ToJesusMyHeart Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 I want to volunteer at a local crisis pregnancy center (CPC) but the only one we have is profoundly anti-Catholic. I went in for an application packet a few weeks ago and read through it. They have a "Doctrinal Agreement" section that spells out in bullet points their Protestant beliefs and makes pointed (yet non-direct) attacks at the beliefs of the Catholic Church, specifically Eucharist and Baptism as saving Sacraments. They also bash Mary and the Magisterium a little bit. Anyway, I'm wondering if it would be "bad" of me to volunteer there even when we certainly disagree with each other on theology. They are anti-contraception too, so that's really cool. My spiritual director says that as long as I don't have to outright deny my Catholicism, then it should be fine. After-all, I'm not working there to convert people, I'm working there to save babies. And they don't do evangelization with their crisis pregnancy patients. So that should be okay, right? Honestly I don't care if they're Protestant--as long as we both want to stop abortion, I'm down. Thoughts? P.s. I have to write my "personal testimony" about "when and how I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior." :chuckle: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilyAnn Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 The "Doctrinal Agreement" thing would be a bit fishy for me, unless there's a way of working there without agreeing to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissylou Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 I agree with EmilyAnn. If the "doctrinal statement" is something they expect all their volunteers to sign, then you probably can't work there, even on a volunteer basis. Which would be too bad. If, on the other hand, it's just saying "this is who we are, so you understand the perspective we're coming from" that's fine. Maybe, in time, in some small way, your presence might cause some of these people to rethink their anti-Catholic perspectives. (So, in Phatmass terms, there's a "Phishy" category and a "Very Likeable Non-Catholic" category. If you influence someone to go from "Phishy" to "Very Likeable Non-Catholic" that's a great thing, even if they don't end up switching over to Church Militant. Translate away from web board categories and into normal life, but you get the idea.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToJesusMyHeart Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 There are ways I can maneuver around the doctrinal statements and still say I "agree" with them. It's like, "Yes, I believe this, and this, and that....but I ALSO believe this, and this, and this..." ex) Yes, I believe that Communion is symbolic of the Lord's sacrifice for us, but I ALSO believe it is literally His Flesh and Blood..." Because Holy Communion is both symbolic and literal. Makes sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 (edited) Hmmm. Is there a way you could talk to them and say that you care very much about pro-life issues and want to do pro-life volunteer work for them, especially because they're the only crisis center in town and you very much admire the work they're doing. But because you're Catholic, there's going to be some inherent doctrinal differences between what you believe and what others who work there believe. And be very clear to emphasize what you said in your op, that while you won't hide the fact that you're Catholic, you're there to save babies and not to convert people to Catholicism. Maybe in your "testimony" talk about how Catholicism has helped strengthen your relationship with Jesus, maybe even naming a particularly powerful moment when you felt a conversion of heart or something - the whole point being to show them that even though you have a different view of how salvation happens, you still believe in Jesus and are called to be in a relationship with Him that transforms your life. If they say no, they say no, but I'd go with the "Look, I'm Catholic, but I don't want to convert anyone, and I really really admire all the work you do here and would love to help." approach. Edited May 1, 2013 by Basilisa Marie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIKolbe Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 As long as they don't require you to deny what you believe, it sounds like a great opportunity for some works of mercy!! Plus...how could you convert them otherwise? :) They're all there, in one place...ripe for evangelizing!!! jk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicsAreKewl Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 (edited) As long as they don't require you to deny what you believe, it sounds like a great opportunity for some works of mercy!! Plus...how could you convert them otherwise? :) They're all there, in one place...ripe for evangelizing!!! jk She can hide in the corner with a bucket of holy water. Edited May 1, 2013 by CatholicsAreKewl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToJesusMyHeart Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 She can hide in the corner with a bucket of holy water. Baptism is invalid without consent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToJesusMyHeart Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 I think I'll just turn in my application and see what they have to say when they find out I'm Catholic. We had to get 2 recommendation letters, and they specifically require one to be from your "pastor" and one to be from a "Bible study leader." So my priest wrote one, and my best friend wrote the other. Clearly, they'll know I'm Catholic when they read my recommendation letter from "Fr. William." :like: If they want to discuss my Catholicism, then we can. But I'm not going to bring it up unless they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Baptism is invalid without consent. But what if it's a water balloon fight and you fill yours with holy water? :evil: I mean... :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicsAreKewl Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 But what if it's a water balloon fight and you fill yours with holy water? :evil: I mean... :| Or a holy super soaker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToJesusMyHeart Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 :hehe2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicsAreKewl Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Baptism is invalid without consent. Oh, I see. You're one of THOSE Catholics... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToJesusMyHeart Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 Oh, I see. You're one of THOSE Catholics... Whatever that is supposed to mean..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicsAreKewl Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Whatever that is supposed to mean..... I honestly don't know either... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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