Don’t Apologize for Catholic Apologetics

Recently I was talking to a friend, and I mentioned that I was reading a very interesting book about Catholic apologetics. He replied, “Well, it’s about time the Catholic Church apologized.”

Umm, no. Catholic apologetics does not mean the Church apologizes, nor does it mean individual Catholics apologize for being Catholic.

(By the way, don’t get me wrong. People in the Catholic Church, both leaders and laity, have done some scandalous things over the centuries, which have given the Church a black eye. The Church has humbly and repeatedly expressed remorse for these hurtful actions.)

However, unlike what my friend thought, the word “apologetics” does not mean apologizing for any transgressions committed by sinful people in the Church. The word “apologetics” means to defend and explain Church doctrines. So, the function of a Catholic apologist is to explain Church doctrines and defend the Church against false claims.

Regarding apologetics, there is good news and bad news. First, the good news: every baptized Catholic is called to be an apologist. Notice, I didn’t say “asked” to be an apologist. Explaining the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a requirement for all believers. St. Peter was crystal clear when he wrote, “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Peter wrote “ALWAYS be ready.” He did not write “be ready…if you feel like it.” Every Catholic is called to be a defender of the faith. If we take this calling seriously, there is no shortage of Catholic apologists at all.

Now, here’s the bad news: the vast majority of Catholics have no idea they are supposed to be apologists, nor do they currently have the knowledge to do it well. There is such an epidemic of misinformation and ignorance about what the Church teaches, the need for clear and confident Catholic apologists has never been greater.

But that can all change, and here’s a simple five-part plan of attack:

1. Realize and accept the divine call to be an apologist. Once you understand that God is calling you to explain and defend the faith, it’s much more difficult to say no.

2. Understand that the core doctrines of the Church are not archaic rules and rituals invented by Italian aristocrats in the Middle Ages. Instead, basic Church doctrines were given to us directly by Jesus Himself and His apostles. If you are hesitant to share Church teachings because you think they’re man-made ideas, think again. The basics of our faith were given directly by God.

3. Join a parish Bible study and/or prayer group, and begin to learn basic doctrines, such as repentance and forgiveness, the Eucharist, Mary, the Communion of Saints, Purgatory, and most important of all, how to get to Heaven. (Hint: it’s much easier than most people think.)

4. Practice defending and explaining Church doctrines in the comfort of your Bible Study and/or prayer group. After all, even hall-of-famers take batting practice before the game to hone their skills. The same applies for us.

5. Take a leap of faith and start speaking about Church doctrines with friends, coworkers, and, most difficult of all, family members. (Another hint: start by telling them in a low-key way how faith in Christ has been such a blessing in your life. And if it hasn’t been a blessing in your life, umm, you probably need to go back to one of the earlier steps.)

So, there it is. Simple, huh? If we Catholics learn the basic Church doctrines and share them with others—gently and reverently, as St. Peter tells us—then we will be just what the Church needs most: effective Catholic apologists. And there certainly is no need to apologize for being a member of the Church founded by Jesus 2,000 years ago.