Anti-Catholics, why do they bother??

[Mystophilus]

cheddarsox:

I’ve never been to a Protestant service where the Catholic church was even mentioned let alone bashed. But I have seen TV and radio programs from both sides speaking against the other. Maybe it is more of a media thing.

I have been to some in which the Catholic Church was vilified. Apparently, the Catholic Church worships Mary, who is actually merely a re-invention of the goddess Isis, who is also (secretly) worshipped by Muslims. It is all a big conspiracy, and they and the Jews probably colluded to fake the Moon landings.

 

[Mystophilus]

aurora77:

Well, my question is, why is a protestant preacher talking to a protestant congregation about how misguided we are?

I have heard Protestant ministers preaching against Catholicism, and, having spent far too much time studying Irish literature, have read a few more. The reasons for being anti-Catholic vary.

The most easily-understandable kind are the Northern Irish Protestants, whose cultural history is a long and bloody battle against the Catholics. It is difficult to overcome the prejudice attendant upon your grandfather or best friend or baby daughter having been torn apart by a bomb which was laid by someone who identifies himself as Catholic. Of course, the Protestants have not neglected to perpetrate their own atrocities, but no one ever seems to think that the score-card can be even unless their side delivered the last shot.

Related to this kind are those who have been personally hurt, or whose loved ones have been hurt, by the Catholic church in other ways, e.g., sexually-abusive priests or physically-abusive nuns. While such criminals may represent only a tiny minority of the worldwide clergy, the Catholic church has the largest clergy, and, therefore, the greatest number of such incidents. Even one such incident is enough to bias a person forever.

There is another, far less reasonable kind of anti-Catholic. This is the Protestant minister who has studied enough to know that the abuses of the C16th Catholic church have actually been corrected, and that, therefore, the Protestant does not have so much to protest about. Feeling that his or her church consequently needs to validate its continued separation from the Roman church, he or she finds reasons why “they” are still wrong.

The last kind are those who are taught by anti-Catholics, whether the teachers are victims or preachers. Having grown up with the idea that Catholics are evil, they act in the same way as racists. Sure in the knowledge that Catholicism is evil, they readily believe everything said against it, and disbelieve anything said for it, because all of their reasoning (like that of all humans) is predicated upon a set of underlying and unquestioned assumptions, one of which is “Catholicism is Wrong, okay?”

However, all of these people can be brought to know the love of Christ, which is really the point, is it not?

 

[Mystophilus]

70 respondents in this poll.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

aurora77:

Well, Micheal, I guess my point was, I’ve never in my life heard a priest say, “OK, we’re going to talk about how bad the Baptists are.” (for an example) Why would these protestant preachers waste valuable teaching time, time they could be using to strengthen their faithful in the particular doctrine of their faith, to bash another religion?

To know that, one would have to know how the opposition to Catholicism fits into the theology and faith of the group. Given that the CC holds certain positions, and is certain things, while Protestants hold others, or is other things, some sorts of Protestant Christianity may involve rejection of Catholicism, if only as an indirect by-product of what is believed or done within that form of Christian faith; which would make preaching on such things intelligible enough. So criticism of Catholicism would, in those circumstances, not be as irrelevant, or as ungracious, as it might at first appear.​

In many instances, Protestants of this kind are very clear that it is Catholicism - not Catholics - they object to. Often because they regard Catholicism as spiritually, doctrinally, exegetically, morally and historically, a Bad Thing. They often claim to be acting out of love for Catholics. As this all makes sense - if one adopts certain positions - it sounds credible.

This is not the same thing as ranting such as comes more from bad passions such as hatred or fear. It would help if the word “anti-Catholicism” were not applied as a catch-all to so many types of adverse comment about Catholicism: constructive criticism, or principled disagreement on minor matters, are not the same thing as passionate and vitriolic railing ##

 

[twiztedseraph]

aurora77:

I’ve read other posts about anti-Catholic ministers and am just wondering–why do they bother preaching against the Church? If their basic premise is that the Church is terrible and we’re all misguided, unsaved fools, why are they bothering to talk about us? I’m especially wondering about the purpose behind anti-Catholic sermons. Specifically, I was listening to the last couple of R. C. Sproul’s broadcasts; I think his radio show is called “Renewing Your Mind.” Listening him talking about the Church is like listening to someone try to speak a foreign language badly; he’s got a basic vocabulary, but doesn’t really understand the meaning of what he’s saying. Well, my question is, why is a protestant preacher talking to a protestant congregation about how misguided we are? Kind of like preaching to the choir!

They’re trying to convince themselves more then anything…

 

[Chris_LaRock]

I’ve always thought anti-Catholic loud mouths make a greater case FOR Catholicism than against it.

 

[Vincent1560]

As an evangelical I can perhaps be of service. “Anti-Catholic sermons” fall into two main categories that I can detect. Some are based on the belief that Catholics are not Christians and thus unsaved (a view I disagree with) and thus these sermons urge Protestants to save Catholics from a lie leading to hell (a good intention, but misguided in my view) The other type of sermon regards Catholics in much the same way you probably regard me as “separated brethren.” (This is the view I hold) In this view Catholics have access to savng faith and thus are fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, however due to corruptions that have occured over centuries the Catholic church has deviated in many ways from the original doctrine of the church and has adopted some heretical practices and beliefs. Thus we (I include myself in this group as previously stated) desire to show Catholics in what areas they have gone astray so that they can experience the fulness of Christ without being hindered by the human additions and errors that have tainted their understanding of the gospel and the way Jesus intended us to live and believe as a church. I pray that someday these differences will be reconciled and we can joyfully become the unified body envisioned by Paul.

 

[djrakowski]

cheddarsox:

I’ve never been to a Protestant service where the Catholic church was even mentioned let alone bashed. But I have seen TV and radio programs from both sides speaking against the other. Maybe it is more of a media thing.

Case in point: I’ve attended evangelical (some Catholic apologists would call them fundamentalist) churches for about 8 years, and I never knew of overt anti-Catholicism until I started a serious study of the Church. I’ve never attended a service at which the Catholic Church was mentioned specifically. Sure, I’ve heard teachers attempt to disprove doctrines that were obviously Catholic without mentioning the Church, but never was this done in the spirit of anti-Catholicism that’s often discussed here.

 

[shannin]

aurora77:

I’ve read other posts about anti-Catholic ministers and am just wondering–why do they bother preaching against the Church? If their basic premise is that the Church is terrible and we’re all misguided, unsaved fools, why are they bothering to talk about us? I’m especially wondering about the purpose behind anti-Catholic sermons. Specifically, I was listening to the last couple of R. C. Sproul’s broadcasts; I think his radio show is called “Renewing Your Mind.” Listening him talking about the Church is like listening to someone try to speak a foreign language badly; he’s got a basic vocabulary, but doesn’t really understand the meaning of what he’s saying. Well, my question is, why is a protestant preacher talking to a protestant congregation about how misguided we are? Kind of like preaching to the choir!

I’ve heard them too & I don’t get it either. The Seventh Day Adventists devote most of their sermons on the Church and the Pope and how evil they are. Instead of worshipping, they use their sermons to twist facts about the Church.

 

[sententia]

Thank you for the viewpoint, Vincent- it sheds some light on the reasoning on non-catholics for me. Can’t say I agree, of course, but thanks for the insights!!!

 

[Paris_Blues]

It’s called “Pride”!

They THINK they know it all and they must’ve heard all this garbage about Catholics when they were younger and that got embedded into their minds so they told themselves that when they get older they are going to “preach” about the CC!

“YIKES! Catholics “worship” Mary and the Saints? The Pope is unfallable? Faith and works? etc. When I grow up, I’m going to protect all Christians and people in this world from the Whore of Babylon!” is what they might think.

And I’m not saying this with pride either …just a thought.

 

[Vincent1560]

sententia:

Thank you for the viewpoint, Vincent- it sheds some light on the reasoning on non-catholics for me. Can’t say I agree, of course, but thanks for the insights!!!

Happy to help

 

[mercygate]

aurora77:

Specifically, I was listening to the last couple of R. C. Sproul’s broadcasts; I think his radio show is called “Renewing Your Mind.” Listening him talking about the Church is like listening to someone try to speak a foreign language badly; he’s got a basic vocabulary, but doesn’t really understand the meaning of what he’s saying.

This surprises me. I used to listen to R. C. Sproul regularly. He is unapologetically sola Scriptura/sola fide Presbyterian, but I never heard him actually mis-state the Catholic position. He would often specifically debunk common anti-Catholic allegations (such as that the Church forbade laymen to read the Bible). His defense of the doctrine that Mary is the Mother of God would make any Catholic proud. I am sorry to hear you say this of him.

 

[aurora77]

mercygate:

This surprises me. I used to listen to R. C. Sproul regularly. He is unapologetically sola Scriptura/sola fide Presbyterian, but I never heard him actually mis-state the Catholic position. He would often specifically debunk common anti-Catholic allegations (such as that the Church forbade laymen to read the Bible). His defense of the doctrine that Mary is the Mother of God would make any Catholic proud. I am sorry to hear you say this of him.

Really?? I’ve heard other programs by him that were quite good, but lately he’s been on a Catholic kick. I don’t think he’s intentionally mis-stating the position, but it’s abundantly clear he really doesn’t understand it.

 

[deb1]

First I believe that most Protestants aren’t antiCatholic. But the ones who are, tend to be the loudest members of the Protestant community. This can make the anti Catholics seem more numerous then they really are.

As to why they bother…Some truely believe that we need saving. They are offending us out of love and concern. Their intentions are good and that we should be patient when trying to explain our viewpoints.

There are some people though that are filled with hate. These people would find someone to be against no matter what religion they were in.

 

[RCCDefender]

deb1:

There are some people though that are filled with hate. These people would find someone to be against no matter what religion they were in.

And they crop up all over the college campus in my town. This one guy espescially targets anybody and everybody on campus with a HUGE sign that lists so many different people on it that you’d think everyone was going to Hell! :ehh:

 

[aurora77]

deb1:

First I believe that most Protestants aren’t antiCatholic. But the ones who are, tend to be the loudest members of the Protestant community. This can make the anti Catholics seem more numerous then they really are.

Very true, most of the protestants I know are wonderful people; we have great discussions about religion and why we believe the way we do. It’s those loud ones that drive me nuts!!

 

[MatthewB]

I’ve heard them too & I don’t get it either. The Seventh Day Adventists devote most of their sermons on the Church and the Pope and how evil they are. Instead of worshipping, they use their sermons to twist facts about the Church.

The Iglesia ni Cristo is the same way, of course they stole alot of thier anti-Catholic info from the Adventists. Seems like many of thier serivices and most of their Pasugo articles were anti-Catholic and/or anti-Protestant.

Most Protestants I know consider Catholics Christian, some just think Catholics are a bit misguided is all. While I havent attended a large number of Protestant services I can’t recall ever hearing an anti-Catholic sermon.

 

[bridgebuilder]

MatthewB:

The Iglesia ni Cristo is the same way, of course they stole alot of thier anti-Catholic info from the Adventists. Seems like many of thier serivices and most of their Pasugo articles were anti-Catholic and/or anti-Protestant.

Most Protestants I know consider Catholics Christian, some just think Catholics are a bit misguided is all. While I havent attended a large number of Protestant services I can’t recall ever hearing an anti-Catholic sermon.

I am not anti-Catholic and consider all true believers to be brethren. From a “former Catholic website” I took the following list.

Could you tell me how much of this is true?..I don’t know!

Prayers for the dead were introduced in 310
The lighting of candles in 320
The worship of saints about 375
The mass was adopted in 394
The worship of Mary began to develop about 432
Priests began to assume distinctive robes in 500
The doctrine of purgatory was introduced in 593
Worship in Latin (since repealed) was mandated in 600
Claims to Papal Supremacy took firm foot in 606
Feasts in honor of the Virgin Mary began in 650
The custom of kissing the Pope’s foot was introduced in 709
The worship of images and relics was authorized in 788
The invention of holy water was about 850
The canonization of saints was formalized in 993
Feasts for the dead were introduced in 1003
The celibacy of the priesthood was declared in 1074
The dogma of Papal infallibility was announced in 1076
Prayer beads were introduced in 1090
The doctrine that there are seven sacraments was introduced in 1140
The sale of indulgences began in 1190
The wafer was substituted for the loaf in 1200
The dogma of transubstantiation was adopted in 1215
Confession was instituted in 1215
The adoration of the Wafer began in 1220
The Ave Maria was introduced in 1316
The cup was taken from the laity in 1415
Purgatory was officially decreed in 1439
Roman tradition was placed on the same level as Scripture in 1546
The Apocrypha was received into the Canon in 1546
The immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary was announced in 1854
The doctrine of the papal infallibility was proclaimed in 1864
The personal corporeal presence of the Virgin in heaven in 1950

Thanks…an evangelical brother

 

[Philena]

That hoary old list again?

When I look at a list like this I get discouraged because it is so easy for anti-Catholics to put out this ill informed nonsense in less than a minute, while it takes time and space for the Catholic to respond to each and every charge.

The overriding error that this list in particular makes is assuming that all of these doctrines and practices just popped out of nowhere on the dates listed. In actuality, these dates for the most part indicate when doctrines were officially defined and/or recognized, usually to respond to some heresy. If you research early church Fathers and what they wrote in regards to the Mass, veneration of Mary, the Eucharist, prayers to the saints and so on you will realize that these things were practiced since the very beginning of the Church. In fact, way before Constantine, the point where most anti-Catholics believe that the Church fell into apostasy.