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Proselytism and Evangelization: Important Distinctions for Catholic Catechists by Fr Proselytism and Evangelization: Important Distinctions for Catholic Catechists by Fr. Leo Walsh, STD Pastor, St. Benedict Parish, Diocese of Fairbanks Certain things in life should never be Griffiths, Arthur J. Schmitt Professor of confused. I was reminded of this Catholic Studies at the University of recently when I bit into what I expected Illinois in Chicago: to be a chocolate chip cookie and We can begin with the now-archaic discovered, to my horror, that it was English noun “proselyte,” a calque actually an oatmeal raisin cookie! In a (rather than a translation) of the Greek similar way, catechists are sometimes prosêlutos and the Latin proselytus. The perplexed by the distinction between Greek noun is derived from the verb “to proselytism and legitimate come” with a prefix meaning “over” or evangelization. They might look similar, “towards,” and so a literal etymological but they are very different realities. rendering of “proselyte” might be “one As teachers of the faith, it is who comes over (from one location to extremely important that we get it right. another).” The term has a biblical use: Confusing the two can have eternal there it always designates a Gentile consequences. This article will explain convert to Judaism, or, more precisely, a the nature of proselytism, starting with Gentile who has begun to observe the the benign origins of the word and then Jewish law. In this case the “coming explaining some of the factors that led over” is from life as a Gentile to (or to negative connotations being towards) life as a Jew. (Paul J. Griffiths associated with it. Next it will explore and Jean B. Elshtain, “Proselytizing for the characteristics of legitimate Tolerance,” First Things, no. 127 evangelization, which is at the heart of [November 2002]: 30) the Gospel message. Thus, the proselyte leaves an old community, whether of belief or What Is Proselytism? practice, and enters a new one. For example, one becomes a proselyte by One of the best etymologies of the leaving the values and policies word was offered recently by Paul J. advocated by one political party to embrace the values and policies It is important to recognize that advocated by another. Similarly, proselytizing always carries with it a according to Griffiths, one becomes one moral judgment. “To engage in of Christ’s proselytes when he leaves proselytizing implies a moral judgment the pagan community and enters that of of error (in assent) or impropriety (in the baptized, and so on. action) on the part of the aliens being A proselytizer then, is one who acts proselytized, and the consequent so as to create proselytes. Usually such adoption of a course of action designed a one is already a member of the to bring the mistaken aliens into the community for which he or she is fold of those who think rightly or advocating. Proselytizers want to turn behave properly. Particular aliens into kin, and they are often proselytisms, then, imply (and are motivated by the belief that it would be sometimes explicit about) the rightness good for those who are still alien to or propriety of what they proselytize on become part of the fold. For example, behalf of, and, concomitantly, the nonsmokers may believe that smokers wrongness or impropriety of what they would enjoy a myriad of benefits from proselytize against” (“Proselytizing for “kicking the habit.” But, Griffiths points Tolerance,” 32). out, the motivation is not always It is this element of moral judgment benevolent. It can also be motivated by that gives the term its pejorative fear or even hatred. One can want the connotation in the present-day climate alien to become kin for the protection of that so highly extols the virtue of the home community. This is known as “tolerance.” We can find many historical “protective proselytism.” reasons for this attitude, but it is Particular proselytisms can be enough to acknowledge that, in the analyzed according to scope depending present day, the terms “tolerance” and on the methods they employ. At one end “proselytism” are understood to be of the spectrum are those who advocate diametrically opposed. making proselytes by coercion and Another factor contributing to the force, such as when the U.S. Supreme pejorative sense of the word is Court mandated the integration of frustration with the attitudes and public schools in the United States with methods employed by proselytizers. In its landmark decision in the case of a statement in 1995, the Joint Working Brown vs. the Board of Education (347 Group between the Catholic Church and U.S. 483 [1954]. The case was argued the World Council of Churches December 9, 1952; reargued December acknowledged that at one time the term 8, 1953; and decided May 17, 1954. See had a positive meaning as a term for the National Archives and Records missionary activity, but in the context of Administration, www.archives.gov). On the modern ecumenical movement, it the other end of the spectrum are those takes on a negative connotation when who prefer to seek proselytes simply by Christians try to win adherents from presenting their way of life to the wider other Christian communities. “These community without compulsion, such as activities may be more obvious or more the Amish communities in western subtle. They may be for unworthy Pennsylvania. motives or by unjust means that violate the conscience of the human person; or 2 even if proceeding with good intentions, fail to respect their freedom and human their approach ignores the Christian dignity (ibid., par. 19) reality of other churches or their The problem with proselytism as it particular approaches to pastoral is understood in the twenty-first practice” (World Council of Churches, century is that, by doing the wrong “The Challenge of Proselytism and the thing for the right reason, the result is Calling to Common Witness: A Study not increased unity but even deeper Document,” Geneva: Oikoumene division in the Body of Christ. One can [September 25, 1995], sect. 4, par. 18, be very sincere, but very, very wrong. www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/docu Thomas Aquinas was right when he said ments/wcc-commissions/joint-working- that one is never justified in using an group-between-the-roman-catholic- evil means to a good end (see Thomas church-and-the-wcc/challenge-of- Aquinas, Summa Theologica, II, II, proselytism.html). Question 51, Answer to Objection 1: Aberrant proselytism includes “There is no good counsel either in certain activities and methods that are deliberating for an evil end, or in directly intended to induce people to discovering evil means for attaining a change their church affiliation. These good end, even as in speculative include matters, there is no good reasoning • Making unjust or uncharitable either in coming to a false conclusion, references to other churches’ beliefs or in coming to a true conclusion from and practices and even ridiculing them false premises through employing an • Comparing two Christian unsuitable middle term. Hence both the communities by emphasizing the aforesaid processes are contrary to achievements and ideals of one, and the euboulia [deliberating well], as the weaknesses and practical problems of Philosopher declares [Ethic, vi, 9].”). the other • Employing any kind of physical What Is Evangelization? violence, moral compulsion and psychological pressure, e.g., the use of Evangelization, on the other hand, is certain advertising techniques in mass concerned with the proclamation of the media that might bring undue pressure faith and the invitation to enter into on readers/viewers communion with Christ and his Church. • Using political, social and In the years following the Second economic power as a means of winning Vatican Council and in light of certain new members for one’s own church documents, particularly On the Church • Extending explicit or implicit in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes), offers of education, health care, or On the Relations of the Church to Non- material inducements or using financial Christian Religions (Nostrae Aetate), On resources with the intent of making Religious Liberty (Dignitatis Humanae), converts On the Church’s Missionary Activity (Ad • Manipulative attitudes and Gentes Divinitus), On the Apostolate of practices that exploit people’s needs, Lay People (Apostalicam Actuositatem), weaknesses or lack of education and On Ecumenism (Unitatis especially in situations of distress, and Redintegratio), Pope Paul VI saw the need to give articulation to the Church’s 3 evangelizing activity in the modern but some central themes are readily world. This was the focus of the 1974 apparent. The six characteristics Synod of Bishops in Rome. The result summarized below were first outlined was the landmark apostolic exhortation by David Nodar. (See Ralph Martin and Evangelization in the Modern World Peter Williamson, eds., John Paul II and (Evangelii Nuntiandi). Paul VI cited the New Evangelization: How You Can three “burning” questions that the Bring the Good News to Others [Fort Synod kept in the fore: Collins, CO: Ignatius Press, 1995]. See - In our day, what has happened to also, David Nodar, Characteristics of the that hidden energy of the Good News, New Evangelization: A Call from Our which is able to have a powerful effect Redeemer [Ellicott City, MD: Christlife on man’s conscience? Publishing, 2000].) - To what extent and in what way is that evangelical force capable of 1. The New Evangelization is really transforming the people of this Christocentric. century? - What methods should be To be Christian is to proclaim the followed in order that the power of the person of Jesus Christ. We should not Gospel may have its effect? (Paul VI, get distracted from this. Evangelii Nuntiandi—The Gospel Must Be Proclaimed [Rome: Vatican Polyglot 2.
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