What do Protestant really believe about the Catholic Church?

[JonNC]

My Evangelical friends worry about my salvation.

And my Catholic friends here worry about mine.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

I have to say, my one friend (I knew her before she was saved—her family was generically Protestant— and during her conversion to evangelical, and for the many years since) has come to understand that some of us Catholics do have a personal relationship with Jesus, and it’s not just ritual.

Her phrase is “Some Catholics are Christian, too.”

But she was never “hostile towards” the RCC, just “concerned about”.

 

[Augustinian]

Protestants are a diverse group, you’ll see many different opinions about Catholics and Catholic Church based more on how many Catholics they are acquainted with and in what capacity- probably more so than in what they hear in church.

In a community which is a majority Catholic and the ruling elite are Catholic, you might see a different attitude than in a location where all of the Catholics are lower class immigrants new to the area.

 

[lilypadrees]

The names we were called on the Amazon Discussion forums. The Catholic Church was regularly referred to by the rabid anti-Catholics as “the Whore of Babylon” and the Pope was “the Anti-Christ.”

And if a Protestant requested prayer and a Catholic said he or she would pray for that person, the Protestant would state that our prayers to Mary meant nothing and would rebuke our prayers in the name of Jesus even if we weren’t praying to Mary but to Jesus Himself.

Sadly, they didn’t want to hear the truth and didn’t want peace between Catholics and Protestants or to find common ground.

 

[SnowRose]

Please, lily.

You keep over and over believing ”Protestants” are those non-Catholics where you live.
It’s the equivalent of me judging the RCC from the crusades and the Spanish inquisition. At best it is ignorant, at medium it’s insulting-if-wellmeaning, and at worst it’s insulting.

Stop.
Just stop.
Please.

 

[edward_george1]

Yeah that’s where I was coming from in my initial post to this thread. I think there are only a few denominations that could theologically be called Protestant in any meaningful historical sense, and it’s not fair to the theological robustness present in those denominations to lump in a lot of the more recently minted megachurch-style groups. Proper Protestants have far more intellectual rigor to their theology.

It’s sort of like my pickiness about the term “modern,” which doesn’t actually mean “contemporary,” but that’s how it tends to get used. But that’s a whole other ball of wax.

 

[ZMystiCat]

Sadly, they didn’t want to hear the truth and didn’t want peace between Catholics and Protestants or to find common ground.

I’ve been part of those discussions, though not the Amazon one. It actually left me a little concerned when I chose to convert. I had been raised AoG before moving to Reformed Christianity, and both can be viciously anti-Catholic both online and in-person. Since my parents are still Pentecostal, sometimes attending AoG churches, and my brother still maintains connections with Reformed groups in his area, I was somewhat concerned how they’d respond.

Thankfully, once the shock wore off, they were mostly OK with it. My brother hasn’t made his thoughts too known, but he at least doesn’t mind taking me to church when I visit. My dad and step-mom, despite leaving Catholicism, don’t seem to mind too much. My step-mom even showed a little joy when I said I try to pray the Rosary daily.

 

[lilypadrees]

I’m sorry my views offend you, Snow Rose. Just pass over my posts and you won’t have to read them.

And please note that I didn’t name specific denominations or people. Unless you were one of the posters there who made those comments, there is nothing for you to be offended by.

 

[JonNC]

I’m sorry my views offend you, Snow Rose. Just pass over my posts and you won’t have to read them.

And please note that I didn’t name specific denominations or people. Unless you were one of the posters there who made those comments, there is nothing for you to be offended by.

Please note my encouragement that naming specific denominations is precisely what you should do.
This is why I say that, regarding doctrine and practice, use of the term “protestant” is folly.

 

[SnowRose]

And please note that I didn’t name specific denominations or people. Unless you were one of the posters there who made those comments, there is nothing for you to be offended by

You were talking about ”Protestants” - of which I am one - in a way where you are actually embarrassing yourself.
If you moderate your posts, I will no longer be forced to flag and correct you.
Thank you.

 

[savedbyfaith1]

The Protestants I hang with (most of whom are ex-Catholics) love Catholics and want them to be saved. What we hate is Catholic doctrine, mostly their way of salvation (which ISN’T a way of salvation). Instead of me going into detail about what is wrong with it, read Galatians (all of it), Romans 1-4 (making sure you make it to the end of the chapter 4), Romans 6:23, John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:1-5, 1 John 5:11-12, Luke 18:9-14, Luke 23:39-43, Revelation 1:5b. Blessed are those who learn the truth from God and not men!

 

[lilypadrees]

“The Protestants I hang with (most of whom are ex-Catholics) love Catholics and want them to be saved.”

If I may, what do they (your Protestant friends) think we need saving from? Those who are former Catholics should already know that we’re Christians. We believe in Jesus and already have a personal relationship with him.

What is it about our Catholic doctrine that you and your friends have a problem with? I can’t believe it’s just our view of salvation. Your friends had to have left for more than that.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

Lily, it’s not hard to understand.

If they believe that you can only be saved by faith and if they believe Catholics don’t have faith (which is supposed to come after a conversion experience in their opinion), then they don’t believe Catholics will be saved. Instead Catholics would go to hell.

Of course, you and I know that Catholics have faith and are striving to live the kind of life that merits heaven. Of course you and I know that many of us have personal relationships with God.

 

[lilypadrees]

Yes, but there is a difference between lifelong belief in Protestant teaching and leaving the Catholic Church for the warm fuzzies of Protestantism.

I’m trying to find out what the catalyst was for these former Catholics who now see the Catholic Church as the big bad. They didn’t just change their beliefs overnight.

 

[on_the_hill]

I like this thread.
It seems like one of the few in this sub-forum wherein Catholics don’t answer all the questions on behalf of their non-Catholic friends.

 

[JonNC]

If they believe that you can only be saved by faith and if they believe Catholics don’t have faith (which is supposed to come after a conversion experience in their opinion), then they don’t believe Catholics will be saved. Instead Catholics would go to hell.

And even this is not a “Protestant “view. It is the view of some communions/ denominations.
I certainly know Catholics have faith.
I’ve never had a conversion experience , other than Baptism a month after I was born, and I have faith.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

You did note the IFs right? I was Baptist for 30 years. I’m quite aware of the differences and divisions amongst non Catholics. If you refer back to the post in question, I think you will see that the poster is arguing from an evangelical POV (probably reformed).

PS: he said Catholics aren’t saved.

 

[ZMystiCat]

The Protestants I hang with (most of whom are ex-Catholics) love Catholics and want them to be saved.

The fact that you think we aren’t saved is really part of the problem.

What we hate is Catholic doctrine, mostly their way of salvation (which ISN’T a way of salvation)

And what do you think Catholics teach about salvation?

read Galatians (all of it), Romans 1-4 (making sure you make it to the end of the chapter 4), Romans 6:23, John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:1-5, 1 John 5:11-12, Luke 18:9-14, Luke 23:39-43, Revelation 1:5b.

Sure…because we’re only Catholics due to not reading those. Maybe you should read James 2:14-26.

(Note: I have read all those, multiple times, and I spent a considerable amount of time contemplating them during my conversion to Catholicism from Reformed Christianity. So it isn’t that I haven’t read them, nor is it that I haven’t spent plenty of time studying them from a very Reformed position. It’s that the more I became aware of what Catholics actually teach on the matter, rather the strawman Reformed apologists make of it, it was clear that they weren’t actually opposed to Catholic teaching.)

 

[Dlee]

I think there are only a few denominations that could theologically be called Protestant in any meaningful historical sense, and it’s not fair to the theological robustness present in those denominations to lump in a lot of the more recently minted megachurch-style groups. Proper Protestants have far more intellectual rigor to their theology.

Well stated. My sister is attending a non-denominational group that meets for those who “can’t attend traditional church times.” They had a preacher who had been arrested/convicted with window peeping and neighbors - the news was very explicit with what he watched. It bothered her that he was preaching - I asked her what that churches position was, and she said must be okay because they’re doing it. I don’t think I would categorize this church as protestant.

• List item

 

[ltwin]

Protestants what do believe about Catholic Church like Doctrine, history, and why not become part the Church?

I grew up Pentecostal, so I mostly run in Pentecostal, evangelical and non-denominational circles. I would say 1/3 are strongly anti-Catholic on the basis of its theological errors including works righteousness, the penitential system, purgatory, the cult of the saints, prayer to the dead, Marian doctrines, papal infallibility and the sacrifice of the mass. Another third would say that Catholics as a group have some questionable beliefs but many are genuine Christians. Another third probably know absolutely nothing about Catholicism except what they see on The Exorcist.

My personal belief is that the long list I gave are certainly concerning and would keep me from ever becoming a Catholic. I believe the gospel is preached within the Catholic Church, but the doctrinal system taken as a whole muddies the waters considerably. I could see someone who may not be particularly educated in the nuances of Catholic theology being misled into a false sense of security as long as they are baptized, attend mass, go to confession and do penance.

I believe the history of Catholicism is fascinating, and you can’t really understand Protestant theologies (in all their varieties) without first understanding what the Reformers were reacting against and trying to correct.