Are Protestants taught to be Anti-Catholic?

[Dulcimer]

I just spent a few days with a childhood friend that was Catholic and went to Catholic school with me years ago. She is so anti Catholic now and has so many of the Protestant arguments about why Catholics aren’t even really Christian. I find it very difficult to be with Christians that can’t even accept that we are saved. It gets old! She wanted to argue with me about the Pope this weekend and also the scandal of the priests. I get real tired of anti Catholicism in this world. I researched the sexual abuse topic and I almost sent her all the articles saying that actually Pastors from other churches, and public school teachers have a higher percentage of sexual improprieties with children, but then I stopped myself. She was Catholic and this is her way of getting back at us. It is like spending time with Rosie ODonnell! I may not choose to spend more time with her.

So, to the OP’s original point. I have to think that Protestants are taught to be Anti-Catholic, because it always comes up, doesn’t it? Fallen away Catholics are the worst at it too.

As a Catholic that went to 14 yrs of Catholic schooling, I was not taught anti Protestantism. I was taught that we should try to evangelize. I really was never taught to confront them though. Did I think they were saved? No. I was taught that we were the one true religion- the same as Pope Benedict was saying recently. Do I agree? I think that God will respect the love that all Christians have for him. Will they all be rewarded? Yes I think so. Do I think that God wants us all to be in the same family of faith? Yes, and it should be the oldest known Christian community and that would be Catholic. How do you ever get around that?

I don’t have a problem with CATHOLICS…I have a problem with certain DOCTRINES, which may or may not be the same thing to you.

There was a time when I believed that Catholics were unsaved, but that was more due to my ignorance of Scripture than any specially-anti-catholic-teaching from a protestant church or group.

Today, I affirm with Scripture: “No man can say Jesus is Lord without the the Holy Spirit.” Even though we are warned that “many will say to me ‘Lord, Lord, when did we see you hungry and did not feed you?’”

Even the angels are told not to tear up the tares that grow up among the wheat; if they cannot tell who is saved prior to death, how am I to be an accurate judge of someone else’s salvation?

Jesus tells us to evangelize, give to the poor, heal the sick and raise the dead. I wonder if we spent more of our time on the last two if we would be too busy to point fingers at each other…

<—Needing more “Raise The Dead” classes…

–D <><

 

[kedera]

Hey, I just wanted to confirm the OP’s original question. I was raised in the South in a Presbyterian church and we were indeed taught anti-Catholic education from a very young age. We were taught that Catholics worshiped statues, idols and prayed to saints without communing directly to God. We were taught that they worshiped ritual, superstition, and did not adequately study scripture. We were taught that Mary was a goddess to Catholics and that the Pope was a god figure. Strong anti-Catholic sentiments were cultivated and even though I forgot many of the details taught over the years, the distrust of Catholicism stayed with me until I was nearly 30 y/o and finally decided to research Catholicism for myself. God led me to the light during that process. I think what people need to understand is that Protestantism almost needs to be anti-Catholic because the entire Protestant movement was a result of schism with the Catholic Church. If the RCC is ever right, then Protestantism is wrong, so anti-Catholic sentiments are alive and well in most churches that I’ve visited, even if the topic is infrequently brought up. Catholics on the other hand aren’t taught to hate Protestants, so it’s very shocking for them when I explain what I was taught to believe as a child growing up in that environment. It’s very difficult for Protestants to view Catholics as “friends in Christ” because that whole sentiment undermines the Protestant faith.

I too am from the South and Southern Baptist born. I am also looking more closely into the Catholic faith. I have never encountered anything like what you did, in fact I went to Catholic School as a child, as well as Mass and Southern Baptist services, my dad is a SB Deacon, and I have always had Catholic friends. Maybe I was protected from it by the school and my family? Quite honestly, I wasn’t even aware of anti-Catholic anything until a couple of years ago…and It was from a Catholic, talking about people that are anti-Catholic. It really does make me sad to know that you and others have had these experiances, I makes it so much harder to bridge gaps

 

[kbharbert]

My niece is staying with us and she is a Seventh Day Adventist. We were discussing religon and I found her to have a litany of problems with the church. She is 18 and I wondered when she had time to study The Church and come up with these problems, so I asked her. She stated that she was taught in her church what was wrong with the Catholic Chrurch. I found this remarkable. I have never been taught about other sects either in Catholic School or during mass.

So back to my question? Is this true of all protestants? Are they taught to believe certain things are wrong with the Church? Do they do the same with other sects or just The Church?

And the last question… WHY? Why is it so important to teach about what you believe is wrong with the Church? In fact I find it sort of “telling” that they spend so much time trying to preach against the Chruch.

**as a child, i was raised baptist.
we were CERTAINLY told MANY things about the Church…NON of them ‘good’ and, as far as i remember, ALL of them the old chestnuts you’d read in chick tracts.
the Church is the whore of babylon.
Catholics worship Mary, statues and the Pope.
Catholics vainly repeat prayers. (the rosary).
Catholics don’t believe in the salvation Jesus died for.
i attended a revival meeting as a teen and listened to former Catholics stand to give testimony of their ‘sinful’ ways and thanks for FINALLY being shown the TRUE path to heaven.
even then, knowing NOTHING more than what i’d been taught, i found the whole thing disconcerting and i KNEW there was SOMETHING wrong with the whole ball of wax.
of course, it had been said by certain family members since i was old enough to pay attention, that i should have been born Catholic. i seemed to be drawn toward it like a moth to a flame.
now, a convert nearing 50 i tell those same people:
i may have been raised baptist but i was BORN Catholic.
my heart…my SOUL…KNEW what it needed to be fed.
it just took ME a while to admit i was hungry.
**

 

[pismopal]

Some non Catholic denominations teach anti Catholic messages officially, some unofficially and others allow the adherants to freely make up their own positions on the Church. As a convert to the Church and a former member of a couple of non Catholic denominations. I have heard it all, repeated most of it and made up some of my own just for good measure. Non Catholic denoms struggle for members and a lot of their recruits, sadly enough, come from the ranks of Catholics. I think perhaps most of them are non practising Catholics but that is only my gut feeling. I have noted that non Catholic teaching needs to move as far away from the Church as possible on as many issues as possible for their own survival in order to make their dogma ( many don’t have dogma they just allow preachers to freewheel) disagree with the Catholic Church. This kind of thing is deeply ingrained because it is centuries old.
I am happy in the Church and I address misconceptions by non Catholics as I am able and the opportunity presents itself but I cannot worry about it anymore as it is a job for the Holy Spirit who did a great job with me…thanks be to G-d.

 

[jpaul]

My niece is staying with us and she is a Seventh Day Adventist. We were discussing religon and I found her to have a litany of problems with the church. She is 18 and I wondered when she had time to study The Church and come up with these problems, so I asked her. She stated that she was taught in her church what was wrong with the Catholic Chrurch. I found this remarkable. I have never been taught about other sects either in Catholic School or during mass.

So back to my question? Is this true of all protestants? Are they taught to believe certain things are wrong with the Church? Do they do the same with other sects or just The Church?

And the last question… WHY? Why is it so important to teach about what you believe is wrong with the Church? In fact I find it sort of “telling” that they spend so much time trying to preach against the Chruch.

lorathon,

peace and all-good!

Please read Gen. 3:15. Then you will understand on why the SDA always attack the Roman Catholic Church.

The best thing to do is to convert your niece to the One True Church founded by Jesus Christ by a being a living witness to the Gospel.

Ave Maria!

jpaul

 

[jpaul]

I just spent a few days with a childhood friend that was Catholic and went to Catholic school with me years ago. She is so anti Catholic now and has so many of the Protestant arguments about why Catholics aren’t even really Christian. I find it very difficult to be with Christians that can’t even accept that we are saved. It gets old! She wanted to argue with me about the Pope this weekend and also the scandal of the priests. I get real tired of anti Catholicism in this world. I researched the sexual abuse topic and I almost sent her all the articles saying that actually Pastors from other churches, and public school teachers have a higher percentage of sexual improprieties with children, but then I stopped myself. She was Catholic and this is her way of getting back at us. It is like spending time with Rosie ODonnell! I may not choose to spend more time with her.

So, to the OP’s original point. I have to think that Protestants are taught to be Anti-Catholic, because it always comes up, doesn’t it? Fallen away Catholics are the worst at it too.

As a Catholic that went to 14 yrs of Catholic schooling, I was not taught anti Protestantism. I was taught that we should try to evangelize. I really was never taught to confront them though. Did I think they were saved? No. I was taught that we were the one true religion- the same as Pope Benedict was saying recently. Do I agree? I think that God will respect the love that all Christians have for him. Will they all be rewarded? Yes I think so. Do I think that God wants us all to be in the same family of faith? Yes, and it should be the oldest known Christian community and that would be Catholic. How do you ever get around that?

brother fitz,

peace and all-good!

We have obligations to do for Christ and for his Church. We have to study our Catholic faith. Evangelization is not an option. It is our duty as Catholics to share the whole truth that can only be found in our Church.

God bless us and Ave Maria!

jpaul

 

[jpaul]

**as a child, i was raised baptist.
we were CERTAINLY told MANY things about the Church…NON of them ‘good’ and, as far as i remember, ALL of them the old chestnuts you’d read in chick tracts.
the Church is the whore of babylon.
Catholics worship Mary, statues and the Pope.
Catholics vainly repeat prayers. (the rosary).
Catholics don’t believe in the salvation Jesus died for.
i attended a revival meeting as a teen and listened to former Catholics stand to give testimony of their ‘sinful’ ways and thanks for FINALLY being shown the TRUE path to heaven.
even then, knowing NOTHING more than what i’d been taught, i found the whole thing disconcerting and i KNEW there was SOMETHING wrong with the whole ball of wax.
of course, it had been said by certain family members since i was old enough to pay attention, that i should have been born Catholic. i seemed to be drawn toward it like a moth to a flame.
now, a convert nearing 50 i tell those same people:
i may have been raised baptist but i was BORN Catholic.
my heart…my SOUL…KNEW what it needed to be fed.
it just took ME a while to admit i was hungry.
**

brother kbharbert,

peace and all-good!

May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you and your household at all times.

Ave Maria!

jpaul

 

[RobHom]

In my 56 years of life, I have lived on three different continents, twice each. I was raised in the military, and spent 10 years in it myself. Other than that, I lived in IL, NC, OK, GA, and FL. So, as you can well imagine, I have been exposed to many different peoples and religions. I can and will tell you that to a large extent…“anti-Catholic” teachings in many denominations of Protestantism are “rampant”, and it would seem that it is in actuality the very basis for their existence.

Of the worst of them are the so called modern “evangelicals”, who in reality are a “johnny-come-lately” group who arrogantly believe they own God. They are followed by the SBC’s who teach their members…especially the young and impressionable that Catholics are demons with three eyes and a tail…like a devil. I actually had kids ask me to show them mine!! The SDA’s who for the most part I never got much grief from as where I lived in FL stayed to themselves…never overtly spoke out…and were more than happy to have Catholics in their hospitals…it was good for the bottom line. The Baptists…well they competed with the SBC’s to see who could be the most virulent, and the Lutherans…some of them never say anything but there are branches of their church that require the “belief” that the Pope is the Anti-Christ!! It is a “tenet” of their faith. Should any doubt anything I have said, I would be happy to post “links” to these facts.

I work in the transportation industry, and I can tell you that I have encountered more “wrong-taught wackos” than you can shake a stick at! The hatred and lies that are vehemently spewed by many of these people leads you to believe that these people are in fact “demon possessed” is virulent and probably good legal basis for charges of perpetrating “hate crimes”. Or, at a minimum be court ordered to be placed in a rubber room. I have encountered people who are borderline psychotics where religion is concerned, and who get so wound up that you almost expect them to become violent. They attack the Church as zealots…all the while claiming to be “Christians”.

I have also found that there is an interesting facet to these so called “christians”. Anyone who looks you in the eye, or the other way for that matter, and tells you that they are a “christian” is not, and will do all that they can to stab you in the back. This is my experience over the years, and interestingly enough…it has become worse over the past four years or so. During the past four years…it would seem that all the freaks have crawled out from under their rocks.

I am not a “contentious” person by nature, but I do not tolerate nonsense from anyone. I don’t wear my religion on my sleeve, nor do I make it a habit to get involved in religious discussions. But, if asked…I will not deny my faith or my Church. Thankfully, I work for a company that has a written policy that neither “Politics or Religion” can be discussed on company property. While some may not like that policy under the guise of 1st Amendment Rights or some other hoo-haa, the facts are that those two subjects are the two most dangerous subjects to be discussed in public and have been known to lead to violence.

Now to be fair, I have to state that I do have friends of other faiths, and I even have some Lutheran in-laws…and there are never any problems. I never hear a negative word out of any of them. And interestingly enough…I have never had a bit of trouble in my life with any Mormons, or Jews that I have been acquainted with.

I think it is sad…woefully sad that for the past centuries…that people have become so divided while claiming that they are followers of the same God, and at the same time claiming ownership of that same God… And I am of the concrete belief that on Judgement Day…many of these people are going to both surprised and horrified when they are denied entry into heaven and St. Michael the Archangel bats them with his sword and hastens them on their journey to Hell.

 

[Contarini]

My niece is staying with us and she is a Seventh Day Adventist. We were discussing religon and I found her to have a litany of problems with the church. She is 18 and I wondered when she had time to study The Church and come up with these problems, so I asked her. She stated that she was taught in her church what was wrong with the Catholic Chrurch. I found this remarkable. I have never been taught about other sects either in Catholic School or during mass. .

This may vary from one region to another (and from one generation to another, but if you have an 18-year-old niece then you may be the same generation as the person I’m about to describe). I knew a guy in New Jersey–probably in his 40s, I’d say–who grew up as a Catholic in Brooklyn and claimed to have been taught all sorts of bad stuff about Luther and Protestantism by the nuns who educated him. I think this is the more old-fashioned Catholic approach, and the benign attitude most Catholics on this forum have experienced is a more recent development. Conservative Protestants simply haven’t caught up! Well, it’s not that simple. . . . .

Edwin

 

[Dulcimer]

Anyone who looks you in the eye, or the other way for that matter, and tells you that they are a “christian” is not, and will do all that they can to stab you in the back.

looks directly in your eye

I’m a Christian. I have no intention of stabbing you in the back. I do not know WHO you’ve had run-ins with in your 54 years, but I can guarantee that for the last 35 years, none of them have been me.

looks away

 

[kbharbert]

brother kbharbert,

peace and all-good!

May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you and your household at all times.

Ave Maria!

jpaul

**thank you.
sidenote: i need to start signing my given name to my posts.
it’s kelly beth.
**

 

[RobHom]

looks directly in your eye

I’m a Christian. I have no intention of stabbing you in the back. I do not know WHO you’ve had run-ins with in your 54 years, but I can guarantee that for the last 35 years, none of them have been me.

looks away

Dulcimer… In my past “56” years, which next month will be 57, I have dealt with many people of that ilk…mostly in the business world. These were people who “wore their religion” like a banner, and would tell you they were a “christian” right up front, as if they were trying to buy “credibility” by doing so. In all fairness…not all “CHRISTIANS” have done that. You will note that I differentiated in the types with lower case versus upper case.

There are those who place fish symbols on their businesses, and on their cars…funny thing is, for people who supposedly treasure the “word of God” and are compelled to publicly proclaim their status…also with bumper stickers about how in the “event of the rapture”…the car will be driverless…these very same people are some of the most dangerous and non-law-abiding people on the road. I see these people most every day all over the country. I normally drive more than 10,000 miles a month, so I see a lot of this nonsense.

I am well aware that you are not one of the ones who has. Its highly unlikely that you even know me.

I know that there are good “CHRISTIANS” out there who are not Catholics…and many of my friends are non-Catholics…members of many denominations and faiths. But the fact remains, there are far more hypocrites and false christians than you can shake a stick at.

Peace… and by the way my friend… I “will” look you in the eye whenever I speak to you. The eyes ARE the mirror of the soul.

 

[pismopal]

" scripture is the only doctrine we need to know truth."

posted above

I must respectfully call attention to the fact that there are many obviously false doctrines and heretical teachings, both now and throughout history, that are based on someone’s false interpretation of scripture. A Baptist preacher stood in front of a congregation once and told us that he refused to believe that Christ drank wine. His position was influenced by his opinion of alchohol and the fact that wine is a part of the Passover meal for Jews was not going to change his opinion. I also know that the Catholic Church is the Church founded by Christ and that Christ promised that His Church would be protected. He kept His promise and here She is 2000 years later…the oldest institution in the western world…still vibrant and welcoming sinners like me into Her arms. I don’t need to worry about someone’s new doctrine as the deposit of faith for our beliefs were established long long ago and they are not blowing in the winds of secular confusion.
I invite you to pick up a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church…read it and check it against the Bible citations included with the text and see if you can find any error. The truth in the Bible…Catholic truth, is not the result of a new revelation from a new preacher. That is why I entered the Church when I was 58 years old and I have never ever looked back.
Christ was not the author of confusion and He only founded one Church…thats what it says in Scripture isn’t it? Our job is to figure out which one. Think historically…( Christ would not let millions be led falsely for thousands of years) move the prejudice out of your mind and the Holy Spirit will lead you where you should go.

 

[desertwoman]

Most of my life I was taught to fear the Catholic Church and her teachings. This especially boils down to the veneration of Mary and the other saints. I honestly believe that if veneration was not into play, many Protestants wouldn’t have that much of a problem with Catholicism.

So most Protestants have Cathophobia more than anything because of doctrines that we do not understand.

 

[Dulcimer]

Peace… and by the way my friend… I “will” look you in the eye whenever I speak to you. The eyes ARE the mirror of the soul.

I should hope so! I don’t trust people who wont look me in the eye!

As to the other stuff said since:

Long existence is not a guarantee of God’s favor…Otherwise, shouldn’t we all be Jews (if not physically, then religiously)? Aren’t they “the chosen people”?

In all seriousness, I believe that The Church IS still in existence…because The Church is The Saints (the entire body of believers)…therefore, it is not contained in a group of buildings, or in the body of ONE sect…There have been variations within the faith going all the way back to the church fathers, which is why I believe Jesus instructed the disciples to be One, in order to help them avoid the pitfalls we have since fallen into.

There were many OT prophets that disagreed with the religious leaders of their day and were persecuted for it, yet we do not look back at them and condemn them for trying to “split” Judaism! We applaud them for speaking the truth, because the leaders had broken with God and were following their own will. It isn’t the sadducees that Jesus levels his strongest criticisms against, but the Pharisees…the religious elite! The KEEPERS OF THE LAW!!!

I agree with DesertWoman…There is much fear due to lack of understanding, but when one understands and disagrees, where is one to turn?

From what I see in Scripture, I am free to disagree, argue with, and even wrestle with God. He doesn’t condemn these things; he condemns blind adherance to the things of men, to empty religiosity and to hypocrisy.

God bless you all.

–D <><

 

[sajeev]

SYRIAC ORTHODOX PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH IS THE ACTUAL SUCCESSOR OF ST. PETER

From Bible We Know That Our Lord Has Given The Authority To

St.peter. Our Lord Says That He Will Build His Church On

Peter.
In The First Centuries, Bishop Of Antioch Was Superior To

All The Other Bishops In Rome And Alexandria. His Territory

Extended To All The Then Known Parts Of The World. Entire

Persia, India, Middle East, China Was Under The Control Of

Patriarch Of Antioch. If We Go Through The Historical

Documents He Was Regarded As The Succesor Of St. Peter. We

Can See Around 7 Letters Written By Ignatius, Bishop Of

Antioch To 7 Churches.
In The First Centuries There Was A Dispute Between Rome And

Antioch About The Successor Of Peter. If We Check The Bible,

There Is Nothing Said About The Authority Of Pope Or Rome.

Even You Check The Letter Of Paul To Romans. Nothing Is

Mentioned About The Primacy Of Roman Church.
There Is No Evidence That Peter Had Gone To Rome.
From Bible We Can Find That It Is Paul Who Had Founded The

Church Of Rome.
In The 4th And Fifth Centuries, Because Of The Influence Of

Byzantine Emperors, A New Patriarch Emerged At

Constantinople. Then The Emperor Tried To Destroy The Church

At Antioch. The Gave The Superiority To Patriarch Of

Constantinople.
In 1451, The Council Of Chalcedon Declared That The Pope Of

Rome Leo Is The Succesosr Of Peter And Head Of The Church.
After All These Events, In The 5th Century The Patriarch Of

Antioch Severus Was Deposed By The Byzantine Emperor. Those

Persons Who Accepted Pope Of Rome As The Head Were Appointed

As Bishops Of Antioch.
If We Check The Tradition And Liturgy Of Churches In India

And Middle East, We Can See That They Are Following

Antichene Tradition.
As A Result Proclaiming The Superiority Of Patriarch Of

Antioch, Jacob A Bishop Appointed Sergius Of Tella As The

Bishop Of Antioch. The Jacobite Patriarchs Then Came. They

Are The Actual Head Of The Christian Church.
We Must Know That These Europeans Are Actually Barbarians.

They Have No Culture. Now Also We Can See This. It Is Sure

That These Americans And Europeans Are Engahged In Sex With

Many People Even Before 13 Years Of Age. It Means That They

Have A Barbarian Tradition. But They Are Controllingt The

Economy Of The Whole World. They Are Propagating The Pope Of

Rome As Successor Of Peter. That Is Necessary For Their

Superiority And Existence Of Economic Power.
We Must Know The Fact That The Entire Middle East, Persia

Was Christian Before The 6 Th Century. They Were Under

Patriarch Of Antioch. Because Of Many Wars And Attack Of

Islam, Forceful Conversion By Islam Christianity In Middle

East, Persia Have Got Destroyed. The Patriarch Of Antioch

Was Under The Supervision Of Islamic Rulers.
The Colonial Invasion By British, Portugese , Dutch ,french

Resulted In The Forceful Conversion Of Those Who Were Under

The Control Of Patriarch Of Antioch To Roman Pope.
For Example, Portugese Forcefully Converted Christians Under

Antioch In India To Rome. French Forcefully Converted

Christians In Iraq Under Antioch To Roman Pope.
Through These 2000 Years It Is The Patriarch Of Antioch Who

Suffered Most. He Was In Caves Or Forests For Many Centuries

In Fear Of European Powers, Muslims, Byzantines.
If We Look At The History Of Roman Popes , Many Had

Children, Many Had Married, Many Had Children Before

Marriage, Many Became Popes At The Age Of 12 Or 13.
The Documents Now Qwe Have Proclaiming The Authority Of

Rome, Are All Fake. They Are False Documents Created During

The Reign Of Charlemagne, The 8 Th Century Roman Emperor Who

Saved Rome From Muslims.
The Reason Why All Are Proclaiming The Roman Pope Is Money

Only. The Roman Catholics Are Getting A Large Amount Money

From Europe. The Patriarch Of Anticoh Has Nothing.
In Short , The Patriarch Of Antioch Is The Successsor Of St.

Peter And Head Of The Church.
Now The Roman Pope Is Benedict 16. He Is One Of The Great

Persons Living In This World. He Is One Of The Great

Scholars In This Century. He Knows The Fact That Anticoh

Patriarch Is The Actual Head. From His Moves, We Have Got

The Perception That Something Will Take Place Soon. All The

Bishops And Historians In This World Know The Fact That

Patriarch Of Antioch Is The Peter’s Successor.

But Money Can Make A False True.
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