Former Catholic Priest Condemns the Catholic Church and Scott Hahn

[qui_est_ce]

I just discovered this website, started by a former Catholic priest, Peter Bennett:

bereanbeacon.org/RC_Apologists.php

Bennett chastizes Scott Hahn, Patrick Madrid, and other converts for falling into apostasy. Elsewhere on this site, he solicits testimonials from former Catholics. Much of what is said against the Catholic Church and Scott Hahn is just plain false or lifted out of context. He is alarmed by the many books, cd’s, and talks given by these converts and seems bent on countering them. As a Catholic, Evangelical tapes and CD’s do not bother me unless they spout anti-Catholic falsehoods. I used to listen to them all the time before the Catholics got into the media. I would not condone Catholics spreading falsehoods about Protestantism either.

My question is how can someone who claims to have been a Catholic priest for over 20 years to have found the truth in Fundamental Evangelicism accuse a former Presbyterian minister of not understanding Protestantism when he himself didn’t understand the teachings of the Catholic Church? Not sure if Bennett adheres to Calvinism, Antimonianism, etc., as the focus of the site seems to be anything but Catholic.

 

[reteeks21]

I just discovered this website, started by a former Catholic priest, Peter Bennett:

bereanbeacon.org/RC_Apologists.php

Bennett chastizes Scott Hahn, Patrick Madrid, and other converts for falling into apostasy. Elsewhere on this site, he solicits testimonials from former Catholics. Much of what is said against the Catholic Church and Scott Hahn is just plain false or lifted out of context. He is alarmed by the many books, cd’s, and talks given by these converts and seems bent on countering them. As a Catholic, Evangelical tapes and CD’s do not bother me unless they spout anti-Catholic falsehoods. I used to listen to them all the time before the Catholics got into the media. I would not condone Catholics spreading falsehoods about Protestantism either.

My question is how can someone who claims to have been a Catholic priest for over 20 years to have found the truth in Fundamental Evangelicism accuse a former Presbyterian minister of not understanding Protestantism when he himself didn’t understand the teachings of the Catholic Church? Not sure if Bennett adheres to Calvinism, Antimonianism, etc., as the focus of the site seems to be anything but Catholic.

Unfortunately, this sort of thing happens all the time. As a protestant, I hate to hear any protestant saying unreliable and ignorant things about the rcc, and I dislike it when catholics do the same. I feel pity for Bennett.

 

[chris_molter]

I’ve noticed that some of the worst anti-Catholic bigots are often fallen away Catholics. It’s even harder to reason with them since they think they already know all there is to know about Catholicism since they used to be Catholic.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

Often such anti arguments come from people who have skeletons in their closets that they wish you not to notice. It doesn’t interest me what they might be but if a person is truly confident of their God led conversion they don’t need to condemn others.

CDL

 

[NDfan]

I just discovered this website, started by a former Catholic priest, Peter Bennett:

bereanbeacon.org/RC_Apologists.php

Bennett chastizes Scott Hahn, Patrick Madrid, and other converts for falling into apostasy. Elsewhere on this site, he solicits testimonials from former Catholics. Much of what is said against the Catholic Church and Scott Hahn is just plain false or lifted out of context. He is alarmed by the many books, cd’s, and talks given by these converts and seems bent on countering them. As a Catholic, Evangelical tapes and CD’s do not bother me unless they spout anti-Catholic falsehoods. I used to listen to them all the time before the Catholics got into the media. I would not condone Catholics spreading falsehoods about Protestantism either.

My question is how can someone who claims to have been a Catholic priest for over 20 years to have found the truth in Fundamental Evangelicism accuse a former Presbyterian minister of not understanding Protestantism when he himself didn’t understand the teachings of the Catholic Church? Not sure if Bennett adheres to Calvinism, Antimonianism, etc., as the focus of the site seems to be anything but Catholic.

The site does nothing different than folks on these boards do. They’re presenting arguments against Rome’s and Scott Hahn’s teachings using scriptural references. No big deal.

 

[mercygate]

I think a great doctoral dissertation for a social psychology degree would be “Former Catholics Who Promote Hatred for the Catholic Church.”

Lots of people leave the Catholic Church with a little chip on their shoulder and make all kinds of excuses without mounting a life-long rant.

The reasons for hostility ALWAYS include something personal:

Sister was mean.
Father was mean.
Father made inappropriate advances.
My Father/Mother used religion as a weapon.

Very often [almost universally] it is rooted in divorce & remarriage, contraception, abortion, masturbation . . .

That said (an I am controlling myself) the Berean Beacon group is just plain wacko.

 

[NDfan]

I think a great doctoral dissertation for a social psychology degree would be “Former Catholics Who Promote Hatred for the Catholic Church.”

Lots of people leave the Catholic Church with a little chip on their shoulder and make all kinds of excuses without mounting a life-long rant.

The reasons for hostility ALWAYS include something personal:

Sister was mean.
Father was mean.
Father made inappropriate advances.
My Father/Mother used religion as a weapon.

Very often [almost universally] it is rooted in divorce & remarriage, contraception, abortion, masturbation . . .

You couldn’t be more wrong on this. I fall into none of these categories and know plenty of former Roman Catholics that don’t either. Don’t make ridiculous universal statements that you can’t reinforce.

That said (an I am controlling myself) the Berean Beacon group is just plain wacko.

No more wacko than folks on these boards who argue all day long about who is right and wrong, who goes to hell and who doesn’t.

 

[He_Man]

I just discovered this website, started by a former Catholic priest, Peter Bennett:

bereanbeacon.org/RC_Apologists.php

Bennett chastizes Scott Hahn, Patrick Madrid, and other converts for falling into apostasy. Elsewhere on this site, he solicits testimonials from former Catholics. Much of what is said against the Catholic Church and Scott Hahn is just plain false or lifted out of context. He is alarmed by the many books, cd’s, and talks given by these converts and seems bent on countering them. As a Catholic, Evangelical tapes and CD’s do not bother me unless they spout anti-Catholic falsehoods. I used to listen to them all the time before the Catholics got into the media. I would not condone Catholics spreading falsehoods about Protestantism either.

My question is how can someone who claims to have been a Catholic priest for over 20 years to have found the truth in Fundamental Evangelicism accuse a former Presbyterian minister of not understanding Protestantism when he himself didn’t understand the teachings of the Catholic Church? Not sure if Bennett adheres to Calvinism, Antimonianism, etc., as the focus of the site seems to be anything but Catholic.

Sadly, our Priests are a target for Satan, and he seems to have gotten hold of Bennet.

 

[Lapell]

I just discovered this website, started by a former Catholic priest, Peter Bennett:

bereanbeacon.org/RC_Apologists.php

Bennett chastizes Scott Hahn, Patrick Madrid, and other converts for falling into apostasy. Elsewhere on this site, he solicits testimonials from former Catholics. Much of what is said against the Catholic Church and Scott Hahn is just plain false or lifted out of context. He is alarmed by the many books, cd’s, and talks given by these converts and seems bent on countering them. As a Catholic, Evangelical tapes and CD’s do not bother me unless they spout anti-Catholic falsehoods. I used to listen to them all the time before the Catholics got into the media. I would not condone Catholics spreading falsehoods about Protestantism either.

My question is how can someone who claims to have been a Catholic priest for over 20 years to have found the truth in Fundamental Evangelicism accuse a former Presbyterian minister of not understanding Protestantism when he himself didn’t understand the teachings of the Catholic Church? Not sure if Bennett adheres to Calvinism, Antimonianism, etc., as the focus of the site seems to be anything but Catholic.

One thing is sure: this one priest doesn’t adhere fully to the whole teaching by the Magisterium of the Church. It could be someone who has great worldly ambitions which he sees (after a whileas a priest) would not be fulfilled as he would like within the Catholic Church… or it could be some shock on a couple of specific things
in the Church teachings or in somebody’s conduct… it can be a number of things. God knows!

 

[BobCatholic]

THE DAMNATION OF SCOTT HAHN by Randall Paquette

Why does this apparent sola scripturist accept the damnation of anyone? Why is Randall Paquette allowed to condemn when Jesus says not to do that?

And all the misrepresentations and lies? What happened to “no false witness”?

 

[Lapell]

The site does nothing different than folks on these boards do. They’re presenting arguments against Rome’s and Scott Hahn’s teachings using scriptural references. No big deal.

Do you mean to say you agree with Bennett? And would you say that to use the Scriptures in vain, just as God’s Name for that matter, is “no big deal”?

 

[BobCatholic]

The site does nothing different than folks on these boards do. They’re presenting arguments against Rome’s and Scott Hahn’s teachings using scriptural references. No big deal.

They’re not using scriptural references, they’re interpreting the scriptures (using their traditions) to do that.

 

[mercygate]

You couldn’t be more wrong on this. I fall into none of these categories and know plenty of former Roman Catholics that don’t either. Don’t make ridiculous universal statements that you can’t reinforce.

No more wacko than folks on these boards who argue all day long about who is right and wrong, who goes to hell and who doesn’t.

Sorry. I must have deleted the part about “some ex-Catholics are not hostile” – because I had that in there.

When Catholics who have left “come home” they frequently go through a period of severe venting about all the horrible things the Catholic Church did to them . . . I dunno. I’m a convert, so my whole process was different – moving from an anti-Catholic evangelical rejection to acceptance.

Ya gotta admit that the Berean Beacon troop does violence to Catholic teachng in its representations of our faith.

 

[ralphinal]

I feel sorry for them for three reasons. First, it never clicked. They never saw, as priests, nuns or whatever, what the teaching of the CHurch meant in their lives. Second, they are full of hate. Hate and God cannot exist in the same heart. Even if everything they say and thing about the Church is true, they must forgive and let go. Third, they are attacking people who gave up their lives to pursue what they saw as the truth in the Catholic Church. I am willing to bet that Scott Hahn et al lost more than he gained economically while the Beren folks did the opposite.

 

[mercygate]

I am willing to bet that Scott Hahn et al lost more than he gained economically while the Beren folks did the opposite.

I wouldn’t bet on that. Hahn’s books alone must be providing him with a comfortable income! Then the speakng engagements . . . Gotta be sweet!

 

[ralphinal]

I wouldn’t bet on that. Hahn’s books alone must be providing him with a comfortable income! Then the speakng engagements . . . Gotta be sweet!

True, but that was not day one. That took a while to build up. Besides, depending on Catholics to buy Theologically orthodox book is a sucker’s bet.

The preist who spoke against him was a religious order priest: he had a vow of poverty. 0 to anything is an improvement.

 

[mercygate]

True, but that was not day one. That took a while to build up. Besides, depending on Catholics to buy Theologically orthodox book is a sucker’s bet.

The preist who spoke against him was a religious order priest: he had a vow of poverty. 0 to anything is an improvement.

I hear you. And I just looked at some of the articles linked in the OP here. :bigyikes: Coming Home Network: “slick and well funded” The stuff on Scott Hahn is twaddle.

Marcul Grodi is “naive or dishonest.”

Gimme a BREAK.

 

[why_me]

I’ve noticed that some of the worst anti-Catholic bigots are often fallen away Catholics. It’s even harder to reason with them since they think they already know all there is to know about Catholicism since they used to be Catholic.

This is also true for former mormons or for that matter with anyone who has left their faith for another. On this forum, the most virulent antis against their former faith are former mormons, jehovas witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists etc. It is only natural. There is no reason to believe that the same would also not be true for former priests and devout catholics.

 

[ralphinal]

I hear you. And I just looked at some of the articles linked in the OP here. :bigyikes: Coming Home Network: “slick and well funded” The stuff on Scott Hahn is twaddle.

Marcul Grodi is “naive or dishonest.”

Gimme a BREAK.

I know. If it wasn’t so sad to me, I would look at it every day for a laugh.

I had a distant cousin who decided to leave the Church. One of my great uncles confronted him on it. Now, this was the “dirty old man” uncle that everyone has. The one who will say anything. The one who still looks at women young enough to be his great-granddaughter. You know the type. Anyway, Cuz went over all the claims against the Church. Uncle listened to every one and did not say anything. After he was finished, my uncle simply said, “I don’t see what you are talking about.” My cousin said, “I found Jesus there.” To which my uncle shouted, so it could be heard all over the store that he owned, 'You already had Him you dumb S… o. B…! What do you think the Eucharist is! You went from being with him in real life ot make-believe!" My cousin, half in shock and half embarrassed, tryed to argue all the pagan cookie junk, then realised that as far as my uncle was concerned, the next step was forcible ejection from the store.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

I know. If it wasn’t so sad to me, I would look at it every day for a laugh.

I had a distant cousin who decided to leave the Church. One of my great uncles confronted him on it. Now, this was the “dirty old man” uncle that everyone has. The one who will say anything. The one who still looks at women young enough to be his great-granddaughter. You know the type. Anyway, Cuz went over all the claims against the Church. Uncle listened to every one and did not say anything. After he was finished, my uncle simply said, “I don’t see what you are talking about.” My cousin said, “I found Jesus there.” To which my uncle shouted, so it could be heard all over the store that he owned, 'You already had Him you dumb S… o. B…! What do you think the Eucharist is! You went from being with him in real life ot make-believe!" My cousin, half in shock and half embarrassed, tryed to argue all the pagan cookie junk, then realised that as far as my uncle was concerned, the next step was forcible ejection from the store.

You describe your uncle as a dirty old man but even he spoke the truth. It reminds me of the story of Balaam’s ***. Is that what you mean?