{"id":21974,"date":"2012-08-28T08:00:29","date_gmt":"2012-08-28T13:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=21974"},"modified":"2012-08-28T09:11:15","modified_gmt":"2012-08-28T14:11:15","slug":"stop-apologizing-for-your-catholic-faith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/08\/stop-apologizing-for-your-catholic-faith\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop Apologizing for Your Catholic Faith"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I mean it. Stop it. Stop saying, “Well, you know, it’s because we’re Catholic.”<\/p>\n

I hear and see it all the time. We decide not to wear that religious necklace or that saint bracelet. We tell our kids to keep their Catholic Bibles home from summer camp. We find ourselves conveniently “busy” when a neighbor asks us to join them for a burger on a Friday during Lent. We apologize for being late to the soccer tournament because we were attending a Holy Day of Obligation Mass. We ask for forgiveness when soliciting funds for our school, church or ministry.<\/p>\n

Or worse, we just skip all the above and go on about our merry way.\u00a0Quit apologizing for God and quit apologizing for your Catholic faith.<\/p>\n

In full disclosure, I should admit that I’ve been guilty of all of the above. Sometimes, I’m proudly Catholic. In some circles it’s easier, you know? Later this week I’ll be attending the Catholic New Media Conference in Dallas. I have no doubt being Catholic won’t be too difficult. But, what about when the neighbors circle up and decide to do a potluck – at 5pm on a Saturday night? Do you go late and then apologize that you’re at Mass or do you thank them for inviting you and let them know you’ll attend just as soon as Mass concludes?<\/p>\n

Or, as we solicit funds or volunteers for our Catholic ministries and organizations, we apologize to people for asking. Why do we do that? Why do we apologize for something in which we have passion? Perhaps we don’t want to come across heavy-handed or even needy. Maybe we want people to know we empathize and appreciate their sacrifices, so we hate to “put them out.”<\/p>\n

Here’s the thing: \u00a0when you’re doing God’s work, no apology is necessary<\/strong>. Certainly, our passion must be tempered with respect and inclusiveness. Nobody wants to be guilted into their beliefs. Understandably, though, in a society that proclaims “live and let live,” it’s hard to affirm your beliefs and go against the mainstream. It’s hard to ask people for money to continue a ministry, build a church or fund a school. It’s hard to say ‘no’ when it feels like all the world is saying ‘yes.’<\/p>\n

The next time you find yourself opening your mouth to apologize, consider the greater good. Are you building up the church or tearing it down? Are you holding true to what your heart says or what the ways of the world would rather you do? Would God be pumping His fist in the air at your confidence and passion? Would He be cheering you on? If the answer is yes, then proclaim the good news with joy. And don’t you ever look back.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I mean it. Stop it. Stop saying, “Well, you know, it’s because we’re Catholic.” I hear and see it all the time. We decide not to wear that religious necklace or that saint bracelet. We tell our kids to keep their Catholic Bibles home from summer camp. We find ourselves conveniently “busy” when a neighbor… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[90],"tags":[970,971,62],"class_list":{"0":"post-21974","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-faith-blog","7":"tag-catholic-faith","8":"tag-cnmc","9":"tag-evangelization","10":"entry","11":"has-post-thumbnail"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":616,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2011\/03\/a-catholic-new-media-group-in-austin-tx-yes-please\/","url_meta":{"origin":21974,"position":0},"title":"A Catholic New Media Group in Austin, Tx?! Yes Please!","author":"Rita Suva","date":"March 4, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Austin Catholic New Media\u2026 I\u2019m excited for this endeavor! As the Director of Youth Ministry at St.Ignatius, Martyr Parish here in Austin, I use media quite a bit. From music to YouTube, Facebook to text messages, blog reading to blog writing and more, media is an integral part of my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":13373,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/03\/dear-representative-dawnna-dukes\/","url_meta":{"origin":21974,"position":1},"title":"Dear Representative Dawnna Dukes…","author":"Rita Suva","date":"March 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Representative Dawnna Dukes: I am sorry that you believe that the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Austin is picking on you. I am sorry you believe that you have been given a scarlet letter by the Church. And I\u2019m sorry that you think that it\u2019s unfair that your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/4639772572_7396e02019-300x198.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":37082,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/02\/review-the-confirmed-catholics-companion\/","url_meta":{"origin":21974,"position":2},"title":"Your New Catholic Toolkit (Review: “The Confirmed Catholic’s Companion”)","author":"Lindsay Wilcox","date":"February 19, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Now, Lindsay,\" you might say, \"it's barely Lent! Confirmation season isn't for months!\" Well, you're right. It's not Confirmation season, and except in emergencies, no one is going to be confirmed for at least six more weeks. That makes it the perfect time to consider not only what delightful Catholic\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"This is your faith. This is your faith set afire after Confirmation. (photo by )","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/4087289013_17338c722c_b-300x199.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10445,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/01\/a-catholic-college-experience\/","url_meta":{"origin":21974,"position":3},"title":"A Catholic College Experience","author":"Elizabeth","date":"January 31, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"It was the summer in between my junior and senior year in college. I was back at home volunteering at my parish's vacation bible school. I was the designated photographer hoping to get some good shots for my portfolio due at the end of my summer photography course. It was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"photo courtesy of publicdomainpictures.net","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/sunrise-church-300x224.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":32156,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/01\/theoddthings\/","url_meta":{"origin":21974,"position":4},"title":"The \u201cOdd\u201d Things of the Catholic Faith","author":"Rita Suva","date":"January 10, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I love our Catholic faith. There\u2019s beauty in it, there\u2019s wisdom in it, there\u2019s love in it, there\u2019s joy in it, there\u2019s an acceptance and reason for pain and suffering, there\u2019s forgiveness in it, there\u2019s purpose in the rites and rituals in it and there\u2019s so, so much more. There\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Stain-Glass Window Cross","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/cross-100x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22357,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/09\/blogging-for-god-whats-holding-you-back\/","url_meta":{"origin":21974,"position":5},"title":"Blogging for God: What’s Holding You Back?","author":"Kathryn Whitaker","date":"September 4, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Catholic bloggers can change the world,\" proclaimed Jennifer Fulwiler, National Catholic Register contributor and blogger at the ever-popular Conversion Diary. She said those words at the recent Catholic New Media Conference, held in Dallas last week. I have to admit, when she first said those words, I tweeted them, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/CNMC_250x250.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21974"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21974\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}