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On A Personal
Note...
Go Away!
I spend quite a bit of time surfing the Internet. Between my day job, my home-based business, and my personal life, I receive anywhere between 100 and 200 emails each day. Granted, spam is a good chunk of it, but I subscribe to several email discussion lists and close to 50 different eZines and email newsletters. Obviously, I can't read everything all the time, but I come across plenty of interesting stuff nonetheless. In fact, just recently there was a rather interesting exchange on a Catholic discussion list to which I subscribe. A message was sent to the list from a non-Catholic determined to show us poor Catholic that we have been deceived. Obviously bent on saving our souls, he attacked the Holy Father and the Church on a number of issues. It was standard anti-Catholic claptrap, the likes of which I've encountered a hundred times before. In fact, it's gotten to the point where I don't even bother to respond anymore. These folks have heard my arguments from plenty of other people, and they've decided that we are still wrong. Don't misunderstand -- I firmly believe in defending our faith, but we need to choose our battles wisely. My time is much better spent writing articles for you to read, than debating with a staunch anti-Catholic. Others on that discussion list, however, were not satisfied with simply ignoring the Pope-basher. The initial message from the fellow was intended to inflame, which is exactly what it did. The first reply he received basically said, "You're an idiot. You don't know what you're talking about. In case you didn't notice, this is a Catholic list. You aren't welcome here. Go away!" Wow. That's a kind, loving, Christian reply, don't you think? Now I'm not condoning what the fellow said, nor do I believe it is appropriate to post messages that are in blatant violation of the purpose of a list, if not the actual published guidelines. In my humble opinion, what the fellow did was equivalent to spam. However, that does not justify the type of response he initially received. The Catholic Church is the universal Church. Everyone is welcome, regardless of a person's disposition. Yet it is just such an elitist attitude that keeps many people -- even Catholics -- away from our Churches. When we become over-protective of our turf -- whether it is an organization, a club, or an email discussion list -- we won't welcome "outsiders" with open arms, lovingly helping them to feel like a part of things. No, instead we will turn them away if they don't seem to fit. How can we justify that? "How did it end," you ask? Eventually people stepped up and provided some well-thought replies to our anti-Catholic friend. Last time I checked, he had dropped out of the discussion. But he did so by his choice. Not because an over-protective Catholic
told him to shut up and go away.
Peace, Sound off! Tell me what you think! Copyright 2002 by Brandon Jubar |
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