Do Catholics "worship" the Pope?

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Do non Catholics worship their beds when they kneel by them at night to say their prayers!!
 
First of all, I like Pope Francis and donā€™t believe that Catholics worship him. I assume they admire him, love him, respect him, and honor his role and position within the Church.

The only thing I am a little uncomfortable with is when people kiss his ring or that of any high-up Catholics (arch-bishop, cardinal, or whomever). It reminds me of royalty versus commoners in long ago Europe when kings and queens were all-powerful monarchs. In my view as an evangelical, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and followers of the one true Lord and servants to one another in Christ.

Acts 10:25-26
*When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter raised him up, saying, ā€œStand up; I too am just a man.ā€ *

Since Pope Francis is the successor to Peter, I think he would do as Peter did with Cornelius. In fact, I very much like and admire it when Pope Francis asks other Christians of all status to pray for him. He is a great man ā€“ in part ā€“ due to his humility and connection to normal people. He is a fine example for all of us, in my opinion.
 
Tommy999 said:
First of all, I like Pope Francis and donā€™t believe that Catholics worship him. I assume they admire him, love him, respect him, and honor his role and position within the Church.
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Well, recent remarks on other CAF topics about the Pope, make it obvious that Catholics donā€™t worship him. And while I think the vast majority honor his role and position, it seems less admire, love, or respect him. Certainly, many Catholics are happy to critique his speech to Congress in a very condescending manner.
The only thing I am a little uncomfortable with is when people kiss his ring or that of any high-up Catholics (arch-bishop, cardinal, or whomever). It reminds me of royalty versus commoners in long ago Europe when kings and queens were all-powerful monarchs. In my view as an evangelical, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and followers of the one true Lord and servants to one another in Christ.
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Per EWTN coverage, Pope Francis actually has discouraged people from kissing his ring.
 
ToeInTheWater said:
Well, recent remarks on other CAF topics about the Pope, make it obvious that Catholics donā€™t worship him. And while I think the vast majority honor his role and position, it seems less admire, love, or respect him. Certainly, many Catholics are happy to critique his speech to Congress in a very condescending manner.

Per EWTN coverage, Pope Francis actually has discouraged people from kissing his ring.
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Our Bishop, who is also a Jesuit, does not offer his ring to be kissedā€“at least he hasnā€™t the 3 or 4 times I have had the pleasure of greeting him. He shakes hands and is very informal and personable.
 
IGotQuestions said:
When I was a fundamental Baptist I was told that Catholics worship the Pope.** The crowds of pilgrims with arms outstretched as if he was Christ manifest on earth. **
How do I answer such charges when we see on TV the crowds gathering to him?
Again, I am not saying I still believe this, I am merely asking because I want to know what answer to give.
Thanks!
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So, how do you know that their intention with their outstretched arms is to believe that he is Christ manifest on Earth? Because if you do not know their intentions, you cannot make that assertion.

It may just be they love him, as the leader of their communion here on Earth.

And thereā€™s nothing wrong with that.

Jon
 
JonNC said:
If Iā€™d have known thatā€¦

Does RCIA mean Rite of Chocolate Initiation of Adults.

Jon
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No, it means Ritual of Chocolate Ingestion for Adults. Meaning, donā€™t lick it off your fingers in public, etc.
 
JonNC said:
If Iā€™d have known thatā€¦

Does RCIA mean Rite of Chocolate Initiation of Adults.

Jon
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Havenā€™t you ever read those wonderful words in First Confections: ā€œIn the beginning was the wordā€¦ and the word was chocolateā€¦ and it was good.ā€

<quickly runs away, dodging the lightning bolts> :bigyikes:
 
IGotQuestions said:
When I was a fundamental Baptist I was told that Catholics worship the Pope. The crowds of pilgrims with arms outstretched as if he was Christ manifest on earth.
How do I answer such charges when we see on TV the crowds gathering to him?
Again, I am not saying I still believe this, I am merely asking because I want to know what answer to give.
Thanks!
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I suppose those fundamental Baptists also think that all those people where worshiping The Beatles back in the day?

We worship God alone. I suppose I would ask why they think we are worshiping the pope first. Then I would correct them from there.
 
Tommy999 said:
The only thing I am a little uncomfortable with is when people kiss his ring or that of any high-up Catholics (arch-bishop, cardinal, or whomever). It reminds me of royalty versus commoners in long ago Europe when kings and queens were all-powerful monarchs. In my view as an evangelical, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and followers of the one true Lord and servants to one another in Christ.

Acts 10:25-26
*When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter raised him up, saying, ā€œStand up; I too am just a man.ā€ *

Since Pope Francis is the successor to Peter, I think he would do as Peter did with Cornelius. In fact, I very much like and admire it when Pope Francis asks other Christians of all status to pray for him. He is a great man ā€“ in part ā€“ due to his humility and connection to normal people. He is a fine example for all of us, in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Letā€™s not forget something vitally important, the Kingdom of God is just that, a kingdom. It is a monarchy, not a democracy. And the Pope is the Vicar of Christ, His prime minister. So it is more natural to have customs related to royalty than democratic ideals when you discuss Christianity and Godā€™s Church.

Kissing the ring is a sign of honor, and acknowledging his authority and your obedience to that authority, your obedience to the authority of Peter and the Apostles. This is because the ring they are kissing is his Fishermanā€™s Ring. It is a symbol of authority from ancient times, as kings/popes/nobility would seal their letters and decrees with wax and imprint on the wax the seal from their ring to show it was authentic.

Yes, Peter told the man to get up, because his intent was worship, not honor. In other places in the Bible you can see people bowing and showing honor/reverence to others which is perfectly fine (like Abraham bowing/prostrating himself before the angels).
 
IGotQuestions said:
When I was a fundamental Baptist I was told that Catholics worship the Pope. The crowds of pilgrims with arms outstretched as if he was Christ manifest on earth.
How do I answer such charges when we see on TV the crowds gathering to him?
Again, I am not saying I still believe this, I am merely asking because I want to know what answer to give.
Thanks!
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Just for the sake of arguing, I KNOW there were Baptists, there with them outstretched arms!šŸ˜›

So how I would answer if thatā€™s worshipping a false god:eek: You better tell them.
 
benjohnson said:
Of course Catholic donā€™t worship the Pope. They worship Mary.

ā€¦

All kidding aside, I see Catholic loving the Pope as a visible and tangible expression of the love they have for the Church - the church that administers the sacraments and preaches the gospel.

I have a fondness for my pastors that goes beyond their vocation because they are a physical reminder to me of the promise of salvation given to me in the name of Christ Jesus.
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Now that is GOOD!! A real good one. I am just so disappointed I didnā€™t get to say it first. Everyone but us Caholics know we worship her!!šŸ˜ƒ
 
rinnie said:
Now that is GOOD!! A real good one. I am just so disappointed I didnā€™t get to say it first. Everyone but us Caholics know we worship her!!šŸ˜ƒ
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We are here to tell you what you didnā€™t know you believe with all of your heart. :whacky::hypno::whistle:

Jon
 
JonNC said:
We are here to tell you what you didnā€™t know you believe with all of your heart. :whacky::hypno::whistle:

Jon
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So,
if I donā€™t know what I believe,
how do I know if someone else says they believe,
that I believe what I donā€™t know,
what they really believe?
Maybe, what they think (but I donā€™t know that) I believe
is what they desperately want to believe,
But they donā€™t know it?

:confused: think I will go say my payers carefully with my eyes shut (that wonā€™t work because technically I will be seeing the back of my eyelids or just black) and go to bed. Oh dear, this theological discussion has gone into lala land. :doh2::hypno::gopray:
 
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