What is the biggest misconception non-Catholics have of Catholicism?

[MT1926]

This question is addressed to Catholics.

What is the biggest misconception that non-Catholic Christians have of Catholics and Catholicism?

For example, what stereotypes or incorrect assumptions are made of Catholics or Catholicism that are inaccurate or unfair that you wish could be addressed and corrected once and for all?

One inaccurate assumption that comes to mind for me is that I have heard some Protestant Christians refer to Catholicism as a “works-based” religion instead of a “faith-based” one. I have come to realize that is not the case. Sure, works are important in Catholicism but faith plays a big part, too.

Hi Tommy,

Nice to talk with you again. I was going to give you an example of a works discussion I was having on another thread then I realized I was having the discussion with you. I wasn’t sure if you were getting what I was trying to explain. But from your last sentence it seems you are starting to get the Catholic view.

I think the one that gets under my skin is that my interpretation of scripture is wrong since I follow the Catholic Church’s interpretation of scripture. Which means I am following the traditions of man. That one irritates me to no end because it makes absolutely no sense. No one has ever been able to explain to me how me following the 2000 year old interpretation of a verse of scripture can be considered following the tradition of man. When the person who usually says it to me is the person who interprets the Bible on there own and this somehow isn’t considered following the tradition of men.

I can understand them saying they don’t agree with the Catholic interpretation, but to outright say the Church’s interpretation is wrong just doesn’t make sense.

 

[Memaw]

That we don’t read the Bible or know it. What they really mean is Catholics don’t seem to “know” the verses they think all important. We know them, all right, we simply don’t take them literalistically or read them as if they’re the only verses that matter. Nor do Catholics interpret Scripture for doctrinal purposes–deciding for ourselves what is and what isn’t real Christian teaching and practice. The Bible is a witness to the authority of the Church, not an authority in and of itself. In that, we see the Bible in a very different context, as a part of Sacred Tradition rooted in the OT and continuing into the NT and up until present time. We not only read the Bible, but we know it is God’s written word, and we certainly use it for spiritual growth and guidance.

One anti-Catholic man tried to tell me he went to a Catholic Mass with his wife for 10 years and never once heard the name Jesus Christ said. I thought he was trying to pull my leg but he was serious. I showed him a Missile and he couldn’t believe. it. I told him he must not have been in a Catholic Church. God Bless, Memaw

 

[on_the_hill]

So what is the reason for this thread? To put down Catholics?

Where’d you get this idea? SMH

Of the many Protestants I know, very few (if any) place importance on the theology of their particular denomination. They tend to switch from one to another (Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, Methodism, etc.) based on where they might move to and whichever one is closest to their new home, or they might switch based on how much they might like a particular congregation’s members, or social/community characteristics that they find attractive.

A misconception I’ve come across more than once is that Protestants tend to think Catholics have the same freedom of movement–that we can switch denominations for any given reason. There seems to be a lack of understanding of the lifelong commitment that Catholicism entails.

Contrary to what some others posted, Protestants I know say that since we’re all Christian, there’s no reason for Catholics to deny Protestants the opportunity to receive the Eucharist, other than that we’re bigoted.

That we don’t use the Bible–but actually every Mass has a number of parts taken directly from the Bible: first reading, second reading, Gospel, Our Father, parts of the Communion Prayers, etc.

Oh,and the whole “You worship Mary,” thing.

 

[Tommy999]

Not exactly the biggest misconception, but a quote from my Southern Baptist sister-in-law: “Catholics aren’t even Christian. They go to church on Sunday and live like the devil during the week.” Needless to say, we have agreed to disagree, and not discuss matters of religion, and we get along famously. She’s a wonderful person who lives her faith, and I like to think she can see the faith in my life as well.

Such stereotypes are blatantly wrong, in my view. Please understand that not all Protestants feel that way, and not even all Baptists. It sounds like you are a level-headed and mature Christian and you didn’t strike back at her. Good for you for taking the high road.

I am embarrassed to admit that I once felt the same way as her a long time ago. When my mother (lifelong Presbyterian) died when I was a young zealous evangelical, I was concerned for her soul because she hadn’t followed the same formula for salvation that I was taught was necessary. I was an equal opportunity bigot and felt the same way about Catholics. Actually, it was my sincere conviction at the time. I have come to realize that God is the one who is in charge and who determines who goes to heaven, not some handy-dandy formula.

As I age, my mother (God rest her soul) seems to get wiser each year.

One time I remembered saying to her when I was in my late teens (decades ago) that I was glad I became a Christian and serve God because I will escape hell and eternal punishment. I remember her responding to me in a quiet voice, “While it is good to want to escape hell, I think we should decide to follow Christ out of love for Him, not just to escape eternal damnation”.

Like I said, she’s gotten wiser as I’ve grown older.

 

[Tommy999]

OH man, where to begin?
That we worship Mary
That we have no clue about the Bible
That we just make up stuff
That we are repressed sex fiends
That we hate women
That if you were raised Catholic you’re really screwed up in the head.
That our Church is the whore of Babylon.

Shall I go on?

Those two underlined ones I had never heard before.

Plus, how can they say Catholics hate women when they hold Mary in such high regard?

Some things just defy logic.

 

[Tommy999]

1. Saved by works (as you note). Unfortunately there are Catholics who do seem to believe this; they come in two varieties. (1) Works in the sense of fulfilling religious works / practice to the hilt; little else. (2) Works in the sense of social justice warriors; adherence to doctrine is for Pharisees…

Catholics do, of course, believe that one is saved by faith and works, more or less what Lutherans and I suspect most Protestants believe. (in the sense that works flow from faith; true faith inevitably leads to witness of Christ in deed as well as word)

1. Catholics’ worship focuses on Mary, saints as much as / more than Jesus. Or a more refined form, Catholics worship the Pope, the Church more than Jesus, Scripture. Again, you see this from time to time in Catholics, so there is good reason for the misunderstanding.
2. Gay lobby - this one I suspect is also true to a certain extent, but it really bothers me. It is unfair to the Church, clergy, as a whole. The proposed solution is always: let priests marry. (not necessarily opposed to that btw) The stereotyping is what makes me uncomfortable.

I agree, FollowChrist34. There are always just enough people who do something enough to form a stereotype, even if it is not the majority and even if the church doesn’t teach it, which may the case in some of the examples you cited. .

 

[Tommy999]

Hi Tommy,

Nice to talk with you again. I was going to give you an example of a works discussion I was having on another thread then I realized I was having the discussion with you. I wasn’t sure if you were getting what I was trying to explain. But from your last sentence it seems you are starting to get the Catholic view.

I think the one that gets under my skin is that my interpretation of scripture is wrong since I follow the Catholic Church’s interpretation of scripture. Which means I am following the traditions of man. That one irritates me to no end because it makes absolutely no sense. No one has ever been able to explain to me how me following the 2000 year old interpretation of a verse of scripture can be considered following the tradition of man. When the person who usually says it to me is the person who interprets the Bible on there own and this somehow isn’t considered following the tradition of men.

I can understand them saying they don’t agree with the Catholic interpretation, but to outright say the Church’s interpretation is wrong just doesn’t make sense.

Yes, that was me. Even though my wife claims I have “male pattern deafness”, I try to comprehend the points being made to me as much as my faith and mind will allow. I think it finally sunk in. Thanks for sharing and for being patient.

 

[FollowChrist34]

I agree, FollowChrist34. There are always just enough people who do something enough to form a stereotype, even if it is not the majority and even if the church doesn’t teach it, which may the case in some of the examples you cited. .

Yes, agreed. That is the problem with stereotypes - they usually come into being with good reason.

I am glad you have changed your views since your earlier Evangelical days - a good friend of mine is exactly the same way. She is Evangelical and treats me and the RCC so differently from back in the 80s/90s when she was really militant, even hostile. Once in a while she backslides a little, but she clearly now views me as a fellow Christian - and I do her. If I am honest, I should admit that I stereotype Evangelicals as anti-Catholic, misinformed, etc. a bit myself, but that I have grown out of that as I see them mellow toward me and the RCC.

All is well that ends well I guess.

 

[Tommy999]

One anti-Catholic man tried to tell me he went to a Catholic Mass with his wife for 10 years and never once heard the name Jesus Christ said. I thought he was trying to pull my leg but he was serious. I showed him a Missile and he couldn’t believe. it. I told him he must not have been in a Catholic Church. God Bless, Memaw

That does seem pretty far-fetched. Maybe he went to Mass in Spanish and he was waiting for the English version?

 

[pianistclare]

Those two underlined ones I had never heard before.

Plus, how can they say Catholics hate women when they hold Mary in such high regard?

Some things just defy logic.

Because of the teaching against premarital sex. We literally jump the bones of unsuspecting people. I know I do…HAHAHAHA JUST KIDDING!

Also…
the women thing is because “people feel like a bunch of old men in dresses are not going to tell me what I can or can’t do with my body”.

I heard that a lot in college.
Sad really.

 

[Tommy999]

Where’d you get this idea? SMH

Of the many Protestants I know, very few (if any) place importance on the theology of their particular denomination. They tend to switch from one to another (Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, Methodism, etc.) based on where they might move to and whichever one is closest to their new home, or they might switch based on how much they might like a particular congregation’s members, or social/community characteristics that they find attractive.

A misconception I’ve come across more than once is that Protestants tend to think Catholics have the same freedom of movement–that we can switch denominations for any given reason. There seems to be a lack of understanding of the lifelong commitment that Catholicism entails.

Contrary to what some others posted, Protestants I know say that since we’re all Christian, there’s no reason for Catholics to deny Protestants the opportunity to receive the Eucharist, other than that we’re bigoted.

That we don’t use the Bible–but actually every Mass has a number of parts taken directly from the Bible: first reading, second reading, Gospel, Our Father, parts of the Communion Prayers, etc.

Oh,and the whole “You worship Mary,” thing.

Commenting on the part I bolded…

I used to think Catholics were arrogant and condescending to not allow non-Catholic Christians the opportunity to partake in the Lord’s supper like our church allows those Christians who love Jesus to partake. I used to think, “Catholics must be snobs”.

When the differences in the Catholic and Protestant meanings of communion were explained to me in terms I could understand here on CAF, I finally understood the key differences and that they were really doing me a favor to not allow me to partake.

They also commented on how even Catholics shouldn’t partake under certain circumstances.

 

[Tommy999]

Because of the teaching against premarital sex. We literally jump the bones of unsuspecting people. I know I do…HAHAHAHA JUST KIDDING!

Also…
**the women thing is because “people feel like a bunch of old men in dresses are not going to tell me what I can or can’t do with my body”. **
I heard that a lot in college.
Sad really.

Men in dresses, eh? Interesting. I’ve never heard that one before either. I must lead a sheltered life.

 

[Tommy999]

I like your sense of humor, (name removed by moderator).

Can’t say that I know what a *Chick tract *is. That almost sounds like the flyers that are given to men who are walking in front of the Las Vegas casinos or something.

The person you describe almost sounds like one of those nutcases in Kansas that protest at soldiers’ funerals here in the US.

 

[Convert1]

Because of the teaching against premarital sex. We literally jump the bones of unsuspecting people. I know I do…HAHAHAHA JUST KIDDING!

Also…
the women thing is because “people feel like a bunch of old men in dresses are not going to tell me what I can or can’t do with my body”.

I heard that a lot in college.
Sad really.

Oh yeah, I also get how Catholics are militant when it comes to “Pro-Life” and oppress women by not allowing women to use birth control. You’re right it is sad.

 

[Tommy999]

Let’s hope and pray he comes around. When I hear of such people, I am reminded of St Paul, who aggressively persecuted Christians before he encountered Christ himself in a special way on the road to Damascus.

As I previously mentioned on another post, I once believed that Catholics as well as fellow Protestants who didn’t receive Christ as personal Lord and Savior in the same way I did were “unsaved” until such time as they did so. Perhaps there is hope for your old friend if he is like I was.

It sounds like you are part of a “mixed” marriage of sorts, with your wife being non-Catholic. I find that interesting, if you don’t mind me saying so.

I regret that my wife is adamantly anti-Catholic, although she loves the Lord and is a great lady who does many good things for our church and for the less fortunate. Sometimes she even offers to buy the meal at a restaurant of soldiers in uniform and she thanks them for their service.

I told her that I was going to enter ahead of her into all prospective restaurants to ensure there are no soldiers there because I want to keep a few dollars in the bank account after we finished dining.

 

[Tommy999]

Being a convert with loads of Baptist family members, I am constantly accused of “worshipping Mary” and by praying to Saints, I am “worshipping idols”.

I explain time and time again the role of the Holy Mother as our protector who intervenes for us in our time of need. I also explain that we honor her, for without her consent there would not have been an immaculate conception as we know it. Still, I constantly hear these statements, and I have somewhat just given up trying to reason with them.

The lack of “Bible based teaching” is another one, but I can argue that the Catholic Mass entails three (sometimes more) readings from scripture as a basis for our message each week. Most of them don’t know that because they have never been.

Hi Convert1,
On the bolded, I agree that there is plenty of scripture said at Mass. When I listen to a Mass on radio, they give the three readings as you mentioned, and the homily expounds on them. I like that.

I must admit that Mary and the attention that Catholics give to her still is a stumbling block for me. I don’t mean to offend Catholics by that statement. I am just being honest as I share my heart with you. I am trying to work through it.

Part of me believes she is worthy of honor beyond that which most Protestants give her. However, perhaps due to my over 5 decades as a Protestant, I still feel at times that the amount of attention given to her by Catholics is so effusive that it borders on turning her into a goddess akin to Artemis of the Ephesians.

Please keep me in your prayers if you don’t mind.

 

[Tommy999]

Oh yeah, I also get how Catholics are militant when it comes to “Pro-Life” and oppress women by not allowing women to use birth control. You’re right it is sad.

I agree. What about the 50% of aborted babies who are girls who would turn into women some day if allowed to live? Where are their rights? I am proudly pro-life and don’t apologize for it.

 

[fbl9]

Being a convert with loads of Baptist family members, I am constantly accused of “worshipping Mary” and by praying to Saints, I am “worshipping idols”.

I explain time and time again the role of the Holy Mother as our protector who intervenes for us in our time of need. I also explain that we honor her,** for without her consent there would not have been an immaculate conception as we know it.** Still, I constantly hear these statements, and I have somewhat just given up trying to reason with them.

The lack of “Bible based teaching” is another one, but I can argue that the Catholic Mass entails three (sometimes more) readings from scripture as a basis for our message each week. Most of them don’t know that because they have never been.

Maybe you just got words mixed up. Mary`s pregnancy is referred to and the Blessed Incarnation. Mary had no part in her conception. But she still was conceived immaculately.

 

[johnnyc176]

If you were familiar with Tommy’s other posts, you would realize that he is seeking knowledge and not in the least motivated by putting down Catholics.

I’m quite familiar with the op’s posts thank you very much. I stand by my comments.

 

[MT1926]

I must admit that Mary and the attention that Catholics give to her still is a stumbling block for me. I don’t mean to offend Catholics by that statement. I am just being honest as I share my heart with you. I am trying to work through it.

Part of me believes she is worthy of honor beyond that which most Protestants give her. However, perhaps due to my over 5 decades as a Protestant, I still feel at times that the amount of attention given to her by Catholics is so effusive that it borders on turning her into a goddess akin to Artemis of the Ephesians.

Just wanted to touch on this point. No offense taken. In all of my studies so far Mary does seem to be the biggest stumbling block from non-Catholics. Two of your prior responses immediately came to mind. I think one of the reasons why Mary is seen as a stumbling block goes along with your response to FollowChrist34. Some uniformed Catholics have pushed the Marian dogmas further than they were intended.

I agree, FollowChrist34. There are always just enough people who do something enough to form a stereotype, even if it is not the majority and even if the church doesn’t teach it, which may the case in some of the examples you cited. .

Another stumbling block is the most common defense against our Blessed Mother I have seen from anti-Catholics. Quite often in dialogues I hear the response “by giving her attention you take away from the attention you should be giving to Jesus”. This thought immediately brought your other post to my mind:

As I age, my mother (God rest her soul) seems to get wiser each year.

One time I remembered saying to her when I was in my late teens (decades ago) that I was glad I became a Christian and serve God because I will escape hell and eternal punishment. I remember her responding to me in a quiet voice, “While it is good to want to escape hell, I think we should decide to follow Christ out of love for Him, not just to escape eternal damnation”.

Like I said, she’s gotten wiser as I’ve grown older.

So often when I dialogue with anti-Catholics they take the scriptures of Jesus speaking to his Mother as “woman” and turn him into that unruly immature teenager to prove that he doesn’t listen to your Mother and she is insignificant. As you are getting older and more mature you can see the love and respect that we have and should have always had for our mothers.

Your ability to now see your mother’s love for you and that she was able to keep you on the path to following Christ is the perfect beginning. It won’t be long before you start to see that just like our physical mothers, our Blessed Mother doesn’t distract us from Jesus sacrifice on the cross, She helps to bring us ever closer to our Lord.

Keep studying my brother and keep up the good work.

God Bless.