Using Grief To Proselytize

[Lil Red]

I am just a wee bit upset at something that happened to my dad.

Yesterday, my dad mentions to me, off-hand during evening prayer (we pray Evening Prayer out of the Magnificat together), that he received a two-page (on stationery paper) letter from a Jehovah's Witness, giving her condolences. I ask if he knows this person, he said he didn't think so.

So tonight, during evening prayer, he tells me that he read through the letter. In it, this woman (whom my father doesn't know, nor would my mother would have known) gives her condolences and apologizes for the delay in giving those condolences because she didn't want her letter to get caught up in everything else after the funeral. (According to my dad) She quoted some Scripture passages, then closed with an invitation to services at the local Kingdom Hall (or whatever their place is called).

So this woman, who doesn't know either of my parents, sends a condolence letter to proselytize for the JWs. I am really ticked off at the chutzpah of this woman and if this is a JW practice, at the whole organization. Who does this? Who picks out obituaries at random (or maybe they do this to all of them, I don't know) and writes a letter to pimp out for your cult?

My dad is planning on sending the letter back with a note on the back that says something like, "I don't know what you were trying to accomplish with your letter, but I am a committed Catholic who receives the true Body & Blood of Jesus Christ at Mass, and will not be open to attending your services."

Anyway, I just had to vent because I'm upset about this.

[IcePrincessKRS]

That's a load of garbage. I can't believe that she did that.

[Ash Wednesday]

I'm really sorry. This never happened to my family, in a strange way they probably think they're doing good and feel the need to "help" the grieving but really in a way it's taking advantage of people going through a hard time.

I haven't encountered a JW at my door in years (probably because I lived in apartments and/or overseas) but by all means write them back and give them literature of your own.

[missionseeker]

wow

[homeschoolmom]

yowzah...

[Adrestia]

I'd be pretty irritated, to say the least. Maybe she didn't realize that her invitation would be perceived as taking advantage of someone's sorrow.

If it were me, after I calmed down I'd invite her to Mass. (I lived next to Mormon missionaries for several months. Every time they invited me to one of their services I invited them to Mass.)

[Marie-Therese]

I'm sorry, hon. I don't even really know what to say to this, except I really hate that this happened. You know I got your back.

[Clare~Therese]

Wow.

[Lilllabettt]

On one hand, you think- where do some people get off???
On the other hand, I know the Kingdom Halls put their people under a LOT of pressure to "evangelize."

[Cherie]

That is terrible!! Shame on that woman!! I remember reading years ago while learning apologetics that certain denominations (particularly those on the "edge" like JWs) commonly do that. One of the Sisters whose father died had it happen to her, as well (though I don't know if it was a JW) ... and she was dressed in a full habit!

The nerve of those people!!! I'm glad your dad is sending a letter back. And prayers for all of you as you continue to grieve the loss of your mom!

[Maximilianus]

I get visited by them on a regular basis, they'll leave me alone after I confront them, but just when I think they are gone forever they return. I get a double assault, I get visited by the English and Spanish speaking JWs. I once made a tract refuting many of their beliefs, they probably wouldn't read it, but it made me feel better.

Edited August 3, 2011 by Maximilianus

[Lil Red]

thanks everyone. I know I was upset more than my dad, and my hubby didn't think it a big deal, but I am still upset. Especially, coming 5 months after? Like, does this woman know what hurt she could have done? I told my dad he should have sent back with the letter a "What We Believe" pamphlet, but he put it in the mail this morning.

[Amppax]

Wow. props to your dad for replying. I would have probably flipped out if I got something like that. Its making me mad just thinking about it

[CatherineM]

That's almost as bad as the guys who break into widow's houses while their husband's funeral is going on. They troll the obituaries. It was so bad for awhile in Oklahoma that people had house sitters come in during funerals.

[Amppax]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1312345981' post='2280670']
That's almost as bad as the guys who break into widow's houses while their husband's funeral is going on. They troll the obituaries. It was so bad for awhile in Oklahoma that people had house sitters come in during funerals.
[/quote]

that's sick.