Why do people tell Catholics what we believe and who we worship?

Question

For example: Why do people tell me that I worship the Blessed Virgin Mary even though I have specifically told them that I do not?

Is it just a lack of respect for Catholics?

Do people think we are stupid?

How could someone possibly worship someone WITHOUT KNOWING that they are doing it?

Please answer my questions. Don't change the subject.

I'm sure Jesus *loves* it when you refer to His mother as "just some chick".

It's not that we worship Mary, it's that we have a high level of respect for her. We love her as if she were our own Mother and we respect her as the Mother of our Lord. (Mother of God is in the Bible, check out Mary's meeting with Elizabeth for details.)

Answer 1

Vashsunglasses,
The reason is usually that their preachers have told them so. Most Protestant ministers are so afraid that if their congregants found out the truth about the Catholic faith, they would be out of a job. The whole - making up lies, distorting the truth, revisionist history, etc. - plot was started by Martin Luether. Most of the distortions you hear were actually started by him over 500 years ago. These people don't seem to be able to come-up with new material, so they just repeat what they hear like a bunch of three-year-olds.

Don't waste your time on people like that. Now, if somebody asks a question in good faith, you should politely correct them. But, I have found that this is normally not the case.

David,
I believe in all of the Church's doctrines. This prohibits me from worshipping anybody exept the Triune God. It also means that I do not put anybody's writing equal to scripture. If you can show me one historical document to substantiate your charge that many popes have taught that Mary is to be worshipped, I will immediately renounce the Catholic faith. Otherwise, shut-up. Where did you do your research? Oh, that's right... you're just spewing the hate and bigotry that your pastor teaches you at Sund'y Meet'n.

And lastly, the Church does not teach that salvation comes through a mixture of grace through faith and works, as you claim. The Catholic Church teaches the Biblical doctrine that salvation comes by "faith working through love (Gal. 5:6)". Conveniently, Protestants like to forget the "working" part. Did I read something about spiritual laziness in one of the other posts?

Answer 2

Not really an answer to your question, but I think that it's kinda funny that most "Christians" don't realize that the Catholic Church was THE Church for several centuries. Then came the division of the Greek (Eastern) Orthodox from the Roman Catholic (Western) Church. Then the major division caused by the Protestant Reformation.

I also think that, given the hundreds of different denominations of Christianity that are present in the world today, few people realize that Catholicism is still the largest group within the Christian faith.

One thing that I've often been confused about though, and this is something that I've heard from several people who are Catholic, is the differentiation between "Catholic" and "Christian." One person once told me "I'm Catholic," and so I replied, "So, you're Christian," and she corrected me by saying "No, I'm a Catholic." Kinda weirded me out, because the way that I see it is that there are three major groups of Christians: Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestants (and several minor groups that may not fit within those categories).

Sorry - I digressed from your question. My answer: I dunno. Many, many people think they know a lot more than they do, then show how little they know when they open their mouths instead of opening their ears and minds. "You have one mouth and two ears, use them proportionally" but then, we rarely do. Particularly when it comes to talking about taboo subjects like religion and politics.

Answer 3

I believe that it's because of all the stuff that y'all associate with Mary. Ave Maria, oh Mary's the Queen of Heaven, the Divine Mother of God, all that stuff. Because of all the status and attention y'all assign to Mary, non-Catholics see this as a form of worship. Being a Protestant, I'm pretty much inclined to agree with them. Mary's not the Queen of Heaven, she's just some chick that God chose to bear the infant Jesus.

Answer 4

A lot of people make generalizations....

IF one is a Catholic, it is generally assumed that they observe the teachings of the church. The Catholic church has put the writings of the popes on equal footing with the Bible, and many of the popes have taught over the years that the Blessed Virgin is worthy of our worship. The church also teaches that salvation comes through a mixture of grace through faith and the works that people do, while the Bible plainly teaches that salvation is a gift of God's grace, and NOT by works. (Eph. 2:8-9)

If you personally disagree with the things the Catholic church teaches, you should probably find a new church that you can agree with.

:)

Answer 5

I think it's b/c they see things on TV, etc and assume things. You know what assuming does.

I did think that Catholics worshiped Mary to some degree. Is that not true? What is the "Hail, Mary" thing? Also, it seems as though Catholics don't see Christ as their High Priest now. You don't have to go through a priest to speak to God or "confess" sins anymore. Praise God that I can sit in my living room and talk to Him anytime! The religion seems very ritualistic lacking passion... (NOT disrespecting you...asking legitimate questions...honestly.)

Answer 6

Well t.v. and other media coverage of various ministers on various programs show a version of CATHOLICS so doing...there are the ROMAN CATHOLICS as wella s other denominations and even when entering some churches 'one' does bow down and bless themselves with 'holy-water' before moving down to the front an praying in front of various statues even though 'one' is only to pray to GOD via OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST as per instructions in the new testament teachings....

Answer 7

It should serve as an example to you of the power of ignorance and irrational hatred. Before posting something think to yourself, 'am I being too much like them?' On a deeper level, it stems from their resistance to the Truths taught by the Roman Church and the fact that, if secular, they hate God because He is a moral force or, if Protestant, that they are a withered branch cut from the Church who would have nothing without It.

Answer 8

Don't feel left out, they do it to atheists too. I'm constantly hearing things like "Atheists come here because they really believe in god deep down" and "Atheists just worship ______ as a god instead of the real god" and the ever popular "Everyone HAS to believe in god, atheists are just rebelling against him"

Answer 9

Many are worshipping Satan and don't know. That's why the Bible says that Satan is "misleading" people. The whole point of misleading someone is to make sure they think they are not being mislead.

-Revelation 12:9

Answer 10

1)Yes.
2) Yes.
3)Brainwashing.

Many people and many Xtians r in fact lazy and disrespectful of other peoples beliefs. They tend to believe what their preacher has told them rather than finding out for themselves.
I was told that Catholics r x y & z...i then discovered for myself that x, y, and z are not true.