Roy, I’m not being a wise guy or doubting your experience, but what part of the country do you live in?
**Now, as for below the Mason-Dixon line, I know the Bible Belt is characterized by evangelical Protestantism, Baptists especially**. I still don't think you're dealing with anti-Catholicism so much as strong disagreement with the Catholic Church. It is less of a personal thing.**None of us has a monopoly on truth.** One reason I have problems with traditional Catholicism is that I believe that God alone has a monopoly on truth. The rest of us do a lot of guesswork. We have the Bible to help but there are enough problems with scripture to leave a lot of mysteries unresolved. Fine. I can live by faith without knowledge. Love, after all, is where it's at anyway. I Cor. 13. It's good to re-read that chapter from time to time.
**Sunday at Mass the priest briefly joshed about Protestants in his homily.** Nothing all that offensive, and the homily was quite good. He said if you don't have a Bible at home, ask your Protestant neighbor for one. It will cause them to pass out that you're interested in scripture.I totally agree 100%. More important, I find many fundamentalist who seem pushy about going to their church. In fact, I recently found out that my girlfriend’s neighbors staunch fundamentalist stop talking to her once they found out she was having trouble with her own 12 year old son. And the irony? Her fundamentalist neighbor (female) bugged for months to allow her son to go to her church when my girlfriend told her he is Catholic. Then she turns her back and acted as though she knew nothing? What two-faced folks and I know she and her husband talked smack about Catholicism. I told my girlfriend those are not friends let alone sincere people but moreover they are fakes.I’m sorry, but you are simply “asleep” as you put it, if you try to say that there isn’t a lot of anti-Catholicism! Perhaps it’s because you’re protestant- But I assure you that for all of us Catholics, this hostile energy that shows up when people discover you’re a practicing Catholic is such a day-to-day experience, it’s part of life for Catholics. It’s very presumptuous of you to imply that people here just imagine it- The hatred of the church is acid- and people find it acceptable.
You speak of some good ecumenical Protestants, how much of Protestantism do you think they represent? In all my life, I’m yet to here a homily at mass that is focused on Protestants or Orthodox. I went to a Protestant school- Do you know how much negativity I heard about my church? Even at home, From my neighbors, even strangers? Your comments are very naive, my friend.
I do not understand why you deny a fact of life. I lived in the South while serving in the military and your perceptions are bit off. There does exist anti-Catholicism whether you acknowledge it or not. That is like saying there is no more racism in the Bible Belt.
That does not necessarily prove your point. A lot of Catholics voted for an African-American man with a Baptist background for President. One usually votes them for their political views and not so much for their religious convictions. It is a secular position and not a religious office,big difference.
And that is the Protestant self-made stumbling block and pround misunderstanding about the Catholicism. The CC never made the “claim” all on its own that it is the one,true Apostolic Church. Please study history and read your Bible with open eyes and ears. The CC simply parrots what Jesus said and taught and passed on to the 12 and so forth. The whole rant and raves from Protestants that the CC “claims” is the one and true church is perverted and misunderstood.
And why would any Protestant ever say his or her Protestant church is the one God founded? They have no leg to stand on,historically or bibilically.
Sources please.
Okay…and? Who CARES if they were Protestant. What does that have to do with God? Did God give them authority to sign the Declaration of Independence? Why do you brag over the 55 were Protestants? Did you also brag about them allowing slavery to exist? I thought are men were created equal? Do you mention that fact?
Warping history? Oh much like many Americans who were taught since grade school that Jamestown was the oldest town? Wrong! St.Augustine, Florida was founded in 1565 by Spain? Unfortunately your so called “Protestant” founding fathers never bothered to reveal this fact. Is that the way it should be?
Really? Then you must have an issue with one of God’s TRUTH as promised to the 12:
Yeah and that is what happens when people leave the church out of the equation: theological chaos and mass confusion as to what is the Truth.
All my years as a Catholic and I have yet to hear ONE priest or deacon bach or attack any Protestant denomination…ever!
Sorry but doctrine and church affiliation are not secondary,perhaps to Protestants due to their array of flavors and beliefs.
No wonder it bothered you. That’s horrible!So I am a new Convert and I have been doing all my reading and studying I can since starting my Journey into the Church. It really saddens me about all the Anti-Catholic things that are out there from other Denominations and Atheist ect. I mean literally just a second ago I came across a Video of a Preacher at some church Bashing the head of a Statue of Mary. The wrath and Hate Filled speech coming from this man and his congregation was so troubling. I then decided to continue my Journey on Youtube which is anti pretty most all Christianity but I will tell you the Hate towards the Church is so sad in my eyes.
Then I think back to a comment from Archbishop Fulton Sheen “There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church — which is, of course, quite a different thing.”
What is so sad is more towards fellow Christians. Having So Called church leads preaching hate is a serious detriment and completely off base from what Christ died for. Sorry to be ranting but it really bothered me. I have known many Catholics through out my years and have a hard to recalling anything of the sort from them. I highly doubt you will find anything of the Sort on Youtube as well.
Even on a purely human level, there’s no call for hatred like that. It’s even worse when it’s someone calling themselves a Christian, and a pastor, doing and saying those sorts of things.
It really grieves me when Christians bad-mouth and criticise each other. I strongly believe it offends the Holy Spirit, as well. That sort of thing is completely contrary to following the example of Christ, and I pray that people will see that, especially those who call themselves Christian.I live in Illinois and I have encountered both anti-Catholicism and anti-Protestantism. Almost all Catholics that I know aren’t anti-Protestant, but there are a good few. I have had people tell me that I am following the devil, I am going to hell, my Pastor is a liar, that I am deceiving others, etc. One of my friend’s mom actually told me that she doesn’t go near Protestants and was upset when I first became friends with her son because she thought I was going to try to convert him. I don’t know why she thought that. The most she had ever heard of my faith was one time and it was only when I told her what church I go to…because she asked me
Not sure it's worth your time or mine to respond, but it's tempting. Here arew six brief points in reply.
1. **I don't recall an African-American of Baptist background ever running for president**. If you mean Obama, he was a member of a United Church of Christ, not a Baptist. Michelle was from Methodist background, not Baptist. The United Church of Christ is the merger of Congregational churches and churches of the former Evangelical and Reformed denomination. Very liberal group who permit a wide variation when it comes both to dogma and practice. Each congregation is independent, the way they felt the early church was.
2. **Every community I have lived in has a clergy association**, and to my knowledge every one since Vatican II includes Catholic priests and Protestant ministers. I don't know where you live, but I assume it is true there, too. That would be my documentation. Ask your local priest. Some priests do not join and some ministers do not join, but many do.
3. **True, early America allowed slavery**. The most proficient slavers at first were the Spanish and Portuguese. Only a small percentage of slaves went to what became the USA. A much larger group went to places like Brazil and the West Indies. I recall, by the way, 1992, when the Catholic Church planned to make a big deal out of Columbus' 500th anniversary. There was a loud outcry based on the mistreatment of the native peoples by him and other early Spaniards, etc. As a result, the celebration was muted.
**There is plenty of blame to go around for slavery**. One of the highest percentages of slaves was in Louisiana, where French Catholics were dominant. Many Catholic southerners fought for the Confederacy, and those who killed Lincoln were mainly Catholics. One of them, young Surratt, fled the US and joined some papal guard at the Vatican. The abolitionists were overwhelmingly Protestant as were the civil rights activists of 50 years ago. Baptist and Methodist churches served as the principal headquarters for them. Many white pastors joined Black pastor in going to jail - Freedom Riders, etc. I don't recall the imprisonment of a single priest on that issue. The Berrigan brothers. of course, were vigorous anti-war priests, Remember them?
**But it's silly to go on about this**. The records of Catholics and Protestants are both badly blemished. On my maternal (Protestant) side, an ancestor was charged with heresy as a Calvinist in Ghent, Belgium, fled to England, then his great-grandson came to New England with the Puritans. Dad's family tree was French-Canadian Catholic.
4.** I think everyone educated in the USA knows that St. Augustine was the earliest settlement in what is now the USA**. However, the first settlement in colonial America, the first thirteen states, was Jamestown. Florida became part of the US in 1819.
5.** If you've never heard a priest criticize Protestantism, you haven't watched EWTN** with any regularity. Scott Hahn is at it all the time (a convert). 'Journal Home' specializes in debunking Protestantism. Fr. Corapi, now in the doghouse apparently, really ranted and raved about Protestantism when he got going. EWTN constantly is out to lambast Protestantism in one way or another, sometimes subtlely, sometimes not.
**Now, I write all this just so you won't think that I have no replies to issues you raised**. You need to know that there are two sides (and more). But I am not so interested in responding as I am in promoting a spirit of goodwill between different Christians. What a silliness (and sin?) that in this world where religion is under assault we waste time attacking the faith of one another when we seek to follow the same Christ. It seems to be a major pastime here on CAF.
**But God bless you - and everybody else**. My faith is in God and not in any priest or preacher, church, even any book. I try as best I can to live by Matt. 25 and the Parable of the Good Samaritan. We are commanded to love God and love one another, and the rest is secondary. I know, of course, that we disagree on that point, but so be it. Believe as you will. Fortunately, we enjoy that freedom in this beloved country.My mistake, I thought he was Baptist. Either way makes no difference,he was voted by many Catholics. And sorry,but the early church was NOTHING like modern day Protestantism: independent sects all doing their own thing. That is a Protestant pipe dream at best!
Still in error. America is the continent and not the nation,thus St.Augustine is still an older settlement by the Spanish.
Wrong! I watch it daily. Second you claim there is no anti-Catholicism,yet you complain that EWTN is lambasting Protestanism one way or another? Sounds like a double standard to me. EWTN does not attack Protestanism as you are trying to convey here as I have heard you say it numerous times. Scott Hahn is not at it all the time, I am sorry but you are out-of-line to make such a claim. The fact he was a Protestant and realizes its errors does not mean he is out to attack it. Protestanism is riddled with errors and if you cannot accept it,then you have no gone outside the Protestant box far enough.
Where is the bridge you keep talking about?
I was OK cool, and asked her if she was excited for Christmas and she had already lost interest in conversation with me.My friend i am glad you have not had to be witness to it but its out there. This topic originated from a video of a Pastor Bashing a Virgin Mary statue with a hammer. It led to more people bringing up the harsh anti catholic movement. As for the being concerned about people that deny or hate our Lord I so adimently am. The new aethist movement has become very very main stream and it is getting younger and more aggressive. Just look online at all the anger and hate spewed towards Christians. Its really getting going now since we aare in Advent. Groups are buying billboards and putting them next to schools and areas where young people gather saying things like "You Know its only a myth " over the nativity scene. So i am well aware of this issue BUT still putting Christians against Christians is sad and the work of the devil.
**The pastor was outrageous, of course, and his act must be condemned by all Christians.** My understanding is that he was trying to prove that the Virgin Mary had no special powers and was 'daring' her to do something against him to prove her power. His act was vile and stupid.
**Why such an act? I'm not sure but I have found Latino Protestants often more vigorously opposed to Catholicism than other Protestants**. Four contributing factors? (1) Most of them are converts who often seem to bring a special hostility with them toward their former faith. (2) Some Latinos feel that Catholicism has been repressive for many years - rather like many French-Canadians feel in Quebec. (3) Latino temperaments may be more inflammatory than persons whose ancestors were from northern Europe. (4) Most Latino Protestants tends to be charismatic (that is, Pentecostal), and Pentecostalists are inclined to be emotional and also extremely 'low church'. Low church, of course, means that they oppose what they consider pagan trappings in religion - elaborate vestments and elaborate sanctuaries, for example. They also can be very literalistic when it comes to the Bible, and believe that the Commandment which disallows 'making images' (Ex. 20:4) is to be taken very seriously. Statues are images - in their view.
Mainstream Protestants would rarely have statues of saints, though some Episcopal and Lutheran churches may have a statue of Christ and many other churches certainly have stained-glass windows containing 'images'. However, they would not get all steamed up over such statues in Catholic churches.
Let us work to end prejudice based on religion, race, gender and other factors. Let us help our religion become a bridge rather than a barrier.And unfortunately a large chunk of those Latino Protestants are ignorant people especially about Catholicism. Yes and most misinterpret Ex 20:4 because God is not against relgious art,but against the worship of ANY idols. Idols are not merely made out of wood or stone.
Sorry my Friend it was in 2007 by Pastor Gino Jennings in Philly. So you might want to look into it some more. It is appalling. Look for your self. I think that this is just another case of the Devil working within a man to confuse the masses of people. The moderators pulled the Youtube link from the Thread but you can search it your self. It is pour HATE no ifs and or buts.
(1) I could not find the news of him smashing a statue of Mary. Perhaps I didn't look far enough. But after reading about him, it would not surprise me.
(2) Please bear in mind that Gino probably denounces all churches but his own. He is about as Protestant as, say, the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses, neither of which are Protestant. As I'm sure everyone is well aware that there are scores of small 'denominations' that have no connection with the larger body of Protestants. They condemn all other churches. They won't join clergy associations, councils of churches, the National Council or the World Council. They usually begin with a charismatic self-proclaimed, strong-willed, ambitious preacher with little seminary training (if any) who preaches a strong message that seems to attract. Rather like a Fr. Corapi, for example. Gifted speakers but with serious problems. Or, Fr. Coughlin of the '30s.
I visited a 'Catholic Church' in Burlington, CO, some years ago. The problem? It claimed to be the real Roman Catholic Church and considered the present Vatican apostate. The 'priest' there was bitterly anti-Protestant, quite sure that all Protestants were hell-bent. He also produced some pictures to prove that the present Roman Catholic hierarchy is heretical. One of them showed Pope John Paul II kissing a Koran? Was that picture real or doctored? Anyone know?
Now, if that priest made any statement about anything I would not consider it legitimately Catholic, even though he claimed to be a 'genuine' Catholic like the church used to be before Vatican II. Etc.
Lots of extremists around, representing all sorts of views. Yes, it's sad. Some, if suspect, have mental aberrations. Others can be only understood if we know more about their backgrounds. Many are angry for one reason or another. It could take an especially wise and patient psychiatrist awhile to figure out the whys.This goes into so many topic that are posted in the Forum about Authority of the Church. First of a Priest like you mentioned really did that during a service I am pretty sure he would have been reported to the Bishop. The picture you are talking about is a true picture. It was during a visit to Iraq…Here is how Jimmy Akin described it