Why do some Protestants slander us?

[RCCDefender]

I am living in NC and apparently Christianity has a whole different flavor here then the rest of the country. I’ve had to explain my faith several times to those who are not certain what Catholics believe.

I do not mind honest questions, even if you disagree with the Church, as long as the question is asked without a mocking tone, I don’t mind answering. But occasionally I come across people who have already decided what Catholics believe and do not care what my answers are. This can be very frustrating.

deb, it’s that way all across the Bible Belt. I’ve had strangers come up to me off the street and tell me I worship the Whore of Babylon. Gee, if my grandfather were alive today he’d be telling me that at every visit! Doesn’t happen so much any more though. Actually that might be because I don’t wear my Catholic t-shirts two or three times a week anymore; they don’t really go with my work attire like they did with my jeans and flip flops in college!!! LOL!

 

[deb1]

Hi,

As your resident born again christian/protestant, I defended the CC over the weekend. A stranger said you guys are not christians and I said Yes they are—they believe in Christ.

Thank you!

 

[BlestOne]

It’s funny, growing up I didn’t know anything about Protestants other than they didn’t go to the same church. My parents never said anything bad nor did my teachers or priest. When I became an adult I was attacked by a bunch of folks (not naming any religion here) telling me I wasn’t a Christian. I got into a “discussion” with a man I knew as a youth group leader about whether we know we are saved or not, but still I didn’t know any differences between Catholics and Protestants…heck, I didn’t even know what a Protestant was… Then I had to grow up, I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t walk into any church on any street and receive communion. When I was in college, the closest church to my dorm was a Lutheran Church. When I needed to go be with God…just to sit quietly and pray, I went there. I stopped after about a week because I guess I attracted attention going into a Lutheran Church on a weekday… I don’t know, I was used to doing that at my parish, but I guess it isn’t normal there. Anyway, some woman, I think a secretary, came over and anxiously asked if I was OK…after that, there was always someone popping their head in and looking at me then leaving. I felt like I was being watched like a crimminal or something, so I stopped going in there. After that, I started noticing the fundamentalists that came into where I worked and the Sunday night prayer meeting folks…(lousy tippers) and I guess that is when I had to start learning about other Christian faiths besides my own. I think it is sad that in their zeal, Christians would slander other Christians.

On the bright side, I have learned so much more about my faith by being attacked and slandered by these people than I ever knew. Somethings that I took as a matter of faith for example, I feel I understand why Catholics believe, say, and do some of the things that our Protestant brothers and sisters think is wrong. I also think I have much more of a conscience choice to follow my faith this way too.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Thank you!

Your welcome Anytime:thumbsup:

 

[beckers]

Luther this, Luther that!
What does he have to do with 99% of Protestant churches?
Do you think we are all Germans?
We (Methodists) never even mention the man much less worship him!
I have never accused Catholics of worshipping anything other than God and neither do most people I know.
Most Protestants believe the RC Church has edged a bit into Apostasy but I have never heard anyone accuse you of not being Christian or polytheists.
WP

I find you reply quite confusing. Your very name Protestants means you are protesting something. You are protesting the Catholic Church so how can you say the church “has edge a bit into Apostasy”. We haven’t changed. We’ve been the same way for 2000 years. While you have only been “protesting” for less than 500…

 

[tmrbwilson1998]

I think there is slander occuring both ways in our world…I have had some interesting online conversations with Baptists (Southern and IFB) who still are reminded of the persecution centuries ago against them, as well as some of the harsher statements made by Catholic parishes in the 50s and 60s (some of the “All of US Catholics are going to Heaven, all of YOU Protestants will go straight to Hell” types of things, before Vatican II).

However, on the other hand, these very same Baptists have told me I am going to Hell because I am Catholic, and that I am not a Christian! Being naive, I had never heard of such rubbish concerning Cath not being Christian b/c of the Baptst definition of being saved and immersed to be a Christian.

I was halfway raised in PA near Philly where population was overwhelmingly Catholic, then our family moved to the Bible Belt in SC, where the local Baptist church ruled everything, including the channels we were allowed to see on cable. However, since none of the priests in the parishes in the 3 states where I had loved up until that point had ever even mentioned other religions (too busy leading Masses for us to be gossiping or spreading negative things about other churches), I never thought much about Protestants, etc. I only thought they had different churches, did not use intercessions to pray, and celebrated Sundays together in a different way than we Cath did.

Now I am 31, still Catholic, and have lived mostly in the south (SC, NC, LA) as well as Germany, and I can honestly say that I feel a bit out of place here. When the nurse at the pediatric office asked me where we went to church and I responded with St. Patrick’s, he looked at me a bit oddly. When a neighbor noticed the Crucifix around my neck, I rec’d a wierd look. When speaking online with the Baptists, they let me know that they have learned their views on Catholicism from their own church! I guess I am still naive as to think that when people go to church, it is to be better Christians, have time with God in whatever way their service permits, etc. I never could have imagined hearing denigrating remarks about other people during Mass, though I know that it may happen in some places for all I know.

I asked the Baptists to please understand I was only there to have a better understanding of their church, respectfully, and from the source. I asked them to let us all rejoice that we all call Jesus our Savior, to let us be brought together by our commonality rather than let inherent differences cause harsh feelings, etc. What I rec’d was less than charitable.

So, after all this, I have come to the decision to just love everyone…even those who believe differently. In the face of diversity and some people who may treat me badly, I should live out my faith as a charitable person as an example of my Church. I know many Protestants who do the same every day as well!

Sorry so long!
Tina

 

[lak611]

Hi,

As your resident born again christian/protestant, I defended the CC over the weekend. A stranger said you guys are not christians and I said Yes they are—they believe in Christ.

Thank you.

 

[wcknight]

They slander us because they don’t know any better, and we slander them because we don’t know any better.

The worst thing I’ve heard is that some folks believe we are devil worshippers. BTW, we are definitely NOT Satanists.

Did you ever wonder why whenever some wants to find an exorcist ? they almost always go to ask a Catholic priest, and not to some other denomination. Could it be that they know we are all alligned with Christ and Christ has power over demons ??? or is it because they think we are in league with the devil and so have some sort of influence with him ??? I’m inclined to believe it is because we can get rid of him as opposed to being an ally with him.

 

[bella5110]

I find you reply quite confusing. Your very name Protestants means you are protesting something. You are protesting the Catholic Church so how can you say the church “has edge a bit into Apostasy”. We haven’t changed. We’ve been the same way for 2000 years. While you have only been “protesting” for less than 500…

That is exactly what I would of said. :yup:

 

[bella5110]

They slander us because they don’t know any better, and we slander them because we don’t know any better.

The worst thing I’ve heard is that some folks believe we are devil worshippers. BTW, we are definitely NOT Satanists.

Did you ever wonder why whenever some wants to find an exorcist ? they almost always go to ask a Catholic priest, and not to some other denomination. Could it be that they know we are all alligned with Christ and Christ has power over demons ??? or is it because they think we are in league with the devil and so have some sort of influence with him ??? I’m inclined to believe it is because we can get rid of him as opposed to being an ally with him.

They go to a Catholic priest because that is where and only where you will be rid of Satan. No one else can cast him out. A priest is the umbilical cord to God.

 

[sandmountainsli]

That is exactly what I would of said. :yup:

The origin of the term “Protestant” is interesting. The rule of the Catholic Church was being questioned in the 1500’s. Two important dates stand out, 1526 and 1529. The diet at Spires in 1526 gained some religious freedoms for “churches” to obtain a measure of autonomy or self-government. However, in 1529 when the diet again met at Spires, the Roman Catholic party was in the majority. The emperor declared: “By my imperial and absolute authority I abolish the clause in the ordinance of 1526 on which the Lutherans relied when they founded their territorial churches….” Those who declared that they would not abide by the decision of 1529 but that they would continue to recognize the ruling of the diet of 1526, were called “Protestants.” so it doesn’t exacty mean a “protestation” as you have put it.
WP

 

[sandmountainsli]

I find you reply quite confusing. Your very name Protestants means you are protesting something. You are protesting the Catholic Church so how can you say the church “has edge a bit into Apostasy”. We haven’t changed. We’ve been the same way for 2000 years. While you have only been “protesting” for less than 500…

Not quite.
The Assumption of Mary was not part of church doctrine in the beginning and MANY other things have been added which were not in the early church. Replacing the Prayer Cord or Paternoster Cord with the Rosary being among them. De Obitu S. Dominae was written no earlier than the fourth century and is not canon and the Assumption didnt become dogma until 1950.
WP

 

[lak611]

Replacing the Prayer Cord or Paternoster Cord with the Rosary being among them. canon and
WP

What are the Prayer Cord and the Paternoster Cord? I know Paternoster is Latin for the “Our Father” aka “Lord’s Prayer”, but I have never heard of “Cord”.

 

[sandmountainsli]

What are the Prayer Cord and the Paternoster Cord? I know Paternoster is Latin for the “Our Father” aka “Lord’s Prayer”, but I have never heard of “Cord”.

Paternoster Cord was a cord of fifty knots or beads which was used as an aid in saying the Our Father prayer, it was called saying “the fifties”. It was replaced by the Rosary in the Middle Ages. I personally agree with the Paternoster Cord.

Some Catholic practices and the approximate date of their adoption into the church.

Prayers for the dead; about 300​

Making the sign of the cross; 300​

Wax candles; about 320​

Veneration of angels and dead saints, and use of images; 375​

The Mass as a daily celebration; 394​

Beginning of the exaltation of Mary, the term “Mother of God” first applied to her by the Council of Ephesus; 431​

Priests began to dress differently from laymen; 500​

Extreme Unction; 526​

The doctrine of Purgatory, established by Gregory I; 593​

Latin Language, used in prayer and worship, imposed by Gregory I; 600​

Prayers directed to Mary, dead saints and angels; about 600​

Title of pope, or universal bishop, given to Boniface III by emperor Phocas; 610​

Kissing the pope s foot, began with pope Constantine; 709​

Temporal power of the popes, conferred by Pepin, king of France; 750​

Worship of the cross, images and relics, authorized in; 786​

Holy water, mixed with a pinch of salt and blessed by a priest; 850​

Worship of St. Joseph; 890​

College of Cardinals established; 927​

Baptism of bells, instituted by pope John XIV; 965​

Canonization of dead saints, first by pope John XV; 995​

Fasting of Fridays and during lent; 998​

The Mass, developed gradually as a sacrifice, attendance made obligatory in the 11th century​

Celibacy of the priesthood, decreed by pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand); 1079​

The Rosary, mechanical praying with beads, invented by Peter the Hermit; 1090​

The Inquisition, instituted by the Council of Verona; 1184​

Sale of Indulgences; 1190​

Transubstantiation, proclaimed by pope Innocent III; 1215​

Auricular Confession of sins to a priest instead of to God, instituted by pope Innocent III, in Lateran Council; 1215​

Adoration of the wafer (Host), decreed by pope Honorius III; 1220​

Bible forbidden to laymen, placed on the Index of Forbidden Books by the Council of Valencia; 1229​

The Scapular, invented by Simon Stock, an English monk; 1287​

Cup forbidden to the people at communion by Council of Constance; 1414​

Purgatory proclaimed as a dogma by the Council of Florence; 1438​

The doctrine of Seven Sacraments affirmed; 1439​

The Ave Maria (part of the last half was completed 50 years later and approved by pope Sixtus V at the end of the 16th century); 1508​

Jesuit order founded by Loyola; 1534​

Tradition declared of equal authority with the Bible by the Council of Trent; 1545​

Apocryphal books added to the Bible by the Council of Trent; 1546​

Creed of pope Pius IV imposed as the official creed; 1560​

Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, proclaimed by pope Pius IX; 1854​

Syllabus of Errors, proclaimed by pope Pius IX, and ratified by the Vatican Council; condemned freedom of religion, conscience, speech, press, and scientific discoveries which are disapproved by the Roman Church; asserted the pope s temporal authority over all civil rulers; 1864​

Infallibility of the pope in matters of faith and morals, proclaimed by the Vatican Council; 1870​

Assumption of the Virgin Mary (bodily ascension into heaven shortly after her death), proclaimed by Pope Pius XII; 1950​

 

[RCCDefender]

Some Catholic practices and the approximate date of their adoption into the church.

Prayers for the dead; about 300​

Making the sign of the cross; 300​

Wax candles; about 320​

Veneration of angels and dead saints, and use of images; 375​

The Mass as a daily celebration; 394​

Beginning of the exaltation of Mary, the term “Mother of God” first applied to her by the Council of Ephesus; 431​

Priests began to dress differently from laymen; 500​

Extreme Unction; 526​

The doctrine of Purgatory, established by Gregory I; 593​

Latin Language, used in prayer and worship, imposed by Gregory I; 600​

Prayers directed to Mary, dead saints and angels; about 600​

Title of pope, or universal bishop, given to Boniface III by emperor Phocas; 610​

Kissing the pope s foot, began with pope Constantine; 709​

Temporal power of the popes, conferred by Pepin, king of France; 750​

Worship of the cross, images and relics, authorized in; 786​

Holy water, mixed with a pinch of salt and blessed by a priest; 850​

Worship of St. Joseph; 890​

College of Cardinals established; 927​

Baptism of bells, instituted by pope John XIV; 965​

Canonization of dead saints, first by pope John XV; 995​

Fasting of Fridays and during lent; 998​

The Mass, developed gradually as a sacrifice, attendance made obligatory in the 11th century​

Celibacy of the priesthood, decreed by pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand); 1079​

The Rosary, mechanical praying with beads, invented by Peter the Hermit; 1090​

The Inquisition, instituted by the Council of Verona; 1184​

Sale of Indulgences; 1190​

Transubstantiation, proclaimed by pope Innocent III; 1215​

Auricular Confession of sins to a priest instead of to God, instituted by pope Innocent III, in Lateran Council; 1215​

Adoration of the wafer (Host), decreed by pope Honorius III; 1220​

Bible forbidden to laymen, placed on the Index of Forbidden Books by the Council of Valencia; 1229​

The Scapular, invented by Simon Stock, an English monk; 1287​

Cup forbidden to the people at communion by Council of Constance; 1414​

Purgatory proclaimed as a dogma by the Council of Florence; 1438​

The doctrine of Seven Sacraments affirmed; 1439​

The Ave Maria (part of the last half was completed 50 years later and approved by pope Sixtus V at the end of the 16th century); 1508​

Jesuit order founded by Loyola; 1534​

Tradition declared of equal authority with the Bible by the Council of Trent; 1545​

Apocryphal books added to the Bible by the Council of Trent; 1546​

Creed of pope Pius IV imposed as the official creed; 1560​

Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, proclaimed by pope Pius IX; 1854​

Syllabus of Errors, proclaimed by pope Pius IX, and ratified by the Vatican Council; condemned freedom of religion, conscience, speech, press, and scientific discoveries which are disapproved by the Roman Church; asserted the pope s temporal authority over all civil rulers; 1864​

Infallibility of the pope in matters of faith and morals, proclaimed by the Vatican Council; 1870​

Assumption of the Virgin Mary (bodily ascension into heaven shortly after her death), proclaimed by Pope Pius XII; 1950​

Lorraine Boettner BUNK!!!

 

[Atreyu]

What do you understand by this statement, Sandy?

Worship of St. Joseph; 890​

 

[sandmountainsli]

What do you understand by this statement, Sandy?

O dearest Saint Joseph, I consecrate myself to your honor and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life. After your example may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. O Blessed Saint Joseph, pray for me, that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.

 

[Atreyu]

O dearest Saint Joseph, I consecrate myself to your honor and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life. After your example may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. O Blessed Saint Joseph, pray for me, that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.

You didn’t answer my question. I’ve only really been back in the Church for a year or two, and so I am unfamiliar with the prayer you have just mentioned. Sorry for my ignorance, but what is it? I should probably know it. Anyway, I asked what is your understanding of that statement that I quoted. Do you believe that Catholics worship Joseph? It is ok if you think this, you won’t be booted off the board for saying so. But you must explain your reasoning as to why you think this. Then we can explain exactly why Catholics don’t worship Joseph.

 

[sandmountainsli]

Anyway, I asked what is your understanding of that statement that I quoted. Do you believe that Catholics worship Joseph? It is ok if you think this, you won’t be booted off the board for saying so. But you must explain your reasoning as to why you think this. Then we can explain exactly why Catholics don’t worship Joseph.

Honestly (and this will cause offense but none intended) I believe that Catholics worship St. Joseph and tons of other Sainted Dead but I do NOT think that Catholics do it on purpose.
I think that the line between honour and worship is very thin and the RC Church has crossed it.
I do not think that this makes you a cult or “Whore of Babylon” however. You are baptised Christians as am I.
WP

 

[Sixtus]

Protestants love to insult, prejudice, discriminate and slander

Please accept my sincere apologies for this. I was attacked and accused of being an idol worshipper and idolator. and I took it rather personally, as I am very critical of the worship of idols, which is rife in our society.

I personally make a point of going against suspicious practices such as ‘walking under ladders’ as I believe that the power of Christ over me, is far greater than belief in a superstitious practice.

But, as I said, I perhaps over-reacted. I am sorry for the above comment. Please see my apologies in main thread headings.

I am only too well aware there are a lot of very sincere Protestant Christians who would be offended by the above.

I am aware that we are criticised and insulted by some extremist groups who do not understand why we have icons, believing that we pray to them and worship them. I condemn idol worship as much as they do. Obviously it would be a grave sin against the Commandments to worship idols ‘thou shalt not worship any graven image either in the heavens above or in the earth beneath’!

It is sometimes difficult to seperate out the difference between two groups. I am aware also of Protestants actually defending their catholic neighbours. That is Christianity at its best. I hope we prove equally worthy of our Protestant neighbours.

My apologies once again, yours sincerel in Christ