Why Are Catholics So Indifferent toward Latter Day Saints (or Mormons)?

[RoryMcKenzie56]

I learned years ago that whether it is commentary on the forums here or the tracts through catholic.com – there have always been and always will be people who do not like my church. The continued recycling of false beliefs relative to what I believe does not bother me at all.

The question I have is recognizing that Catholics and Mormons do have differences – when will there be respect for my church? Protestants despite Catholics issues with them generally have a better relations than my church.

I ask for a sound answer. None of the typical recycled issues from those who just have hatred for my church.

Indifference or Hatred? It can hardly be both.

 

[Irish_Kathy]

I’ve always been an Osmond fan from the time I was a kid. I’ve also met a few Latter Day Saints along the way where I was working. As a result, even though I know there are true differences that exist between Latter Day Saints and Catholics. But, we also should not forget what Jesus said to the Apostles.

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

38“Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

39“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. For I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

Perhaps this is where we can begin to truely undertanding each other a bit instead of always putting the focus on our disagreements.

 

[CHESTERTONRULES]

From a non-Christian standpoint, LDS and Christianity are so similar that it’s just semantics. I would understand your objections if LDS worshipped another prophet and called it Christianity. But they worship the same prophet that you worship.

, namaste.

Your opinion is based on ignorance.

LDS was started by a certifiable lying huxter.

The simlarities which you perceive don’t exist.

 

[zaffiroborant]

The shocker is we have another “why me”.

Nothing personal against the members of your church but I have a big problem with any church that is founded by a man who falsely claims to be a prophet and puts many souls in jeopardy.

Well not exactly another whyme. Whyme claims to be both Catholic and LDS so he can tear down the Catholic faith and it’s people. This guy straight up lies. It’s plain to see in his posts, 2/13/09 he’s a Mormon, 2/14/09 he’s a former Mormon who has always been a Catholic and then on 6/27/09 he’s a Mormon again. Troll

Feb 13 09

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I would concur with the person who started this thread that anyone wishing to know about the beliefs of my church should go to the link, mormon.org

For those who are interested in a replies from people such as myself regarding things in you view have not been answered honestly by members, I would recommend you sending your request of reply from me in private messages only.

I do not have part of argruments here or anywhere else about the church.

Feb 14 09

I am a former Mormon living in the metro Phoenix area preparing to return to Seattle area as soon as possible due to my work. I have always been a Catholic, fortunately I am grateful for this site and outside resources available for those folks like me who wish to strengthen their faith in the church and remain active.

Whether it is Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses or whatever church trying to convert us will always work to do that, I know this is my home regarding my faith always.

June 27 09

As a Latter Day Saint, or most know me and my church in general, the Mormons, I will not have part of this because I believe there is truth found in general a host of events, a person’s life experience, gifted and talented, which I submit, we all have a gift and talent to share.

Truth is truth and I recognize that my views are confusing and/or used to continue a agenda that is contrary to the God and Jesus Christ. I will defend anyone who believes in God and Jesus whether they agree me or not. The Holy Ghost reveals truth – the devil continues to be the great deceiver.

 

[LDNCatholic]

Uh oh, you’re going to start the whole “who is a Christian” argument

No I got there first

 

[why_me]

Indeed it seems this awfully pedantic argument begins again. It’s always a bore because while Christians go around claiming who is and is not Christian, non-Christians have a relatively easy time discerning who Christians are. (Hint: They worship Jesus)

Indeed, you are right and I have made this observation before on this forum. It is sooooooo profane to say that mormons are not christians because they have a different formula of the trinity than the mainstream christian religions. The amount of energy that is spent by catholics on this forum saying that mormons are not christian is quite extraordinary. And a waste of time. Mormons are christian because they follow Jesus.

 

[why_me]

Well not exactly another whyme. Whyme claims to be both Catholic and LDS so he can tear down the Catholic faith and it’s people. This guy straight up lies. It’s plain to see in his posts, 2/13/09 he’s a Mormon, 2/14/09 he’s a former Mormon who has always been a Catholic and then on 6/27/09 he’s a Mormon again. Troll

Actually, I am happy go lucky now and much better off on this forum than when I was LDS/catholic. Now I am free when before I was stalked by catholics saying that I couldn’t be both or that I was never catholic. It is much better to be happy go lucky. I can recommend it to many of my antimormon catholic friends on this forum. It is a much better way of life to be happy go lucky.

 

[why_me]

The shocker is we have another “why me”.

There can be only one why me! :tiphat:

 

[imkingdad]

Living as I do in the backyard of Mormonism ( Palmyra is just a few miles down the road) I can say I am aware of Mormons & their beliefs. I am not indifferent to them,
Especially when these over-zealous 19yr old Elders come a knocking on my door attempting to tell me How screwed up My Family & I are etc etc.

Sad to say I often know more about their Faith than they do. I certainly know how to undermine the key elements of the presentations. (years of fun & frolic doing it.)

Now They have learned to to stay away. If they do come I try to be nice & advise them that I am happy &secure within my Faith & wish them well. If they persist they do so to their own regret. So I am Not Indifferent. I am openly opposed to you & yours.

 

[dzheremi]

Indeed, you are right and I have made this observation before on this forum. It is sooooooo profane to say that mormons are not christians because they have a different formula of the trinity than the mainstream christian religions. The amount of energy that is spent by catholics on this forum saying that mormons are not christian is quite extraordinary. And a waste of time. Mormons are christian because they follow Jesus.

“The mainstream Christian religions”? “ReligionS”, plural? There is only one Christian religion. Mormons do not belong to it.

Muslims also claim to follow Jesus. Would you say that they are Christians? They even follow another gospel that was revealed hundreds of years after Christ, just like Mormons do.

 

[ThuriferAcolyte]

“The mainstream Christian religions”? “ReligionS”, plural? There is only one Christian religion. Mormons do not belong to it.

Muslims also claim to follow Jesus. Would you say that they are Christians? They even follow another gospel that was revealed hundreds of years after Christ, just like Mormons do.

In our view, Mormonism is not a unique thing in the history of Christianity.

 

[swords99]

Although mormons have many false beliefs and deny the full deity of Christ and the Trinity, they do share many beliefs that the catholics do. Mormons also believe in apostolic succession and being the One True Church straight from the Apostles.They too have an elaborate structure of hierarchical rule. Also like catholics, mormons do not believe in salvation by grace alone as Paul taught, but works must be added such as sacraments and other church works.

In the book: “Baal or God”, the author had this to say on the very subject:

“While Masonry, and many cults such as the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Scientist, denounce Roman Catholicism, their basic doctrine of salvation is similar to Rome’s. They too reject justification by faith and believe that a man must at least to a certain degree work his way into heaven.”

 

[ParkerD]

I’ve always been an Osmond fan from the time I was a kid. I’ve also met a few Latter Day Saints along the way where I was working. As a result, even though I know there are true differences that exist between Latter Day Saints and Catholics. But, we also should not forget what Jesus said to the Apostles.

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

38“Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

39“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. For I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

Perhaps this is where we can begin to truely undertanding each other a bit instead of always putting the focus on our disagreements.

Irish Kathy,
I had thought this thread posed a silly question, but you found a way to make it worthwhile to have read your thoughts here. Thank you! To find someone who actually reads and thinks about the Bible as they read it, is a pleasant thing to find.

 

[kalt]

Perhaps it is. But really, when I see the two churches and both have a cross and sing about Jesus, then I pretty much go with the idea that it is Christian.

If I see a church with people prostrating and Arabic calligraphy on the walls, I’d bet it’s a Muslim Mosque.

If I saw a Rabbi and star of David and I hear Hebrew, I kind of assume that it’s Judaism.

And your assumptions are wrong.

Saying “Jesus” doesn’t make someone a Christian. Islam, Christianity and Judaism proclaim belief in the same god, but the belief is so different that they aren’t the same religion. One is not the other, though they all say that the God of Abraham is God. A Jew isn’t a Christian, A Christian isn’t a Muslim, and so on.

 

[Jerusha]

Indifferent

thefreedictionary.com/indifferent

in·dif·fer·ent adj. **1. **Having no particular interest or concern; apathetic: indifferent to the sufferings of others.
**2. **Having no marked feeling for or against: She remained indifferent toward their proposal.
**3. **Not mattering one way or the other: It’s indifferent to me which outfit you choose.
**4. **Characterized by a lack of partiality; unbiased: an indifferent judge.
**5. **Being neither too much nor too little; moderate.
**6. **Being neither good nor bad; mediocre: an indifferent performance. See Synonyms at average.
**7. **Being neither right nor wrong.
**8. **Not active or involved; neutral: an indifferent chemical in a reaction.

1. Most Catholics think that Mormonism is an insignificant blip on the radar of the history of heresies and apostasies.
2. The Catholic Church is much larger and more powerful than the Mormon Church, both world-wide and in N.America.
3. Mormon teachings are so far out there, that Catholics just laugh them off.
4. Catholics politely tell Mormon missionaries that they are not interested, rather than go off on them like some fundamentalists do.
5. Catholics are generally so confident in their beliefs that they are not threatened by Mormonism.
6. Catholics who take the time to study Mormon history immediately dismiss it: “By their fruits you will know them.”
7. Some Catholics fear studying Mormonism and the BOM, out of the superstitious fear that it might shake their faith.
8. Catholics are generally more interested in studying their own religion than in studying something as obscure as Mormonism.
9. Catholics would rather compliment Mormons on the positive aspects of their culture than condemn them for the negative. Conversely, Mormons attack Catholics on whatever they can make up or construe as negative.

Only those Catholics who have had personal, negative interactions with Mormons or Mormonism take the time to study the crock and oppose it. Most Catholics who participate in these discussions are in this latter group.

I hope I answered the questions in the spirit in which the OP asked them.

 

[Jerusha]

All of this contributes to the activation of definition number one. Many Catholics believe that Mormonism is so insignificant that it does not need to be opposed. They do not realize that the media are hamstrung by “political correctness” and the Mormon bloc. Political correctness, and respecting religious differences, ends up empowering a system of belief that encourages the far right. In fact, many Americans today are adversely affected by Mormonism and Mormon culture. Catholics, attacked by our critics because of negative aspects of our own history thus fear criticizing Mormon culture and beliefs.

 

[AMDGtoo]

Perhaps this is where we can begin to truely undertanding each other a bit instead of always putting the focus on our disagreements.

But there are so many differences. Differences that cannot be ignored. (And if we are honest, we cannot pretend that they do not exist either.)

No, the differences don’t show up in the LDS extra book of Scriptures, the BOM. They start showing up in the yet other LDS extra books of Scripture, the Pearl of Great Price and their Doctrines and Covenants. (Yep, that’s right–while Catholic-Christians have just the infallible Bible, the LDS have the Bible and the BOM and The Pearl of Great Price and Doctrines and Covenants. Wonder why? Could it be that they have extra teachings that are not compatible with Christianity?)

BTW, in my research, it is actually the Protestant books and articles that are rather harsh toward the LDS. OTOH, Catholics produce books like A Tale of Two Cities–the Vatican and Salt Lake City. It just seems to portray the LDS as misguided. (Of course, that may be because the author’s family is part LDS.)

 

[Kdesiel]

I learned years ago that whether it is commentary on the forums here or the tracts through catholic.com – there have always been and always will be people who do not like my church. The continued recycling of false beliefs relative to what I believe does not bother me at all.

The question I have is recognizing that Catholics and Mormons do have differences – when will there be respect for my church? Protestants despite Catholics issues with them generally have a better relations than my church.

I ask for a sound answer. None of the typical recycled issues from those who just have hatred for my church.

Well your answered lies within your own question. There will always be a certain “Lack of Respect” due to the false beliefs within your church. I stated that others pointing out those false beliefs don’t bother you, so therefore do you really care if there is “Lack of respect” from the Catholic side of things?
Do you really care if anyone else disrespects your church, because you stated that the basis (“the false beliefs relative to what I believe does not bother me at all”) of the respect or lack thereof doesn’t bother you. If that were true then you wouldn’t have a question, you would have no need, you would be secure in your own Indifference to both the Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches.

Being a former member (For real) I do admit I have a certain animosity towards the LDS faith mainly because I feel as though I was brainwashed and duped into believing the principles taught within the church, however when push comes to shove I have only myself to blame for being involved as long as I was but God be praised and through his Grace I found my way out.

The LDS faith does not believe in the same Christ as Catholics and Protestants do, they follow a Christ of their own, or of Joseph Smiths making. A Christ that is tailor fitted for their form of the Gospel. They believe they will one day “Be Gods and have creations without number” putting themselves EQUAL to God. Not a Christian Teaching…simple as that.

Polygamy was and still is a doctrine held within the LDS faith. If the US government had not outlawed Plural Marriage then the mainstream LDS church would be practicing this doctrine today. Not a Christian Teaching…

They do not believe in a Triune God. They believe in Three Gods, Three distinct Persons two of which God the Father, and Jesus or God the Son have Tangible Physical Bodies of Flesh and Bones, one The Holy Ghost being a “Personage of Spirit Matter” …Not a Christian Teaching.

They believe in their version of God and Christ. Not the True God so …they aren’t Christian.

If I make up my own version of Buddha, call my God Buddha, implement my own ceremonies and practices labeling them Buddhist, but in fact honoring and worshipping a Buddha of my own design which by no means resembles the Authentic Buddha, I can’t expect authentic followers of Buddha to accept or “Respect” me.

 

[Cathhsmom]

I learned years ago that whether it is commentary on the forums here or the tracts through catholic.com – there have always been and always will be people who do not like my church. The continued recycling of false beliefs relative to what I believe does not bother me at all.

The question I have is recognizing that Catholics and Mormons do have differences – when will there be respect for my church? Protestants despite Catholics issues with them generally have a better relations than my church.

I ask for a sound answer. None of the typical recycled issues from those who just have hatred for my church.

I don’t have “hatred” for your church. In fact, I was blessed as a baby in the Mormon church. My grandmother, aunt, and many of my cousins are still Mormons. My mother before she died went back to the Mormon church, and was re-baptised, which I didn’t get into with her about because I was just happy that she had found her way back to God in whatever way that it took at that time! So, to hate your church, would be to hate my own family.

Now, from my understanding of how Mormon’s believe, I do disagree. I am never rude to them about it. When I have missionaries come to my home, I am polite and tell them that I have family that are Mormon, but that I am Catholic and that is where God lead ME. So, if I have any questions, I will ask my relatives. Then, I wish them a nice day. I even donated my Quad that I got when my mom died to the Mormon group on the base where I go to Mass. They meet for their meeting at the time that my oldest has CCD. So, I stopped by and gave it to them. I would not disrespect my mom by just throwing it away. But, I also knew that I would not be reading it.

So, please, don’t paint all with the same brush. There are many on these and other forums, CARM for example, that come off as abrasive at best. That is as much a matter of personality as it is of faith tradition!

 

[Irish_Kathy]

But there are so many differences. Differences that cannot be ignored. (And if we are honest, we cannot pretend that they do not exist either.)

No, the differences don’t show up in the LDS extra book of Scriptures, the BOM. They start showing up in the yet other LDS extra books of Scripture, the Pearl of Great Price and their Doctrines and Covenants. (Yep, that’s right–while Catholic-Christians have just the infallible Bible, the LDS have the Bible and the BOM and The Pearl of Great Price and Doctrines and Covenants. Wonder why? Could it be that they have extra teachings that are not compatible with Christianity?)

BTW, in my research, it is actually the Protestant books and articles that are rather harsh toward the LDS. OTOH, Catholics produce books like A Tale of Two Cities–the Vatican and Salt Lake City. It just seems to portray the LDS as misguided. (Of course, that may be because the author’s family is part LDS.)

Hi AMDGtoo – I’m not ignoring the differences between us and the LDS. I’m quite aware of them. I couldn’t be who I am and not be aware of them. There have also been many times I have joined in refuting many LDS claims. At the same time, there are areas both Catholics and LDS can agree on, especially when it comes to our families. Isn’t that a place where we can begin to discuss things in a cordial way without constantly knocking each other down? Wouldn’t that be a better way for LDS to come to recognize the truths of the Catholic Church than arguing them into their graves.

BTW, they could say the same thing about us relating to other books that we “almost” hold in equal value to the Bible, if they didn’t know any better. One book in particular I can think of which is a particular favorite of mine is Divine Mercy in My Soul.