Accuracy in Headlining
I think Greg Krehbiel’s article (“Stop It! Apologetic Bad Habits and Their Remedies,” February 2001) would have been better titled, “Stop It! You Shouldn’t Be Sharing Your Catholic Faith Unless You Are Sure You Will Do It Absolutely Perfectly.”
Many Catholics in the past have felt they couldn’t really share their faith well and that it was better if they just let the priests take care of evangelization. Some may have felt they shouldn’t even try to explain it to their own children, so they left that up to the local Catholic school. I think Mr. Krehbiel’s article has done much to reinforce that attitude.
I hope your readers will continue to read their Catechism and Bible (and, yes, even benefit from some of Scott Hahn’s knowledge) and that they will share their faith out of love and let God take care of the rest.
Bonnie Nawrocki
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Greg Krehbiel replies: Ms. Nawrocki is correct that Catholics should share their faith and should not just leave apologetics and evangelism to the professionals. Fortunately, Catholic laymen now have lots of resources-including This Rock and Scott Hahn’s books and tapes-to equip them for that task. (I hope my article wasn’t taken as a criticism of Dr. Hahn, since it was largely because of his influence that I converted, and I hold him in very high regard.) By all means study and do apologetics. My goal was only to point out some mistakes in method-and of course I can be wrong, too.
I’ve Fallen into These Traps Myself
I’d like to compliment Greg Krehbiel for his article concerning apologetics (“Stop It!”- Apologetic Bad Habits And Their Remedies”, February 2001). As a Catholic apologist on the web, I’ve fallen into these traps myself sometimes, especially in regards to only using the Bible to defend the faith rather than reading it and praying about it for spiritual growth. I’ll keep the points he made in mind as I correspond with others about Catholicism.
Chris Tesch
Omaha, Nebraska
Retiring and Apologizing Is Not the Answer
Regarding Greg Krehbiel’s article on apologetic bad habits (“Stop It! Apologetic Bad Habits And Their Remedies,” February 2001), I would have to disagree with a majority of Mr. Krehbiel’s analysis. While the article certainly has a number of good points, the steps outlined in the article seemed to favor an extremely liberal view of evangelization and apologetics, one in which the apologist takes great pains not to damage the ego of potential converts to the faith.
Obviously, apologetics entails much more than engaging in debate, whether public or private. The serious student of apologetics must learn to live the faith in order to teach what he knows. Yet he must also study, study, study-Scripture, Church history, the history of dogmas, the writings of the Church Fathers-and then, armed with this knowledge and guided by the Holy Spirit, he must take this knowledge to a lost and dying world and say, “Taste and see . . .”
Mr. Krehbiel writes the following regarding Catholics who proof-text without having internalized the biblical text: “If you’re that apologist, it’s time to stop, retire, apologize to your opponents, wish them well, and spend some time (a few years, perhaps) getting to know God through his word. Donate all your apologetics books to your priest and spend the next few years reading nothing but the Bible and the Catechism. Your goal isn’t to find twenty-five reasons why Protestants are wrong about baptism. Your goal is to listen to what God says to you about your soul.”
Excuse me? The answer to a lack of balance between an intellectual grasp of the dogmas of the faith and a Spirit-filled life is to get rid of the apologetics materials and bury yourself in the Bible and the Catechism? Perhaps some better advice might be to find an experienced spiritual guide, one who will hold you accountable and guide you in speaking the truth in love.
Timothy G. Ouellette
North Waterboro, Maine
Greg Krehbiel replies: Mr. Ouellette accuses me of curing one kind of imbalance by seesawing the other way. I plead guilty. Evangelism and apologetics place a distant second to building our relationship with Jesus. I’d hate to see Catholics adopt the worst habits of Evangelical Protestants, who send baby Christians to do work they’re not trained for-and who in the process either crash and burn or grow a Really Big Attitude. We don’t send children to fight wars, and we shouldn’t send the biblical novice to teach the faith.
Apologetics Done With Love
Thank you for your article in the February issue (“Stop It!”- Apologetic Bad Habits And Their Remedies”, February 2001).
I have seen, heard, and read-yes, even in This Rock-apologetics done without love. This is never a good idea. Romans 15 talks about how “each one should do his neighbor good by building up his spirit.” We know all things should be done with love-even apologetics.
Todd Mackiewicz
Quincy, Illinois
Fliers In Time of War
It’s all gotten clearer since reading Mr. Keating’s “Cash Cowed” (“Frontispiece,” February 2001). You see, I’m writing from last November’s battleground, Florida. About a week prior to Election Day, a good friend of mine, John, asked if I’d help distribute pro-life Bush fliers the Sunday before the election at area churches. Realizing the significance of this election and seeing how close the polls were, I agreed. After all, this election was going to be won or lost by which side could best mobilize its troops in the trenches. I really did consider this a war of sorts, against a “regime of death.”
One of the several churches I was to distribute fliers that Sunday morning was a Catholic parish (the others were mostly Baptist congregations). I thought it a bit odd that Catholics would even need to see this flier but figured it would at least be a good reminder to get out and vote for the culture of life.
The first distribution went fine, or so I thought. While waiting for that Mass to end, I decided to partake of the pancake breakfast the local Knights of Columbus were holding in the social hall. When I finished, I walked out only to have someone tell me that the pastor was looking for the person who was putting these fliers under the windshield wipers of the cars in the lot.
Well, I found him all right, and, to my great surprise, he was taking them off every automobile. I walked with him as he continued doing this and asked why. He told me he didn’t want to “get in trouble. We can not openly endorse a candidate.” Needless to say, I was quite surprised and highly disappointed at such a reaction by a priest. Especially in time of war.
Ed Maurer
Port Charlotte, Florida
Editor’s reply: Actually, if you were passing out fliers for a particular candidate-whether or not he is pro-life-the pastor was within his rights to object. What we hear of all too frequently is pastors prohibiting the dissemination of pro-life voting guides that endorse no one but only show how each candidate stands on the pro-life issue. Since the law clearly allows tax-exempt organizations such as churches to hand these out, a stance against them seems at best misinformed.
Adoration Over Hoops
My boy, Jeff, is one of the boys in the group Kepha that was recently profiled in your magazine. Please know that this group is every bit as good as author Brent Zeringue says it is. I have watched my boy grow in maturity and wisdom throughout the almost four years he has participated. I hope that many others are able to begin Kepha groups in their areas. There is a lot of discipline involved (and not only for the boys but for their parents as well!). This is not a group for the faint of heart. But what a joy for me as a mother to see my son grow and be encouraged in his faith by his friends!
We invited the boys for cake and basketball on Jeff’s birthday at our church’s gym. After playing ball for a bit, the boys came to us asking if it was all right if they spent the last thirty minutes in Adoration. Can you imagine that? I pray to see vocations to the priesthood come out of Kepha, and I won’t be even a little surprised when they do.
Yvette
Via the Internet
Little Success Understanding von Balthasar
I wanted to thank you for the extraordinary article by Fr. John R. Cihak (“Love Alone Is Believable,” February 2001). I have tried reading Hans Urs von Balthasar several times but have had little success in understanding him (obviously my problem-not his!). Please continue to help us to understand this theologian who is so highly respected. Keep up the great work.
Greg Fazzari
College Place, Washington
Excellent Introduction
I truly enjoyed Fr. Cihak’s article on von Balthasar’s dynamic teaching on love and its usefulness in apologetics (“Love Alone Is Believable,” February 2001). The article was an excellent introduction to von Balthasar’s thought. I hope you will consider posting it on your web site.
Bill Pepper
Warren, Michigan
Editor’s note: If things go according to schedule, Fr. Cihak’s fine article-as well as every other article ever published in This Rock and our sister publication, Be-will be available on our web site (www.catholic.com) by the fall.
Not Only the Butler Did It
Regarding Chris Butler’s conversion story (“Damascus Road,” January 2001): I too was addicted to drugs for a time in my twenties. Because I was a practicing Catholic, the dissonance between my belief and my practice was too great to bear. Once as I came down off a bad high, I had an epiphany of God’s overwhelming and unconditional love, the result of which was a good confession and nine years (and counting) of sobriety. So Chris, God bless you for your witness. I’m sure I am not the only person touched by your story and your poetic way of expressing yourself.
Eva Gartner
Fountain Valley, California