other churches=sects?

[jason3477]

Why don’t a lot of priests/clergy call the non-catholic churches sects/cults anymore? And my priest DOES talk about mega-churches, but not too much in a negative light…

But what does your priest think of mega-churches??

 

[CompSciGuy]

Why don’t a lot of priests/clergy call the non-catholic churches sects/cults anymore? And my priest DOES talk about mega-churches, but not too much in a negative light…

But what does your priest think of mega-churches??

I think the term “sect” or “cult” typically is associated with groups of heretics/non-christians, and, according to Vatican II the vast majority of Protestant denominations are baptized Christians in partial communion with the Holy Catholic Church. As for megachurches, at my parish they are typically looked down upon; for most people in my parish when they think of megachurches they think Joel Osteen. I have been to megachurches in my area and often find that the pastors become very egotistical.

 

[aliciaswain]

Why don’t a lot of priests/clergy call the non-catholic churches sects/cults anymore? And my priest DOES talk about mega-churches, but not too much in a negative light…

But what does your priest think of mega-churches??

I can’t remember having heard the priest mention any sort of opinion on them. Most of the mega-church preachers I think of seem to be more concerned with image, money, and how famous they are, rather than their message and what they are actually saying. I may be mistaken though and am willing to revise my opinion with strong evidence.

 

[Jack_Bauer]

In today’s world, a greater awareness of mixed faith marriages seems to have been brought to light. There are many folks from different churches, or ecclesial communities, that attend mass these days. Discerning truth does not mean that the faith from which one comes defines those left behind as lost necessarily. I believe this is a wise chose by the clergy, very pastoral. It’s very difficult to come from a church that once believed all Catholics were bound to hell, even in their ignorance. Hind sight 20/20, it’s rather humbling to realize just how wrong we were about your faith. It was my faith by baptism, but I was not raise in the Catholic culture. So I never really got the full experience until the past 5 years, when orthodox teachings seem to have trickled back into the fold.

 

[Georgia]

I’ve only heard a priest mention a mega-church once. Our pastor came to us from a parish that is near a mega-church led by a man who calls himself a bishop.

Our pastor once said something to the effect that he had noticed a proliferation of bishops lately and that one drives a Bentley. I believe the remark was in a sermon about apostolic succession.

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

No religious group, Christian or otherwise, has a monopoly on self-important egotistical clergy.

I think the term “sect” or “cult” typically is associated with groups of heretics/non-christians, and, according to Vatican II the vast majority of Protestant denominations are baptized Christians in partial communion with the Holy Catholic Church. As for megachurches, at my parish they are typically looked down upon; for most people in my parish when they think of megachurches they think Joel Osteen. I have been to megachurches in my area and often find that the pastors become very egotistical.

 

[Contarini]

Why don’t a lot of priests/clergy call the non-catholic churches sects/cults anymore? And my priest DOES talk about mega-churches, but not too much in a negative light…

But what does your priest think of mega-churches??

Well, “sect” and “cult” are really sociological terms with pejorative connotations. They don’t say much, theologically. Heresy is the more appropriate term. Catholics have avoided using the “h” word of Protestants since Vatican II, largely I believe because the distinction between formal and material heresy is hard to explain. Therefore, it’s seen as less confusing and more conducive to good ecumenical relations to avoid using the word except for those who have clearly chosen to reject the Catholic Faith. If my understanding of the reasons for the shift in terminology is wrong, I welcome (well-grounded) correction.

It seems to me that it would be appropriate for a Catholic priest to tell a Catholic thinking of leaving the Church that they were falling into heresy. It might or might not be a good idea pastorally, but it wouldn’t be theologically wrong from the Catholic point of view.

And for that matter I would agree that a Catholic who becomes Protestant is giving up a richer and fuller version of the Faith for a truncated one, which is my understanding of what heresy is.

Edwin