National Catholic apologist speaks at local parish about evangelizing and defending the faith
SANDY — Tim Staples, director of Apologetics and Evangelization at "Catholic Answers," spoke to the Diocese of Salt Lake City on "Catholicism in Today’s Culture" at Blessed Sacrament Parish April 12.
"Catholic Answers Live" is a national radio show heard in Utah on Immaculate Heart Radio 1010 AM.
Staples’ talk was divided into three presentations: Catholics and the Culture War, The Answer is Catholic, and Mormonism and the Question of Authority.
Staples was invited to "teach Catholics how to speak with charity, kindness and compassion when talking to people of other faiths," said John Jackson, Blessed Sacrament confirmation instructor, and part of the team who invited Staples to Utah.
"He was everything we expected and really connected with the people," said Suzie Brown, also a member of the team.
"It was marvelous; the knowledge he has is amazing," said Deacon Russ Langner, Blessed Sacrament Parish, of Staples’ presentation.
Tim Roberts, from Saint John the Baptist Parish, liked that Staples said "teach with love," he said. "We’ve got to know what our Catholic faith is to be able to share it in the right way."
"Our faith is a journey and we’ve got to keep learning," said Sharon Martin, of Blessed Sacrament.
Staples was raised a Southern Baptist, but converted to Catholicism in 1988 after a fellow Marine challenged him to examine the Catholic faith from a biblical and historical perspective. Staples, determined to prove Catholicism wrong, studied and prayed his way into the Catholic Church. He spent six years in priestly formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook, Penn., and two years at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. He discerned in 1994 that he was not called to be a Catholic priest, but rather a lay Catholic apologist and evangelist.
Apologetics is the science of giving reasons "why we believe what we believe with meaning and respect," Staples said. "Apologetics, which is a part of evangelization, is about dialog – a two-way street. We must also listen."
Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel, calls for "creative apologetics – arguments on the issue of credibility in terms that the modern world can understand," said Staples, who said he wouldn’t be where he is today without six years in the seminary. "We must live what we are talking about or our words mean nothing."
Staples suggested Catholics make this last week of Lent a blessed time by diving into a book, CD or the Bible "because we need to be ready, prepared and not ashamed to share our faith," he said. "If we don’t know an answer, it’s OK to say that you will get back to someone with the information."
Catholics are called to be engaged, be political and "not sitting on the sidelines," Staples said.
His presentation on Catholics and the Culture War is framed around nine Supreme Court decisions, of which Staples spoke about one: Everson vs. Board of Education. The case was brought by a New Jersey taxpayer against a tax-funded school district that provided reimbursement to parents of both public and private schooled children taking public transportation to school. The taxpayer contended that reimbursement violated the constitutional prohibition of state support of religion.
"The point is as a culture we said, ‘God, We don’t need you in our culture,’" said Staples.
In "The Answer is Catholic," Staples said Catholics need to stand up as men and women of God and practice what was taught in the Baltimore Catechism – we are here "to know God, to love God and to serve God.’"
"Start a prayer, rosary or apologetic group in your parish. Our local parishes are being neglected," Staples said. "Too many folks rush out of Mass without socializing."
Addressing the topic "Mormonism and the Question of Authority," Staples said that Catholics and Mormons disagree on many theological points but share similar beliefs on helping their brothers and sisters in need, and on the importance of authority in the church.
"In dialoging with people of different faiths, start with what you have in common," he suggested.
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