Comments on: 5 Reasons People Don’t Stick http://rciablog.com/2008/10/5-reasons-people-dont-stick/ A Free Tool Provided by the Association for Catechumenal Ministry Thu, 10 May 2012 15:50:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ann http://rciablog.com/2008/10/5-reasons-people-dont-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-821 Ann Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:49:40 +0000 http://rciablog.com/?p=218#comment-821 Treat baptized Christians as you claim they are "separated brethren". I attended an RCIA where the priest made offensive comments toward Protestants while at least one of us was a 30 year practicing protestant. The fact that I was thrown in a class with several other unbaptized people was a clear indication of where they believe protestants to be. There was no effort made to get to know our personal situations, and I heard that it wasn't "all about me and Jesus" like it was in the Protestant realm. Does that mean that we should have no personal relationships with each other or Christ? What's more is that everyone who wants to convert and be Catholic may not be able to attend a 9 month session. This could be due to work and not due to "lack of interest or committment". Treat baptized Christians as you claim they are “separated brethren”. I attended an RCIA where the priest made offensive comments toward Protestants while at least one of us was a 30 year practicing protestant. The fact that I was thrown in a class with several other unbaptized people was a clear indication of where they believe protestants to be.

There was no effort made to get to know our personal situations, and I heard that it wasn’t “all about me and Jesus” like it was in the Protestant realm. Does that mean that we should have no personal relationships with each other or Christ?

What’s more is that everyone who wants to convert and be Catholic may not be able to attend a 9 month session. This could be due to work and not due to “lack of interest or committment”.

]]> By: Michael Roger http://rciablog.com/2008/10/5-reasons-people-dont-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-373 Michael Roger Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:47:47 +0000 http://rciablog.com/?p=218#comment-373 #3 is prideful vanity and therefore invalid. I would not expect my RCIA team to represent diversity in my church, as in some elected democracy. I only expect truth and firm answers. Give me an answer which is incontrovertible and I have no choice but stay, for I must follow truth. Moreover, I think the real reason people might not stick after RCIA is because they are not given Truth in the first place. We've got a bunch of <font color="red"><del datetime="2009-07-22T16:50:33+00:00">deleted</del></font> theologians doing RCIA who can't answer tough questions. Of course, it is not true in all cases, but it is true for a lot. We need educated people, and it's too <font color="red"><del datetime="2009-07-22T16:50:33+00:00">deleted</del></font> bad for anyone who says they don't "represent" their demographic makeup. But the other reason people don't get what they need is because we've become too protestant in another area - the megachurch. if people aren't building relationship it's more likely because the churches are too <font color="red"><del datetime="2009-07-22T16:50:33+00:00">deleted</del></font> big and they make you feel so small. so we need a lot more priests, a lot more. so we can have smaller flocks for those little shepherds. the only way to get more priests is to begin with getting more MANLY priests. men are simply not interested in following womanly men. sorry if hurts anyone's feelings, but it's true. but if you disagree, then perhaps you're not being sympathetic enough. "It is better to be authentic than relevant" - Pope John Paul II #3 is prideful vanity and therefore invalid. I would not expect my RCIA team to represent diversity in my church, as in some elected democracy. I only expect truth and firm answers. Give me an answer which is incontrovertible and I have no choice but stay, for I must follow truth.

Moreover, I think the real reason people might not stick after RCIA is because they are not given Truth in the first place. We’ve got a bunch of deleted theologians doing RCIA who can’t answer tough questions. Of course, it is not true in all cases, but it is true for a lot. We need educated people, and it’s too deleted bad for anyone who says they don’t “represent” their demographic makeup.

But the other reason people don’t get what they need is because we’ve become too protestant in another area – the megachurch. if people aren’t building relationship it’s more likely because the churches are too deleted big and they make you feel so small. so we need a lot more priests, a lot more. so we can have smaller flocks for those little shepherds.

the only way to get more priests is to begin with getting more MANLY priests. men are simply not interested in following womanly men. sorry if hurts anyone’s feelings, but it’s true. but if you disagree, then perhaps you’re not being sympathetic enough.

“It is better to be authentic than relevant” – Pope John Paul II

]]> By: Catherine http://rciablog.com/2008/10/5-reasons-people-dont-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-119 Catherine Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:33:26 +0000 http://rciablog.com/?p=218#comment-119 It it very true about it boiling down to #1. A person does not have firm conviction if they cannot say, "I believe and profess ALL that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.“ This includes sexual morality which is a huge stumbling block for so many people. It was for me. It wasn't until 3 years after my baptism that I embraced natural family planning in my marriage after hearing the tape by Janet Smith, "Contraception, Why Not?" The first 3 years after my baptism I was attending Mass only sporadically. I didn't have a prayer life at all. After stopping contraception, it was like a floodgate was opened for God's grace to come into my life and marriage. Now 11 years and 5 children later, I have a prayer and sacramental life that is continually growing. I love the Church. I love the Mass. Most of all, I love Christ!! It it very true about it boiling down to #1. A person does not have firm conviction if they cannot say, “I believe and profess ALL that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.“ This includes sexual morality which is a huge stumbling block for so many people. It was for me. It wasn’t until 3 years after my baptism that I embraced natural family planning in my marriage after hearing the tape by Janet Smith, “Contraception, Why Not?” The first 3 years after my baptism I was attending Mass only sporadically. I didn’t have a prayer life at all. After stopping contraception, it was like a floodgate was opened for God’s grace to come into my life and marriage. Now 11 years and 5 children later, I have a prayer and sacramental life that is continually growing. I love the Church. I love the Mass. Most of all, I love Christ!!

]]> By: molli vassar http://rciablog.com/2008/10/5-reasons-people-dont-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-84 molli vassar Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:32:35 +0000 http://rciablog.com/?p=218#comment-84 All of these reasons are so true, but in our parish, I really think it boils down to #1 becuase you can't get to #2 if they don't come back for Mystagogy! We have a Pentacost Mass and picnic, we schedule get togethers for them with representatives of the parish organizations, I call and send cards, but to no avail. So often it is the "catholic" person they live with who really never came to Church much anyway who is the real stumbling block. This is particularly true of those gettting married in the Church who see the RCIA as one more "hoop" to be jumped through despite all our best efforts to counsel them otherwise. Our priest does a great job of making himself seen and available throughout the process and he is very approachable, but sad to say, I think that so often it is "bad Catholicism" that is being caught at home that is the culprit. All of these reasons are so true, but in our parish, I really think it boils down to #1 becuase you can’t get to #2 if they don’t come back for Mystagogy! We have a Pentacost Mass and picnic, we schedule get togethers for them with representatives of the parish organizations, I call and send cards, but to no avail. So often it is the “catholic” person they live with who really never came to Church much anyway who is the real stumbling block. This is particularly true of those gettting married in the Church who see the RCIA as one more “hoop” to be jumped through despite all our best efforts to counsel them otherwise. Our priest does a great job of making himself seen and available throughout the process and he is very approachable, but sad to say, I think that so often it is “bad Catholicism” that is being caught at home that is the culprit.

]]> By: Joan Seymour http://rciablog.com/2008/10/5-reasons-people-dont-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Joan Seymour Mon, 27 Oct 2008 05:29:22 +0000 http://rciablog.com/?p=218#comment-69 We're just starting the RCIA in our parish and I found this article very useful. I love the idea of having a couple of really hospitable people on the team - and it fits so well with the whole idea of loving the Eucharist, the most perfect expression of hospitality! We’re just starting the RCIA in our parish and I found this article very useful. I love the idea of having a couple of really hospitable people on the team – and it fits so well with the whole idea of loving the Eucharist, the most perfect expression of hospitality!

]]> By: Bob Catholic http://rciablog.com/2008/10/5-reasons-people-dont-stick/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Bob Catholic Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:01:07 +0000 http://rciablog.com/?p=218#comment-61 Just a small correction: there are two No 4! Otherwise very insightful. <p> <em>Editor's Note: Thanks Bob - we got it fixed.</em></p> Just a small correction: there are two No 4! Otherwise very insightful.

Editor’s Note: Thanks Bob – we got it fixed.

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