Protestant Martyrs

[boisestatefan]

Quick question that popped into my mind: what is the Catholic Church’s teaching on Protestant martyrs who die for their faith in Jesus Christ, but knowingly refused to join the Catholic Church in their lifetimes? Or even more so, those Protestants who died defending what they thought was the truth about Jesus Christ even as they were being burned at the stake by the Catholic Church or agents of the Church, but were actually in direct opposition to many of the Catholic Church’s teaching (Huss, Wycliffe, etc)?

So I guess Wycliffe wasn’t martyred. But I think you all know what I mean by that.

 

[Rich_C]

Quick question that popped into my mind: what is the Catholic Church’s teaching on Protestant martyrs who die for their faith in Jesus Christ, but knowingly refused to join the Catholic Church in their lifetimes? Or even more so, those Protestants who died defending what they thought was the truth about Jesus Christ even as they were being burned at the stake by the Catholic Church or agents of the Church, but were actually in direct opposition to many of the Catholic Church’s teaching (Huss, Wycliffe, etc)?

The traditional “ruling” so far as anyone could know, is that they went to hell for attacking the Truth and leading other people away from it.

 

[devoutchristian]

A good rule of thumb is that if being Catholic would have saved them from death then they aren’t martyrs, but if being Catholic would not have saved them from death then they are martyrs. Of course not being martyrs wouldn’t necessarily mean that they’re in Hell.

 

[philial]

A martyr is someone who prefers to die for a belief or cause when the option to live is available by denying that belief or cause. Thus you can have political as well as religious martyrs.

As far as protestant martyrs are concerned, they were true martyrs, simply because they could have saved their lives by turn-coating. They has personal integrity & courage.

Whether they qualified as mortally sinful, and therefore damned, using Catholic definitions of sin as a guide, is doubtful. Look at it this way, what sane person who believed in God, yet also knowingly resisting God, would be prepared to be put to death?

No, they died with their integrity whole, and surrendered themselves to the mercies of God. Who are we to deny that God should not recognise this virtue?

 

[cheezey]

A martyr is someone who prefers to die for a belief or cause when the option to live is available by denying that belief or cause. Thus you can have political as well as religious martyrs.

As far as protestant martyrs are concerned, they were true martyrs, simply because they could have saved their lives by turn-coating. They has personal integrity & courage.

Whether they qualified as mortally sinful, and therefore damned, using Catholic definitions of sin as a guide, is doubtful. Look at it this way, what sane person who believed in God, yet also knowingly resisting God, would be prepared to be put to death?

No, they died with their integrity whole, and surrendered themselves to the mercies of God. Who are we to deny that God should not recognise this virtue?

 

[x1980x]

A good rule of thumb is that if being Catholic would have saved them from death then they aren’t martyrs, but if being Catholic would not have saved them from death then they are martyrs. Of course not being martyrs wouldn’t necessarily mean that they’re in Hell.

Many non-Catholic Christians would strongly disagree with you on this. Mennonites have a great respect for Dirk Willems, who died for the principles of adult baptism, separation of church and state, and nonresistance. Whether he was objectively right or wrong pales in comparison to the Christlike testimony of his behavior.

Yes, I am well aware that many Protestant martyrs were killed either by vigilante “justice” or by secular law enforcement officials, and were not therefore killed as a direct action of the CC. What Protestants will say is that the CC of the time supported, encouraged, or tolerated such actions.

 

[cheezey]

A good rule of thumb is that if being Catholic would have saved them from death then they aren’t martyrs, but if being Catholic would not have saved them from death then they are martyrs. Of course not being martyrs wouldn’t necessarily mean that they’re in Hell.

 

[didymus]

There is a difference between Hus, Luther, Calvin, et al. and modern-day Protestants who have been raised and educated in their own “true faith”. I doubt God turned his back on Protestants who opposed Hitler, or are being oppressed today in China, India & elsewhere.

When the Ugandan martyrs (mixed group of Catholics and Anglicans) only the Catholics were canaonised but Pope Paul VI said, “And the others are worthy of mention also, who, professing the Anglican religious customs, were afflicted with death for the name of Christ.”
As I understand the standard for martyrdom is one was killed “in odium fideii” [sp?] out of hatred of the Faith. So it looks like Paul VI came as close as possible to calling the Anglicans martyrs.

 

[Kc906]

Quick question that popped into my mind: what is the Catholic Church’s teaching on Protestant martyrs who die for their faith in Jesus Christ, but knowingly refused to join the Catholic Church in their lifetimes? Or even more so, those Protestants who died defending what they thought was the truth about Jesus Christ even as they were being burned at the stake by the Catholic Church or agents of the Church, but were actually in direct opposition to many of the Catholic Church’s teaching (Huss, Wycliffe, etc)?

So I guess Wycliffe wasn’t martyred. But I think you all know what I mean by that.

The Church does not “know” the eternal fates for all the souls that pass through on the Earth, hence she is not the Judge. She does however have the authority passed on to Peter and the original Apostles to bind and loose things to Heaven, so she does play a critical role as far as salvation is concerned.

God is our judge, and I have no doubt that he will welcome those not in communion with Rome into his Kingdom if they stand firm in their faith in Jesus and the Gospel when facing certain death. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Being a Martyr means that you choose God/Jesus over your earthly life, you have that faith that you will be rewarded for standing firm against forces of evil. This is choosing to lay down your life for Jesus, for his ministry, and his Gospel. We all should hope and pray that we have the strength to make this decision if ever faced with this choice.