Customer Reviews

Common Ground: What Protestants and Catholics Can Learn From Each Other

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As a former Protestant, I have heard many derogatory comments and misconceptions about what I believe as a Catholic. I love this video because both men are willing to listen to the other without disagreeing or debating their beliefs. It's an open, honest conversation where both men respect each other's faith traditions. Although it does not address every single misconception that Protestants have about Catholic beliefs, it hits many of the big ones, such as Mary, Confession, and Salvation. Both Catholics and Protestants would benefit and learn so much by watching this with an open heart.

The first time I saw this on TV, I was so absorbed, that I attempted to stay awake long enough to see it in its entirety. It didn't start until midnight on a local Christian channel, and I just couldn't quite make it. When I found it on Amazon, I ordered it immediately, and so should you!! Every Catholic and Protestant should see this movie. Father John Riccardo does a beautiful job of answering all questions and addresses many misconceptions about the Catholic Church. If we could all reach this level of understanding, there would be much more acceptance and love toward one another as we are commanded to do by Our Lord.

With candor and charity, a Roman Catholic Father expounds upon the faith through an interview by a Protestant minister. The love the two men have for one another is apparent in this refreshing, inviting, and educational exchange. A must see for anyone interested in what Catholic and Protestant hold in common without the sellout of either side. Perfect unity may be elusive so long as the differences are significant but charity and understanding short of that perfect communion can still be accomplished to a small degree. We can praise God for small yet significant victories in understanding.

Father Riccardo's responses to Pastor Andrews' queries are revealing, theologically sound, charitable, and yet without compromise. The charity of these two men is profound and enlightening. The love and respect they have for one another is worth the price of the video in itself. The Protestant/Catholic differences are significant and cannot be ignored yet we must learn to deal with those differences without hateful polemic and begin to understand one another in charity and mutual respect as human beings.

The world has seen a divided church for too long and for too long we have busied ourselves more with flinging accusations at one another rather than seeking to undermine the work of the other. Our differences are indeed significant and cannot be compromised but they will only be resolved in seeking truth and understanding where ever it leads. This video is not yet another touchy/feely unity-at-any-cost ecumenical siren - this is a call for unity through real understanding based on an objective search for truth. Unity can never be placed as a goal above objective truth and these two men of faith have given us the keys to finding a form of unity that will not sacrifice the search for truth. Very praiseworthy and enlightening. Perfect for small group studies and personal education. A must have.

A review of the DVD entitled "Common Ground: What Protestants and Catholics Can Learn From Each Other", © 2006 Kensington Community Church, & © 2007 Niniveh's Crossing

I just saw this DVD for the second time, together with three persons who saw it for the first time, my wife and another Catholic couple, during our parish's celebration of the 2009 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This is an interview of Fr. John Riccardo of the St. Anastasia Catholic Church, north of Detroit, by the Rev. Steve Andrews, Lead Pastor of the Kensington Community Church, a nearby evangelical megachurch. The topics touched upon include salvation, the Eucharist, prayer and worship, Mary and the saints, confession, evangelization, and reaching across denominational lines.
About one hour into the video, the impact of the presentation was so profound, that both of us men in our 70's, had tears in our eyes. We were all touched by the true love both of these ministers had for God, their sincere desire for truth, and the mutual respect and love they displayed for each other. Fr. Riccardo is so effective in the interview because he came across as a truly "authentic" person, besides being quite grounded in Sacred Scripture which he uses to back up every facet of Catholic belief and practice. This is why "over 2,000 copies of the interview on DVD were sold through the Kensington Church's bookstore" in the few weeks after its release. (Stan Williams, http://CrossingNiniveh.blogspot.com, 2006). This fact is so very encouraging, as I believe this DVD is the single most effective video presenting the Catholic faith tradition and practice to other Christian communities and anybody who wants to learn more about what Catholics believe.
I hope that by the time we celebrate the 102nd Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January 2010, thousands of church programs, and millions of persons yearning for Christian Unity with a sincere heart would have seen this video, and hold discussion groups about it. It certainly should be viewed by mixed audiences with both Catholics and Protestants together. Furthermore, I strongly recommend this video to all public and liberal arts college libraries for its intrinsic value of liberating the mind from preconceptions and misconceptions about the Catholic faith and traditions, besides libraries and bookstore of all Christian churches.
Chau Thien Phan, Ph.D., phancity@bellsouth.net
(for identification purpose only: Chair, Committee on Ecumenism, and Web minister, Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church, Flagler Beach, Florida.)

I woke up in the middle of the night and saw this on TV. It took a few minutes to realize the enormity of the dialogue, but I was captivated by the spirit and the essence of the two faith filled men. I ordered it and when I viewed the DVD, I knew it was a must see for many of both my Catholic and Various Faith friends. We all work for the same Big Guy and it helps to put it into perspective. You will love this!

I really enjoyed this movie. The catholic priest and the protestant preacher seem to both have a lot of respect for each other and they show a good example of how to treat others with different beliefs.

Great viewpoints for both Protestants and Catholics to understand differences and acknowledge similarities. We may have different traditions but are all believers of the same God and Christ.