Why do people say Catholics are evil?

[123Strontium]

Why do people say Catholics are evil?

I can sort of understand the statement, I’ve come across a lot of unfriendly catholics myself, the strict kind. I don’t associate them as being Christians because of their unfriendliness, curtness and abruptness. Not least an air of arrogance too.

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.

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.

 

[georget]

No, I’ts been my experience that Catholic’s are no different than anyone else when it comes to the negatives you put forth. I do think that those who are judging Catholics because they are Catholic are playing with fire, Our Lord seemed to have a real problem with folks judging other folks, so I think anyone judging anyone should tread carefully. Also, if you don’t know why something is immoral you can read the Catholic catechism.
God bless you

 

[Allegra]

Somewhere in that rant I think I heard, “Catholics should do a better job of understanding the teachings of the Church so we know why we believe what we believe and can therefore live out our faith in our daily lives.” Is that sort of what you mean?

 

[77stanthony77]

I have never heard about Catholics being evil maybe grumpy!

 

[mexolic]

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

Then I guess the same could be said about the Ten Commandments.

 

[crumblymunky]

I can sort of understand the statement, I’ve come across a lot of unfriendly catholics myself, the strict kind. I don’t associate them as being Christians because of their unfriendliness, curtness and abruptness.

Strict Catholics, not Christians? More like strict Catholics, faithful Christians. Liberal Catholics= False Christians.

 

[JRKH]

Why do people say Catholics are evil?

I don’t know…the next time someone tells you that Catholics are evil…ask THEM why they say that.

I have had people refer to the Church as evil (generally the “antichrist / whore of Babylon” crowd), but these folks usually just think of Catholics as lost

I can sort of understand the statement, I’ve come across a lot of unfriendly Catholics myself, the strict kind. I don’t associate them as being Christians because of their unfriendliness, curtness and abruptness. Not least an air of arrogance too.

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.

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.

Well the people you describe above would maybe be “judgmental” but not “evil”. Two different things in my book.

That said, I fully agree that there are many Catholics who simply look at the rules and don’t really have an understanding of the principles behind the rules.

Peace
James

 

[Usige]

Kinda felt like you switched gears on us there. As to why people call Catholics evil? No clue, never met anyone who said we are evil. Many other things, but not evil.

To the second part; Catholicism is values based. The rules aren’t just conjured out of thin air. Every rule I have ever seen has been backed by reasoned thought. Just because some don’t bother to find out why a rule exist doesn’t mean that the reasons are absent.

 

[Horton]

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.

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.

The Catholic faith does teach why. The reasons for the “rules” are there for the asking. A couple of great resouces to learn/discover the reasons behind the “rules” is the Bible and the Catechism.

I’ve spent most of the last year learning why I should follow the rules. Christianity should be about positive values and most Christians I know embrace positive values which are increased and reinforced by living by the rules. I questioned quite a bit of Catholic belief prior to converting looking for that loophole. Couldn’t find it but I did however find a lot of information to back up the teachings of the Catholic Church.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

what exactly is 'values based?" are values absolute moral truths, or are they what somebody at some given point thinks is ‘valuable’ enough to teach, even though it may or may not be an absolute truth?

Here’s the thing. Suppose you value love. You should. Catholics value love. . .it’s one of our three cardinal virtues, in fact, it’s the greatest one.

BUT the word ‘love’ means many things to many different people. You’ve heard of ‘tough love’ (sometimes necessary). You hear people talking of how if you hurt somebody’s feelings, you don’t ‘love’ them.

IF Christian faith was taught simply as “LOVE one another”, you’d have people advocating for gay marriage, divorce, abortion, etc., because those would be seen as LOVING things. 'why shouldn’t two people who LOVE each other get married, even if they’re gay"? “Why shouldn’t we let the poor young woman abort her baby, because she’ll be ‘tied down’ for the next 20 years, not able to FULFILL herself, and it’s ‘kinder’ to the baby rather than let it be born into poverty. It’s the LOVING thing to do”. . .

etc. etc.

So God in His wisdom gave us RULES (and a Church to keep on repeating the rules to us when we forget), because God told us what love is, and what it is not, but people keep trying to ‘bend’ the rules to accommodate what THEY believe, even when it’s wrong.

We need the rules because paradoxically they make us MORE free. We know what is truth, and therefore we act according TO the truth, instead of running around in a muck sweat and acting wrongly in an attempt to follow our ‘man-made’ interpretation.

 

[Meemai]

I find some catholics to uptight. They seem to panick when someone wears a short skirt or I don’t know what.

But as to answer your question, probably the crusades. The inquestion that killed people because they where so called witches and stuff like that. Also the more recent child abuse thingies have surely stained the catholic religion.

 

[Allegra]

I find some catholics to uptight. They seem to panick when someone wears a short skirt or I don’t know what.

But as to answer your question, probably the crusades. The inquestion that killed people because they where so called witches and stuff like that. Also the more recent child abuse thingies have surely stained the catholic religion.

That’s sort of a wishy-washy response. Alot of people of all kinds of faiths don’t really want to look at some gals butt cheaks hanging out the back. I don’t really consider that uptight, but in my experience, no particular ethos seems to hold the monopoly on uptightness. In act, one of the most neurotic people I know is agnostic. She can’t even use religion as an excuse. Her uptight personality is just ingrained in her DNA I guess.

It doesn’t sound like you have more than an overall impression of the crusades and the inquisition, so you might want to learn a little more about them before painting all or most Catholics with the same predjudicial brush hundreds of years later. And it goes without stating that abusing children is strictly against the teachings of the Church and so I’m not sure what it has to do with your original post.

 

[Michael57]

I find some catholics to uptight. They seem to panick when someone wears a short skirt or I don’t know what.

But as to answer your question, probably the crusades. The inquestion that killed people because they where so called witches and stuff like that. Also the more recent child abuse thingies have surely stained the catholic religion.

Is it possible that you are incorrect in your assertions?

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I find some catholics to uptight. They seem to panick when someone wears a short skirt or I don’t know what.

But as to answer your question, probably the crusades. The inquestion that killed people because they where so called witches and stuff like that. Also the more recent child abuse thingies have surely stained the catholic religion.

I’d just to know (just out of curiosity) exactly what you ‘know’ (or think you know) about the crusades, I’ll wager the majority of it is. . .wrong. And don’t be embarrassed. A lot of people get fed wrong information by people who have good intentions and think they really DO know the truth.

Did you know that witches were killed right here in the U.S.? In Salem? and. . .oh gasp. . .it was not by Catholics. . .

So, let me ask. If a person who is, oh let’s say a pagan, kills a person. . .does that stain all pagans?

If a rabbi abuses a child, does that stain the Jewish religion?

These things have occurred. Why is it only a few sinful CATHOLIC priests (who by the way are acting TOTALLY AGAINST THE CATHOLIC FAITH when they sin) who ‘stain the Catholic religion’? I’m just curious. I really am. It just seems to me that a lot of people are reading, or hearing, things, and not actually checking ‘the whole story’ out, and just keep on passing on what they hear as ‘gospel true’ while ignoring the real truth out there. . .

 

[123Strontium]

Then I guess the same could be said about the Ten Commandments.

Now you happen to mention the 10 commandments, if you cross-check. The 10 commandments in the catechism is different from the 10 commandments in the Old testament.

The one missing is : Do not depict heaven and earth . In the OT.
So it makes you think whether they have made this adjustment to accommodate the art of the Sistene Chapel. Church gargolyes. etc etc

But in the catechism, it’s removed and replaced with a split one.

 

[Allegra]

I find some catholics to uptight. They seem to panick when someone wears a short skirt or I don’t know what.

But as to answer your question, probably the crusades. The inquestion that killed people because they where so called witches and stuff like that. Also the more recent child abuse thingies have surely stained the catholic religion.

Sorry. For a second I thought you were the OP. Nevermind the last bit.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Now you happen to mention the 10 commandments, if you cross-check. The 10 commandments in the catechism is different from the 10 commandments in the Old testament.

The one missing is : Do not depict heaven and earth . In the OT.
So it makes you think whether they have made this adjustment to accommodate the art of the Sistene Chapel. Church gargolyes. etc etc

But in the catechism, it’s removed and replaced with a split one.

The TEN commandments in the Old Testament?

Read your Bible, my friend. The ‘list’ is found in one than one place and there are actually MORE than 10 commandments.

BTW did you know that Lutherans have the same ‘numbering’ as Catholics do?

Here you are:
Decalogue, which is found in three different places in the Bible (Exodus 20 and Exodous 34 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21), has not been changed by the Catholic Church. Chapter and verse divisions are a medieval invention, however, and numbering systems of the Ten Words (Commandments), the manner in which they are grouped, and the “short-hand” used for them, vary among various religious groups. Exodus 20 is the version most often referred to when one speaks of the Ten Commandments, so it will be our reference point here. Here’s how the relevant portion of Exodus 20 reads:

2​

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3​

Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

4​

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5​

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6​

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7​

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8​

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9​

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not kill. 1 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ***, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

 

[123Strontium]

I find some catholics to uptight. They seem to panick when someone wears a short skirt or I don’t know what.

But as to answer your question, probably the crusades. The inquestion that killed people because they where so called witches and stuff like that. Also the more recent child abuse thingies have surely stained the catholic religion.

**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.

 

[123Strontium]

The TEN commandments in the Old Testament?

Read your Bible, my friend. The ‘list’ is found in one than one place and there are actually MORE than 10 commandments.

BTW did you know that Lutherans have the same ‘numbering’ as Catholics do?

Here you are:
Decalogue, which is found in three different places in the Bible (Exodus 20 and Exodous 34 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21), has not been changed by the Catholic Church. Chapter and verse divisions are a medieval invention, however, and numbering systems of the Ten Words (Commandments), the manner in which they are grouped, and the “short-hand” used for them, vary among various religious groups. Exodus 20 is the version most often referred to when one speaks of the Ten Commandments, so it will be our reference point here. Here’s how the relevant portion of Exodus 20 reads:

2​

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3​

Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

4​

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5​

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6​

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7​

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8​

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9​

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not kill. 1 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ***, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

You’re missing the point, it says don’t depict heaven and hell, But many catholic buildings have depictions of heaven and hell. They openly embrace images of them in their art too.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

You’re missing the point, it says don’t depict heaven and hell, But many catholic buildings have depictions of heaven and hell. They openly embrace images of them in their art too.

No, you’re missing the point. It says do not make a graven image of anything in heaven or hell. not 'don’t make a painting of heaven or hell.'

A graven image is** an idol. Something to worship.**

Catholic art or buildings are not idols. We don’t go into our churches and say “oh church you are divine and you are our savior”.

You’re using a computer. Please tell me you don’t have any pictures and stuff or look at pictures. If so, by your logic, you’re disobeying the commandments,