I know what the distinction between the two is. Here's a quick summary I saw online:
Technically speaking, proselytism and evangelism are synonyms for the act of advocating for one's own cause and seeking to bring others to belief in that cause. In recent decades though, and in religious parlance, some have used the term proselytism to refer to "hard sell" techniques for gaining converts that often are disrespectful of the conscience, human dignity, and personal convictions of the person who is being proselytized, while evangelism is used is refer to respectful means of witnessing to one's own faith while respecting those who are being evangelized.If the more recent distinction between the two terms is recognized, then Catholics are called to evangelism and not to proselytism.
That's a post Vatican II development of the concepts that can be debated separately.
Admittedly, I do not know how the Pope sees the difference, because he and the Vatican have not offered any clarification of the words in his interview.
And there's the rub.
Thanks so much. It is nice to actually discuss without animosity.
If someone is forced to convert - whether through pressure or threat of sword, I don’t consider that an act of faith and would not support it, nor does someone have a true conversion that leads to salvation.
If someone is exposed to the truth of the Gospel of Christ and chooses to come to faith in Him as an act of their will, I support it, since we are called to do just that.
Perhaps the context was the current Islamic situation?
In recent decades though, and in religious parlance, some have used the term proselytism to refer to “hard sell” techniques for gaining converts that often are disrespectful of the conscience, human dignity, and personal convictions of the person who is being proselytized, while evangelism is used is refer to respectful means of witnessing to one’s own faith while respecting those who are being evangelized.
If the more recent distinction between the two terms is recognized, then Catholics are called to evangelism and not to proselytism.
Hm.....
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” - Jesus, Matt 23
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. - Stephen Acts 7
“45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.” - St Paul, Acts 13
Proselytism: When you try to convert me.
Of course, Catholics engage in neither. Else they all might as well move to trailer parks.