Catholic Bumper Stickers

Bumpersticker_1

Have you ever seen cars with Christian outreach bumper stickers that say things like "Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven"? (Here’s one site that sells such stickers.) I’ve often thought I should keep some copies of Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth handy in my car to tuck under the windshield wiper of cars that sport such stickers. I’ve also thought there’d be a good market among Catholics for Catholic riffs on the standard Christian evangelism stickers. If anyone decides to print some up, here are my contributions to get them started:

  • "No Mary, no peace. Know Mary, know peace!"
  • "Christians aren’t perfect. Yet."
  • "If you died today, would you be in purgatory tomorrow?"
  • "Real men love Mary."
  • "’Why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?’ –Luke 1:43"
  • "Your life may be the only church your friends ever attend."

Please add your contributions to the combox.

99 thoughts on “Catholic Bumper Stickers”

  2. I don’t have any, but my husband probably will. I really like that last one, Jimmy! Maybe someone at Cafe Press will see these!

  4. If you want the power of God in battle, you’d better have the Ark – [img]BVM[/img]
    My mother wears combat boots – Gen 3:15 [img]BVM[/img]
    Manna: it’s not just for breakfast any more – John 6:53 [img]Consecrated Host[/img]

  8. I think the ones that just substitute Mary for Jesus would only give people the wrong idea. E.g., “No Mary, no peace.” There’s nothing about the original that seems to require a correction/retort from Catholics — it says nothing against Mary.

  12. The one I have on my car (which caused my wife to get a few dirty looks from old ladies when she’s driving my car) is:
    “You can’t be both Catholic and Pro-Choice”
    Then again, I just like bothering Democrats’ consciences.

  15. “I think the ones that just substitute Mary for Jesus would only give people the wrong idea. E.g., “No Mary, no peace.” There’s nothing about the original that seems to require a correction/retort from Catholics — it says nothing against Mary.”
    I’m a Protestant who absolutely despises those Protestant bumper stickers. However, I couldn’t agree more with thomasina that the “No Mary, Know Peace” sticker would do nothing but cause problems for Protestants. If you’re wanting the Catholic message to be heard, that would be going about it the wrong way. (As would most of the other suggestions. Slapping people in the face with a “I’m right, you’re wrong” message rarely wins you any converts, regardless of who’s presenting the message.)

  16. my friend’s little sister saw this bumper sticker on a car and though it is neither specificly Protestant or Catholic it says,
    “Self-control, not birth-control.” I openly cheered when I heard it repeated. I love it!

  19. A few on varioius protestant issues.
    “Who told you what books were in the bible”?
    “A Billion Catholics can’t be wrong”?
    “Yeah, but what if the host really IS the body of Christ”?
    “Purgatory: Because you aren’t going to the Father’s house looking like THAT!”
    “Confessing directly to God? Gimme a break. Confessing to others promotes real repentance!”

  20. There are some great ideas above! If anyone actually wants to print some of these up, the following site has good prices on small quantities of custom bumper stickers (as little as $4.95 for a single sticker, with no additional setup fee):
    http://www.makestickers.com/

  21. I’d certainly buy one that says:
    “Your life may be the only church your friends ever attend.”
    if someone happens to set these up on CafePress.

  23. Gandhi said:”The only birth control worthy of human beings is self-control.” Hey, maybe that’s why the Windows On the World church put him on a stained glass window. (Nah, if they ever learn of this quote of his, they’ll probably remove him from the window).

  24. Confession: Because You Can’t
    Take Your Sins To Heaven!
    —————————–
    Health & Wellness Gospel?
    Try Matthew 5:3
    —————————–
    How Many Wives Will You Take
    When You’re Raptured?

  25. 1500 years before Protestants invented themselves
    There is only ONE Church, it’s not a denomination
    Jesus founded the Catholic Church-
    Who Founded yours?
    Would you please pray for me-
    Mary my Mother does!

  26. 1500 years before Protestants invented themselves
    There is only ONE Church, it’s not a denomination
    Jesus founded the Catholic Church-
    Who Founded yours?
    Would you please pray for me-
    Mary my Mother does!
    “That All My Be One” 33,000 protestant denominations ??? and only on Catholic Church!

  27. A picture of Mary pointing to Jesus and the words “Do whatever He tells you.”.
    Or (here in the Bible Belt) the Papal crest and the words “Give Me That Old Time Religion”.

  28. You can find this one online: A picture of a crowned Mary with a crowned infant Jesus in her lap, with the words: “Where she is queen, He is King.”

  29. I have to say that I agree with Protestant Visitor that some of these are needlessly confrontational.
    I spent a good deal of time designing Christian T-shirts for Protestant companies, and I find the in-your-face attitude a big turn-off, whether Catholic or Protestant.

  30. Okay, I realize these are tongue-in-cheek, but imagine if you were to see a Protestant site that had bumper sticker suggestions like “Protestantism: After 1500 years, we finally got Christianity right” or “Pray to the Virgin Mary or Typhoid Mary: Both are dead, and neither can hear your prayers” or “What part of ‘Don’t call anyone Father’ did you not understand?” Do you really think you’d be pleasantly disposed toward Protestants?

  31. APV, like Tim J, I’m with you.
    Tim, I like the idea of Mary pointing to Jesus and saying: “Do whatever He tells you.” (Which happen to be Mary’s last recorded words in Scripture). If they make it, I will buy.

  33. Yes these are confrontational, but this is just daydreaming. These aren’t going on car bumpers. harmless fun as long as they stay here.
    By the way, if you want confrontational, try walking out to you car after mass & find a Chick tract on your car. Now that is needlessly confrontational.

  34. Amen, quasi!
    My favorites are this one from a poster named “me”:
    “Where she is queen, He is King.” Really cool. Especially with a crowned Mary & infant Jesus. Maybe He could have an image of the Sacred Heart?
    And Tim J’s:
    A picture of Mary pointing to Jesus and the words “Do whatever He tells you.” A simple & effective distillation of the Catholic view of Mary. Really beautiful!

  36. Protestants did NOT reform the Church, they left it—
    And formed their man-made prayer groups.
    Protestant = one who “protests” against Jesus Christ and His One and Only Church!

  37. My favorite is one I bought at a Pro-Life booth. It says, “If it’s not a baby, you’re not pregnant.” I’ve had many strangers (and friends) comment favorably on it.

  38. I agree with Tim J. and the A.P.V. While some of these are funny, it is a bit scarry that someone might actually go out and make even one of some of these bumper stickers. One rude bumper sticker can cause a lot of damage.

  39. Protestant = one who “protests” against Jesus Christ and His One and Only Church!
    You’re really a friendly, nurturing soul, aren’t you?
    Like I said, I know these are supposed to be tongue-in-cheek, but that only goes so far. I hate to Godwin myself, but as an example, you can’t say “Hitler had some good ideas” and excuse it as being tongue-in-cheek. (I’m not comparing your comment to the hypothetical Hitler one; I’m using hyperbole.) If, as a Protestant, I’m hopelessly lost, and you, as a Catholic, are a member of the one true church, shouldn’t your attitude be one of concern, not spite?

  40. So as APV and several others have mentioned, perhaps the key to these being effective might be (at the very least) truth and charity?
    If the goal is ultimately to build the body of Christ, and the best we can probably hope to acomplish with a bumper sticker is to plant a seed, then I think that any message lacking either truth or charity will probably backfire.
    Of course, adding humor, brevity, great visuals, etc etc will all tend to help.

  41. I don’t know if these sentiments or anything else are harmless as long as they “stay here.” How many people read Jimmy’s blog every day? How many of them are more consciously forming ideas about Catholics and Catholicism than people glancing at bumper stickers as they drive?

  42. “How many of them are more consciously forming ideas about Catholics and Catholicism than people glancing at bumper stickers as they drive?”
    Absolutely. I’m a Protestant, and a committed one (no jokes about all Protestants needing to be committed, please), but I’m incredibly interested in Catholicism. And if posts like these don’t exactly engender warm feelings in my heart, what are they doing to the average non-Catholic?

  43. A couple I know has something really cute on their car:
    1st bumper sticker (probably bought from Petco or other pet store):
    I (heart symbol) my German Shepherd
    2nd bumper sticker right below
    Benedict XVI

  44. “I don’t know if these sentiments or anything else are harmless as long as they “stay here”
    Probably not a safe assumption, since /w pervasive, effective search engines even the most obscure threads pop up in some of the most surprising circumstances.
    It’s kind of like a little technology-enabled preview of “all things done in secret will eventually be brought to light” (paraphrase of Eph 5:11-13) 😉

  46. My two favorites that already exist:
    “Eternity – Smoking or Non-smoking?”
    “Visualize Unborn Babies”, in response to “Visualize World Peace”.

  50. To Protestant Visitor:
    Judge the faith based on what the faith teaches. Truth, not Community. A bumper sticker is just a bumper sticker.

  54. how about “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition”?
    or
    The Catholic Church: for all your witch burning, heretic torturing, Jew expelling, boy molesting needs!

  55. Another brave, anonymous poster…
    How about this one:
    “I don’t believe atheists exist”
    or
    “Are you SURE you’re an agnostic?”

  56. I’m not totally opposed to the idea of protestant bumper stickers with a catholic twist, but alot of these *are* barbed and *would* perpetuate common misunderstandings (e.g. replacing “Jesus”, with “Mary”).
    Of course the best ones are the ones that poke fun at atheism.
    “‘Nietzsche is dead’ – God”
    “The big bang theory: God spoke and bang! it happened.”

  57. Protestant Visitor –
    That’s great that you’re thinking about Catholicism! I am in the process of converting (starting RCIA in the fall), and I can sympathize with your less than warm feelings when it comes to the more barbed comments about Protestants. I think you’re totally right that we need to be careful about giving people the wrong idea about Catholicism. I think a lot of people also miss that many Protestants (in my experience) have no real idea of the history that’s gone before them. They don’t know what the Church taught for 1500 years, and they don’t really understand what was at stake in the Protestant Reformation. They haven’t rejected Catholicism – they couldn’t possibly, because they know very little about it. I understand that it grates on a lot of Catholics to have Protestants tell them they believe things that they don’t believe, but most of that stems from sincere ignorance, not any real hostility.
    At the same time, I would definitely echo the commenter who encouraged you to judge the faith by what it teaches. I am absolutely thrilled about becoming Catholic, but I’m also glad that I’m going into it eyes open. I believe the fullness of the faith is to be found on Rome’s side of the Tiber, but I have no illusions about the people being nicer than anywhere else! Catholics are just as sinful as anyone else, and we’ve got our fair share of sharp tongues.
    Btw, anyone have any advice on what, exactly, I ought to call myself? I can’t honestly say I’m Protestant anymore, and I’m not Catholic yet, technically, so I don’t really know how to label myself at the moment.

  60. Tope,
    Welcome, and blessings to you on your journey into the Catholic faith! I believe you could call yourself a Catholic catechumen…someone correct me if I’m wrong…

  61. I’m a papist, he’s a papist, she’s a papist, we’re all papist…WOULDN’T YOU LIKE TO BE A PAPIST TOO?

  64. Remember all the hype about “Y2K” and the turn of the millennium? I wanted to have a bumper sticker that said:
    THE 2,000 YEARS OF JESUS CHRIST.

  66. To the “Protestant Visitor” who was offended by my “bumper sticker” – sorry- I ment no offense. The problem with these “one liners” is that they can be misunderstood. “Protestant = one who protests et cetera—” No, I don’t think that protestants are “hopelessly lost”, as a Catholic Christian I must always hold onto HOPE for every human soul. And I can be a “friendly nurturing soul”. But the Catholic church is in ONE CHURCH of Jesus Christ. Jesus did found only one church and He prayed in the Gospel of John that “all would be one”. The sad fact is that Catholics and Protestants are divided but we should try to find ways to work together. There should always be mutual respect, always charity. As a protestant you are baptized and the Catholic Church accepts your baptism as valid- that makes us brothers and sisters in Christ.
    But to speak the truth is a great charity. The Catholic Church (the one Church of Christ) was in great need of reform at the time of Luther (1517). But that shouldn’t surprise us, the church has needed reform in every century and is in great need of reform today! It’s made up of sinners- God doesn’t have any other kind of people to work with. We have ALL fallen short. But there was no protestant “reformation”. Let me explain-
    Look around the room where you are right now- suppose you’re there with a friend. You decide to reform the room. You could paint the walls a different color, or put in different lighting, or different floor covering. Then you would have “reformed” the room. But if your friend goes outside and across the road and builds another room, he has not helped you “reform” the original room. He left that original, on his own authority and started another. REFORM must alway take place within, or it’s NOT reform. Call it protest or revolt but not reform.
    During the 1970’s there were about 27,000 protestant denominations- today there are MORE than 33,000 “denominations” and the number is still growing, sad fact. Each one claims to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Each group is founded by “sincere” people. But being sincere is not enough. Talk about a “house divided against itself”. And Jesus prays that “all would be one”. These divisions violate that “oneness” in the most grievous terms.
    I would invite you to take a close look at Catholic claims and teachings. It is said “to go deep into history is to cease to be Protestant”. Reading and studying Catholic teaching my bring you into the the fullness of the Faith- or least you’ll come away with a better understanding of what Catholics actually believe and why. We need to work together in this tough world that hates Christians.
    If you would like a further exchange I’ll give my email. Vincent2275@hotmail.com
    Then I’ll suggest somethings that you might consider reading. In the mean time look up the web site of Dave Armstrong called the Protestants.
    Search under his name. He is a former Protestant who writes extensively on the early Protestant “reformers’ from their actual writings.
    God Bless you till we all meet in the Fathers House.
    Dan

  67. Getting back to the comments from APV (sorry, that’s your nickname from now on:) and Tope about us rude Catholics. I have a particular sensitivity about that since my wife is a Protestant (who’s decided to become Catholic herself.) I’ve watched her have to deal with these types of ‘barbed’ comments firsthand.
    ex:
    We were at a church listening to Rosalind Moss speak and we were with a friend who’s a lapsed Catholic. Every time people got holier than thou about their Catholicism, all three of us became uncomfortable. This friend of ours is at a crossroads in his life, and who knows how that attitude will negatively affect him. I think a source (definitely not the only source) of the problem is that Catholics are continually being hurt by Protestant attacks, and when we find answers to these attacks, there isn’t an understanding of turning the other cheek, so we get a bit arrogant and haughty with our answers. Which is obviously wrong.
    Anyways, that’s my two cents.

  68. Dan:
    It’s good you used the word “denominations” in quotes the second time, but you should have the first time as well (i.e., 27,000 “denominations”.) The Protestant idea of a different denomination doesn’t have anything to do with differences between theologies. I’ve posted this before and I’ll post it again. There aren’t 33,000 some odd denominations. Just a whole bunch of different churches. IMHOP, that’s still a bad thing, but each of these denominations does not account for some new radical branch of Protestant theology. Most Protestants believe in the same basic core beliefs. And if one were to analyze the range of Protestant belief systems, the number would not range anywhere near the thousand, though I think one or two hundred is not a bad estimate (depending on how picky you were. One could always state just 10 or so and have a good argument for it.)
    OK, so now I’ve placed two more cents down. I’m a half a thought away from having put a nickel in the pot. 🙂

  69. “A picture of Mary pointing to Jesus and the words “Do whatever He tells you.”.
    Or (here in the Bible Belt) the Papal crest and the words “Give Me That Old Time Religion”.
    Posted by: Tim J. | Jan 24, 2006 10:01:26 AM”
    Tim, those are excellent.
    Dan, your hostility is neither historically accurate, nor helpful.
    “1st bumper sticker (probably bought from Petco or other pet store):
    I (heart symbol) my German Shepherd
    2nd bumper sticker right below
    Benedict XVI ”
    I love it!
    “Catholicism Is Not a Spectator Sport!”
    Hoorah!
    Member: First Apostlic Church of Jesus Christ, Missouri Synod 😛
    “Are you SURE you’re an agnostic?”
    LOL!
    Yeah, if the canard about 30 or 60 thousand denominations were true, pretty much every Protestant congregation in America would have to be a denomination unto itself. Do the math.
    Now, there’s this guy,G.K. Chesterton with a word-hoard of pithy quotes. I wonder what might be found there for bumper stickers?
    “Christianity is not tried and found wanting, it was found hard and not tried”

  72. Technically before the Rite of Acceptance/Welcoming (Precatechumentate) a person is called an inquirer or candidate.
    You have my prayers, Tope, as you seek His will.
    Take care and God bless.
    J+M+J

  73. God is Love
    Save the Babies
    In Good Times and Bad I will be Faithful to the Bride(the Church)
    Mother Teresa has some good quotes too…
    How can you say there are too many children, that is like saying there are too many flowers
    I agree that Charity and understanding bring us closer to God. We have to set the example. I truly believe that converts and reverts teach most cradle Catholics the true meaning of being Universal. They desired the Truth; searched long and hard with all kinds of obstacles and it was found…key word “desired.” We can learn so much if we just step out of our comfort zone. Also, by defending the Faith we learn why we do the things we do…it is not habitual it is LOVE. And how could we, full of sin, can give good gifts…so much more our Father in Heaven. I pray for all who seek Truth and are called to come home…One Shepard and One Flock

  75. I like the one with a baby seal on an ice floe holding a sign that says “Save the Baby Humans”.

  77. To the person that likes to upset democrats, as if republican were any more compatible with faith:
    How about this:
    ” How Can You Be Pro-Life and Yet Pro-War?”
    How does that work on your conscience?
    by the way, this bumper sticker is already out.

  78. Tope:
    Welcome to the Church.
    If you are baptized, you are a candidate, and not a catechumen. But..whatever. You’re a member of the body of Christ, and that counts for somethng

  79. Only the very evil are “pro”-war. Unfortunately, given our fallen nature, it is often necessary to use force to combat evil, or else evil wins.

  80. Just happened on to this site. Interesting.
    Another bumper sticker idea-
    If it were possible to have a picture of an unborn baby with a caption “This is a baby”
    (another picture of a box of Kleenex) with the caption “This is tissue”!
    J+M+J

  81. If it were possible to have a picture of an unborn baby with a caption “This is a baby”
    (another picture of a box of Kleenex) with the caption “This is tissue”!
    This was actually run as a print ad in some newspapers. I forget where I’d seen it on the web. If I can find it, I’ll post the link.

  86. “How can you say there are too many children in the world? That’s like saying there are too many flowers.”
    Easy. Two words: Soylent Green.

  87. +
    “No Mary, No Jesus…” is an excellent message. No Catholic should care about what a Protestant thinks about Marian devotion. The Catholic faith is from GOD, it’s not decided upon by popular vote. Why should any Catholic be ashamed or shy in the (false) name of ‘ecumenism’ to declare pubicly (and with greatest joy!) that they give due veneration to the Blessed Virgin Mother of God???

  88. About the one that read: “You can’t be Catholic and Pro-Choice”, I like this one better: “You Can’t be Pro-Life and Pro-Death Penalty”.

  91. As a former fundamentalist protest-ant, I’d suggest that the title of my all time favorite book (instrumental to my conversion) would make a great bumper sticker,,,
    Born Fundamentalist…Born Again Catholic.
    Thank you for ever and ever, David Currie!!

  93. Barbara wrote:
    Protestant = one who “protests” against Jesus Christ and His One and Only Church!
    Dear Barbara,
    Your comment makes me very sad and angry. You have displayed arrogence, lack of understanding, and hate for your brothers and sisters in Christ. I love the Lord my God. Who are you to judge how I worship him??? Shame on you.

  94. PSS, that’s hilarious!
    Here’s my bumper sticker submission: “Shame on you for judging me!”
    (not so much Catholic as ironic and anti-relativist)

  96. To “Verily319”
    You said “Btw, anyone have any advice on what, exactly, I ought to call myself? I can’t honestly say I’m Protestant anymore, and I’m not Catholic yet, technically, so I don’t really know how to label myself at the moment.”
    Why not simply say you are one of God’s children?
    I my opinion there is too much “Us” versus “Them” in a community that worships the same God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
    All are trying to worship God in the way they feel is correct, and I am sure God understands this. At the time of judgement, I don’t think he is going to judge you according to which denomination you belong to, but in how well you have tried to follow his teachings -as you understand them.
    May God extend his blessings upon all who read this page.
    Rev. Daniel

  99. How about “Abortion is the epitome of selfishness.”
    They won’t put the baby up for adoption. They would rather kill it. I don’t want it and you can’t have it either.

Comments are closed.