Father McDonald, as you have noted many times, the Church does not proselytize. Therefore, proselytism via newspaper ad, or other means, is inappropriate.
On May 13, 2007 A.D., Pope Benedict XVI declared: "The Church does not engage in proselytism. Instead, she grows by “attraction”:"
Pope Francis, on several occasions, has reiterated the above. He had first done so in 2013 A.D. He stated:
"Remember what Benedict XVI said: “The Church does not grow by proselytizing; she grows by attracting others.”
Teaching the Catholic Faith, or advertising classes for the Faith being taught, is *not* proselytizing.
Here is a good definition of it (from New Advent):
If I am offering support, aid, education, political advancement or any other non-religious benefit to certain persons *so that they will adopt my religion*, then I am proselytizing. If I am sharing an enthusiasm for my religion with them in the hope that they might convert to it, I am not proselytizing. (stars added)
On the other hand, our Blessed Lord said:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, *teaching them* to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Mt. 28:19-20, stars added)
St. Paul said:
"So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ."
We see from the Catechism:
Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization, "that is, the proclamation of Christ *by word* and the *testimony of life*." For lay people, "this evangelization . . . acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world."
This *witness of life*, however, *is not* the sole element in the apostolate; the true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers . . . or to the faithful. (CCC 905, stars added)
So, to sum it up, teaching the Faith and advertising for classes so others can learn the Faith is evangelization!
6 comments:
Isn't this "proselytizing" that PF condemns?
This approach is not as likely to succeed as personal outreach which requires personal effort
Father McDonald, as you have noted many times, the Church does not proselytize. Therefore, proselytism via newspaper ad, or other means, is inappropriate.
On May 13, 2007 A.D., Pope Benedict XVI declared: "The Church does not engage in proselytism. Instead, she grows by “attraction”:"
Pope Francis, on several occasions, has reiterated the above. He had first done so in 2013 A.D. He stated:
"Remember what Benedict XVI said: “The Church does not grow by proselytizing; she grows by attracting others.”
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Teaching the Catholic Faith, or advertising classes for the Faith being taught, is *not* proselytizing.
Here is a good definition of it (from New Advent):
If I am offering support, aid, education, political advancement or any other non-religious benefit to certain persons *so that they will adopt my religion*, then I am proselytizing. If I am sharing an enthusiasm for my religion with them in the hope that they might convert to it, I am not proselytizing. (stars added)
On the other hand, our Blessed Lord said:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, *teaching them* to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Mt. 28:19-20, stars added)
St. Paul said:
"So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ."
We see from the Catechism:
Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization, "that is, the proclamation of Christ *by word* and the *testimony of life*." For lay people, "this evangelization . . . acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world."
This *witness of life*, however, *is not* the sole element in the apostolate; the true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers . . . or to the faithful. (CCC 905, stars added)
So, to sum it up, teaching the Faith and advertising for classes so others can learn the Faith is evangelization!
My apologies, Fr. MacDonald.
The above quote on proselytizing from is not from New Advent. It was the first one to come up on my search and I cannot find the exact source. Sorry.
The quote from St. Paul is Romans 10:17.
Agree with CK.
CK is intelligent, MT is not
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