Why are Catholics often this way?

[HashemEchad]

I didn’t know where else to post this, and I TRULY DO NOT wish to offend anyone, but I have made an observation over the last 48 years of my life that puzzles and saddens me.

As a religious Jew, I have spent my entire life studying other religions, as well as my own. I have met with many religious authorities, studied many religions, all in an effort not to be like a few Catholic girls who beat me up as a child, saying to me, “You killed Our Lord”. I never wanted to be as ignorant of the religions of others as they evidently were of not only mine, but their own.

I have met many knowledgeable Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and others in my life, but one thing I have observed time and again: many Catholics not only are totally ignorant of the religions of others, but also of their own. WHY is this?

To give one example, a woman I knew years ago in the pro-life movement insisted to me that the immaculate conception was the Catholic belief that when Mary conceived Jesus, she was a virgin.

I explained to her that that belief is called the virgin birth. I told her that the belief of the immaculate conception is the belief that when MARY was conceived in HER mother’s womb, she was free of original sin. I then explained that that is what the meaning is of the words on the miraculous medal seen in a vision by Catherine Laboure.

She insisted she was right and I was wrong. I finally told her to ask her priest. She called a few days later to apologize, that I was right.

HOW can so many Catholics be so ignorant of not only the faiths of others, but esp. their own?

I realize not everyone can be a religious scholar, but I thought the Catholic church had catechism classes, parochial schools, etc

My own mother was a convert to Orthodox Judaism from Catholicism, and she had attended Catholic school as a child as well. Yet she misled me for many years, telling me that Catholics do not believe Jesus is god, but SON of God. I didn’t learn what Catholics actually believed on that until I was a teenager, and began studying all religions (I went on to get a degree in comparative religion as well.)

Can anyone explain this to me?

 

[rstegeman]

Personally, I think the problem started with Vatican II. That’s not to say that it was wrong, but there was a lot of confusion and anger among Catholics following that and then combine it with the other events of the 60’s and 70’s (speaking of the anti-establishment ideals that became popular then) and you have a generation of children who were no catechized properly, for the most part. I’m basing this mostly on my own observations and experiences. I know that most older Catholics (who came of age prior to Vatican II) know their faith very well.

I have been a Catholic my entire life (41 years), although I fell away after high school. It’s only been within the past 3 years that I came back with great zeal and am learning my faith and I now realize that many of the things I thought I knew were completely wrong. I really believe that in the next generations of Catholics, you will see a much stronger and more knowledgeable group.

 

[JRKH]

I didn’t know where else to post this, and I TRULY DO NOT wish to offend anyone, but I have made an observation over the last 48 years of my life that puzzles and saddens me.

As a religious Jew, I have spent my entire life studying other religions, as well as my own. I have met with many religious authorities, studied many religions, all in an effort not to be like a few Catholic girls who beat me up as a child, saying to me, “You killed Our Lord”. I never wanted to be as ignorant of the religions of others as they evidently were of not only mine, but their own.

I have met many knowledgeable Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and others in my life, but one thing I have observed time and again: many Catholics not only are totally ignorant of the religions of others, but also of their own. WHY is this?

To give one example, a woman I knew years ago in the pro-life movement insisted to me that the immaculate conception was the Catholic belief that when Mary conceived Jesus, she was a virgin.

I explained to her that that belief is called the virgin birth. I told her that the belief of the immaculate conception is the belief that when MARY was conceived in HER mother’s womb, she was free of original sin. I then explained that that is what the meaning is of the words on the miraculous medal seen in a vision by Catherine Laboure.

She insisted she was right and I was wrong. I finally told her to ask her priest. She called a few days later to apologize, that I was right.

HOW can so many Catholics be so ignorant of not only the faiths of others, but esp. their own?

I realize not everyone can be a religious scholar, but I thought the Catholic church had catechism classes, parochial schools, etc

My own mother was a convert to Orthodox Judaism from Catholicism, and she had attended Catholic school as a child as well. Yet she misled me for many years, telling me that Catholics do not believe Jesus is god, but SON of God. I didn’t learn what Catholics actually believed on that until I was a teenager, and began studying all religions (I went on to get a degree in comparative religion as well.)

Can anyone explain this to me?

I can only explain parts and certainly cannot answer for other catholics.
It is indeed unfortunate that many catholics either do not know, or do not understand many aspects of the faith.
I believe the problem you describe is seen more in “cradle catholics” than in converts.
I was born and raised catholic, and there were (and are) many things that I didn’t learn, didn’t learn correctly, or didn’t fully understand, even though I lived in a devout family and attended weekly mass and went to parochial school for 8 years. It is only after coming back to the Church after many years that I am learning (relearning) much of my faith.

One thing about todays catholics is that most were not raised with the same form of catechesis that our parents were. In first and second grade I learned from the Baltimore Catechism just as my parents did. Later, as changes were introduced as a result of Vatican II, there seemed to be a lessening of emphasis on the Catechism and more emphasis on social teaching.

Another impact of the last 30 years or so has been a decline in Parochial Schools. Not in their quality, but rather in the number of schools and ability of parents to afford them. Years ago most schools were run and or staffed by religious who were paid a very low wage and almost no benefits. This allowed the Schools to keep costs down. Today, with fewer religious vocations and increasing costs, schools are forced to charge tuition which results in fewer catholic children being sent to catholic schools and being taught by catholic religious.

In addition the church over the years has never really pushed an evangelizing kind of message. Many protestant denominations focus on evangelization. Thus they focus on training their members to go out and evangelize others.
As a matter of fact I have a CD by Steven Ray, who touches on this. His concern, is that Catholics leave themselves vulnerable to evangelization by others because they cannot defend their faith. Conversely, Mr Ray says he might have been a catholic much sooner if any catholic would have been able to defend their faith against his protestant misconseptions.

Lastly I will say that part of the problem is the fact that our Church is ancient and there is an immense amount of information out there to be studied. Since you have studied catholicism you know what I mean. This is not a faith that can be easily understood in full and it is easy to become confused if you aren’t careful.

I appreciate your question and hope I’ve been of some help to you.
I’m looking forward to reading other answers on this.

Peace
James

P.S. I don’t know if you can get EWTN but next week on the Journey Home program the guest is a wonderful woman who converted to catholicism from Judeism. Rosalind Moss. She is a terrific speaker and fun to listen to. If you can’t get EWTN, I believe you can get it streamed to your computer form Here.
Just go to the tab marked television and look for Live TV…

James

 

[JRKH]

Personally, I think the problem started with Vatican II. That’s not to say that it was wrong, but there was a lot of confusion and anger among Catholics following that and then combine it with the other events of the 60’s and 70’s (speaking of the anti-establishment ideals that became popular then) and you have a generation of children who were no catechized properly, for the most part. I’m basing this mostly on my own observations and experiences. I know that most older Catholics (who came of age prior to Vatican II) know their faith very well.

I have been a Catholic my entire life (41 years), although I fell away after high school. It’s only been within the past 3 years that I came back with great zeal and am learning my faith and I now realize that many of the things I thought I knew were completely wrong. I really believe that in the next generations of Catholics, you will see a much stronger and more knowledgeable group.

Welcome Home rstegeman!!
I’m in the Cinci area too.

Peace
James

 

[VWcrazy]

Sorry, I don’t think you can blame Vatican II for this.

I think most churchs’ religious education departments need a real evaluation of what they are doing.

Pre-Vatican II - one was simply taught to memorize lines from the Baltimore Catichism (sp?) and it was never explained what any of it meant. Immediately after Vatican II, students were simply taught warm, fuzzy stuff. Talked to result Catholic high school graduate who said he learned nothing in religion class because it was so mind-deadingly boring that he couldn’t pay attention.

I honestly wish the national bishops’ council would gather a group together and come up with a good program which would help inspire young Catholics to learn about their Faith.

Actually, I find most Catholics who know much about their Faith have done through independent study.

 

[blossom02]

I think this has alot to do with the advancement of the media. Television has taken over educating us and most people will spend their time intertaining themselves instead of learning or doing somthing of value. It also seems to me that the education effects of the media are not only poor educators but bad for forming the general population into self indulgence and laziness.

Parents are so busy keeping up with having things that they are forgetting to form their children in ways of God. Children seem to think they are incharge and if they play things right they can get what ever they want.

We have fallen into the crack of the secular scociety of birth control, sexual freedom, carreers and then that breaks down the family and the marital bonds and the spiraling effect just keeps going.

 

[KJK80]

I think it’s because there’s not enough education from Catholic parents.

I was steeped in education regarding my religion growing up–unfortunately it was not rounded out by any healthy education regarding other religion’s (I don’t blame my parents for this, the entire denomination’s educational system is similar)…

But, at the end of the day, for cradle Catholic’s, I blame the parents. The tools are there for teaching, but somebody has to do it… and you cannot blame the church for it (in my opinion).

Now, if you’re a convert TO Catholicism and you still proclaim ignorant information… Then this is your own fault and I would suggest learning before preaching (sometimes I need to take my own advice, I’ll admit that).

This is all just one person’s opinion.

You have to admit, there are a LOT of ill-informed non-Catholic’s who spout off information about their own church, as well as other’s beliefs without fully understanding it. I don’t think this is a Catholic problem, as much as it is a problem of society. Catholic’s just end up being a big immobile target.

 

[Philothea53]

I didn’t know where else to post this, and I TRULY DO NOT wish to offend anyone, but I have made an observation over the last 48 years of my life that puzzles and saddens me.

As a religious Jew, I have spent my entire life studying other religions, as well as my own. I have met with many religious authorities, studied many religions, all in an effort not to be like a few Catholic girls who beat me up as a child, saying to me, “You killed Our Lord”. I never wanted to be as ignorant of the religions of others as they evidently were of not only mine, but their own.

I have met many knowledgeable Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and others in my life, but one thing I have observed time and again: many Catholics not only are totally ignorant of the religions of others, but also of their own. WHY is this?

To give one example, a woman I knew years ago in the pro-life movement insisted to me that the immaculate conception was the Catholic belief that when Mary conceived Jesus, she was a virgin.

I explained to her that that belief is called the virgin birth. I told her that the belief of the immaculate conception is the belief that when MARY was conceived in HER mother’s womb, she was free of original sin. I then explained that that is what the meaning is of the words on the miraculous medal seen in a vision by Catherine Laboure.

She insisted she was right and I was wrong. I finally told her to ask her priest. She called a few days later to apologize, that I was right.

HOW can so many Catholics be so ignorant of not only the faiths of others, but esp. their own?

I realize not everyone can be a religious scholar, but I thought the Catholic church had catechism classes, parochial schools, etc

My own mother was a convert to Orthodox Judaism from Catholicism, and she had attended Catholic school as a child as well. Yet she misled me for many years, telling me that Catholics do not believe Jesus is god, but SON of God. I didn’t learn what Catholics actually believed on that until I was a teenager, and began studying all religions (I went on to get a degree in comparative religion as well.)

Can anyone explain this to me?

1. So what?
2. What does it matter to you?

 

[johnnykins]

I have met many knowledgeable Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and others in my life, but one thing I have observed time and again: many Catholics not only are totally ignorant of the religions of others, but also of their own. WHY is this?

lack of education. Perhaps because the numbers of Catholics is generally so much larger than non-Catholics you are more likely to meet ignorant Catholics? I don’t know. But, yes the Church has done a miserable job of catechesis for huge numbers of Catholics - especially in the last 40 years.

To give one example, a woman I knew years ago in the pro-life movement insisted to me that the immaculate conception was the Catholic belief that when Mary conceived Jesus, she was a virgin.

I explained to her that that belief is called the virgin birth. I told her that the belief of the immaculate conception is the belief that when MARY was conceived in HER mother’s womb, she was free of original sin. I then explained that that is what the meaning is of the words on the miraculous medal seen in a vision by Catherine Laboure.

She insisted she was right and I was wrong. I finally told her to ask her priest. She called a few days later to apologize, that I was right.

Run into that many times. No explanation other than ignorance and miserable catechesis.

HOW can so many Catholics be so ignorant of not only the faiths of others, but esp. their own?

I realize not everyone can be a religious scholar, but I thought the Catholic church had catechism classes, parochial schools, etc

My mother went to public schools in the 20s/30s and so went to CCD (Catechism class). She knew her faith well. My Dad went to Catholic schools in that same period and knew his faith well. I had 12 years of Catholic school in the 60s and 70s - we studied Crosby, Stills Nash and Young. Never read a single encyclical (you’d think Humane Vitae would have been topical!!), never discussed Catholic beliefs beyond Confirmation class in 7th grade. Never discussed the Fathers, theology, the whys or whats of Catholic belief. Never discussed other religions and their differences - let alone try to explain why Catholicism was right - or at least an answer to the objections of other religions. It was as if Catholicism for the nuns and priests was one big embarrassment - and that came through loud and clear. In the 70s in my Catholic school you would never have been able to guess at the subtlety, beauty and thought underlying Catholicism. Jewish friends from time to time refer to “self-hating Jews”. I think there was a long period where large numbers of priests, nuns and brothers developed a self-hating Catholic identity that was imparted to large numbers of Catholics in the 60s and 70s - part of which was an embarrassment in, and reluctance to teach, Catholic Doctrine. Then, when it became apparent that the Church had massively failed to catechize the faithful, and often mal-catechized - and with the loss of vocations (unsurprising that) - the Church turned on parents who had sent their children to CCD and Catholic schools and blamed them for the debacle. Now, of course, the parents are largely incapable of catechizing because they, themselves, are uncatechized. It is - a mess.

My own mother was a convert to Orthodox Judaism from Catholicism, and she had attended Catholic school as a child as well. Yet she misled me for many years, telling me that Catholics do not believe Jesus is god, but SON of God. I didn’t learn what Catholics actually believed on that until I was a teenager, and began studying all religions (I went on to get a degree in comparative religion as well.)

No explanation - might depend on how far she went - a child especially could fail to note the distinction.

Can anyone explain this to me?

see above

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Just because we were taught doesn’t meant we listened in class! Having been a CCD teacher for 11 years in the 1970’s and 80’s I know the curricula and teachers’ guides were warm/fuzzy. But in the '50’s my brothers and I received good religious instruction in Catholic schools. We memorized catechism but our teachers also explained what it meant. But still, to a lot of us it was just another class and it didn’t sink in. We said night prayers and grace at meals and went to mass but my parents didn’t talk about their faith. I was the only one in my family who kept on learning and reading about it.

I know people who have faith in God and in their church but don’t seem interested in going further to deepen their knowledge of their own faith and aren’t interested in discussing religion with others. Some actually feel it is intrusive and argumentative to discuss religion. They are living their lives and their faith is a relationship with God which helps them cope with life but they aren’t introspective about it. I’ve seen this in Catholics and Protestants so I think it is a personality thing rather than a lack of religious instruction. I would suspect that there are Jews that are this way too.

 

[JRKH]

Sorry, I don’t think you can blame Vatican II for this.

I think most churchs’ religious education departments need a real evaluation of what they are doing.

Pre-Vatican II - one was simply taught to memorize lines from the Baltimore Catichism (sp?) and it was never explained what any of it meant. Immediately after Vatican II, students were simply taught warm, fuzzy stuff. Talked to result Catholic high school graduate who said he learned nothing in religion class because it was so mind-deadingly boring that he couldn’t pay attention.

I honestly wish the national bishops’ council would gather a group together and come up with a good program which would help inspire young Catholics to learn about their Faith.

Actually, I find most Catholics who know much about their Faith have done through independent study.

Although some people will “blame Vatican II”, I don’t. However VAT II is a watershed for the church and we still are dealing with the changes instigated either directly by or “in the spirit of”, or “in the name of” Vatican II “church renewal”.

I agree to an extent that pre-vat was a lot of memorization without necessarily understanding. However those who did memorize at least could give answers based on that.
As far as your High School example, that could just as easily been a poor teacher or disinterested student.

Another difference between the “old” and the “new” is that pre-vat catholics were basically taught that they were right and the others were wrong. You were either catholic or you weren’t. The ecumenical movement has had the unfortunate effect of diluting the fullness and specialness of being catholic for our children.
Years ago you were taught that you never even entered a protestant church. Now we have interfaith services, and cross recognition of baptisms etc.
Marrying outside of the church was greatly frowned upon. Today it is common.
Even our Churches are becoming “sterilized” with the tabernacle moved from the center and no kneelers.

Sorry - I’m getting off topic here.

The point is that, while Vatican II isn’t to “blame” it is the defining point. Also, I agree that most Catholics who do know their faith learn it on their own, but then again there is an awful lot to learn.

Peace
James

 

[rstegeman]

I’m not putting the entire blame on Vatican II and I’m certainly not saying that Vatican II was a bad thing. I do know that many of the older Catholics that I encounter became very despondent after some of the changes were put into effect and as a result, I think alot of them either weren’t sure and were afraid to teach their children too much because they weren’t fully informed themselves regarding that Council. Of the Catholics that I encounter over the age of 60 or so, I see a huge difference in knowledge of the faith as well as overall reverence as compared to their younger counterparts.

I also know that alot was taught to me that just never sunk in and alot I just flat out missed. I was a daydreamer Also, I’m just giving my opinions based on my personal experiences.

As for the parents having the resources, I think that is increasingly true today, but less so back in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. JPII gave us the CCC in the 90’s (I believe that’s when he gave it to us) and with the advent of the internet, we now have a vast amount of official material available to us. I agree that parents must do a better job of instilling their faith into our children, but many of us need to learn/re-learn our faith first.

 

[catherineajt]

Not all Catholics are of a piece. My husband and I have read extensively on other religions, including Mormonism, Islam, Judaism. Yes, there are Catholics who are ignorant of other religions. There are also Protestants and Jews who are ignorant about the intricacies and realities of other faiths. I had a Protestant friend when I was growing up who would occasionally remind me that I was “probably going to hell” because Catholics “worship Mary” and “worship statues”. When i asked her if she had ever been to a Catholic Mass, she said, “no! Why would I?”

To be fair, i was never really taught about other faiths much when i was growing up (post Vatican II child here). I did have a friend who was a Jehovah’s Witness, but all I learned from her was that she didn’t celebrate her birthday or any holidays, and she didn’t salute the flag in school. I had a Protestant friend, like I said, but all I learned from her was that she believed Mary “wasn’t that special” and that they only had communion once a month.

I learned more about other faiths—especially Judaism–in high school, where we studied the Old Testament, and college. But most of my education has been self-taught, through books and reading and talking to others as an adult.

I think a better question would be, why are people like this? There is often a tendency to look at others’ religions in a negative light–and I confess I am guilty of this as well–because it makes us feel better about our own faith. And there is also a tendency to not seek out information about other faiths, possibly out of fear that learning about that faith will cause one to lose faith in one’s own religion. If that makes sense, which it probably doesn’t.

I am sorry that you have encountered ignorance and negativity. I have, too. It seems to be endemic to the human race, but I find most people overcome it given enough time and prayer.

 

[JRKH]

(snip)
I think a better question would be, why are people like this? There is often a tendency to look at others’ religions in a negative light–and I confess I am guilty of this as well–because it makes us feel better about our own faith. And there is also a tendency to not seek out information about other faiths, possibly out of fear that learning about that faith will cause one to lose faith in one’s own religion. If that makes sense, which it probably doesn’t.
(snip)

I think this is very well put. And soo true - of all of us.

Peace
James

 

[newbetx]

I didn’t know where else to post this, and I TRULY DO NOT wish to offend anyone, but I have made an observation over the last 48 years of my life that puzzles and saddens me.

As a religious Jew, I have spent my entire life studying other religions, as well as my own. I have met with many religious authorities, studied many religions, all in an effort not to be like a few Catholic girls who beat me up as a child, saying to me, “You killed Our Lord”. I never wanted to be as ignorant of the religions of others as they evidently were of not only mine, but their own.

I have met many knowledgeable Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and others in my life, but one thing I have observed time and again: many Catholics not only are totally ignorant of the religions of others, but also of their own. WHY is this?

To give one example, a woman I knew years ago in the pro-life movement insisted to me that the immaculate conception was the Catholic belief that when Mary conceived Jesus, she was a virgin.

I explained to her that that belief is called the virgin birth. I told her that the belief of the immaculate conception is the belief that when MARY was conceived in HER mother’s womb, she was free of original sin. I then explained that that is what the meaning is of the words on the miraculous medal seen in a vision by Catherine Laboure.

She insisted she was right and I was wrong. I finally told her to ask her priest. She called a few days later to apologize, that I was right.

HOW can so many Catholics be so ignorant of not only the faiths of others, but esp. their own?

I realize not everyone can be a religious scholar, but I thought the Catholic church had catechism classes, parochial schools, etc

My own mother was a convert to Orthodox Judaism from Catholicism, and she had attended Catholic school as a child as well. Yet she misled me for many years, telling me that Catholics do not believe Jesus is god, but SON of God. I didn’t learn what Catholics actually believed on that until I was a teenager, and began studying all religions (I went on to get a degree in comparative religion as well.)

Can anyone explain this to me?

It’s a complex world. Definitively explain. No.

I’m sorry to hear about your childhood. Unfortunately ignorance and biggotry is part of the human condition and will be with us for a long long time. It’s not just Catholics, I know. Ask many young kids that got beat up for being Catholic. Many justify themselves above others. I think because of insecurity about themselves. Ex Catholics are probably the worst when it comes to mis-information. Because they SHOULD know better. It could have been that mis-information that made them think Catholicism was not for them (and then, if not for them, why for anybody, right?) People do/say strange things when justifying themselves.

Many, older Catholics that I know were dissapointed by the changes after Vatican II because they preferred being told what to believe, how to behave, and what to say, when. Some were told if they blindly followed, they would go to heaven. Able to understand or defend the faith? No. Not a requirement. Go to Confession, come to Mass, take communion, donate. Heaven, guaranteed. Based on what I read on CAF, some will argue what language a Mass needs to be in “for it to be legal”.

I agree, today’s RE is sadly lacking. And the really sad thing is that RE is more than most kids get at home. Parents are distracted. I know I am. Society seems to lost a focus on the value of religion. It’s almost like faith is “bad” these days. A few bumperstickers I’ve seen, the TV programs, channels and networks could lead one to a similar conclusion.

I’d love to know more. That’s why I’m here and why I read up on the faith. I wish I could go to the bible study at my parish because I really like the priest running it. However, we need to have ONE night a week at home as a family.

I guess, for anyone, if they don’t spend the time to understand their own faith, why would they spend time learning others? The bar of knowlege for a Catholic is a lot higher than other faiths. Many denominations have so much less to know. They have a smaller bible, fewer rules, less sacraments, no Marian Dogma, etc. On a scale of 1- 100. A Catholic at a 50 is way more educated in their faith than say a “feel good church goer” at 75 percent of his/her faith.

No. we all can’t be scholars. But we certainly should be expected to know more than we do, I agree. But even here, there are some that won’t learn it no matter how often we repeat it to them.

 

[Lapell]

I am just starting from the starting post of this thread. HashemEchad, I find this to be a very interesting topic. When I was a kid, I was very interested in catechesis, I used to love it very much. But I also noticed that most classmates (boys) didn’t seem to enjoy it as much, like a kind of compulsory chore one wants to do away with as soon as possible. I don’t know about the few girls there were (it used to be a boys’school, and the girls’ school was next door, and I think they just started then to mix, little by little you could say), but they didn’t seem as bored…
I also was an altar boy and loved it. Maybe this helped that…
But I might have been an exception to the rule at school, of course!

 

[Lapell]

I don’t know where it really began, but I know my dad usually would not love speaking of our faith or even religion. Later I heard an old lady say: “If you don’t want to lose your friends, stay away from discussions on politics, religion and [another category that I’ve forgotten,sorry!] !!” Most people where in the places I’ve been used to think this way, they enjoy friendship to that extent…

 

[Lapell]

“Any tension rising in such discussion is quite bad for our nerves, so let’s stay away from it!” seems to be what they most of them say… Maybe they don’t trust themselves much in those topics? I don’t know…
I know that from some discussions (and some doubts about our own faith because we were not instructed to the extent where we were challenged on) many of us switched to other denominations or even other faiths, or at least were prone to question a few things in their own faith’s practices or/and teachings.

 

[newbetx]

… And there is also a tendency to not seek out information about other faiths, possibly out of fear that learning about that faith will cause one to lose faith in one’s own religion. If that makes sense, which it probably doesn’t.

Here’s a great point. Catholics and Non-Catholic worship. I’ve been told Catholics should AVOID other services so that the Catholic’s faith not come into question. So in a way, we’ve been directed NOT to look into other faiths out of fear we “might be tempted.” Is this evidence that our own church is not confidently educating us? Or, that we, ourselves, can’t be trusted to keep our own faith? We know “the flesh is weak.” Aren’t some of the evangelistic faiths more about defending their faith as a method of spreading it than that of Catholicism?

 

[donmaximuso27]

It is important to realize that every single Christian denomination has this problem. As a former Lutheran, I can assure you that Catholics are not the most ignorant of their own faith. Most Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Anglicans of my age that I conversed with didn’t know enough of their own theology to even carry a spiritual conversation. The Catholic Church has more history, theology, and philosophy then any other Christian denomination, due to its obvious long history, and its spiritual committment to define the many aspects of life in accordance with Holy Scripture. Most Protestant denominations to not dare to do this, mainly because they do not have the heirarchal system we have, and also because they give too much power to lay people and congregational counsels to put their own authority on matters. Currently, the Lutherans, for example, are extremely divided on matters of abortion and homosexuality, while the Catholic Church has had a consistent definiton since the early church fathers. There is much to learn and explore in Catholic theology, that is the reason for one’s ignorance. But it does not compare to the disunity in Protestant faiths.