Just found this video from the early eighties. Look at how long this controversy has been brewing. Interesting interview!
Most Blessed and Heavenly mother of us all, pray with us that those who seek to diminish you and your son our Lord. May they come out of the cloud of confusion and chaos that they are creating and seek forgiveness from God before it's too late.
Don't proselytize; respect others' beliefs. "We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyzes: 'I am talking with you in order to persuade you,' No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attraction, not proselytizing," the pope said. I never knew this: Pope Francis' definition of proselytism highlighted above. I always thought proselytism always contained an element of coercion: I'll dig this well for your tribe if you become Catholic. But I have been wrong all along and our Pope, correct. Here's an internet definition: convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another. So proselytism becomes a good word for me because it means the same as evangelism. But to our Holy Father it is poison. He prefers accompaniment. I will agree that the way I live and interact with others should attract souls to Christ, but eventually you must share the truth of the Gospel. Shouldn't we want to persuade others of the truth and joy to be found in Christ alone? 1 Thess 4 For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you; 5 for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit; 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedo'nia and in Acha'ia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedo'nia and Acha'ia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Yes converting the nations is kind of the whole mission of the Church. If we want to know how to do it right just look at what the great saints did to convert the pagans. They didn't just act like nice people and hope Catholicism would catch on. They went in and actively told them the religion they had was wrong and false. As Dr. Phil would say. "So you're accompanying people hoping they'll become Catholics huh? How's that working out for ya?" The Great Commission (Mark 16:14-18) 16And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17And seeing him they adored: but some doubted. 18And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. 19Going therefore, teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. 20Teaching 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.
PROSELYTIZE. Originally to convert someone from one religion to another, either by bringing a person to full acceptance of the new faith and ritual or at least sympathy with it. The more common meaning, however, is to induce people to change their religious affiliation by using unfair and even unscrupulous means. (Etym. Greek proselytos, to convert to Judaism; literally, one who has arrived.) Modern Catholic Dictionary by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J
Guess it worked!! Must be Trump's fault! Evangelical churches gain ground in Pope’s crisis-hit Argentina Buenos Aires (AFP) – The pastor’s voice bellows through an old converted cinema in a rundown Buenos Aires barrio and hundreds of hands reach out in prayer. Though not a typical place of worship, Evangelical churches like this one are sprouting up all over Pope Francis’ former archdiocese, as once staunchly Catholic Argentina battles an economic crisis that has plunged more than one-third of the nation into poverty. “There is no unfavorable situation that is impossible to transform,” pastor Alberto Rey tells the congregation at his Fountain of Blessings Church in San Martin. The message to the growing ranks of Argentina’s poor is clear. “All you need is in Him and no one else but Him,” rails the suited 52-year-old Pentecostal pastor. The fervor is palpable, the congregation is in his thrall and raise their arms in prayer. Aldana Masuco, 38, finds comfort here. “We have gone through other crises and God has never let us down,” she said. The vast majority of Evangelicals in Argentina and across Latin America are Pentecostals, a charismatic branch of Protestantism born in the United States at the beginning of the 20th Century. – Breaking through – Their breakthrough in Argentina dates to 2001, when the country experienced the worst economic crisis in its recent history. “The Evangelicals have a discourse that fits better with crisis, many of the faithful come through the social welfare network, finding work or comfort in the community,” says Marcos Carbonelli of the University of Buenos Aires. “The political class knows this and uses it,” he said. The liberal government of center-right President Mauricio Macri turned to the churches in 2018 to help distribute food in the poorest districts of Buenos Aires. Evangelicals gained some ground here during the campaign against Argentina’s bill to legalize abortion in 2018. The bill passed through the Chamber of Deputies, but was blocked by the Senate. “Politicians of all stripes come to us and ask us questions, and we receive them,” says Pastor Ruben Proietti, head of the Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches in Argentina (ACIERA), denying press reports of a close association with the Macri government. Carbonelli says Evangelicals have gained influence among “pro-government politicians.” However, Brazil-style political parties or leaders closely aligned to Evangelism are yet to emerge in Argentine politics. – Spiritual transformation – Pentecostals differ from Catholics because they don’t pray to saints, recognize the Pope, or acknowledge the pre-eminent role of the Virgin Mary. The Holy Spirit is the focal point of their spiritual life, the cure for illness and the key to personal success. At his church, Rey and another pastor place their hands on the heads of some members of the congregation who come forward at the end of the service. Some of them weep, others seem locked in a trance. “I lived in bed, locked up, before I met God,” says Evel Lorena, a 48-year-old woman in Rey’s congregation. At her side, her truck-driver husband, Alfredo Mendoza, recalled the “darkness” of unemployment and how everything changed for the better. “Today, I have a very good job, thank God.” In Buenos Aires, Evangelical churches are present in almost every neighborhood, and have even turned old cinemas into places of worship. There are also thousands of so-called “cells” as the homes of members of the congregation are called, where small prayer gatherings are held under the guidance of a pastor. “Over the last 10 years, growth has accelerated,” says Proietti. “In every neighborhood, there are more Evangelical churches than Catholic churches,” he said. According to Aciera, more than 5,000 Evangelical churches are registered in Buenos Aires. There are no official figures on the number of followers, but according to the organization, adherence to Evangelical worship has increased from eight percent of the population to 20 percent in the last decade. However Evangelical churches still don’t have the same reach as in Brazil or Central America, where in some countries, Catholics are no longer in the majority. https://www.breitbart.com/news/evangelical-churches-gain-ground-in-popes-crisis-hit-argentina-2/
Thank you, Fatima. This fact, however, doesn't mitigate the idea that Pope Francis believes persuasion should play no role in sharing our Faith. So strange. I can't help but want to share my love of the Eucharist or of Mary, two truths which non-Catholics reject and so stand impoverished. Would that be wrong according to the Holy Father? O Mary conceived without sin,pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Another example of Holy Mother Church being dismantled. All those brave saints who spent their lives in tough conditions to spread the Catholic Faith. Sad.
Yes, I saw and posted this elsewhere. I'll be curious to see how this shakes out. Pentecostalism is VERY emotion-driven. Pentecostal (and/or Evangelical) pastors often have little formal training besides. My husband's pastor, when I first met my husband, was a lazy oaf who liked sitting in his office all day, eating king-sized chocolate bars and reading, while his wife worked full time AND took care of house & four children. He also once informed me that he could only like me, being White, because of God's grace (my husband is Latino like this "pastor"). A lot of them (regardless of race) are egotistical bird brains.
Does this seem like an unusual number of Vatican security people surrounding the Pope after the Canonization of today's saints (35 seconds into the video)?
Could this be considered as a wall.....after all it's separating the Pope from his chosen friends....all those nice terrorists who just caught a ride on one of those transports to the Italian ports of illegal entry.
Has anyone read Lord of the World by Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson? I don't know much about it except it has been sitting on my 'to read' pile for too long. I ask because I was listening to a talk today and it was mentioned that in the book a Fr. Francis tricks the world into accepting an apostate religion. This religion is a worship of the Earth-mother, who they apparently erect a statue of and bow before. In the book this religion has to do with the ushering in of the antichrist. I know this book was personally recommended by Pope Benedict and Pope Francis. So is this actually what is contained in the book? I mean the Earth-mother statue and all? The reason I am asking is because if this is what is contained in the book it sounds...unsettling.
