Showing society that you are a Catholic

[Beer Snob-50]

I have seen in some posts here, people want to reach out to those who left the faith or have no faith at all. I feel the way to reach out to these people is to do so through actions and not through words. Show others what it is like to be a true Catholic by not casting stones (like most conservative christians) or helping the poor.

any thoguhts.

[Reverend_Smitty]

1. I agree with you...

I am a progressive Catholic and I've never tried to evangelize anyone nor do I wear my religion on my sleeve. I just live my life as a virtuous person who also happens to be a Catholic, the problem is, our types are always overlooked. It's the squeaky wheel syndrome that give people of faith a bad name. I don't think there is an easy way to draw attention to ourselves, I just have to hope that people will see through the BS and discover the whole other side of Christianity.

[Beer Snob-50]

2. A lingering picture of Catholics

are those in front of abortion clinics screaming at the women going in and coming out. Not exactly what our Lord had in mind when he suggested that let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

[DemBones DemBones]

4. Are those Catholics? Or are the Catholics across the street,

praying the Rosary? That's how the Catholic protests against abortion are set up around here. That, and March for Life parades, in silence, with signs (no photos of aborted fetuses, just slogans like Abortio Stops a Beating Heart, Abortion Hurts Women.)

I don't doubt some Catholics behave badly, I just suspect Catholics are a minority among those who behave badly.

[Cuban_Liberal]

3. I've had some success doing things like this

Our parish operates food and clothing banks, and it also operates a soup kitchen, an after-school program for kids and houses office space for our village's Civic Association. As you can imagine, we're always in need of help, so I frequently invite those who have fallen away or who are 'gun shy' of organized religion to volunteer at the same time Paddy or I do. This has 2 advantages: first, it allows the person to experience our Church as something other than televised images of picketers at abortion clinics, e.g., and it also helps them to feel less awkward about being in a church in the first place.

People are afraid of the unknown, and they also tend to fall for stereotypes about religion and churches, so what better way to banish the fear and destroy the stereotype than in a friendly, 'hands on' experience that leaves them feeling good about themselves AND the Church?

:)

[FarLeftRage]

5. As I have stated in another thread

Any kind of talk about religion and faith is asking for a bit of trouble and base this on my own experiences here.

Primarily because DU is poltical and I try to keep my politics and religion separate.

It was especially hard to do at times... without invoking any kind of negative reaction from others here.

So in essence, I don't try to.