Why is the Catholic Church hated so much?

[Pfaffenhoffen]

So in other words, strong convictions? Or am I wrong?

Extremely hard convictions.

Catholics: St. Thomas Moore before execution: “The king’s faithdul servant but God’s first” (moving,no ? I wish I could have that courage, leaving wife and children behind and being Chancellor!"

Muslims - the crazy suicide bombers. Am I being on-sided? No. You cannot kill innocent people for your cause, I would say, for nothing. Never in the history of humanity, there was this henomenon, except for the Japanese Kamikaze (at least at this scale!)

Communists - The Great March of Mao Tse Tung and the winning of the war in vietnam. For what? For an illusion of a Godless State. Am i being one-sided? No. Communism disappeared, simply.

Before dying, you MUST read this book: "Man’searching for a Meaninger of Logotherapy.

If you donot read, stay with whtis quotation that is in the 1st page: “Man can suffer anything if he has got a meaning” ( Schopenhauer).

Frankl conclues that teh evil of today Society even in sex, is that people go fast, very fast but they dont have a meaning they dont know where they are goin to.

 

[Little_Mary]

In the UK it’s just kinda cultural. I mean I don’t really mind atheists, they seem bitter about anybody who try to assert anything, even psychologists, and that’s just low. But generally speaking it’s cultural in the UK to just despise papists, as we’re affectionately known. Generally we’re all viewed as preaching inquisitioners with red hot pokers who eat babies. I even had a woman say ‘You’re a Catholic? Oh well, never mind, we forgive you’.

Which is a bit rich coming from a religion that was founded by the misogynistic serial killer Henry Tudor - in fact I would be fascinated to know if, under EU legislation, what would happen if the Vatican tried to claim back the lands and resources stolen from it during the reformation. They burn the pope in effigy on the south coast at a merrymaking event once a year, and Guy Fawkes is always fun, that naughty Catholic terrorist who tried to blow up the houses of Parliament. We were only allowed to vote from 1830 onward, stand for parliament and go to university.Duke of Wellington pushed the Catholic Emancipation bill through Parliament. Always liked him, I’m a bit of a geeky fan of his

Actually, in all honesty, it sounds worse than it is. In fact it’s all very good natured and I have nothing against them partying on the south coast and I love the 5th of November as much as the next person… It’s just People generally fear anything God-ish, because it’s complex and unknown and gets their guilt complex going. Everyone has a guilt complex, but for some reason agnostics have more than most. They instantly think you’re going to judge them, I love it, I narrow my eyes suspiciously and ask “Why’s that then? What sort of things have you done?” and they go all pink and hide under the table.

And the Catholic Church never helps itself. Recent scandals could have been accompanied by slicker handling. It actually wasn’t so bad here in the UK as the British attitude is that if you suspect a priest of molesting a child you report it to the police first, not the bishop, which is VERY sound advice. In fact I do not understand why, in other countries, the police are not the first port of call! It seems astounding. For the church, though God’s chosen home on earth, is still an institution, and all political institutions have problems. And because the church is so old, and has been around for such a long time, it just has more than most.

Great post. Lots of good points!

 

[wisdomseeker]

Ah, yes, power and wealth. Tsk. Tsk.

It is amazing to me how some people who have lwealth are referred to as being “blessed”, yet, these same people look at the Catholic Church and call it evil.

:hypno:

 

[Ben_F]

The fact that many hate us, gives us cause to rejoice. We´re the one true faith. God bless:thumbsup:

 

[Radical]

There’s probably a very different set of reasons for non-Catholic Christians…

I believe that you are right in concluding that a variety of reasons exist…I also wouldn’t use “hated”. It is too strong.

For non-Catholic Christians, though, I would mostly look at triumphalism. That would be my guess.

Bingo. To help the OPoster understand, an analogy might help. To non-Catholic Christians, the CC comes across like the fellow at the neighbourhood party who just can’t admit that he is wrong. Let’s call him Bob. Everyone else thinks that it is blatantly obvious that Bob is wrong. His wife Joy, (those Catholics who are lovingly dismissed as cafeteria Catholics b/c they don’t accept everything the CC teaches), has even whispered in his ear, “Honey, you are wrong.” Bob, however, refuses to admit that he could possibly have made any mistake. Some Catholics themselves come across a little like Bob’s 10 year old son Joey, who idealizes the Bob. Joey runs around telling the other neighbours how Bob is so incredible and how he is always right. If a neighbour dares to disagree with Joey and say that Bob erred, Joey calls that neighbour arrogant (for thinking that he could possibly know more than Bob) and perhaps even tells that neighbour that he is in league with Satan b/c he disagrees with Bob. Bob’s 12 year old daughter Mary wonders why the neighbours get a little tired of Bob and Joey.

 

[Izdaari]

The fact that many hate us, gives us cause to rejoice. We´re the one true faith. God bless:thumbsup:

It could be this. But it could also…

If you take the time to read through various threads on any religious forum, not just this one, you’ll see that many of those belonging to the dominant religion of the forum (in the case of this forum, Catholicism) are quick to say that they are right, they are the only ones going to heaven, all civil laws should be based on their religious laws, etc. So I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s not too hard to understand why some people are hostile towards Catholics (or any religion).

…be this …

Bingo. To help the OPoster understand, an analogy might help. To non-Catholic Christians, the CC comes across like the fellow at the neighbourhood party who just can’t admit that he is wrong. Let’s call him Bob. Everyone else thinks that it is blatantly obvious that Bob is wrong. His wife Joy, (those Catholics who are lovingly dismissed as cafeteria Catholics b/c they don’t accept everything the CC teaches), has even whispered in his ear, “Honey, you are wrong.” Bob, however, refuses to admit that he could possibly have made any mistake. Some Catholics themselves come across a little like Bob’s 10 year old son Joey, who idealizes the Bob. Joey runs around telling the other neighbours how Bob is so incredible and how he is always right. If a neighbour dares to disagree with Joey and say that Bob erred, Joey calls that neighbour arrogant (for thinking that he could possibly know more than Bob) and perhaps even tells that neighbour that he is in league with Satan b/c he disagrees with Bob. Bob’s 12 year old daughter Mary wonders why the neighbours get a little tired of Bob and Joey.

…and/or this.

 

[newcreation2009]

As a former Catholic - born in 1963, Catholic gradeschool, high school and nursing school (2 years) - I can tell you that due to the church’s defiance of the word of Jesus is the ultimate reason for the ‘hatred’. God calls us to love our enemy, which includes those who teach another gospel other than that of the 4 Gospels and all of the epistles, and unfortunately there are many examples of false teachings in the Catholic church. Following are a few examples :
(1) anyone who believes and follows Jesus Christ is a saint, we don’t have to ‘perform miracles’; (No one has to be ‘‘canonized’’)
(2) God’s grace (unmeritted, unearned favor) is sufficient, just ask Paul;
(3) pergatory is an unbiblical lie;
(4) the term “Holy Father” is reserved for God the Father ONLY;
(5) Christ died ONCE…FOR ALL;(NOT every at Mass)
(6) What part of ''It is finished" don’t you understand?;
(7) Galatians 3:16 - 29;
(8) Mary bore other children AFTER Jesus (see Mark 6: 1 - 3…PLEASE!!);
(9) The Bible, the inerrant, infallible Word of God Himself, is NOT the final authority of the Catholic church…?? (That’s one I cannot wrap my head around)…PLEASE read
2 Timothy 3:16 - 18…I cannot over-emphasize this;
(10) the 2nd Commandment in both Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5 is “”'You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them…",
but in the New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism that commandment is REMOVED…this is messing with the Word of GOD!!!
So, that is why Christians HATE the teachings of the Catholic church…NOT the people who follow it…we want them to come to see Jesus Christ as their Lord & Savior and to be part of His church!!
For His Glory!!!

 

[SeekNFind]

I have heard over the years (when converting was waaaayyy in the back of my mind) that Catholicism was a cult. Now, I went to Catholic school so I knew that wasn’t quite true. I was on another message board earlier this year when the discussion came up about Catholics being considered Christians. It was a great discussion that lead me to start searching for info about Church history again. And the rest is history. . .

I never DREAMED I would face so much opposition from my family! We were raised protestant but went to a Catholic school. Other than the occasional “oh, we don’t do that” (ie pray to Mary, pray to saints, baptize infants, etc) I never really heard a negative word uttered against Catholics in my house. However, when I told my family I was going to do RCIA it was “Catholics aren’t saved” and “why join a Church that so many people are leaving” and “but they molest children.”

I would dare to say that MOST born-again Protestants don’t know anything about Christian history or they wouldn’t bash, for all intents and purposes, their mother. I struggled for YEARS trying out different denominations and going to different churches because there were so many I thought: which one should I be? I’m grateful God found me and is leading me to the Catholic Church. I hope that in time, my family will understand.

 

[wisdomseeker]

As a former Catholic - born in 1963, Catholic gradeschool, high school and nursing school (2 years) - I can tell you that due to the church’s defiance of the word of Jesus is the ultimate reason for the ‘hatred’. God calls us to love our enemy, which includes those who teach another gospel other than that of the 4 Gospels and all of the epistles, and unfortunately there are many examples of false teachings in the Catholic church. Following are a few examples :
(1) anyone who believes and follows Jesus Christ is a saint, we don’t have to ‘perform miracles’; (No one has to be ‘‘canonized’’)
(2) God’s grace (unmeritted, unearned favor) is sufficient, just ask Paul;
(3) pergatory is an unbiblical lie;
(4) the term “Holy Father” is reserved for God the Father ONLY;
(5) Christ died ONCE…FOR ALL;(NOT every at Mass)
(6) What part of ''It is finished" don’t you understand?;
(7) Galatians 3:16 - 29;
(8) Mary bore other children AFTER Jesus (see Mark 6: 1 - 3…PLEASE!!);
(9) The Bible, the inerrant, infallible Word of God Himself, is NOT the final authority of the Catholic church…?? (That’s one I cannot wrap my head around)…PLEASE read
2 Timothy 3:16 - 18…I cannot over-emphasize this;
(10) the 2nd Commandment in both Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5 is “”'You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them…",
but in the New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism that commandment is REMOVED…this is messing with the Word of GOD!!!
So, that is why Christians HATE the teachings of the Catholic church…NOT the people who follow it…we want them to come to see Jesus Christ as their Lord & Savior and to be part of His church!!
For His Glory!!!

dont you find funny that heretics want to be the authority in deternining Truth? It is only the one True Church found by Christ the has the promise of never be defeated. it is the CC that holds the Truth given by Jesus alone. I know of many who got deceived by lies from the heresy of protestants. the reason being they dont understand the Bible themselves and it is easily swayde by lies that looks like truth to them.

here this should give you some understanding. from an intelligent protestant who sought truth when he begin to questioning his professors and no answer was given.

star.ucl.ac.uk/~vgg/rc/aplgtc/hahn/m3/Mod3.html

 

[wisdomseeker]

I have heard over the years (when converting was waaaayyy in the back of my mind) that Catholicism was a cult. Now, I went to Catholic school so I knew that wasn’t quite true. I was on another message board earlier this year when the discussion came up about Catholics being considered Christians. It was a great discussion that lead me to start searching for info about Church history again. And the rest is history. . .

I never DREAMED I would face so much opposition from my family! We were raised protestant but went to a Catholic school. Other than the occasional “oh, we don’t do that” (ie pray to Mary, pray to saints, baptize infants, etc) I never really heard a negative word uttered against Catholics in my house. However, when I told my family I was going to do RCIA it was “Catholics aren’t saved” and “why join a Church that so many people are leaving” and “but they molest children.”

I would dare to say that MOST born-again Protestants don’t know anything about Christian history or they wouldn’t bash, for all intents and purposes, their mother. I struggled for YEARS trying out different denominations and going to different churches because there were so many I thought: which one should I be? I’m grateful God found me and is leading me to the Catholic Church. I hope that in time, my family will understand.

Thank you. that is beautiful… I notice the joy of those who seek and find the Truth.

 

[KathleenGee]

The Baltimore Catechism was imprinted in my memory all through college during the late 60’s and 70’s, and it prevented me from falling into all the excesses and sin in those days.

Sometimes, when a new person comes on, I look at their name or association and it implies to me they are the real Christians.

 

[Denise1957]

As a former Catholic - born in 1963, Catholic gradeschool, high school and nursing school (2 years) - I can tell you that due to the church’s defiance of the word of Jesus is the ultimate reason for the ‘hatred’. God calls us to love our enemy, which includes those who teach another gospel other than that of the 4 Gospels and all of the epistles, and unfortunately there are many examples of false teachings in the Catholic church. Following are a few examples :
(1) anyone who believes and follows Jesus Christ is a saint, we don’t have to ‘perform miracles’; (No one has to be ‘‘canonized’’)
(2) God’s grace (unmeritted, unearned favor) is sufficient, just ask Paul;
(3) pergatory is an unbiblical lie;
(4) the term “Holy Father” is reserved for God the Father ONLY;
(5) Christ died ONCE…FOR ALL;(NOT every at Mass)
(6) What part of ''It is finished" don’t you understand?;
(7) Galatians 3:16 - 29;
(8) Mary bore other children AFTER Jesus (see Mark 6: 1 - 3…PLEASE!!);
(9) The Bible, the inerrant, infallible Word of God Himself, is NOT the final authority of the Catholic church…?? (That’s one I cannot wrap my head around)…PLEASE read
2 Timothy 3:16 - 18…I cannot over-emphasize this;
(10) the 2nd Commandment in both Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5 is “”'You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them…",
but in the New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism that commandment is REMOVED…this is messing with the Word of GOD!!!
So, that is why Christians HATE the teachings of the Catholic church…NOT the people who follow it…we want them to come to see Jesus Christ as their Lord & Savior and to be part of His church!!
For His Glory!!!

I don’t have full knowledge enough to tackle all of the points you brought up here, but I’ll try to address a few of them. Perhaps other Catholics can correct, if need be, anything I’ve gotten wrong, or add to these:

1. I agree that we don’t have to perform miracles or be canonized. In fact, we don’t have to be noticed or revered as such by the world in order to be holy. We have the lives of the saints as an example of holiness, but there are countless other Catholics who lived lives of holiness who did not become recognized saints.
2. God’s grace needs to understood in context of all of the Gospels. Our Lord commanded His Apostles to go out to all nations to teach all that He had taught them. This is one of the main reasons why the Church is hated. The Church takes its responsibilty seriously, in that it must teach it all, including those things which may cause discomfort.
3. Purgatory is mentioned in Maccabees, and my understanding is that it’s part of tradition. The bible itself says that truth is not only found in scripture, but also in tradition.
4. Christ did indeed die once, for many (not all) as He himself stated at the Last Supper. At Mass, he is not literally dying again. It is a re-enactment of the Sacrifice of Calvary. Remember what Our Lord said at the Last Supper. And remember to that He said that we are to eat of His Body and drink of His blood if we are to have life in us. The Catholic Church believed him, and faithfully carries out what He commanded.
5. Mary did not bear other children after Jesus.In Mark 6:3, the brothers of Jesus are those whom he has a close and brotherly relationship, not his literal genetic brothers. In monastic orders, the men are called brothers, but they are not literally or familialy related.
6. Catholics do not bow down and worship a carved image of anything. We have statues, the crucifix, etc., as a reminder. We do not worship statues of any kind.

 

[wisdomseeker]

As a former Catholic - born in 1963, Catholic gradeschool, high school and nursing school (2 years) - I can tell you that due to the church’s defiance of the word of Jesus is the ultimate reason for the ‘hatred’. God calls us to love our enemy, which includes those who teach another gospel other than that of the 4 Gospels and all of the epistles, and unfortunately there are many examples of false teachings in the Catholic church. Following are a few examples :
(1) anyone who believes and follows Jesus Christ is a saint, we don’t have to ‘perform miracles’; (No one has to be ‘‘canonized’’)
(2) God’s grace (unmeritted, unearned favor) is sufficient, just ask Paul;
(3) pergatory is an unbiblical lie;
(4) the term “Holy Father” is reserved for God the Father ONLY;
(5) Christ died ONCE…FOR ALL;(NOT every at Mass)
(6) What part of ''It is finished" don’t you understand?;
(7) Galatians 3:16 - 29;
(8) Mary bore other children AFTER Jesus (see Mark 6: 1 - 3…PLEASE!!);
(9) The Bible, the inerrant, infallible Word of God Himself, is NOT the final authority of the Catholic church…?? (That’s one I cannot wrap my head around)…PLEASE read
2 Timothy 3:16 - 18…I cannot over-emphasize this;
(10) the 2nd Commandment in both Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5 is “”'You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them…",
but in the New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism that commandment is REMOVED…this is messing with the Word of GOD!!!
So, that is why Christians HATE the teachings of the Catholic church…NOT the people who follow it…we want them to come to see Jesus Christ as their Lord & Savior and to be part of His church!!
For His Glory!!!

I hope you come to the understanding that the heresy of Iconoclasm existed way before protestants who adopted many centuries later.

I give you some insight on statues. these are great reminders to us of the God and his holy Saints who departed. These has to do with God.

the Verse you quoted has nothing to do with God but pagans who created their own gods and were not with God. The CC is built by Christ and we have no choice but to come to her for the Truth.

 

[KathleenGee]

Christians are taught to HATE the Catholic Church by false teachers.

And teaching hatred is not Christian, but a sign of dishonesty and weakness and cultish self-righteousness.

These are signs of sin.

No matter how good our intentions, there is ongoing battle between the spirit and the flesh. If you know your Bible the way you imply you know, you will remember reading this, and I hope, ponder this.

The Daily Sacrifice found in Revelations, which you should recall reading, especially in these times when many are looking for signs and the Apocalypse, the Daily Sacrifice of the Mass unites us with the Heavenly Father in heaven, Christ throned next to Him. The daily Mass is our atonement for all the sins daily committed by ourselves, and for every human being in the world.

People hate the Church because they either were interpreting earlier teachings wrong, or were indoctrinated to be anti-Catholic.

 

[wisdomseeker]

As a former Catholic - born in 1963, Catholic gradeschool, high school and nursing school (2 years) - I can tell you that due to the church’s defiance of the word of Jesus is the ultimate reason for the ‘hatred’. God calls us to love our enemy, which includes those who teach another gospel other than that of the 4 Gospels and all of the epistles, and unfortunately there are many examples of false teachings in the Catholic church. Following are a few examples :
(1) anyone who believes and follows Jesus Christ is a saint, we don’t have to ‘perform miracles’; (No one has to be ‘‘canonized’’)
(2) God’s grace (unmeritted, unearned favor) is sufficient, just ask Paul;
(3) pergatory is an unbiblical lie;
(4) the term “Holy Father” is reserved for God the Father ONLY;
(5) Christ died ONCE…FOR ALL;(NOT every at Mass)
(6) What part of ''It is finished" don’t you understand?;
(7) Galatians 3:16 - 29;
(8) Mary bore other children AFTER Jesus (see Mark 6: 1 - 3…PLEASE!!);
(9) The Bible, the inerrant, infallible Word of God Himself, is NOT the final authority of the Catholic church…?? (That’s one I cannot wrap my head around)…PLEASE read
2 Timothy 3:16 - 18…I cannot over-emphasize this;
(10) the 2nd Commandment in both Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5 is “”'You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them…",
but in the New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism that commandment is REMOVED…this is messing with the Word of GOD!!!
So, that is why Christians HATE the teachings of the Catholic church…NOT the people who follow it…we want them to come to see Jesus Christ as their Lord & Savior and to be part of His church!!
For His Glory!!!

I hope you can kindly try to educate yourself before you believe in what protestantism teaches.

newadvent.org/cathen/07620a.htm about the heresy of Iconoplast.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Christians are taught to HATE the Catholic Church by false teachers.

And teaching hatred is not Christian, but a sign of dishonesty and weakness and cultish self-righteousness.

These are signs of sin.

No matter how good our intentions, there is ongoing battle between the spirit and the flesh. If you know your Bible the way you imply you know, you will remember reading this, and I hope, ponder this.

The Daily Sacrifice found in Revelations, which you should recall reading, especially in these times when many are looking for signs and the Apocalypse, the Daily Sacrifice of the Mass unites us with the Heavenly Father in heaven, Christ throned next to Him. The daily Mass is our atonement for all the sins daily committed by ourselves, and for every human being in the world.

People hate the Church because they either were interpreting earlier teachings wrong, or were indoctrinated to be anti-Catholic.

Satan has always tried to take everything from, he is a liar from the beginning. He tried to steal the creation from God. and he has worked even harder to destroy the Church Jesus built. but Jesus has promised that the gates of hell will not prevail agianst His Church.

satan has used many to try to take the people of God away from the Church and has succeeded much.
they dont realize what they are doing is obeying the enemy of God by working against His Church.

 

[Ruth_Catherine]

As a former Catholic - born in 1963, Catholic gradeschool, high school and nursing school (2 years) - I can tell you that due to the church’s defiance of the word of Jesus is the ultimate reason for the ‘hatred’. God calls us to love our enemy, which includes those who teach another gospel other than that of the 4 Gospels and all of the epistles, and unfortunately there are many examples of false teachings in the Catholic church. Following are a few examples :
(1) anyone who believes and follows Jesus Christ is a saint, we don’t have to ‘perform miracles’; (No one has to be ‘‘canonized’’)
(2) God’s grace (unmeritted, unearned favor) is sufficient, just ask Paul;
(3) pergatory is an unbiblical lie;
(4) the term “Holy Father” is reserved for God the Father ONLY;
(5) Christ died ONCE…FOR ALL;(NOT every at Mass)
(6) What part of ''It is finished" don’t you understand?;
(7) Galatians 3:16 - 29;
(8) Mary bore other children AFTER Jesus (see Mark 6: 1 - 3…PLEASE!!);
(9) The Bible, the inerrant, infallible Word of God Himself, is NOT the final authority of the Catholic church…?? (That’s one I cannot wrap my head around)…PLEASE read
2 Timothy 3:16 - 18…I cannot over-emphasize this;
(10) the 2nd Commandment in both Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5 is “”'You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them…",
but in the New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism that commandment is REMOVED…this is messing with the Word of GOD!!!
So, that is why Christians HATE the teachings of the Catholic church…NOT the people who follow it…we want them to come to see Jesus Christ as their Lord & Savior and to be part of His church!!
For His Glory!!!

Like so many people you don’t understand the Catholic church but have come to believe so many false ideas that have been spread. I am so sorry you have been led astray. I will try to help a little.

1. We are in agreement with this one. No need for miracles to be a saint. The Catholic church knows that there are many saints in heaven that don’t do miracles but there are those that do. There are people who have led very, very holy and godly lives.
2. We also believe that we cannot earn God’s grace. We know that it is by God’s grace alone that He even came to us and that we have the Church and all that it gives us but we do believe that faith with out works is dead as James says. Check out James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. You have to take all of the Bible.

3 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is…If any man’s work shall be burned he shall suffer loss but he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire. 1 Cr. 3:15. Sorry, but purgatory is Biblical.

1. Of course God in heaven is our Holy Father but people do call their dads father. To us, the pope is our authority on earth and he exercises that authority in a paternal way, after the example of Christ. Just like a father of family is the head, so is the pope the head of our Christian family.
2. We don’t believe Jesus dies at every mass but Jesus’s sacrifice at Calvary is a continual sacrifice that goes for all time and is for everyone and at every mass we have the most wonderful privilege of participating in that event. Jesus is truly there for us. The mass is never separated from Calvary.
3. You need to take all of scripture, not just parts.
4. Mary did not bear other children. staycatholic.com/ecf_mary_ever-virgin.htm
   Read what people from the early church days had to say.
5. In 1 Timothy 3:15 the Bible says where you can find the pillar and foundation of truth: “the church.” Please read. There has to be a Church otherwise you end up like you all are, constantly separating and dividing. It is never the Bible and every body’s own personal interpretation. 2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
6. Catholics do not worship statues. Just the same as protestants don’t worship their manger scenes. They are there as reminders. We never bow down to them, just like those in the Old Testament did not bow down to the images of the cherubims they were instructed by God to make: Exodus 25: 18-20.

God bless.

 

[Ruth_Catherine]

I have come across this general sentiment of hostility from a variety of people- I’m sure that every Catholic must have. Now I know that there are as many reasons and angles to this as there are groups of people out there.

Please share charitably. Why?

Misunderstandings mostly. Too many lies and falsehoods have been spread. Jesus did say that if they hate him they will hate us. He also said hell will not prevail against his church, so that must mean hell is going to try and these attempts blind people. All you have to do is read some of the answers to this post. Alot of the reasons people give aren’t even truths about the Catholic church.

He, also told us to rejoice when we are persecuted for his names sake.

God bless.

 

[GreggAlvarez]

Bingo. To help the OPoster understand, an analogy might help. To non-Catholic Christians, the CC comes across like the fellow at the neighbourhood party who just can’t admit that he is wrong. Let’s call him Bob. Everyone else thinks that it is blatantly obvious that Bob is wrong. His wife Joy, (those Catholics who are lovingly dismissed as cafeteria Catholics b/c they don’t accept everything the CC teaches), has even whispered in his ear, “Honey, you are wrong.” Bob, however, refuses to admit that he could possibly have made any mistake. Some Catholics themselves come across a little like Bob’s 10 year old son Joey, who idealizes the Bob. Joey runs around telling the other neighbours how Bob is so incredible and how he is always right. If a neighbour dares to disagree with Joey and say that Bob erred, Joey calls that neighbour arrogant (for thinking that he could possibly know more than Bob) and perhaps even tells that neighbour that he is in league with Satan b/c he disagrees with Bob. Bob’s 12 year old daughter Mary wonders why the neighbours get a little tired of Bob and Joey.

There are so many things I could say about this terribly one-side analogy. (Yet, I still agree with it 100%. There is no reason why Bob should back down because he knows the Truth.)

But the only one that even Radical (the author-in-residence here) would not disagree with is this one. It would be an interesting exercise for everybody to insert Jesus’ name in the place of Bob’s and see how reminiscent of the Gospels it is. Perhaps Joey is loosely John the Baptist. Mary is the faithful disciples and Apostles. Joy is the disciples who left Jesus when they started disagreeing with Him. And the neighbors are those who just downright think He is blasphemous.

Remember that Radical’s analogy is from the perspective of the neighbors, so in this case, the perspective will be of those who disagree with Jesus. Strikingly similar stuff here… Even Radical’s one-sidedness, unfairness, and such…

Radical’s story and the Gospels make it pretty clear that there are those who will not give the Truth the light of day. They want those with the Truth (Jesus and the Catholic Church) to admit they are wrong.

 

[CompSciGuy]

I believe, in a word, chastity. Our world is replete with messages that lead one to believe sexual sin is okay; well, it’s not. When I was growing up, this is the first thing I learned in church. It started with Adam and Eve: Once they realized they had sinned, they were ashamed (of their nudity). Correct me if I’m wrong. Nowadays, in some cities, I won’t mention any names, but the initials are S.F., you can find people out in public…IN THE NUDE:blush:! How disordered is that? You want to solve STD’s? Abstinence. You want to solve adultery? Abstinence. You want to solve…abortion? Abstinence. (In our society) you want to be ostracized? Abstinence. How do I know? I’m celibate. Oh, one more thing…so was Jesus.

I think you are quite right about this. Our culture has turned the word “virgin” into an insult against men. Virginity is mocked in high school locker rooms, in movies and TV shows, and in the workplace. The term “virgin” is used derisively to suggest weakness and effeminateness. That makes me sad.