“Ask a Priest: Is It OK to Invite Back the Jehovah’s Witnesses?”

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest
Q: I am homebound and recently had two Jehovah’s Witnesses knock on my door. We spoke at the door for a while, and I agreed to have them come back later and discuss the Bible. I have been going through some difficult times, and I have prayed to God to bless me with someone with whom I could discuss some spiritual issues. I have tried to reach out to local Catholic parishes, but it hasn’t worked out. Is it a sin for me to accept the visit from the Jehovah’s Witnesses? I am not interested in seeking to join another church. I believe that the Catholic Church is the one and only true church. Thank you. — Elizabeth

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t been able to get help from any Catholic parish. It must be hard to struggle with issues while you are homebound and probably feeling isolated.

While it’s good that you were polite with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, it’s probably not a good idea to invite them back, no matter how friendly they seem.

Their aim ultimately is to persuade you to join their sect – at the price of abandoning your Catholic faith.

Unless you are deeply knowledgeable about the Bible and your faith, it’s not easy to take on two JW’s who are trained to promote their own interpretation of Scripture.

And make no mistake: some of their key beliefs are incompatible with Catholicism and Christianity in general.

For one thing, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe in the divinity of Jesus. They think he was a created being. But we know him to be God, the Second Person of the Trinity.

Nor do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in hell. You could learn more about their other faulty ideas at this Catholic Answers post.

It would be better to try to reach out to a parish again and see if a parishioner could visit you. You don’t want to jeopardize your faith through interactions with Jehovah’s Witnesses (for more pointers, see this post).

In the meantime, you might try looking at videos by Father Mike Schmitz and Bishop Robert Barron. They will offer more solid teaching. And stay close to the Blessed Virgin Mary through the rosary.

Count on my prayers.

 

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!