Can someone answer my question? Part 1

[TruthSeeker11]

I have a lot of questions about the Catholic Church and its teaching.

First of all do you see Protestant denominations as Christian faiths?

In your mind what makes Catholicism better?

(Edited to comply with Forum Rules and other questions split off to make single topic threads each)

[Tantum_ergo]

@TruthSeeker11

I have a lot of questions about the Catholic Church and its teaching.

1. First of all do you see Protestant denominations as Christian faiths?

2. In your mind what makes Catholicism better?

Welcome to the forums.

1. Yes, Protestant denominations are Christian.

2. Catholics believe that Catholic faith has the fullness of truth, not just part, not even ‘a whole lot’, but the absolute ‘most’ or fullness.

[Michael_Francis]

@TruthSeeker11

I have a lot of questions about the Catholic Church and its teaching.

First of all do you see Protestant denominations as Christian faiths?

In your mind what makes Catholicism better?

(Edited to comply with Forum Rules and other questions split off to make single topic threads each)

[davidv]

@TruthSeeker11

I have a lot of questions about the Catholic Church and its teaching.

First of all do you see Protestant denominations as Christian faiths?

Yes, most of them.

In your mind what makes Catholicism better?

The whole Truth.

[Marc_Anthony]

@TruthSeeker11

I have a lot of questions about the Catholic Church and its teaching.

First of all do you see Protestant denominations as Christian faiths?

In your mind what makes Catholocism better?

What is church teaching on the souls of animals?
(this question stems from a rather bad experience, I had a Catholic tell me that my dog who had died the day before was a worthless, souless animal) Isn’t it rather rude to tell someone something like that while they’re grieving?

Could someone explain to me the rosary?

Could someone explain why women hold so much less athority?

Do Catholics use Bibles that contain scripture that is not in Bibles used by protestants? If so what are those scriptures and what are they about?

Hello,

I’ll answer all your questions in number format.

1. Yes, for the most part.

2. Catholicism contains the fullness of truth, whereas the Protestant denominations contain only part of the truth.

3. The Church teaching is that animals have souls, but that they’re mortal unlike our souls and thus are eliminated at death. However it is certainly possible that our loving God can recreate the souls of our beloved pets as a kindness for us while in Heaven.

4. Yeah, it’s rude to tell somebody that when they’re grieving. Especially when they’re wrong.

5. The rosary is merely a cycle of prayers used by Catholics to meditate on biblical mysteries. The actual rosary chain itself is used so that we remember which prayers to say and in what order.

6. I don’t think women hold much less authority. Rather, they hold authority in a different way. They are responsible for arguably the most important job of all, raising our children in the Faith and taking care of them (not that Fathers aren’t a part of this, but the responsibility really falls on the Mother).

7. You’re referring to the books Protestants call the apocrypha. Here’s a link:

catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0120.html

…and a quote from it:

“The deuterocanon (ie. “second canon”) is a set of seven books—Sirach, Tobit, Wisdom, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and Baruch, as well as longer versions of Daniel and Esther—that are found in the Old Testament canon used by Catholics, but are not in the Old Testament canon used by Protestants, who typically refer to them by the mildly pejorative term “apocrypha.” This group of books is called “deuterocanonical” not (as some imagine) because they are a “second rate” or inferior canon, but because their status as being part of the canon of Scripture was settled later in time than certain books that always and everywhere were regarded as Scripture, such as Genesis, Isaiah, and Psalms.”

[Prayer_Warrior]

Yes we consider most protestant denominations as Christians. (There are a few groups whose doctrines are very far from true Christianity and I would have trouble calling them Christians.)

I think the other posters pretty much say it best, we feel Catholicism contains the fullness of truth. From the Catholic perspective: the Catholic Church is the One True Church that was founded by Jesus Christ upon Peter. This is recorded in Scripture and even a rudimentary study of history shows that the only Christian church in the first centuries after Christ is the Catholic Church. The writings of the early Church Fathers support this. We believe that Jesus left the Holy Spirit to guide the Church and that the gates of hell will not prevail over it. We are an apostolic Church, meaning that we are based on the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles-- both oral and written teachings. Thus, we honor equally Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture (scripture even tells us to honor the oral teaching). We believe that Jesus left us Sacraments available through the Church. These seven Sacraments confer grace that cleanses and sanctifies (protestants have two).

Holy Orthodoxy also has seven Sacraments and are an apostolic Church— both Orthodox and Catholic Churches claim the other one is in schism with them. Be that as it may, the Orthodox and the Catholics are very similar in their overall teachings and they both date to the time of Jesus and the Apostles. Protestants came 1500 years after Christ and have radically different doctrines. I’ve studied the Bible, history, Church Fathers, etc, and I have never been convinced that protestant doctrines contain the full truth.

[Annabelle_Marie]

@TruthSeeker11

I have a lot of questions about the Catholic Church and its teaching.

First of all do you see Protestant denominations as Christian faiths?

In your mind what makes Catholicism better?

(Edited to comply with Forum Rules and other questions split off to make single topic threads each)

I am fairly new in my conversion…so maybe you will be able to relate.

1. Yes–most of them…Why would they not be considered as such?
   …
2. For me–2 things–The Mass–and the Eucharist.
   Now I am assuming when you say Protesant you are not meaning Luthern? Because I never considered them as such when I was Protestant and they do not apply necessarily when it comes to the Eucharist as they believe in the Real Presence but in a different way then Catholics. When I was a Protestant…The Lord’s Supper was just a symbol…but Catholics believe (I believe) that it really is the Body and Blood of Christ. Now I am a returning Catholic from a long time ago so I was able to fully return to the Eucharistic table (after I had gone to confession). I’m here to tell you it does make a difference…it really is Christ.
   The Mass–Scott Hahn (used to be a Protestant pastor) describes in his book “the Lamb’s Supper” the early christians and how they worshiped…right after the apostles…it was the Mass…and in Revelations…that is the Mass!

When I really researched it…I was soooo misinformed on what the Catholic Church is and what it believes. So–in my mind…there are many things but the two above…are non-negotiable for me…and I know I won’t find them in most Protestant churches.

[steve_b]

@TruthSeeker11

In your mind what makes Catholicism better?

The Catholic Church was started by God incarnate seeking man on HIS terms.

All other religions are started by man seeking God on THEIR terms.