Catholicism Pure and Simple: Fr Dwight Longenecker Discusses with Catholic Online the Challenges of the New Evangelization

12/3/2012

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parts of the text for an American readership. The result is Catholicism Pure and Simple.

CO: Who is this book for?

DL: I would love this book to become a basic textbook for confirmation and RCIA classes. The book begins with arguments for God and goes on to explain his plan of redemption for the world. It explains the basic Catholic doctrines then goes on to discuss the church, sacraments and the life of prayer and service.

CO: You said confirmation classes. Is this really simple enough for eighth graders? If so, isn't it too simple for adults?

DL: I've had both groups try the book and say that it works just fine. This is assuming that the confirmation candidates are using the book as part of classroom discussions. But the book is not just an RCIA textbook. It also serves as a good refresher course in the Catholic faith for all those lapsed Catholics I spoke about who need to return to the faith.

CO: Do you think people are converted just through books and videos and blogs and all these words you produce?

DL: The words are only part of the picture, and probably only a minor part. People are really convinced about the Catholic faith when they see it in action. In other words, if you want people to be converted look like you're converted yourself! Live the faith with joy and trust and open hearted service to others. That's what draws people to Christ--by them seeing Christ alive in us.

CO: You're clearly very busy! What do you do for relaxation?

DL: I have a motorcycle, and I live in near the mountains of North Carolina, so on a beautiful day in the Fall you'll find me tooling along the mountain roads soaking up the beauty of God's creation. I also just like to find time to spend with my family and friends.

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Visit Fr Longenecker's website at www.dwightlongenecker.com. There you can learn more about Catholicism Pure and Simple, link to his blog and sign up for his newsletter.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Standing on My Head, Fr Dwight Longenecker, Catholicism Pure and Simple, catechetics, new evangelization, conversion, testimony,

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1 - 2 of 2 Comments

Anna A.
5 months ago
Thank you, Father!
I'm in a Bible study at school and the other day we got into a conversation about about angels and other understandings the Church holds, but in the course of it I believe I said too much. One of the boys said he was kind of drawn away from the complication of the Church teachings and another then said, "yeah, sometimes I believe the Catholic Church complicates things too much and that is why I believe I am drawn to a more simple Christianity at times." A lot of the others agreed with them! It just kind of made me sad that they did not actually understand what they were rejecting or "complicating" themselves. They are all Catholics themselves. However, it opened my eyes yet again to the stages of evangelization (slowly moving more deeply into things) and how I can't just open up with so much at one time. Sometimes we just need to start slow with things and gradually express things. I am always so surprised how little people actually know about the Catholic Faith and how they "reject a false view of Catholicism" as you said. It was my fault that I shared too much for them to think about, but at the same time I did not realize entirely that they did not have the same background as I do. It only moves me to want to find a way to express what the Church actually teaches and in a clearer way! Especially to express how simple it actually is Itself and how beautiful and true it is. Your work could really help me! God bless you and thank you again!
mike robertson
5 months ago
I think we need to start with education. Advocate parental and local control of education and freedom to choose religious schools as opposed to the NEA-democrats' idea of nationalizing the schools and forcing everyone to use public schools. We should teach children morals instead of self-esteem, God's laws instead of how to use condoms and basic courses in economics so when our children grow up, they will no longer vote for candidates supported by Catholic democrats. When these children grew up they would have more devotion to God and less arrogance. These children, when they became adult voters would, after receiving true economic education, support a free-market economy with lower taxes across the board, entitlement reform, less government spending and less regulation. Now we have Catholic democrats voting for brutal "social justice" economic policies with high unemployment, high poverty, lower incomes and lower real wealth. We need to encourage creation of wealth instead of the Catholic democrat "compassionate" idea of arousing envy of our wealthy neighbors (in violation of the Commandments) and a clamoring for government theft and redistribution of that wealth. That leads to Catholic democrat "equality", alright, everyone getting poorer and miserable. Instead we need creation of new wealth and work requirements for those receiving taxpayer-funded welfare. After these changes, our children, when they became adult voters, could never vote the way Catholic democrats vote now (i.e. for a candidate who advocates legal killing of children even after they survive the attempt to kill them in their mom's womb, for a candidate waging war against the Church under the guise of health care, and for a candidate who calls sexual immorality the equivalent of Holy Matrimony as defined by God).

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