Protestants who have a problem with Catholic Traditions

[zcharry]

No more than we are mediators for each other when we pray for one another! But Mary isn’t mediator by herself; rather, she is working as a mediator with her Son. When we pray for one another, we also work that way.

I confused at what you said. When we pray for each other we are not praying through one another but for one another. However when you speak of Mary you speak as though she is mediating with Jesus for us. Since Mary is not with us, but with God, we are not praying for her because she is in paradise and does not need our prayer. We can pray to God and thank God for Mary but we do not need to pray to Mary to speak to God for us. Just pray to Him

God Bless you

 

[St_Violet]

I always thought Mary prayed FOR us as well. look at the hail Mary. " Holy Mary mother of GOD, pray FOR our sins"

 

[Pixie_Dust]

You guys are whole-heartedly misunderstanding what I am saying. I attend church and am involved in one. Im not saying that church routine is wrong, Im saying that the majority of what the catholic church does and teaches is DEAD WRONG and 120% unscriptural, contradictory actually. It would be one thing if it was just some goofy fabricate doctrine like Mormonism, but it is an actual contradiction to the Word of God. Im also not saying the Psalms are tedious or the Old Testament is irrelevant, Im just saying that the laws and rituals of the Old Testament is not what provides salvation. The New Testament is a covenant of Love and redemption despite the falling short of His glory. The premise that a Catholic is arguing scripture with me is somewhat comical considering your doctrine is not according to scripture. Please dont attack me if you dont understand your doctrine yourself. Thanks

If everything that we need to know as Christians is in the Bible, then where in the Bible does it give us the list of books that are supposed to be in the Bible? How do we know all of those books are supposed to be in the Bible if there is no list in the Bible? The Table of Contents is not inspired Scripture.

What is the pillar and foundation of Truth for a Christian? The Bible?

Where in the Bible does it say:
A) Scripture alone is the sole rule of faith for Christians?
B) We are saved, or justified, by faith alone?
C) Baptism is a symbolic gesture that the already saved believer makes to show his commitment to God?
D) That every individual, Christian or not, has the right to interpret every single passage of Scripture on their own in order to determine, by their own authority, what is true doctrine and what is false doctrine?
E) That you are to have altar calls?
F) That you are to meet at your church every Wednesday night?
G) That it is okay to disagree on the “non-essential” doctrines as long as you agree on the “essential” doctrines?
H) That there is even such a thing as a non-essential doctrine…a non-essential part of the Word of God?

 

[Pixie_Dust]

I confused at what you said. When we pray for each other we are not praying through one another but for one another. However when you speak of Mary you speak as though she is mediating with Jesus for us. Since Mary is not with us, but with God, we are not praying for her because she is in paradise and does not need our prayer. We can pray to God and thank God for Mary but we do not need to pray to Mary to speak to God for us. Just pray to Him

God Bless you

Please consider listening to “The Communion of Saints” - a free download you can get from the Bible Christian Society. It will help you understand that we are not praying TO Mary so that SHE can answer our prayers. We are asking her to pray FOR us,** just like** you ask your friends and family to pray for you.

 

[ryankeith77]

You guys are whole-heartedly misunderstanding what I am saying. I attend church and am involved in one. Im not saying that church routine is wrong, Im saying that the majority of what the catholic church does and teaches is DEAD WRONG and 120% unscriptural, contradictory actually. It would be one thing if it was just some goofy fabricate doctrine like Mormonism, but it is an actual contradiction to the Word of God. Im also not saying the Psalms are tedious or the Old Testament is irrelevant, Im just saying that the laws and rituals of the Old Testament is not what provides salvation. The New Testament is a covenant of Love and redemption despite the falling short of His glory. The premise that a Catholic is arguing scripture with me is somewhat comical considering your doctrine is not according to scripture. Please dont attack me if you dont understand your doctrine yourself. Thanks

You absolutely have no idea what you are talking about. Consider that the Bible is, in fact, Catholic dogma. Now, be honest- why would the Catholic Church, in the fourth and fifth centuries, put together all of books of the Bible (which according to you contradict the Church itself) and spread it around the world? It wouldn’t! That’s ridiculous to even think that!
No attacking you, but honestly consider why smart, intellectual and truly Christian men and women choose to become Catholic after years of anti-Catholicism: Scott Hahn, Marcus Grodi, and much more recently Francis Beckwith. They realized that the Bible is a Catholic book, from start to finish, with no exceptions.

 

[Randy_Carson]

All of my arguments are ones influenced by the incredible contrast amongst catholic doctrine and scripture. Another thing, How about in Matthew 23:9 when it says " Call no man your father upon earth, for one is your father, He that is in Heaven"?

Calling Priests Father

---

From a parable of Jesus
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ’ Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ "But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ "He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31)

Did Jesus contradict His own teaching against calling someone “father” by using that very phrase in His own parable? Or have you misunderstood what our Lord meant when he said, “Call no man your father.”

From the teaching of Paul
“I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (1 Cor. 4:14–15).

“I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment” (Philemon 10)

“To Timothy, my true child in the faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (1 Timothy 1:2)

“To Titus, my true child in a common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (Titus 1:4)

From a Letter of John
“No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth” (3 John 4)

Sounds like Paul and John considered themselves spiritual fathers to all these disciples, doesn’t it? And this is from the Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit, is it not?

Hope this helps. :tiphat:

 

[Randy_Carson]

Whats your take on confessing your sin to a man that you believe is more able to go to God with your prayer. Please explain this, logically, and ill tip my hat to ya.

 

[Cat]

zcharry, yes, there is more to Catholic salvation doctrine than just a simple “by grace through faith” prayer. But in its simplest form, that is the salvation that Catholics teach: by grace through faith.

Protestants think (incorrectly) that Catholics teach that to be saved and go to heaven, we must struggle to complete “good works” in our own human strength.

That is incorrect. NewPerspectives and others are mistaken when they state that Catholics teach “salvation by works” done in our own strength.

As Catholics, we know that any ability we have to do “good works” comes from the grace of God, **NOT our own human striving. **

 

[Randy_Carson]

Whats your take on confessing your sin to a man that you believe is more able to go to God with your prayer.

Confession and Forgiveness

Some people object to the Sacrament of Reconciliation (commonly called “Confession”) on the basis that they only need to confess their sins directly to God rather than to a priest. Is this perspective correct? Let’s see what the Bible has to say.

Leviticus 5:5-6
5 " 'When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned 6 and, as a penalty for the sin he has committed, he must bring to the LORD a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.

“The priest shall make atonement.” Clearly in the Old Testament, the priesthood existed to offer sacrifices and make atonement for the sins committed by the people. Does this idea continue in the New Testament?

Hebrews 10:1
1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.

The Old Testament prefigures and foreshadows New Testament truths; the Old is revealed more fully in the New. So, what does the New Testament teach us about confession of sin?

1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

We should confess our sins, and God will forgive us, but do we confess our sins to God alone?

James 5:13-16
13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

Here the word of God tells us to call the elders (the Greek word is presbuteroi, or “presbyter”, from which the English word “priest” is derived. So, in this context, James is telling us to send for the priests who will pray over someone who is sick, and if he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Recalling the passage from Leviticus above, we see there is a strong parallel between the priests of the Old Testament who made atonement for sin and the presbyters or priests of the New Testament to whom we confess sins for forgiveness. But this sounds like blasphemy! Can men really forgive sins? This same question is asked in the New Testament.

Mark 2:5-7
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7"Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Who can forgive sins but God alone? This question is often asked by those who seek to deny the sacrament of confession. However, note that this question is asked by the scribes who did not accept Jesus. Those who quote this passage find themselves on the side of those who rejected the Messiah. There’s more to the story, however; let’s consider the same incident from the book of Matthew.

Matthew 9:1-7
1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7And the man got up and went home. 8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

The Bible teaches that God had given the authority to forgive sins “to men”. Note that this is not “to a man” but “to men” – plural. So, it is not only Jesus who has authority to forgive sins – “men” have this authority, also. This sounds like a “hard teaching”…is there confirmation of this in the Bible?

(cont.)

 

[Randy_Carson]

John 20:21-23
21 Again Jesus said,"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

How did God send Jesus into the world? With the authority to forgive sins as we saw in Matthew 9:6. How does Jesus send the Apostles? In the same way that the Father had sent Him…with the authority to forgive sins as we have just seen in John 20:23. How could the Apostles obey the commandment of Jesus to forgive sins unless they heard these sins confessed? Moreover, not only do the Apostles have the authority to forgive sins, but they also have the authority to “retain” or not forgive those who, in their judgment are not truly repentant.

Only God can forgive sins, but he has chosen to do so through the ordained men of the priesthood and the Sacrament of Reconciliation that He Himself instituted.

Hope this helps. :tiphat:

 

[Randy_Carson]

When we pray for each other we are not praying through one another but for one another…We can pray to God and thank God for Mary but we do not need to pray to Mary to speak to God for us.

We don’t need to, but there is good reason to ask Mary’s intercession and there is nothing unscriptural, blasphemous or idolatrous about doing so. The following scriptures might help:

Communion of Saints Proved from Scripture

1. All Christians are connected through the Body of Christ

“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”(1 Corinthians 12:26)

“If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you” (2 Corinthians 2:5)

2. Every Christian is a member of the Body of Christ

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:4-5)

“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

2.5 We become members of the Body of Christ through baptism

“having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12)

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)

“for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)

3. Physical death does not separate us from the Body of Christ

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

**4. There is only one Body of Christ, in Heaven and on Earth; **

“by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (Ephesians 2:15-16)

“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-5)

**5. The Church is the Body of Christ; **

“And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:22-23)

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Colossians 1:18)

**6. Just as we can pray for one another, we can suffer for one another; **

“Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. (Colossians 1:24)

 

[Randy_Carson]

You guys are whole-heartedly misunderstanding what I am saying.

Then perhaps you will take a moment or two to clarify for us.

I attend church and am involved in one.

Me, too. I just happen to attend the one Jesus started and built upon Peter the Rock in about 33 A.D. When was your faith community founded and by whom?

Im not saying that church routine is wrong, Im saying that the majority of what the catholic church does and teaches is DEAD WRONG and 120% unscriptural, contradictory actually. It would be one thing if it was just some goofy fabricate doctrine like Mormonism, but it is an actual contradiction to the Word of God.

I invite you to begin new threads in the Apologetics forum of this site on each specific Catholic doctrine which you believe is unscriptural. We will be happy to answer all of your questions very thoroughly. See you there!

Im also not saying the Psalms are tedious or the Old Testament is irrelevant, Im just saying that the laws and rituals of the Old Testament is not what provides salvation.

Agreed. Paul makes this very clear in the book of Romans.

The New Testament is a covenant of Love and redemption despite the falling short of His glory. The premise that a Catholic is arguing scripture with me is somewhat comical considering your doctrine is not according to scripture.

You will be shocked to learn that we know the scriptures, also. Moreover, we understand them since we belong to a Church which wrote the Bible, preserved the Bible throughout 2,000 years of history, and protects the Word of God from false interpretation by means of the God-given gift of infallibility. Please, if you have questions about that which you do not understand, we will be more than happy to assist you.

Please dont attack me if you dont understand your doctrine yourself. Thanks

Actually, I think we understand Catholic doctrine quite well, better than you do, I think. Additionally, since many here are former Protestants who converted to the Catholic Church after much prayer, thought and study, I think it might be fair to say that we know yours, also.

And why we rejected it. :tiphat:

 

[Randy_Carson]

I am not protestant. Im a Born-Again, non-denominational, Spirit filled follower of the ONLY mediator between God and Men. Thanks

“And I tell you that you are Peter and upon this rock I will build what I must call my loosely-affilitated network of non-denominational Bible fellowships.” (Matthew 16:18)

Funny…in my Bible, it says that Jesus founded a Church. One Church.

Weird.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Protestants have announced as their rule of faith: “The Bible, and the Bible only,” with the Holy Spirit as its sole Interpreter.

We are well-acquainted with what Protestantism has “announced”.

We just can’t find any Biblical basis for the announcement.

Can you?

In the absence of such, we think it is wise to stick with what Jesus announced:

Luke 10:16
16"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

The Church, not the Bible Alone, is the pillar and bullwark of the truth (cf. 1 Tim. 3:15). We do well to listen to her.

Hope this helps. :tiphat:

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Actually, I think we understand Catholic doctrine quite well, better than you do, I think. Additionally, since many here are former Protestants who converted to the Catholic Church after much prayer, thought and study, I think it might be fair to say that we know yours, also.

And why we rejected it. :tiphat:

I’m putting my ‘Baptist hat’ back on just long enough to give your posts a good, hearty A-MEN!

 

[Angainor]

can someone explain the problem with the Traditions of the Catholic Church that a protestant might have and also would like to have some catholics explain these traditions to them.

Lutherans, for one, did not and do not have any particular problem with the catholic tradition. Traditions were generally continued (including the liturgy, Church year, etc.). If they rejected an individual tradition as part of the Re-formation of the Church back to historical roots, it was for a reason. They judged traditions by the rule and norm of scripture. Rejected traditions were, for the most part, mediæval innovations.

 

[BelFarfalla]

Lutherans, for one, did not and do not have any particular problem with the catholic tradition. Traditions were generally continued (including the liturgy, Church year, etc.). If they rejected an individual tradition as part of the Re-formation of the Church back to historical roots, it was for a reason. They judged traditions by the rule and norm of scripture. Rejected traditions were, for the most part, mediæval innovations.

Which traditions did they reject?

 

[truthnlight]

Then perhaps you will take a moment or two to clarify for us.

Me, too. I just happen to attend the one Jesus started and built upon Peter the Rock in about 33 A.D. When was your faith community founded and by whom?

I invite you to begin new threads in the Apologetics forum of this site on each specific Catholic doctrine which you believe is unscriptural. We will be happy to answer all of your questions very thoroughly. See you there!

Agreed. Paul makes this very clear in the book of Romans.

You will be shocked to learn that we know the scriptures, also. Moreover, we understand them since we belong to a Church which wrote the Bible, preserved the Bible throughout 2,000 years of history, and protects the Word of God from false interpretation by means of the God-given gift of infallibility. Please, if you have questions about that which you do not understand, we will be more than happy to assist you.

Actually, I think we understand Catholic doctrine quite well, better than you do, I think. Additionally, since many here are former Protestants who converted to the Catholic Church after much prayer, thought and study, I think it might be fair to say that we know yours, also.

And why we rejected it. :tiphat:

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” -Philippians 2:9,10

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12

“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do…” -Matthew 6:7

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18).

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.”

Mark 3:31-35 we read:

“There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”

 

[truthnlight]

Calling Priests Father

---

From a parable of Jesus
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ’ Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ "But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ "He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31)

Did Jesus contradict His own teaching against calling someone “father” by using that very phrase in His own parable? Or have you misunderstood what our Lord meant when he said, “Call no man your father.”

From the teaching of Paul
“I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (1 Cor. 4:14–15).

“I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment” (Philemon 10)

“To Timothy, my true child in the faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (1 Timothy 1:2)

“To Titus, my true child in a common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (Titus 1:4)

From a Letter of John
“No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth” (3 John 4)

Sounds like Paul and John considered themselves spiritual fathers to all these disciples, doesn’t it? And this is from the Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit, is it not?

Hope this helps. :tiphat:

The truth, God’s truth, is found in the pages of the Sacred Scriptures

Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” I marvel at the willingness of the victims of false religion, to follow the traditions of men, instead of the teachings of the Word of God (Mark 7:6-13).

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

[lak611]

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” -Philippians 2:9,10

We genuflect to Jesus each time we enter a Catholic church.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12

This is what Catholics believe.

“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do…” -Matthew 6:7

We do not use vain repetitions. Catholics believe what we are praying; it is not useless words.

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18).

Catholics have not added anything to the Bible. Protestants subtracted from the Bible.

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.”

We Catholics do not worship images. We worship God.

Mark 3:31-35 we read:

“There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”

This is true. Everyone who has been baptised is a member of God’s family.