Why are Protestants so Anti-Catholic?

[mercygate]

A point that hasn’t come up on this thread before is the historical position of Catholicism in the US, where Catholicism was feared as the arm of a foreign government. I suppose that worshipping in Latin didn’t help the cause any either.

 

[angelusm]

Why are Protestants who have bias against the Catholic Church so Anti-Catholic.

It’s because Catholic Church, obviously, does not consider protestant churches as those who proclaim true teaching of Christ. Protestant way of thinking is: I believe in something and it’s ok, but if you believe in something completely different, you are always ok. In protestantism TRUTH does not exist. Everybody may have their own “truth”. There are no big antagonisms between protestant churches because they consider each other to be ok. While Catholic Church says: sorry guys, you are wrong.
The other reason is protestant inferiority complex. Protestant churches are very small in comparison with the Catholic Church (over 1 billion members). Protestants have no pope (Peter!), no Body and Blood, no eucharistic miralces, no apparitions of Jesus, Mary, saints, no catechism in which they could clearly explain their beliefs, no right to “bind and loose”. I don’t know anything really interesting in protestantism that we don’t have in the CC. Please remember that the original sin of protestantism is the destruction of the unity of the Western Church. Luther (antisemite) and Henry VIII (murderer) are the best known figures of reformation. Protestants made a horrible legend of a Catholic inquisition which is a lie in 99%. The only thing that is true is: there was inquisition. Unfortunately for our separated brethren, truth is much more painful: 200 000 victims of a “protestant inquisition” in northern Germany and 70 000 in Britain
Anti-Catholicism is a part of protestant identity. Look at Britain - king or queen still cannot be catholic. Almost 5 centuries after reformation…
I know that numbers shouldn’t matter for us, but have a look at those dates:
1517 - reformation,
1717 - the beginning of freemasonery in London,
1917 - communistic revolution in Russia.
Maybe it doesn’t mean anything, maybe it’s just a coincidence, but in my opinion they were 3 most harmful events for the CC.
God bless

 

[laskowski]

Two thoughts… Our priest in a homily summed it up well recently… He stated, do you think just because you are Catholic that you will go to heaven?? Do you think that people of other religions will not go to heaven?? Wrong!!!
Billy Graham on the passing of Pope Paul. We both beieve in Jesus Christ…

 

[BelFarfalla]

]

No. While the Catholic Church was seeking to control the world through religion, Bible Christians were running for their lives from the Catholic holocaust that ran for centuries.

God has always had His people, faithful to Him and His Word. They had no part in the Roman Catholic Church. Through much of history, organized religion has hunted and slaughtered Bible Christians. For an excellent overview of this, read the classic work, “The Trail of Blood,”

users.aol.com/libcfl/trail.htm

lol, and what of the people who were running for their lives form the Protestants? Funny how protestants seem to forget their bloody past

 

[mercygate]

Billy Graham on the passing of Pope Paul. We both beieve in Jesus Christ…

And he took considerable flak for that from the ultra-anti-Catholics who think the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon.

 

[BelFarfalla]

It’s because Catholic Church, obviously, does not consider protestant churches as those who proclaim true teaching of Christ. Protestant way of thinking is: I believe in something and it’s ok, but if you believe in something completely different, you are always ok. In protestantism TRUTH does not exist. Everybody may have their own “truth”. There are no big antagonisms between protestant churches because they consider each other to be ok. While Catholic Church says: sorry guys, you are wrong.

From my experience, Protestants do not have such acceptance of Catholicism. Instead most I’ve run into say that Catholics are wrong and even evil. It is very common for Protestants to reject Catholics as Christians. The Catholic Church accepts the baptism of most Christian sects. Most Christian sect reject the baptism of the CC and require all Catholics to convert to their sect to be rebaptized.

The other reason is protestant inferiority complex. Protestant churches are very small in comparison with the Catholic Church (over 1 billion members). Protestants have no pope (Peter!), no Body and Blood, no eucharistic miralces, no apparitions of Jesus, Mary, saints, no catechism in which they could clearly explain their beliefs, no right to “bind and loose”. I don’t know anything really interesting in protestantism that we don’t have in the CC. Please remember that the original sin of protestantism is the destruction of the unity of the Western Church. Luther (antisemite) and Henry VIII (murderer) are the best known figures of reformation. Protestants made a horrible legend of a Catholic inquisition which is a lie in 99%. The only thing that is true is: there was inquisition. Unfortunately for our separated brethren, truth is much more painful: 200 000 victims of a “protestant inquisition” in northern Germany and 70 000 in Britain
Anti-Catholicism is a part of protestant identity. Look at Britain - king or queen still cannot be catholic. Almost 5 centuries after reformation…
I know that numbers shouldn’t matter for us, but have a look at those dates:
1517 - reformation,
1717 - the beginning of freemasonery in London,
1917 - communistic revolution in Russia.
Maybe it doesn’t mean anything, maybe it’s just a coincidence, but in my opinion they were 3 most harmful events for the CC.
God bless

 

[Greg27]

I don’t want to sound uncharitable, but generally from my own experience there are several reasons why Protestants reject the CC, from lay believers to their greatest theologians such as Karl Barth:

1. The theology and influence of the Reformers, notably Luther and Calvin. Many aspects of their theology are deeply Anti-Catholic, in both sentiment and thought.
2. The violence of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. Many Protestants were killed in violent and gruesome ways, their churches destroyed, and communities exiled during this period, particularly at the hands of Catholic Princes and Monarchs. The same occured as well to Catholics in Protestant countries, and leaves a bitter memory for many on both sides.
3. Excesses in Catholic devotional practice. Indulgences, prayers to the saints, the role of Mary, and also the strong current of contemplative mysticism (and its Neo-Platonic origins) is a powerful sticking point for many different Protestant denominations. Many Protestants feel devotions and mysticism are unbiblical, excessive, and even downright dangerous, as they seem to exalt humanity at the expense of the glory of God.
4. The hierarchy of the Church and the Popes. For many Protestants, the Papacy and the structured leadership of the Church including the Bishops, Priestly orders, monastic orders, and the Magesterium represent a complicated intermediary which sets an enormous beaucracy and heirarchy of men and their teachings between the believer and his or her God. For many Protestants, the lack of these figures and structure as well as a complicated and seemingly rigid and legalistic set of dogmas and beliefs between them and Christ in the Bible has a very appealing simplicity, as it does for many lapsed Catholics. Protestant theologians also sometimes argue they have greater freedom to think independently about important questions, as they do not have to remain faithful to certain fundamental doctrines, a magesterium, or tradition. Also, the corruption and vice evident during certain periods of the Church by the leadership (including the clerical class and Popes themselves) demonstrate to many Protestants, the error of doctrines such as Papal authority and infallibility in matters of faith and morals.
5. Unpleasant personal experiences with Catholics. I am sure some Protestants have met Catholics who are unpleasant, and vice versa. A bad personal example can often be all someone needs to condemn an entire belief system.
6. Theological errors of Catholic belief. Karl Barth called the sacramental theology of Catholicism the ‘Anti-Christ’ as in his view it undermined the supreme revelations of God, Jesus Christ and the Bible. Other Protestant theologians reject some Catholic beliefs at a fairly high level, ranging from the position of the magesterium on divorce, abortion and birth control to ideas about the very nature of God himself and his relationship to creation.
7. Bigotry, hatred, intolerance and fundamentalism. Many Protestants are taught and inculcated with weird and warped beliefs about Catholics, Catholic beliefs and practices, or Catholic theology by parents, pastors, preachers, authors, theologians, educators and friends. Jack Chick and his tracts are a concrete example of a genuine Protestant who believes the CC is basically an evil organisation ruled by Satan and bend on world domination and destroying all Protestant churches in the near future.

 

[catholicmarsh]

I think that there are many times that I forget that not only am I held accountable for what I do, I am held accountable for what I FAIL to do, this is why I love my priest. At Mass before the Confession he says "for the times that we have failed to love as God loves, for the times that we have failed to recognize our dependance on God, for the times we have neglected to share and cooperate in the Life of God let us ask God to forgive us. This just came to me this day and I thought I would share it. Please pray for me a sinner.
-Catholic Marsh

 

[IanCorrigan]

It wasn’t actually feudal. The Reformation took place during the Renaissance. Feudal times occurred in Medieval Times, with Lords, princes, knights.

My point was that while Europe was enjoying the renaissance, the Church remained committed to feudal ideas, and worked hard to turn back what it saw as the tide of renaissance secularism. Witness the lunacy of Savonarola.

The Church had lost touch with the spirit of its age, and so new churches arose to fill the gap. Natural and inevitable, imo - unity in religion is only ever achieved by oppression.

**They rejected Luther’s propose reforms because his teachings is contrary to the Gospel message and Church teachings. **

Exactly the difference of opinion that we’re still dealing with.
Remember, ‘doctrine’ is from the latin for ‘opinion’.

Not really. The Catholic Church did not begin a military campaign against dissidents. It was rather Secular governments who were Catholic who remain loyal to Rome.

The Roman church was entirely happy to bless those authorities, and damn the heretics.

The Roman church’s insistence on legal and material punishment of heretics is one of the great black marks against it, I’d say.

It is dictated by the Holy Spirit, who is immutable. He can’t change his mind.

I have real trouble with the idea that “God” can’t change his mind. I recall that in the tale of Noah, it says “He repented him that he had made man”. Doesn’t ‘repent’ mean ‘think again’ - that is, to change one’s mind?

The doctrine of the unchangability of god’s mind seems more a boon to those who wish to enforce legislated doctrine than a reflection of what scripture (much less experience) says about the nature of the divine.

To me, experience and history prove that the effort to create religious unity always - always - results in oppression and strife. The best thing to do is accept that there will always be folks who differ in opinion. It’s worthwhile to always remember that they might even be right… Some can hold to stories that make them hope for eventual unification by divine power, but that’s not in the realm of humans and our choices. In the meantime it’s better (in the sense of producing less ill) to be welcoming to heresy than it is to insist on unity.

Ian

 

[catholicmarsh]

My point was that while Europe was enjoying the renaissance, the Church remained committed to feudal ideas, and worked hard to turn back what it saw as the tide of renaissance secularism. Witness the lunacy of Savonarola.

The Church had lost touch with the spirit of its age, and so new churches arose to fill the gap. Natural and inevitable, imo - unity in religion is only ever achieved by oppression.

Ian, I would respectfully disagree with your assertion that the Church was committed to “feudal” ideas at the time of the Renaissance. The Majority of Art, Architecture, Literature, Theater and Music came about not only by Churches’ blessing, but much of it was commissioned by the Church. Look at the Frescos Michaelangelo painted, look at the great Masses that were written; We wouldn’t have Polyphony if it wasn’t for St. Gregory. Opera orginated by and from the Church. The idea that the Church has been against learning is revisionist history. The Church is not against seeking knowledge when it is in the confines of the Truth. We are free to explore everything in the Universe as long as we keep in mind what the Truth is. BTW, Europe was dragged into the Dark ages NOT because of the Churches’ so called “control of society” but because the majority of Europe was busy fighting of the Goths, the Vandals, the Barbarians, and other Germanic Tribes.

 

[Stillkickin]

I think many have been taught things about Catholics that are not true, so they have a bias against Catholics because of this. My wife has a friend who usually has very little that is nice to say about the Catholic Church and all of them are very untrue, they are things she was taught about Catholics growing up as a Baptist.
I would recommend a book I read a while back entitled “The New Anti-Catholicism The Last Acceptable Prejudice” by Philip Jenkins (He is a Professor of History and Religious Studies at Pennsylvania State University). The book has some very interesting insights,

 

[smgriz]

Giving good example is the best way to react to those who are not Catholic or even Caholic. I have talked to people who are "practicing"Catholic but derfinitly sound Anti-Catholic; I sometimes wonder why they still want to stay in the Church.

Well, to get back to what I want to say about good example. I have had two wives(I was widowed the 1st time) Both were Protestant when they married me but converted shortly after. My first wife stated that she did not want “her children to become confused” as they grew my second wife “loves the reverence of the worshipers:” unlike the people in her church. However I believe that the action of those around her and the Holy Spirit’s guidance led her to the Truth. Her questions were always answered (and still are) ; if I cannot then I direct her to where we can learn the right answer. Needless tosay, the friends she had in her church have dwindled and snub her because she has converted. She is heartbroken but she now knows how devistating Anti-Catholicism can be.

griz

 

[Mannyfit75]

It is dictated by the Holy Spirit, who is immutable. He can’t change his mind.

I have real trouble with the idea that “God” can’t change his mind. I recall that in the tale of Noah, it says “He repented him that he had made man”. Doesn’t ‘repent’ mean ‘think again’ - that is, to change one’s mind?

The doctrine of the unchangability of god’s mind seems more a boon to those who wish to enforce legislated doctrine than a reflection of what scripture (much less experience) says about the nature of the divine.

Noah indeed tried to intercede for behalf of the people of Sodom and Gommorah. Unfortunately, Lot and his family was lead out there, and two cities were destroyed. Noah was asking God’s mercy to spare the city. We all know throughout Scripture God is a merciful God. As such, he can save a city if 3 or 10 are innocents.

As Saint Paul said in his Letters to the Hebrews,
**
Jesus Christ, yesterday, and today; and the same for ever. 9 Be not led away with various and strange doctrines** – Hebrew 13:8-9

 

[Gardening_Mommy]

][SIGN][/SIGN]

No. While the Catholic Church was seeking to control the world through religion, Bible Christians were running for their lives from the Catholic holocaust that ran for centuries.

God has always had His people, faithful to Him and His Word. They had no part in the Roman Catholic Church. Through much of history, organized religion has hunted and slaughtered Bible Christians. For an excellent overview of this, read the classic work, “The Trail of Blood,”

users.aol.com/libcfl/trail.htm

On the good side, it shows that even Protestants know that they should have a history… and they feel a gap because their church doesn’t have much of one.

In fact, some of them are so desparate for a history, they’ll even claim spiritual descent from Montanus (yes, I’ve read “The Trail of Blood”… historically hysterical). BTW, Montanus didn’t stop with small group Bible studies… he eventually declared himself the incarnation of the Holy Spirit. Hmmm… should’ve accepted that oversight from the bishop.

All kinds of really odd heretics in there that would have quite a few arguments with modern Baptists. The Baptists I know would really prefer the Catholics!

 

[catholicmarsh]

I usually try to invite my Protestant brothers and sisters to Mass. If they have questions I try to give them books to read, if they have questions that I can’t answer I try to be honest with them. You would be suprised how far simply admitting you don’t have the answers will go. Showing that you are a humble person and have the ability to be taught is an excellent way to witness to the Truth. I invite my Brothers to call a Catholic Church and ask to speak to a Priest. I may invite them to RCIA, not to convert them perse, but just so they can get their questions answered from the source itself. Invite your friends to Mass. Many Protestants haven’t even been to a Mass and have never actually investigated the Catholic Church outside of the context of their Protestant World View. That’s why I find it necessary to study things independantly apart from bias. If I investigate Islam I will look at Islam as Islam is. I have been to Mosques, I have talked with Imams and such. I determined that it was not for me but at least I took the time and sought it out. See, it is convienent not to have to do the work of understanding where someone else is coming from. Unfortunately this is the case for some Catholics as well. It’s always good practice to be open enough to at least investigate claims made by someone, even if you end up not buying into that particular belief system. I would much rather have someone investigate Catholicism and find out it wasn’t for them, but represent it fairly and accurately than have someone who was just blantantly anti Catholic.

 

[catholicmarsh]

**

I don’t want to sound uncharitable, but generally from my own experience there are several reasons why Protestants reject the CC, from lay believers to their greatest theologians such as Karl Barth:

Greg,
I find your post to be an accurate depiction at why many Protestants are adverse to the Catholic faith. On the other hand many are not. They simply wish to remain true to their heritage. I don’t think this makes them wrong it simply makes them different. Examples of wonderful Protestants who had wonderful relationships with Catholics include Billy Graham, Robert Schuller, Brother Roger of Taize, and my college Philosophy professor. I have no problem acknowledging the many deep truths that we share in common with our seperated brothers and sisters. I take Communion to a lady in a nursing home that is run by the Disciples of Christ and the Chaplain is very nice, he is all in favour of us ministering to our Catholic patients. At another nursing home the Methodist Chaplain will even say the Rosary with the Catholic patients because she knows it means so much to them. This is wonderful and it is an example of what true ecumenism is. Jesus didn’t die for us so we could bicker and fight. He died to show us what God’s love is all about. He confirmed God’s love through his death and ressurection, and this is something that Catholics and Protestants can rejoice about.
This is not to say that there aren’t deep divisions that seperate us, and that these divisions shouldn’t be dealt with. We should deal with them frankly and honestly. However, Acknowleding our differences should NEVER be a license to act in a manner that is socially unacceptable.**

 

[governorperez]

we are members of the city of God, seekers of HIs kingdom.
the question assumes conflict where in my experience i learn so
much from my joyful protestant bible-based churchmates.

love from, catholic me

 

[quantumDeus]

I think that there are many times that I forget that not only am I held accountable for what I do, I am held accountable for what I FAIL to do, this is why I love my priest. At Mass before the Confession he says "for the times that we have failed to love as God loves, for the times that we have failed to recognize our dependance on God, for the times we have neglected to share and cooperate in the Life of God let us ask God to forgive us. This just came to me this day and I thought I would share it. Please pray for me a sinner.
-Catholic Marsh

A very nice prayer. We tend to think in terms of sins of commission, but not of omission … a rather human thing to do, it lets us mitigate our guilt with self-justification … Huh? Who me? I didn’t do anything … Exactly, we didn’t do anything, even though as Christians we ought to. Seeing no evil, hearing no evil and speaking no evil is not a virtue, it is the basis of self-justification.

 

[catholicmarsh]

Noah indeed tried to intercede for behalf of the people of Sodom and Gommorah. Unfortunately, Lot and his family was lead out there, and two cities were destroyed. Noah was asking God’s mercy to spare the city. We all know throughout Scripture God is a merciful God. As such, he can save a city if 3 or 10 are innocents.

Not to nitpick but it was Abraham who tried to intercede on behalf of the people of Sodom not Noah

 

[anamchara]

Why are Protestants who have bias against the Catholic Church so Anti-Catholic. There are numerous Non-Catholic Members here who are extremely Anti-Catholic. I won’t mention their names.

The ones that come online are normally from the far right evangelical side for some reason. You don’t see to many mainline liturgical Protestants on here. I was Protestant and was never “anti-Catholic” CAF and other message boards like this attract the extremes I guess.