>>All I know is that when I investigated Catholicism I had to take the initiative.<<
Because we are not called to pull you out of your denomination. We are called to present the Good News of the Lord to you then show by example the way that we believe we are right, NOT that you are wrong.
If you have a good relationship with The Lord, we are not going to beat you over the head. I was even asked by a convert friend of mine, “Why didn’t you TELL us?”
I said, if you know Christ, then it’s what is the problem? You have eyes that see and ears that hear. Our truth is right before your face. We’re not going to smack you with it.
>>All I know is that when I investigated Catholicism I had to take the initiative.<<
Because we are not called to pull you out of your denomination. We are called to present the Good News of the Lord to you then show by example the way that we believe we are right, NOT that you are wrong.
I wasn't in a denomination. I was a searcher. And in this country if you're a searcher any Protestant or "heretical" church (JW's, mormons, etc.) is glad to find searchers. But not the Catholic Church. No, not the "one true original church." If you're a searcher you know that everyone wants you except for that church (and the Orthodox), because they are ethnic churches and are strictly for "family."
If you have a good relationship with The Lord, we are not going to beat you over the head. I was even asked by a convert friend of mine, “Why didn’t you TELL us?”
Wow. You guys really do expect the world to come to you, don't you. I can't help but wonder how you converted half the world with such an attitude.
You must also forgive my confusion when a church that claims to be "the one true church" simultaneously insists that "it doesn't matter" whether one belongs to it or not. That's a real poser. The whole thing smacks of "we're better than you because we don't have to recruit our members" (of course not when you "own" several ethnic groups who baptize their infants).
You know who else expects you to come to them? The Masons. Hmmm. That's interesting. Catholics and Masons are opposed, yet their membership is acquired the same way (except for the fact that most Catholics are raised in the Church).
What you seem to regard as a laudable attitude never struck me as anything other than absolutely shameful, even when I was a member. The whole vibe was "the intellectuals will come to us on their own, and the vast majority of mental cripples around here can't handle our beautiful doctrines so it's best to leave them to the Fundies." And you're proud of this? You defend this? I can understand Primitive Baptists not missionizing, since they're hyper-Calvinists who believe preaching is only for the "edification of the elect." But you Catholics who claim to be open to anyone and everyone? You seem to have the exact same attitude. It makes your criticisms of Calvinism seem very hypocritical.
I said, if you know Christ, then it’s what is the problem?
Wow. If that's the Catholic attitude, then why were heretics treated so ruthlessly in the past? Maybe the Church's understanding of itself hadn't "evolved" sufficiently?
You have eyes that see and ears that hear. Our truth is right before your face. We’re not going to smack you with it.
No, you're not going to even make it available. And there is no Catholic church, or even (so far as I know) Catholic presence of any kind in my county, so you're not right in front of our faces.
What an attitude. No wonder I couldn't last. And no wonder there's no Catholic church in this county. That attitude by someone who claims to be non-Calvinist is just . . . I'm sorry, it's crazy. Literally crazy.
At the RCIA Open House there were a large number of people that had an interest. They were people who had learned of the Church through family or friends. They just suddenly had questions and wanted to learn more. Same way my 10 year old said, “I want to get baptized in your church.” Which is why we will be taking the classes..