Is it weird if an atheist volunteers regularly at a catholic charity?

[armyowalgreens]

I volunteered once at St. Vincent De Paul last winter just for the hell of it. I ended up making something like 500 PB&J sandwiches and it was a pretty cool experience.

So after I realized that I would have a free morning every Thursday for this semester, I emailed St. Vincent De Paul and told them I could volunteer on Thursday and Sunday on a regular basis.

They said that they would be more than happy to find me a spot to help. But I got on their website tonight and started reading the background info on the charity...

The Mission Statement of the Society answers the question specifically. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is composed of women and men who seek their personal holiness through works of charity. In this essential way, the Society differs from charitable associations or agencies whose principal objective is not the spiritual advancement of their members but the doing of good for someone else.
President-General Adolpe Baudon, in his Circular Letter of January 1, 1877, writes:

"It is laid down in our Rule, and it has been always understood among us, that in uniting to serve our masters the poor, as St. Vincent de Paul expresses it, our object is not only to relieve material misery, a very laudable purpose in itself, but to aspire, especially, through the practice of that most sublime of virtues "charity" to render ourselves better and more fervent Christians, and to make our poor enter on the same path, if we have the happiness of succeeding."

In his Circular Letter of December 12, 1915, Vicomte Hendecourt, President-General writes:

"The Society has two aims: to do a great deal of spiritual good to its members through the exercise of charity, and to do a little spiritual and temporal good to a few poor families in the name of Jesus Christ. If it did not continually seek to combine these two aims, it would lose its raison d'etre. If it were to seek only the holiness of its members through pious exercises, there is no lack of Confraternities and Third Orders to meet that need. If on the other hand, it were to seek only the relief of the temporal miseries of the poor, it would only add one more to the list of public and private institutions founded for that purpose."

The Mission Statement is clear: Vincentian ministry is a means for acquiring holiness. The ministry of a Vincentian to those and with those who stand in need is the powerful means that affects holiness of life for the individual Vincentian. Vatican II states that the principal means of holiness for bishops and priests is their ministry. This applies to the laity also, because, in attending to the needy and suffering, a Vincentian is ministering to Jesus Christ himself.

It seems to put a pretty big emphasis on Christianity, Jesus Christ and spirituality. The lady that emailed me had a list of times and objectives that I could volunteer for; one being morning ministry. Do you think they are going to care if I notify them that I do not want to take part in any ministry services because I'm an atheist?

I'm more than willing to work in the kitchen or where ever else they'd like to put me. Give me bread and spread and I'll make sandwiches like a crazy man. But I'd like to stay away from any sort of religious teachings.


Do you think they are going to mind?

[and-justice-for-all]

1. The majority of those religious charities do not do it because they care...

some may more then others, but what I gathered is that these things are done because they think they will get a gold star from the invisible man in the sky and if you win converts, that is even better.

Their primary objective is conversion, everything else is secondary.

If you are interested in holding a charity, perhaps you could work with the local Unitarian Universalist Church. It is more spiritual then religious and conversion of others in not priority.

If you tell them your an Atheist, you could be stoned to death. Some Catholic Churches are more hardcore then others, you may want to also try the Episcopalian branch. They are very open and probably will not give shit your a Atheist.

[whathehell]

5. You seem to be confusing Catholicism with Evangelicism...

I've been involved with Catholic Charities...They don't try and convert you....and please..Stoned to death?..Yeah, I know you're exaggerating, but that's absurd.

Pssst: They even accept NON-believers in their schools!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. Catholics Are Christians

Christ specifically criticized stoning.


I went to a Catholic mass with my fiancee. The sermon was about loving one another;nothing about stoning.

[and-justice-for-all]

14. Yeah, I do relaize that stoning is not "in" at the moment...

I was being facetious.

[onehandle]

16. Gosh! You were ready with an "objective" answer. nt

[Richardo]

28. You are so full of shit

[slampoet]

50. FAIL. Sorry but you really don't know JACK about St Vincent.

PS- Learn to use a compressor eh?

[ashling]

2. Don't Ask - Don't Tell

But realize that you are going to be in a situation where there will be a lot of what I call "religious/Christian jargon" being used all of the time. If you make a big deal about it or go off on how their religion is a superstition, etc., then yes, they are going to be uncomfortable with it. You are their for the charitable aspect of the program.

I went to a Methodist College years ago and found that my circle of friends included both sides. I was comfortable with that.

It is up to you whether or not you can flow easily from sided to side.
my $.02 :shrug:

BTW, I have volunteered for the Red Cross (non-religious), and the Salvation Army (religious)
and fit in both situations.

When I go to the hospital and they ask my religion, I put Druid

[armyowalgreens]

4. While I am not a fan of religion, I'm okay with the religious jargon...

as long as they don't attempt to bother me with it. I'm not the kind of person that will openly discuss my religious views unless someone forces me to.

I just want to go and help them feed homeless people.

[Dorian Gray]

13. I've done work for Catholic Charities in the past

and there was little to no religious jargon used.

[Chulanowa]

3. It could be weirder

I'm a polytheist pagan, and I performed no shortage of charity work for the local Catholic and Orthodox churches when I was living in Alaska. So long as you're not doing any preaching of your own, they really don't care, I've noticed. Most of these charity organizations are stretched so thin that could could probably show up in a T-shirt that says I :loveya: LeVay and they'll still get you making turkey sammiches.

[seabeyond]

6. no, i dont think it is weird and i dont think they will mind. i think it is

kind of you to give your time.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. Not weird at all. Many atheists like to do public service, and much public service is done...

by religious groups.

So there aren't a lot of other options out there for people who want to serve their neighbors, other than to do it through a religious group.

I will say, however, that this society is a weird one. To serve the poor simply to meet the religious needs of the one doing the serving seems like something that would go against Catholic teaching, which tends to be much more about "help the poor, and through that, you sort of accidentally acquire a level of holiness that is good", instead of this guy's thing, which seems much more about "We seek only personal holiness, and the path to that is to help the poor, so here we are, making food for them".

It's an ass-backwards theology, if you ask me, and I'm kind of surprised the Catholic Church allows it to be stated that way.



But, truth is, there are a hell of lot of people out there who need food, and if you are willing to help with that, then much applause to you! And do it however you have to do it, even if you have to listen to their crap occasionally, which hopefully you won't.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. Agreed.

I volunteer so much that I finally joined Ethical Culture where community service is fostered no matter what. If help is needed and you can provide it, you are driven.

[armyowalgreens]

9. That's what I was thinking. But I wanted to verify.

The mission statement was a little weird, though.

[TreasonousBastard]

17. Actually, this fits in very well with the...

"works" view in the "Faith vs good works" debate, and Catholics tend to line up on the "works" side.

I think it's ass-backwards, too, and tend more toward the idea that good works are a product of faith, but it makes no difference to the people getting those sammiches and probably not much to God, either.

[rox63]

11. You are helping the poor, not preaching

I don't see a problem with that. Additionally, you are a volunteer, not an actual member of the organization. There are plenty on non-Catholics that work at Catholic hospitals because they are there to help people, not preach.

[Dorian Gray]

12. I don't think that they'll care.

Usually charities, even those with a Catholic focus, are happy to have people working with them to help out. If you are uncomfortable with particular positions (like the ministry), that shouldn't bother them.

[onehandle]

15. They won't mind. Along with the Church's Aids outreach, it's one of the best Catholic charities. nt

[MichellesBFF]

18. Habitat for Humanity

I used to volunteer with them, am a Buddhist, they have a Christian aspect to their org but it never bothered me.

[TreasonousBastard]

19. Well, it is a religious society, so religion would...

play a big part. My personal experience with religious charities is that most of them have religious counseling available, but don't consider it a condition of either providing or receiving the aid. Some extremely evangelistic, missionary-oriented organizations get in your face, but thay aren't really that common and you'll know what they are up front.

But, the day you spent there doesn't sound too bad-- you survived with nonbelief intact and didn't become a closet Catholic. No reason to think it would be any different showing up on a regular basis.

If the question of your personal belief does come up, and it very likely will, perhaps even from another volunteer, just politely decline to discuss it and they will most likely back off.

[JHB]

20. No, it's not weird.

Believe me, few if any of the volunteers are motivated by "seek(ing) personal holiness" but rather because they believe helping people who could use a hand is the right thing to do.

And if there's no organized secular charity organization in your area, it makes sense to hook up with a religious one, at least as long as the actual charity work isn't just bait for prosletizing (not the mission statement hardly anybody reads, but how they spend their time and resources on the ground).

So just be up front and honest about what you're doing and what you want to do. If someone in the organization is obtuse enough to get into a snit about it, then find something else and it's their loss.

[Buzz Clik]

21. Awesome! It's great you're comfortable enough in your atheism to work alongside believers.

[dysfunctional press]

52. actually- the problems are usually the other way around.

"comfortable enough in your atheism"?

i've always found that it's the believers that tend to get uncomfortable when there's an athiest around- almost like your non-belief is a personal insult against their intellect.

[lazer47]

22. Have you ever noticed that atheist, Seem to talk more about

religion than the evangelicals do???

[armyowalgreens]

23. My entire family is evangelical...

What you said simply is not true. Most atheists are content in being left alone and leaving others alone. A small minority are the soap box kind that cram their views down your throat.


A vast majority of evangelical christians are loud-mouth preachy types. I have lived with them and been around large groups of them.

[RubyDuby in GA]

24. Depends on where you live

I live in the Bible belt and that shit is shoved down our throats day in and day out.
I can almost predict what time they will show up on my doorstep on Saturday mornings - every Saturday.

I am an atheist. Discrimination against people with no religion is an everyday occurrence here.

[lazer47]

27. I live in the "belt" also, and don't allow either one into my front yard

[RubyDuby in GA]

29. You would think with this on my front door they would stay away but noooooooooo

I have a mini dachshund that when he barks he sounds like a huge dog. On such Saturday when they knocked and he flipped out barking, I threatened to release the hound if they didn't get off my property. They left quickly.

[dorkulon]

33. Either what? Are atheists proselytzing door-to-door in your neighborhood? nt

[RebelOne]

36. Yup, I'm in North Georgia and just about every Saturday

they will come knocking on my door. I just tell them that I'm an atheist and not interested. They usually go away.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. no

[Vinca]

25. Lay your cards on the table and I bet they welcome you with open arms.

I'm also an atheist, but occasionally you can connect to a "churchy" thing without being a believer.

[Maru Kitteh]

30. Any decent Christian is not going to mind an atheist volunteering at all

The point, after all, is the good work.

[pipi_k]

31. Hell no...I don't think it's weird

opinion from an incorrigible Agnostic/Atheist person...



PS...good for you for volunteering
:)

[Iggo]

32. I donate to church anti-drug programs.

I don't care how people who want to get off the dope get off the dope as long as they get off the dope.

[Soylent Brice]

34. do what you feel is right, and always be honest.

you could always try with another organization if they have an issue.

[Blue_Tires]

35. i knew atheists at religious schools...so its not that big of a stretch

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

37. You Know It's Not Weird. I'd Wager The Post Was More About You Wanting Publicity Than Actually

seeking advice. To each their own opinion though.

[armyowalgreens]

42. If you are willing to go that far...

Why not just assume that I'm completely full of shit. Maybe I'm not even volunteering...

[flvegan]

48. What a shitty fucking thing to say.

[dionysus]

38. don't think so. i know an athiest who goes to church just so she can sing in the choir.

[vadawg]

46. yeah my other half whos jewish used to attend mass and sing inthe choir

sure as hell put her mother's gas at a peep....

[gkhouston]

39. I doubt it. And if they can't handle your atheism, I'm sure there's another

charity that would be only too glad to have a pair of helping hands around.

[Orsino]

40. It's only human to want to be part of a community.

Those believers probably differ from each other as much as they differ from you. Probably more, if you count those in their congregation who didn't participate in the sandwiching.

[ieoeja]

41. I know of St Vincentian priests who are Atheists!

I party annually with one St Vincentian priest who loves gossiping about his fellows which includes their religious beliefs.

That being said, it will all come down to how the specific individuals working at that specific site feel. I have no doubt that some sites couldn't care less that you're an Atheist, and that others would wash everything you touched, even the floor you walked on, with holy water after kicking you out the door.

[eridani]

44. Not a surprise. Anyone interested enough in theology to join a religious order--

--is going to focus both intellectual and spiritual effort on all of the Big Questions. Why shouldn't some of them finally settle on atheism? They probably still admire the life and teachings of Jesus even if they conclude that he was never God.

[eridani]

43. No. Churches are part of our physical base

Ever checked out where your local Dem county or legislative district organization meets? If it isn't at a union hall, it's likely to be at a church. Any progressive organization, party or issue-based, needs churches and union halls to meet and have other events in. I have an eclectic sort of spirituality, but looking over my donation cardfile, I donate to a lot of churches. I support them because they help causes I am interested in advancing. The fundie whackjobs have their church basements and we have ours.

[DailyGrind51]

45. The social mission of the church is non-denominational.

[nini]

47. No - any REAL charity would welcome you with open arms

if that particular group doesn't like it there will surely be another who would love to have you help out.

[anigbrowl]

49. St Vincent de Paul are pretty laid back

they're definitely more aboutthe charity than the prosletyzing. I'm an atheist myself but I have no issue with religious charities qua charities. My feeling is that more mature organizations (they've been around a long time) are mostly populated by people who are comfortable with their religion and don't particularly need to shove it on other people. Same way I find it easy to talk to nuns.

[ddeclue]

51. James 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only"

Keep making them sandwiches!

:D

[conflictgirl]

53. I'm agnostic and have been attending Catholic services with my son, who wanted to attend a church...

Having had very very unpleasant experiences with fundamentalist churches in the past I was very reluctant to attend a church at all, but I have a liberal friend whom I respect very much who happens to be Catholic and has never preached to me, so when my 11-year-old son recently said he wanted to check out a church, I decided to allow him to do so and that Catholic would be a place we'd start. At every service there has been mention of serving our fellow humans, working to help the poor, and praying for the unemployed and those who are struggling in our community. Although I still don't consider myself religious, I was honestly very pleasantly surprised to hear how much emphasis there has been on social justice in the services. I still have my own issues with religion in general and some of the Catholic church's teachings in particular, but they seem to come pretty close to my views on social justice. The modern Catholic church is also much less uptight than it apparently used to be, so it's unlikely they would have a problem with you coming to help with the stipulation that you don't want to take part in ministry. One thing I've liked so far - I recently had to attend my sister's fundamentalist church where there was a lot of denomination-bashing, and it felt very unwelcoming, and despite the fact that I'm an agnostic attending Mass with my son but not participating in receiving communion, I've never felt unwelcome and I've never heard them say anything bad about outsiders or people of other faiths (or atheists, for that matter) so I would imagine it would be the same to help in one of their charities. That may vary by individual congregation I'm sure, but I think you'll find they'll probably just be glad for the help.

By the way, you might want to look into the Catholic Worker movement as well, if there's any in your area. Extremely liberal, anti-war, social-justice oriented group, often not Catholic at all. I've found myself strangely drawn to it as a movement because the focus is on helping people and not about religion.