What's the craziest Anti-Catholic whopper you've ever heard?

[Roy5]

Let me repeat a couple things.

1. Most rabid anti-Catholics are also rabidly against mainstream Protestantism. They accuse mainstream Protestants of being ‘modernists’, ‘radical leftists’ and/or even ‘Romanists’. I hesitate to speak evil of them, because personally they can be decent, moral people, but they pick up harsh prejudices from their families or their preachers. Unless one shares their prejudices, they become targets, too.
2. These extreme anti-Catholics are very few, certainly in this area - the northeast USA. In fact. I’ve never met one. There are Protestants who disagree vigorously with the Catholic Church on a whole range of issues - doctrines, practices, etc., everything from transubstantiation to clergy celibacy - but that doesn’t mean they are anti-Catholic. Most of them simply point out that fellow Christians have differences of opinion - and they leave it at that. They favor warm ecumenical relations despite differences.
3. There was a fear, deeply rooted in Protestantism, imported from Europe, that if Catholicism became dominant it would lead to repression of Protestantism. Since Vatican II this fear has all but evaporated, both because the church seems to have become more ecumenical (Catholics now can worship in Protestant churches, for example) and because it has become obvious that American Catholics overwhelmingly embrace democracy and separation of church and state. Earlier generations of Protestants were heavily influenced by such best sellers as Foxe’s “Book of Martyrs” which catalogued Protestants burned at the stake and such, and by such papal declarations as the “Syllabus of Errors” in or about 1870.
4. To many Protestants, for the Catholic Church to declare that it alone is the one true, apostolic and infallible church is evidence of Catholic prejudice. Very few Protestants feel that their particular denomination is the one true church. They may compete in some local situations, but their clergy have been in local associations and such for many, many years. After 1963 many Catholic priests joined these same associations.
5. To play up Protestant extremists as typical of Protestantism in any way is to warp the overall picture as well as plant seed of bias among Catholics. It’s like Protestants who would highlight the Catholic clergy sex scandal. Interestingly, there seems to be no evidence that I’m aware of that Protestants have exploited that scandal. The real enemies of both Catholicism and Protestantism are the same: those who are against both and who want to drive God completely out of the public square. Catholicism may be a more convenient target, perhaps, because of its centralized authority and its unity on certain issues. Protestantism is much more divided on issues such as pro-choice vs pro-life and gay marriage, although the most religiously conservative area is the heavily Protestant South. The Catholic Church may speak with one voice, but look at Congress and I think it fair to say that many Catholics follow the lead of Pelosi who herself claims to be a Catholic.And polls have shown that the Catholic rank and file are split on many issues. Note: white Protestant majority voted for McCain, Catholic majority voted for Obama.
6. In any case, it’s silly and contrary to the commandment of Christ that Christians promote disunity and bitterness among fellow Christians. I read a lot of that here on CAF. Both Protestants and Catholics are guilty, so neither group can claim to be superior when it comes to working toward understanding and reconciliation.

 

[MariaG]

Let me repeat a couple things.

1. Most rabid anti-Catholics are also rabidly against mainstream Protestantism. They accuse mainstream Protestants of being ‘modernists’, ‘radical leftists’ and/or even ‘Romanists’. I hesitate to speak evil of them, because personally they can be decent, moral people, but they pick up harsh prejudices from their families or their preachers. Unless one shares their prejudices, they become targets, too.
2. These extreme anti-Catholics are very few, certainly in this area - the northeast USA. In fact. I’ve never met one. There are Protestants who disagree vigorously with the Catholic Church on a whole range of issues - doctrines, practices, etc., everything from transubstantiation to clergy celibacy - but that doesn’t mean they are anti-Catholic. Most of them simply point out that fellow Christians have differences of opinion - and they leave it at that. They favor warm ecumenical relations despite differences.

I guess I am just lucky

The last World day of prayer that I attended, was the one held at the Catholic Church.
In previous years, I had gone to other churches, all Protestant. This was “our” year to host it. Unlike previous years, there were not many people who came, except those who were Catholic. Not all of the pastors came, unlike previous years. And one, he came even though he said he might be out of a job because most of his congregation did not want him to come pray with us since Catholics are not Christians.

In every single church I attended before becoming Catholic, a good number of them no longer will pray with me because I am not Christian anymore.

And even those who have come to realize that I am a Christian say things like “Idolatry is rampant” or basically that I am Christian in spite of being Catholic.

If that is the small minority, I really, really would hate to see the world if thier numbers get larger because they already seem quite large to me.

They favor nice relations with other Christians, they just don’t include Catholics as Christians.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Let me repeat a couple things…

1. These extreme anti-Catholics are very few, certainly in this area - the northeast USA. In fact. I’ve never met one. There are Protestants who disagree vigorously with the Catholic Church on a whole range of issues - doctrines, practices, etc., everything from transubstantiation to clergy celibacy - but that doesn’t mean they are anti-Catholic. Most of them simply point out that fellow Christians have differences of opinion - and they leave it at that. They favor warm ecumenical relations despite differences.
   .

Ya well…I didn’t hear much…although some…while I was a Protestant. Become Catholic and then it comes out of the woodwork. Some of it from families AND friends who now think you are going to hell because of what they THINK the Catholic Church is. Bottom line…we get to discuss it here…laugh about some of the absurdities…and move on…I haven’t seen anything here that is a rapid move against Protestants. And I don’t know that it is all Protestants who are perpetuating these whoppers…it’s not said what denomination if any in most of these posts…

Roy5–if you don’t like it…then don’t post to the Catholic forumn. I don’t understand how you feel you have a right to be so against what Catholics are discussing on their own website…

By the way–I would laugh at the absurdity if some said something as such about Protestants…but I have not heard that…but if I did–I would tell them that they are wrong.

Just because you haven’t heard it…doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen…

 

[MariaG]

By the way–I would laugh at the absurdity if some said something as such about Protestants…but I have not heard that…but if I did–I would tell them that they are wrong.

Just because you haven’t heard it…doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen…

I too have NEVER heard a Catholic, in person, say absurd lies about Protestants.

But MANY times, in person, have I heard absurd and some not so absurd, but lies never the less, about Catholics.

Here in the forums, I have seen some rude Catholics, as well as some abrupt ones. I have also seen a few Catholics that are ignorant of the fact that not all Protestants believe in OSAS or other such doctrines that are part of a particular denomination and not Protestants as a whole. I have seen general sweeping statements that are meant about ALL Protestants but only apply to a few.

But I honestly cannot recall a single false statement. Again, maybe statements that don’t apply to ALL Protestant denoms but true about at least one.

Lies about Catholics? Everyday, here, at least once a week in person.

Protestants? Never in person, ?and not in my recollection here at CA forums or any other online forum.

Craziest thing said to me lately? In Person less than a month ago?

Catholics do too worship Mary…

Let’s just say that the conversation was very public went on too long, and I kept telling them I would love to get a cup of coffee and discuss this with them later.

That NEVER happened to me as a Protestant. EVER.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

1. In any case, it’s silly and contrary to the commandment of Christ that Christians promote disunity and bitterness among fellow Christians. I read a lot of that here on CAF. Both Protestants and Catholics are guilty, so neither group can claim to be superior when it comes to working toward understanding and reconciliation.

I understand your point about avoiding bias but even if we did, it still doesn’t change the fact that there are really more nuts on the Protestant side of the fence than Catholics.

I mean, for instance, evolutionists cite us as an example of a religion reconciling with Darwin’s theory while the Bible thumpers are the ones traditionally depicted pushing the creationist agenda.

Here’s another for my own personal experience. When I was in Grade 6, I attended a Protestant-run school and made quite a notorious reputation among a few students and teachers for not just remaining Catholic, but also because I was a huge fan of Harry Potter, Digimon, and Final Fantasy VIII. Never have I had that kind of treatment when I was in Catholic schools.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Ya know, I think some people are taking this thread too seriously. I think most of us are just seeking a little comic relief…

 

[Roy5]

Just a couple thoughts - again

I don't know where MariaG and others live, but I hear very little religious bigotry here in the Northeast. Both my Catholic and Protestant friends take pride in their faiths, but they seem to want to be friendly.

Now, as to Protestant participation in Church Women United, for example, that was originally a Protestant group which Catholics joined later. Here in this area it seems to be supported well by both, although it is true that fundamentalist Protestants do not participate. They don't participate with other Protestants, either. They think they have the only correct interpretation and full truth of the gospel and quote the Bible about not being yoked together - etc.

I have noticed, however, that some priests seem to stay away from ecumenical services, except the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January, when they all come out. That Week has Catholic roots - Greymoor Friars as I recall. Protestants here participate, even though the Catholic position on church unity seems to be that Protestants give up their 'heresies' and accept everything as taught by Catholicism.

As I have written, I am a senior citizen with both Catholic and Protestant heritage and kinfolk. I go back before Vatican II and recall when the Catholic Church warned Catholics that it was a sin to attend worship in a Protestant church. That changed with Vatican II. I've sometimes wondered: was it really a sin before, but not after? Or, had those priests who warned their flocks to stay away from Protestant churches been misled? Or, what?

 My own view is that God loves all of his children equally, and I'm convinced that the Lord looks at our hearts and not at our doctrines or church affiliation. Would a merciful, compassionate, forgiving and loving God be any different?

  God bless Catholics, Protestants and everybody else, even those who seem to carry around a militant chip on their shoulders. That seems to describe Muslim extremists - intolerant of other faiths - but it should not describe Christians. We'll called upon to love one another.

 

[ALLGIRLS]

My Adventist friend told me that the one day the Catholic Church is going to give lots of money to the United States goverment and then they will be in control of the country.

Oh yeah, because the U.S. Government just loooves the Catholic Church and everything about it!

In Christ,

Ellen

 

[ALLGIRLS]

I’d bet if he even finds such a site, it’s likely the people running it are on the sedevacantist fringe. Those people are an even smaller minority than the fundamentalists.

Don’t you think it would be fun to get both of them in a room together, and let them go at it? (videotaping of course, for my own amusement ). “you’re not a Christian!” “Yes I am, you’re not!” “You’re going to hell heretic!” “You are! You’re not saved, Romanist!”

In Christ,

Ellen

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Don’t you think it would be fun to get both of them in a room together, and let them go at it? (videotaping of course, for my own amusement ). “you’re not a Christian!” “Yes I am, you’re not!” “You’re going to hell heretic!” “You are! You’re not saved, Romanist!”

Throw in the rabid New Atheists as well (e.g. Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris) and we might just be closer to solving our ecumenical problems! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! >XD

 

[Petergee]

I have noticed, however, that some priests seem to stay away from ecumenical services, except the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January, when they all come out.

Probably because Catholics are forbidden to take part in ecumencial services unless the services have been endorsed by the Catholic hierarchy.

I go back before Vatican II and recall when the Catholic Church warned Catholics that it was a sin to attend worship in a Protestant church. That changed with Vatican II. I’ve sometimes wondered: was it really a sin before, but not after? Or, had those priests who warned their flocks to stay away from Protestant churches been misled? Or, what?

It’s still a sin to attend a protestant church other than where the Church has allowed exceptions (bona fide ecumenical services, weddings and funerals of friends/relatives).

 My own view is that God loves all of his children equally, and I'm convinced that the Lord looks at our hearts and not at our doctrines or church affiliation. Would a merciful, compassionate, forgiving and loving God be any different?

Of course God will forgive our errors if we are honestly not to blame for them. But our Lord said quite a lot about the importance of doctrines and affilliation to His Church.

  God bless Catholics, Protestants and everybody else, even those who seem to carry around a militant chip on their shoulders. That seems to describe Muslim extremists - intolerant of other faiths - but it should not describe Christians. We'll called upon to love one another.

The two are not mutually exclusive. I respect anyone who is intolerant of other faiths than his own. If he truly believes his own faith is true, then other faiths which contradict it cannot be true. But of course we are called by Christ to love all people despite the intolerable beliefs of some of them.

 

[Ne_OrangeKnight]

Roy, if you’re going to keep repeating the same things, then so will I.

These extreme anti-Catholics are very few, certainly in this area - the northeast USA. In fact. I’ve never met one.

That’s still great (and I mean it), but it’s still fairly irrelevant. Unless you’re willing to call everyone who’s posted here a liar, you need to understand that your personal experiences are not necessarily representative of humanity at large. Rabid anti-Catholic bias is a reality in some places, and in some people.

There was a fear, deeply rooted in Protestantism, imported from Europe, that if Catholicism became dominant it would lead to repression of Protestantism.
…]
To many Protestants, for the Catholic Church to declare that it alone is the one true, apostolic and infallible church is evidence of Catholic prejudice. Very few Protestants feel that their particular denomination is the one true church.

You need to remember that Protestants, all Protestants, split off from the Catholic Church (either directly, like Lutherans and Anglicans, or indirectly, i.e. various groups that splintered off from early Protestants, or splintered off from those groups, or from those groups, etc.). It is the Catholic Church alone that can trace itself, in an unbroken line of ordained clergy, back to the Apostles. Not a single Protestant group can trace itself back to before the 16th century. So it is not prejudice that leads Catholics to claim the One True Church, it is simply a matter of history.

In any case, it’s silly and contrary to the commandment of Christ that Christians promote disunity and bitterness among fellow Christians.

Indeed it is. Which is why the Church has continued to promote unity and call or separated brethren back into the fullness of truth in the one church, as a matter of historical fact, founded by Jesus Christ. Unless you have some proof to the contrary?

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight

 

[Ne_OrangeKnight]

Oh, but here’s a good one I just remembered when making that last post.

Long story as to why my Catholic wife was at a Baptist-run grade school, but at one point it came up that all Protestants originated from the Catholic Church. And the pastor insisted to her mother that, no, Baptists were never a part of the Catholic Church, they never broke off from the Church; they were a branch of the Anabaptists. He maintained this insistence, I am told, even in the face of a mountain of historical evidence.

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight

 

[MariaG]

Just a couple thoughts - again

I don’t know where MariaG and others live, but I hear very little religious bigotry here in the Northeast. Both my Catholic and Protestant friends take pride in their faiths, but they seem to want to be friendly.

Pacific Northwest.

And they want to be friendly just a large number of Protestants who don’t acknowledge the basic Christianity of Catholics.

Now, as to Protestant participation in Church Women United, for example, that was originally a Protestant group which Catholics joined later. Here in this area it seems to be supported well by both, although it is true that fundamentalist Protestants do not participate. They don’t participate with other Protestants, either. They think they have the only correct interpretation and full truth of the gospel and quote the Bible about not being yoked together - etc.

I have noticed, however, that some priests seem to stay away from ecumenical services, except the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January, when they all come out. That Week has Catholic roots - Greymoor Friars as I recall. Protestants here participate, even though the Catholic position on church unity seems to be that Protestants give up their ‘heresies’ and accept everything as taught by Catholicism.

Our former parish priest participated alot in Interdenominational stuff. The current one, not so much.

But since the last world day of prayer, under the current priest, it was found out that most of the churches in town don’t even consider Catholics Christians, I am not surprised.

As for giving up heresies, the fact of the matter is that “agreeing to disagree” hasn’t got us anywhere. However, laying down exactly what we CAN agree on, is very helpful.

As I have written, I am a senior citizen with both Catholic and Protestant heritage and kinfolk. I go back before Vatican II and recall when the Catholic Church warned Catholics that it was a sin to attend worship in a Protestant church. That changed with Vatican II. I’ve sometimes wondered: was it really a sin before, but not after? Or, had those priests who warned their flocks to stay away from Protestant churches been misled? Or, what?

.

My own view is that God loves all of his children equally, and I’m convinced that the Lord looks at our hearts and not at our doctrines or church affiliation. Would a merciful, compassionate, forgiving and loving God be any different?

I am sure he looks at our hearts. But scripture warns us that there will be those who come along teaching falsely. And I don’t want to be in that group that is misled.

God bless Catholics, Protestants and everybody else, even those who seem to carry around a militant chip on their shoulders. That seems to describe Muslim extremists - intolerant of other faiths - but it should not describe Christians. We’ll called upon to love one another

Yes we are. Looking forward to when that happens. Especially other Christians loving other Christians.

God Bless,
Maria

 

[Roy5]

I was chatting with a Protestant clergyman recently, and I asked him what he thought of Catholicism. He smiled as he replied: “We’ve come to the point where we agree to disagree,” That sounds sane to me.

Now, as for being the original church, I think that some Catholics may not understand the perspective of some Protestants. They believe that Christ established the church, though it seems that Paul, Peter and other early followers did most of that. Jesus, after all, had a ministryhere on earth that lasted only three years and he never (as an adult) left the Holy Land. (I sometimes question the story of him being in Egypt as a baby, but strict Bible-believing Christian certainly believe that.)

 The church, in their view, had early divisions. Gradually, one group emerged as the dominant group, though in 1054 there was the split between East and West which, among other things, was over the authority of Rome. 

  Most Protestants would then say something like this. As the church became more dominant and wealthier in the West ir also became more corrupt. There were various attempts at reform from within, but Hus was burned at the stake, the Waldensians were chased into the Alps, Wycliffe was unsuccessful (and I believe his body was exhumed and maybe scattered - or was it burned?), etc. Luther was the first one to make some progress, and an attempt was made to kill him, but a friendly prince sheltered him in his castle. 

  Some would say that if the Vatican hadn't been so harsh, and if some reforms were made promptly, Protestantism would not have been necessary. The Council of Trent enacted some important reforms, but it wasn't until Vatican II that - for example - the mass was in the vernacular. Soon the religious wars had broken out, both Protestants and Catholics can cite horrendous acts of violence directed against them, etc. My father's side was French-Canadian Catholic. My mother's side was Belgian Catholic. An ancestral grandfather became a Huguenot, was ordered to stand triral for heresy in Ghent, fled with his family that night to France, then had to flee to England when the Edict of Nantes was revoked, etc. The grandchildren of that couple came to New England with the Puritans.

 The only point I'm trying to make is that history can be seen from many viewpoints. That's why my constant theme is that we need a 'big tent' Christianity, one where different traditions are respected, where one member might believe in the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (defined in 1950) and another question it, where one member might believe that Padre Pio belocated and levitated and another can't bring him/herself to believe it, etc. 

  I know this runs counter to most posters here on CAF, but so be it. I am content to wait to find out the ultimate truth in the world to come. Frankly, I think our finite minds cannot absorb the truth in its fullness. I mean, consider this huge universe with maybe a million or even a billion solar systems! I'm not sure all God's attention is focused on us. Maybe. I like the old hymn: "Farther along we'll know all about it, farther along we'll understand why, cheer up my brother (sister), live in the sunshine, we'll understand it all bye and bye." Sort of country western, but a good message for everyone.

   God bless Catholics, Protestants, Orthofox, and Coptic along with those of other all faiths who are reaching out to know and seek and serve the Lord. The Christian religion should be a bridge and not a barrier. Jesus must weep when he reads some of these arrogant postings. "Why callest me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?"

 

[Major_Tom]

I respect anyone who is intolerant of other faiths than his own. If he truly believes his own faith is true, then other faiths which contradict it cannot be true.

Vive la difference.

I used to think that way, too. That is, "well, all faiths have that ‘ours is the only way’ mentality. However, it is worth noting that not all faiths take such a rigid view. Unitarianism and the Baha’i faith (as well as others) acknowledge a bit more diversity in available avenues to God. I realize that you’re in a relatively tough position, as your doctrine seems especially reluctant to build bridges.

I think it was Newton who said, “we need more bridges, not walls.” I’ve thrown my lot in with that crowd. I can’t believe that God will banish my eternal soul to hell because I wanted to read a few more books and wrestle with issues that the Catholic Church has deemed taboo. I applaud the semtiment that Roy espouses.

But, as I said, vive la difference!

 

[PRmerger]

Vive la difference!

Really? Any difference? Or just the differences you approve of?

 

[Marc_Anthony]

The Catholic Church absolutely wants to build bridges. Remember, she was the One Church for a good long time. All the other Churches left her, not the other way around.

The Catholic Church is working hard to get Anglicans and Orthodox back into the fold, and there are Saints who were canonized for trying to bring Calvinists back into the Church. However, we accept liturgical and doctrinal differences in such Churches. All that is required is that they accept Catholic DOGMA. Surely you realize the wisdom in keeping a set system of beliefs. But the Church is very welcoming and wnats nothing more than for us all to be united under her!

 

[Major_Tom]

And yeah, you might tell your acquaintance: “Hah, what outdated information. We Catholics now worship felt banners!”

I see that the ecumenical spirit can be a bit trying for some souls when it comes to reconciling theology…

…but you’ve hit it! The common thread! What denomination DOESN’T relate to felt banners! Perfect…!

 

[Marc_Anthony]

Also, the Church is willing to reconcile theology. It’s dogma she won’t sacrifice.