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Petergee
Guest
A better analogy would be that the pope is the Prime Minister of the Kingdom ruled by Christ the King.
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lovemybatman
Guest
Something happened today, though I doubt it was an anti-Catholic attack…in my Shakespeare class, the professor was discussing the medieval “mystery cycles” (the religious plays of the Middle Ages) and the how the religious conflict in the Elizabethan era affected theatre…she made a comment about Catholics “worshiping Mary.”
The way she said it, it did not sound like an anti-Catholic comment, but it annoyed and bothered me all the same because she was stating a misconception to the entire class. Grr…wish I could remember the context. I briefly entertained the idea of saying something, but the whole thing was so small and I did not want to create tension in the room.
Even though this was not (to me) an anti-Catholic statement, I still thought to post because it is a common misconception among non-Catholics (obviously).
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markomalley
Guest
Other than subtleties, I don’t see that much (other than general anti-Christian stuff). I do get questions from some folks at work (esp. e.g., Ash Wednesday when they see my forehead) that show misconceptions, but that doesn’t count so much.
Every now and again, I will run into people who have been scandalized by the news of “pedophile priests” and feel obliged to voice their opinion…but I think, in those cases, if I heard only what was in the news media, I would likely think the same thing myself. So I pull out some stats that I have in my head and that generally shuts them up (relative statistics between priests, protestant pastors, school teachers, etc., are very revealing)
The biggest example I’ve seen were from my inlaws when they found that their daughter converted. They were utterly scandalized…(they go to a restorationist-type group…those are generally the most virulent out of the batch). But then they started looking into it and now actually defend their daughter’s beliefs to others in their group…and, the last time I visited, I found that my mother-in-law was reading a book about the other books of the Bible (i.e., the deuteros). One big thing that changed their attitudes was when they actually sat through a Mass at the National Shrine in DC with us. You know the big mosaic of Jesus at the Revelation in the wall behind the altar? My father-in-law was moved to tears. He said that when he had a near death experience years ago, he said that when he saw Jesus, Jesus looked exactly like that image (his claim, not mine).
But the thing is that I don’t hang around with a bunch of highly-religious protestants for my social life, so I wouldn’t expect to see it, either.
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chris_molter
Guest
Most of it that I’ve seen comes from fallen away Catholics who are now pagans or atheists or agnostics. They tend to be very bitter and angry at the Church, and tend to think they “know all about Catholicism” when in truth they couldn’t even name the seven sacraments.
I do get a little from evangelicals too, but not nearly as much as from former Catholics.
I do get a little from evangelicals too, but not nearly as much as from former Catholics.
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Ridgerunner
Guest
The post by the person who said the anti-Catholicism often encountered is actually anti-Christianity. And that does point up a necessary distinction.
There is the protestant anti-Catholicism that’s largely based on ignorance.
There is the “former Catholic” anti-Catholicism that’s largely based on personal resentment.
Then there is the “secular progressive” anti-Catholicism that’s really based on seeing the Catholic Church as a barrier to their agenda.
It’s interesting to think about that, because the protestant anti-Catholics are not only the easiest to set straight, but because they also feel threatened by the secular progressive agenda. I have had a few occasions to point out to some of them that the only thing that stands between their religion and the full force of secular progressive pressure is the Catholic Church. That’s always a shocker when I say it, and they want to know why I think it. I tell them it’s because protestant churches are extremely varied and splintered-easier prey for a fairly unified world-view backed by political and media influence they, themselves, don’t have. I tell them to think about the anti-protestant media presentations they see. They’re just derisively dismissive, as if their religions are just a joke anyone could figure out. When it comes to attacks on the Catholic Church, they’re subtle, better prepared and largely indirect…the kind of thing you would do if you were attacking something capable of fighting back. Even the largest Protestant sect, the Southern Baptists, are not at all unified and are largely regional. There’s really no significant structure to the SBC. And even it is not capable of influencing people all over the U.S., in “non-negotiable”, “single voice” ways, over generations, and in all walks of life.
I have truly persuaded some protestants, largely evangelical, that the CC really is the only thing standing between them and powers likely capable of overwhelming them. And I believe it myself. It gives them an entirely new way of looking at the Catholic Church.
There is the protestant anti-Catholicism that’s largely based on ignorance.
There is the “former Catholic” anti-Catholicism that’s largely based on personal resentment.
Then there is the “secular progressive” anti-Catholicism that’s really based on seeing the Catholic Church as a barrier to their agenda.
It’s interesting to think about that, because the protestant anti-Catholics are not only the easiest to set straight, but because they also feel threatened by the secular progressive agenda. I have had a few occasions to point out to some of them that the only thing that stands between their religion and the full force of secular progressive pressure is the Catholic Church. That’s always a shocker when I say it, and they want to know why I think it. I tell them it’s because protestant churches are extremely varied and splintered-easier prey for a fairly unified world-view backed by political and media influence they, themselves, don’t have. I tell them to think about the anti-protestant media presentations they see. They’re just derisively dismissive, as if their religions are just a joke anyone could figure out. When it comes to attacks on the Catholic Church, they’re subtle, better prepared and largely indirect…the kind of thing you would do if you were attacking something capable of fighting back. Even the largest Protestant sect, the Southern Baptists, are not at all unified and are largely regional. There’s really no significant structure to the SBC. And even it is not capable of influencing people all over the U.S., in “non-negotiable”, “single voice” ways, over generations, and in all walks of life.
I have truly persuaded some protestants, largely evangelical, that the CC really is the only thing standing between them and powers likely capable of overwhelming them. And I believe it myself. It gives them an entirely new way of looking at the Catholic Church.
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Deacon_Ed_B
Guest
I have met several people that had a visceral hatred of Catholics. To describe them as rabid would be a compliment. Try as I might to explain what we were about, I only got vile responses. In the end I only promised them that they would be in my prayers, to which they replied they wanted no prayers of Catholics as we are all damned. I now simply try to avoid them, and they are still in my prayers whether they want them or not. These were extreme Southern Baptists who professed to be truly Christian.
Deacon Ed B.
Deacon Ed B.
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stina
Guest
I’ve met a lot of great people who were raised to believe that the Church is corrupt. I know one person in particular, who I was really close to, his mother on the day of her confirmation stormed out of the church so I’m sure you can imagine his view on Catholicism…
After I explained several misconceptions, the main problem he had with Catholicism became clear. He, as a person living in a very secular environment in California, hated how the church had rules.
Basically, I think that a lot of people are Anti-Catholic because the Church is telling them to do things that are contrary to the modern day view of self and immediate gratification.
That is a huge misconception about our faith, that the “rules” are there for the sole purpose of making our lives miserable. I try so hard to explain to other teenagers these days that things such as the Catholic view on premarital sex are actually beneficial to our lives, and Catholic “rules” aren’t their to make us feel guilty and miserable.
After I explained several misconceptions, the main problem he had with Catholicism became clear. He, as a person living in a very secular environment in California, hated how the church had rules.
Basically, I think that a lot of people are Anti-Catholic because the Church is telling them to do things that are contrary to the modern day view of self and immediate gratification.
That is a huge misconception about our faith, that the “rules” are there for the sole purpose of making our lives miserable. I try so hard to explain to other teenagers these days that things such as the Catholic view on premarital sex are actually beneficial to our lives, and Catholic “rules” aren’t their to make us feel guilty and miserable.
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james_dillaplai
Guest
All i really read were the first posts so I don’t know whats happening currently but I run into A-C alot I go to a protestant school. This story actually happened today.
Every Tuesday we have “Chapel Day” where we sing modern worship songs (from bands such as Casting Crowns and The Afters) and someone might come to talk about something. Anyways we have a religious historian/missionary come to the school today. She’s a classic ignorant anti-catholic protestant that doesnt know anything about the CC’s history. today she went way back to the 15th century right before or after the protestant reformation when no Bibles in England were allowed that wernt latin. but everything she said wasnt important the A-C stuff she said was the WHOLE CC was corrupt and the Pope was evil and cared for money only. (correct me if im wrong but is the Pope that was the current Pope then the same one that called together the Council of Trent?) and im not sure how she went to this but she went to a Catholic Church in Spain and saw Jesus in a coffin and said that we dont believe in Jesus’ resurrection. theres more but im sure this is long enough
Every Tuesday we have “Chapel Day” where we sing modern worship songs (from bands such as Casting Crowns and The Afters) and someone might come to talk about something. Anyways we have a religious historian/missionary come to the school today. She’s a classic ignorant anti-catholic protestant that doesnt know anything about the CC’s history. today she went way back to the 15th century right before or after the protestant reformation when no Bibles in England were allowed that wernt latin. but everything she said wasnt important the A-C stuff she said was the WHOLE CC was corrupt and the Pope was evil and cared for money only. (correct me if im wrong but is the Pope that was the current Pope then the same one that called together the Council of Trent?) and im not sure how she went to this but she went to a Catholic Church in Spain and saw Jesus in a coffin and said that we dont believe in Jesus’ resurrection. theres more but im sure this is long enough
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