Why do people say Catholics are evil?

[Cable]

Why do people say Catholics are evil?.

What “people” are you referring to? 'Just wondering.

There are about a billion Catholics on the planet and I’m thinking that if you had a broader acquaintance with them as well as with the teachings they believe, then it would improve your view. And I think you’d see, that there are Catholics who are exceptional people , ones who are mediocre , and ones who bat at the bottom of the order . As for the teachings, they describe “a way” to go that is challenging, beautiful, amazing and all right there for the taking.

 

[Pablopedro]

**I find some catholics think the worst of you. They suspect the worst too. **

There is a lot of **distrust **amongst catholics, I don’t sense love but a fake air of outward goodness. We don’t know if they are like this behind closed doors.

All the uptightness means people are too busy being tense about rules and not enough about Christ’s message of love they neighbour and the teachings in St John’s book.

I’m not being judgemental, I’m reacting to catholic judgement that has been imposed upon me in the past.** Intrusive questions** like " so when was the last time you went to confession?", (None of your ruddy business) Here’s another: " If you;ve missed church, you have to go to confession", I can only truly confess my sins if I feel contrition.

It’s all mind control.

It kind of seems like you are saying through all of your posts: “I do not know why Catholics say you have to do certain things and not others, and some Catholics have made me angry in the past, so Catholicism seems evil to me.” But does that really seem like a rational response?

Also note there is a slight problem with the bolded parts above… if they don’t really love you but it is a “fake air”, why do they care if you are acting morally?

Mind Control?

Pardon me if I’m jumping to conclusions but it sounds like you’ve been doing a lot of research on youtube. no?

 

[JRKH]

**I find some catholics think the worst of you. They suspect the worst too. **

the key phrase here is “some Catholics”. Certainly not all.

There is a lot of **distrust **amongst catholics, I don’t sense love but a fake air of outward goodness. We don’t know if they are like this behind closed doors.

It is quite true that we do not know the heart of others. For this reason it is best to not worry about them and just concentrate on your own journey.
If you concern is that others have a negative opinion of Catholics for the reasons you have stated, then you can help change that by being the best Catholic you can be.

All the uptightness means people are too busy being tense about rules and not enough about Christ’s message of love they neighbour and the teachings in St John’s book.

This is one possibility most certainly. But there are other possibilities as well. Much will depend on what the specifics are of a given situation and interaction.

I’m not being judgmental, I’m reacting to catholic judgement that has been imposed upon me in the past.

hhmmm…I don’t know…some of what you say sounds a bit judgmental to me…but I could be wrong…

Intrusive questions like " so when was the last time you went to confession?", (None of your ruddy business)

I wonder why this question bothers you. Every Catholic is to go to confession at least once a year. I hope you have been making it.

Here’s another: " If you;ve missed church, you have to go to confession", I can only truly confess my sins if I feel contrition.

Well - if you are missing Church then the person who is asking IS practicing the virtue of love of neighbor. He is concerned about your soul. Why should you find this to be a negative thing?

It’s all mind control.

Quite…
It’s a matter of forming ones self to Christ - and everyone is at a different place on that journey.

Peace
James

 

[bzkoss236]

There are two ‘lists’ of the 10 Commandments, one in Exodus and one in Deuteronomy. Both are essentially the same list, but phrased differently. Catholics use one list, non-Catholics seem to prefer the other.

 

[polytropos]

But in essence, isn’t the catholic faith as practised by many just a rules based system in which people formulate loopholes for themselves, they condemn others but do not see their own faults in the process.

Not really, since the Catholic faith demands sincerity of belief and action. Anyone using loopholes is not getting anything out of it. Some, blinded by pride, might wind up becoming a “holier than thou” type, but that is hardly a satisfying way to live.

Although I think our culture these days is very critical of people who are firm in their beliefs. We are not supposed to judge others without removing the plank from our own eye… but we are also supposed to “admonish sinners.” It is a difficult line to walk, being humble about your own faults and charitably critical of others. It probably makes some seem cold and hypocritical. None can do it better than the Lord.

Shouldn’t Christianity be values based rather than rules based the way catholics teach it in schools,

“you must do this, you must do that, you must’nt do this, it’s immoral etc etc.”

We don’t know why it’s immoral, we just know it’s immoral because that’s what Sunday school taught us or wherever.

I think this is a misconstruction. Catholic schools do tend to teach values and rules… that’s kinda the New Testament/Old Testament, Sermon on the Mount/Ten Commandments dichotomy/unity. Values and rules are both crucial to the Catholic faith. Abstinence from sin falls under the virtues, which we must cultivate if we are to grow spiritually.

 

[polytropos]

All the uptightness means people are too busy being tense about rules and not enough about Christ’s message of love they neighbour and the teachings in St John’s book.

I’m not being judgemental, I’m reacting to catholic judgement that has been imposed upon me in the past. Intrusive questions like " so when was the last time you went to confession?", (None of your ruddy business) Here’s another: " If you;ve missed church, you have to go to confession", I can only truly confess my sins if I feel contrition.

I am sorry you feel that way. Many Catholics who have been lulled into a routine do not believe that you must be in a state of grace to receive the Eucharist; many other Catholics are understandably worried about this, which may be the source of such comments. I don’t know their dispositions. I hope you don’t let a handful of uptight people stand between you and God.