When does a protestant become an antiCatholic

[randomusername]

I realize that Protestants by definition are protesting the Catholic Church. When though does a Protestant cross the line from disagreement with Church teachings to actually being anti Catholics. I ask because we have had a few Protestants on the board assert that they personally aren’t anti Catholics. I realize that all Protestants don’t hold the same views and some are actually pretty friendly toward Catholics.

In my opinion, any Protestant who believes that all Catholics are going to hell is antiCatholic. I’d like a better definition, though.

When they call the Pope the antichrist. I’ve accidentally stumbled onto protestant sites and I saw things like that. A lot of them are whack jobs. Everyone knows that Obama’s the real antichrist

that was a joke for anyone who hasn’t realised yet.

 

[Melissa]

Accusing the Catholic Church of criminal behavior or participation in conspiracies (Jesuits killing Lincoln and taking a blood oath to kill Protestants are popular), being part of the “New World Order,” one world religion, any variation of “666” relating to the papacy, all of the Jack Chick-type accusations – all these are typical “anti-Catholic” behaviors.

Disagreement on matters of theology, Biblical interpretation, etc., makes them wrong, but not "anti-."

To the bolded (which is my emphasis), I would add the caveat that when their disagreement on matters of theology, Biblical interpretation, etc. results in the actions of creating false statements about Church doctrine (and even disciplines and devotions–many in this category seem unable to distinguish between dogma, doctrine, discipline, and devotion) and proselytizing, particularly when accompanied by a refusal to accept that the Catholic actually knows his own Faith well enough to explain their errors in what was being said about the Church–those actions based on disagreement rise to the level of being anti-Catholic. It’s not saying that the non-Catholic needs to agree (and therefore convert), but to be willing to accept that if he is going to disagree with the Church he should at least not misrepresent the Church.

 

[Obsidion]

P.S.

protestants who were brought up “protestant” from infancy usually do not have that “axe-to-grind”

gusano

That’s been my experience as well. I have a lot of Baptist, Lutheran friends who’ve always been raised in those churches right from the time they were born. None of my friends are anti-Catholic at all; in fact, a lot of them are curious more than anything about Catholicism. It makes for good discussion, rather than arguing, from what I’ve seen.

 

[msammiem]

The very nature of protestantism is anti-Catholic. However, not every protestant is anti-catholic. If they don’t know about the Catholic Church, how can they be against it? Those that become anti-Catholic are those who try to debunk Catholic teaching and/or as you stated think that Catholics are hell bound or pagan. Those that simply only reject certain Catholic teaching, but respect it and tolerate it, are in heresy but not anti-Catholic.

** **

As a former protestant, I believe that most protestants are actually ignorant about the Catholic faith. Many of them are just “parroting” what they have heard from others. Many of them haven’t taken the time to actually learn about out the Catholic teachings. If they did then they would convert to Catholicism, wouldn’t they?

It doesn’t bother me if they say I’m going to hell or call me an idol worshiper. I know the truth. I try to show them the true charity of the True Church.

 

[Church_Militant]

As a former protestant, I believe that most protestants are actually ignorant about the Catholic faith. Many of them are just “parroting” what they have heard from others. Many of them haven’t taken the time to actually learn about out the Catholic teachings. If they did then they would convert to Catholicism, wouldn’t they?

It doesn’t bother me if they say I’m going to hell or call me an idol worshiper. I know the truth. I try to show them the true charity of the True Church.

Yep…it just sort of depends on where you are and what day of the week.

 

[Mystophilus]

To the bolded (which is my emphasis), I would add the caveat that when their disagreement on matters of theology, Biblical interpretation, etc. results in the actions of creating false statements about Church doctrine (and even disciplines and devotions–many in this category seem unable to distinguish between dogma, doctrine, discipline, and devotion) and proselytizing those actions based on disagreement rise to the level of being anti-Catholic.

As a Protestant, I would agree with this, particularly with regard to proselytizing.

particularly when accompanied by a refusal to accept that the Catholic actually knows his own Faith well enough to explain their errors in what was being said about the Church–

Given a fair few “explanations” which I have seen individual Catholics employ, I would suggest that the failure to accept them is not necessarily the fault of the audience.

 

[schaeffer]

Is the question when is a protestant actually anti-catholic, as in actively, or when they are labeled anti-catholic?

As an observer, I would say the line is crossed when a Protestant speaks out against Catholics and the church itself, not merely disagreeing with doctrine, but calling Catholics and the Church evil, a scourge etc or willfully misrepresenting their teachings.

I have seen them labeled anti-catholic by some, simply because they are not Catholic and “those who are not for me are against me” reasoning.

And the same vice versa.

And there is truth to the idea that if one is knowledgeable about the teachings of the others and has actively rejected it, they are anti catholic or protestant TEACHINGS, but that doesn’t always result in them feeling the followers themselves are “less than”

 

[QNDNNDQDCE]

I would say that one common trait of an anti-Catholic is that what they belief is defined in terms of a rejection of Catholicism rather than something that stands on its own basis.

protestants who were brought up “protestant” from infancy usually do not have that “axe-to-grind”

Come move to my part of the country and you might rethink that statement!

 

[Melissa]

Given a fair few “explanations” which I have seen individual Catholics employ, I would suggest that the failure to accept them is not necessarily the fault of the audience.

What I mean is when a prosletyzing anti-Catholic will say something like “Catholics are in error because they teach salvation-by-works” and the Catholic explains that we believe in salvation by grace which produces both faith and works, followed up with cites from the CCC and Scripture (which I’m not breaking out right now as that’s not the purpose of this thread and I’m also in a cast right now which makes too much typing hard), the anti-Catholic will respond with “they just say that to get you to convert, but the Catholic Church really believes that you are saved by works which is clearly anti-Scripture &c …” And yes, I have had people say that (reply to a correction as to what the Church teaches as above) to me.

 

[Mystophilus]

cites from the CCC and Scripture (which I’m not breaking out right now as that’s not the purpose of this thread and I’m also in a cast right now which makes too much typing hard)

I hope that you get better soon, and no such citations are necessary: your Church’s teaching on Grace is very clear to anyone who bothers to spend a moment looking.

the anti-Catholic will respond with “they just say that to get you to convert, but the Catholic Church really believes that you are saved by works which is clearly anti-Scripture &c …” And yes, I have had people say that (reply to a correction as to what the Church teaches as above) to me.

I haven’t yet run into that particular version of the “OMG!!!1! Catholicism is Teh Ebil Conspiracy!!”, but it makes (the crazy kind of) sense that it should appear: once someone starts to believe that the Real Truth is being concealed, it is not too difficult for them to imagine that it is being concealed even from those who should be insiders.

 

[Cyberseeker]

Anti-Catholic and anti-Protestant are 2 sides of the same coin. The bottom line is that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That is what I believe, and he is my God.

Now, tell me someone: If I never become an R.C. Christian will I go to heaven? If not, Ill show you someone who is just as ‘anti-Protestant’ as Jack Chick is ‘anti-Catholic.’

(ps. I dont agree with Jack Chick anti-catholic tirades)

 

[CatholicSheila]

Now, tell me someone: If I never become an R.C. Christian will I go to heaven? If not, Ill show you someone who is just as ‘anti-Protestant’ as Jack Chick is ‘anti-Catholic.’

The ways of the Catholic Church are the ordinary means of salvation given to us by God and one is a fool not to heed her words. God is well within his rights to save someone via extraordinary means however.

Even if we did say that there is no way you could be saved without embracing Catholicism that would not make us comparable to Jack Chick. Jack Chick actively lies about what we believe. We would only be comparable if we too lied to others about your beliefs and actively used those lies to get conversions to the Catholic Church.

 

[guanophore]

Anti-Catholic and anti-Protestant are 2 sides of the same coin. The bottom line is that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That is what I believe, and he is my God.

Now, tell me someone: If I never become an R.C. Christian will I go to heaven? If not, Ill show you someone who is just as ‘anti-Protestant’ as Jack Chick is ‘anti-Catholic.’

(ps. I dont agree with Jack Chick anti-catholic tirades)

That depends. If God reveals to you that the Catholic Church is the one He founded, and that the fullness of Truth is found in her, yet you still refuse to enter her for your own reasons, then to that extent you have rejected Christ and His On Holy Bride. The reason we say that there is no salvation outside of the CC is because Christ is Head of the Church, and to be in Him is to be in the Church. There is no salvation outside of Christ.

 

[Michael_Francis]

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[gcnuss]

I realize that Protestants by definition are protesting the Catholic Church. When though does a Protestant cross the line from disagreement with Church teachings to actually being anti Catholics. I ask because we have had a few Protestants on the board assert that they personally aren’t anti Catholics. I realize that all Protestants don’t hold the same views and some are actually pretty friendly toward Catholics.

In my opinion, any Protestant who believes that all Catholics are going to hell is antiCatholic. I’d like a better definition, though.

From a non-Catholic who is not anti-Catholic, I would also submit that anyone who claims that Catholics are not Christian is anti-Catholic. While I may not agree with every jot and tittle of Catholic doctrine, I am blessed by what we Lutherans have received from the Catholic Church. If I were to claim that the Catholic Church has everything wrong, I would have to reject much of Lutheran teaching as well.

 

[Topper17]

Hi, gc,

From a non-Catholic who is not anti-Catholic, I would also submit that anyone who claims that Catholics are not Christian is anti-Catholic. While I may not agree with every jot and tittle of Catholic doctrine, I am blessed by what we Lutherans have received from the Catholic Church. If I were to claim that the Catholic Church has everything wrong, I would have to reject much of Lutheran teaching as well.

I have always believed that anyone who believes that the pope is the antichrist, either personally, or the ‘office’ of the papacy, is anti-Catholic. Obviously Luther was an anti-Catholic. By the above criteria, the Lutheran Confessions are anti-Catholic. If you see it differently, I would like to specifically know how.

God Bless You gc, Topper

 

[steido01]

From a non-Catholic who is not anti-Catholic, I would also submit that anyone who claims that Catholics are not Christian is anti-Catholic. While I may not agree with every jot and tittle of Catholic doctrine, I am blessed by what we Lutherans have received from the Catholic Church. If I were to claim that the Catholic Church has everything wrong, I would have to reject much of Lutheran teaching as well.

Well said, Pastor.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Nine-year-old thread.