the Masons' beliefs than I ever wanted to, but from that I was able to make a list for my Dad, showing in one column what the Masons taught, and in the other, what Christians taught. He could see that he couldn't be both and, praise God, he chose Christianity.
I was heading up a healing and deliverance ministry at my non-denominational church
when Jesus, whose voice I knew and loved, began to call me to the Catholic Church. In December of 2005, I received a letter from a childhood friend who had grown up in the Presbyterian church with me, saying she had become a Catholic. Then, that same week, I called a friend who I hadn't seen in awhile, and I asked him what was new, and he told me he was taking classes to become a Catholic. The very next day, I had lunch with another friend who had also grown up in the Presbyterian church, and she told me she was thinking of taking the RCIA (the what???) classes and entering the Catholic Church. I bought a copy of the Catechism and with pencil in hand began making checks by everything that didn't line up with MY VIEW of Christianity. I intended to convince this last friend to not make the mistake of becoming Catholic. I hadn't read very many pages before the Holy Spirit touched me in the way that only He can do and showed me like home movies about all the prejudice against Catholics that had come down to me in my family, and of which I, too, was guilty. After repenting and softening, then the Holy Spirit taught me the truth through the Catechism to much of what I'd been blind to as a Presbyterian and a non-denominational Christian. What a beautiful time that was. Because I was simply learning the truth about the Catholic faith. I had NO INTENTION of becoming Catholic!
As I led the healing and deliverance class at my church, we talked a lot about the healing power of the blood, and some of the books we read talked about how the "old folks" of Christianity (early 20th C) would apply the blood invisibly on the heads of their children, and on things such as gates and doorposts. Somehow I began to see that Jesus had given us a way to apply the blood that was even more intimate and more real -- through communion. This church celebrated communion no more than twice a year, and we used white grape juice because the pastor's wife didn't want the carpet to become stained with red juice in case of an accident.
As I read more closely in the Scriptures about the receiving of communion, I began to see how Jesus had given us physical ways to express spiritual truths. He gave us baptism with water that we could feel, and he gave us bread and wine to chew and swallow. To make a long story short, I began to see the incarnational aspect of Christianity. I even taught this to the class. They didn't seem to get it, but I was getting it. My friend who was on her way into the Catholic Church explained to me that by seeing the incarnational aspects of our faith, that I was more in line with Catholic than Protestant thinking. That gave me a good scare, yet I knew it was true. Yet I couldn't become a Catholic! There was too much non-Scriptural belief in their faith. I began to raise questions in my prayers. Every tough question I raised, the Lord faithfully found a way for the answer to come to me. Mary questions, Pope questions, confessing sins to men questions, purgatory questions, even indulgences, he faithfully (and patiently) brought me answers that rang true in my spirit and that I could see in my Bible. One day, after the last Pope question, I remember the huge anxiety that gripped me, knowing I need to become Catholic.
Kim has mentioned that she is waiting for peace. With me it was not peace, but out and out war!
I spent every waking and many sleeping hours counting the cost. It was more than a wrestling, it was war.
Now I know my mother and brother in heaven were praying for me, and I know our Blessed Mother was praying for me, too.
Thoughout this battle, I knew I could say "no." I knew Jesus was calling me into his one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church, yet I also knew it was my choice whether or not to go. Yet where else would I go if not there? Where could I experience the "real thing" of consecrated bread and wine, of absolution of the guilt from sin, of worshiping with people who believed in the communion of saints?
This is too long already, so I won't go into detail about the reaction of the pastor, the pastor's wife, and church members at the non-denominational church when I forthrightly told them that I was going to become Catholic, and was already Catholic in my heart. It was rough and raw and about as far from Christian love as it could be without drawing blood. Yet I accepted it and lived through it. For me, it wasn't as bad as the shunning from my son when I was born again.
I remember attending an All Saints service at the Catholic Church soon after the worst of the initial persecution was over (November 2006). My former church had kicked me out, yet my heart was filled with gladness, because I was truly free to be Catholic from then on.
I was received into the Church on April 7, 2007, and the gladness has expanded week by week in this first year of being a Catholic.
To others -- by all means, count the cost, yet press on, for the Catholic Church surely contains the fullness of the faith, the fullness of the truth. The gate is narrow, yet once you've squeezed through, the green pastures and still waters go farther than the eye can see.
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kimdyuma
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 09:19 pm |
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One thing that I have seen is that people herein the States anyhow don't say that much if you say thatyou have become Christian but when you say that you have become Catholic they feel free to make "not funny" jokes and ridicule you ie. "Well when I was a kid I wanted to become Catholic but my mom wouldn't let me 'cause she didn't want me to have 12 kids" or I bet your husband was glad that you wanted untill it was too late to have 12 kids.etc. (I am not sure why 12 except that it is an even number ) Then i hear cliches about every mean Nun that ever lived through history. Or I get asked if that means I can go out and rob a bank now "since all you have to do is confess and presto forgiven " this person conveniently forgot that many protestants believe that the bank robber is going to heaven regardless becuase he prayed the sinnners prayer and that can't be undone
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Dave Armstrong
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| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
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| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Nominal Methodist / evangelical non-denom / "Bapticostal" / Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 09:19 pm |
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Great thread. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories.
I wasn't persecuted at all as an evangelical (except by one paranoid pastor with whom I disagreed), so, not much to say there. I hardly ever talked to Catholics until the year or two before my conversion, when I met some articulate ones who were part of the pro-life rescue movement (a factor that was key in my conversion).
As a Catholic apologist with an active presence on the Internet for now twelve years, I have been lambasted and slandered by the anti-Catholic apologists, almost on a weekly basis for many years now. I'm one of their favorite "whipping boys". One tries to rationally respond, but you quickly learn that it is absolutely futile. So now I mostly ignore it or laugh at it. Often, I'll merely document it on my blog with very little response, just to show the type of unethical tactics that anti-Catholics are habitually capable of. To me, that is, in effect, an argument in favor of Catholicism: that its most vehement critics are so insulting and irrational and out to sea as to what we actually believe. So it's a roundabout way of doing apologetics itself.
I'm sure if I wasn't a known apologist I'd still be in trouble somewhere by proclaiming Catholic beliefs!
I have a tendency to wit, satire, and challenging and tweaking others (and not putting up with stuff, if you know what I mean) that'll always keep me in trouble regarding such things. I'm a Socratic by method. We know what happened to him . . . but I don't plan on drinking hemlock anytime soon, so our anti-Catholic friends will have to put up with me for the foreseeable future.
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I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 1900+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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Kim M.
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| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
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| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 09:59 pm |
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To me, that is, in effect, an argument in favor of Catholicism: that its most vehement critics are so insulting and irrational and out to sea as to what we actually believe.
And Dave, that fact is not lost on us Cathlo-Protestants looking in. (How do you like my new word?) 
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"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
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Kim M.
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| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Georgia USA |
| Posts: | 420 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Assembly again, PCA, ... |
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 10:17 pm |
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kimdyuma wrote: Good for you- how is the family taking your journey?
Kim, I've barely said anything to my kids or the rest of my family. Really, the only person I've discussed this with has been my hubby, and he's not at all interested in Catholicism.
It's strange, he believes most people are not anti-Catholic, but when I try to discuss the subject in the meekest way I can with him, he gets very uncomfortable and starts "what-about"ing me with questions.
We watched the current Journey Home last night, per my request, and it didn't faze him a bit (I was hoping it would help since Robert Koons deftly addressed a number of issues that my hubby had a problem with). But he did say that maybe this stuff would sink in and make him think differently down the road. So I have hope that I won't always be alone in this (in my marriage). He did say that it doesn't bother him if I want to watch EWTN! I thought it did, so that was good to know!
I think he's coming to terms with the fact that this is no fancy or whim for me. He was probably hoping it was, at first. (Didn't Kimberly Hahn think that of Scott?)
I am hopeful that peace will reign in my marriage as I pursue this love I am feeling for the CC.
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"A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
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Posted: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 12:36 am |
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