How are Catholics treated in the U. S. A.?

Question

I saw a Simpsons episode yesterday, and although it's probably exeggarated, I'm sure it has a ground, especially that the majority and the ideal American is protestant.
So, what do "normal" Americans think of Chatolics?

Answer 1

Historically, there was a fairly strong anti-Catholic bias among US protestants. Part of it was run of the mill sectarian bickering and religious-based disagreement. Part of it was a carryover from England, where Protestants and Catholics have had at best an uneasy relationship for centuries.

Later, a lot of it was ethnic discrimination under the guise (or at least partially under the guise) of religious discrimination. The largest immigrant populations in the urban northeastern US during the period of greatest immigration in the 19th century were from strongly Catholic nations -- Ireland and Italy most notably. Protestant Northern Europeans tended to aggregate in the less-settled Midwest where there was less turmoil.

Since about 1960, however, this has abated considerably. The election of John Kennedy to the presidency helped "normalize" Catholics to most mainstream US Protestants. When John Kerry, another Catholic, ran for president in 2004, it was barely a footnote.

While there's still some misunderstanding, these days, any American who shows outward hostility toward Catholics as a group will likely be considered a fanatic by the mainstream.

Answer 2

I think it depends. If you as a Catholic go into a town that is predominitly Baptist (just as an example) you can expect to get preached to. Alot of Christians will give Catholics a hard time about the Mary/Saints/Pope thing.

That being said, go to Boston or Chicago or somewhere mostly Catholic, or with a greater religious divirsity and you're all set. It's no biggie. I think it's more of a big deal to people who preach about 'one right way'. I've heard from friends that certain parts of the bible belt can be a bit rough for Catholics.

Answer 3

There is some anti-Catholicism and it isn't just directed at the illegal Mexicans. Rarely do people do it to their face though. It depends on where you live. In the northeast (New England) Catholics are treated very well because the majority is Catholic there and most of the nicer US cathedrals are in that area. In the south is where protestantism is big. Not all protestants are anti-Catholic but the few that are can be very nasty. They tend to be that way to lots of people, not just Catholics, Jews, blacks, foreigners and anything they THINK is a minority. They just think they're better than everybody else. They certainly do not represent the majority in America but they think they do.

Answer 4

From what I hear, Catholics comprise a striking majority in the U.S., especially in Republican states such as Alaska. Being Catholic myself (but in Austalia), I feel no discrimination from other Christians for being Catholic whatsoever. I know what Simpsons episode you are referring to, where Homer and Bart become Catholic while Marge and Lisa stay with reverend Lovejoy. And they all fantasize the Catholic versus the Protestant heavens, Catholic filled with Mexicans and Irish people and Protestant as the normal people. That is where stereotypes dominate the issue, sadly.

Answer 5

I'm over 50 and I was raised Catholic---still am (more or less!). I live in Texas. Catholics here in the USA experience no discrimination whatsoever. I've never experienced it at all. Indeed, there is a closeness between Catholics and Protestants here moreso than probably anywhere in Europe. We live and let live here!

Answer 6

I don't know if you're referring to Flanders or not, but they certainly aren't as fundamentalist as Ned and Maud. Mostly they are caring people, non forcive, and non-abrasive. They care about others and society, don't force their beliefs upon anyone, and don't cling on to their own beliefs too strongly.

I am a former Catholic now atheist. The one's i knew seemed friendly and caring. I can't say I care for their beliefs. They really don't know what they want out of the good book and they mold and shape what they want to out of it. They have a way of bending the rules a bit. Like I knew a family who would give up a certain item for Lent, but they created a rule that they allowed them to use their item on saturdays during the lent season... wicked crazy??? The whole catholic religion is based like this. Picking and choosing what they would like to follow and would like to reject.

I thank the good Darwin that I'm out of faith everday.

Answer 7

I don't think Catholics in America are treated any diff than Protestants now. In 1960 some people did not vote for JFK because he was Catholic. So was John Kerry but it was not an issue in the presidential race.

Answer 8

It differs from race to race (Irish catholic families will have different practices than Spanish catholic families and so forth), so it may be hard for people to really get a grasp on how catholics are treated because they may only be exposed to one side of the religion.

Answer 9

Catholics are treated just fine in the U. S.

Catholics are a big part of the religious population here.

Answer 10

I loathe Catholicism for all of it's false teachings and false teachers that "assume" God's authority; however, I don't hate average Catholics (laiety) or treat them poorly...there are some that will depart (many already have) from Catholicism (many present day protestants too) to become true Christians; when they start following the truth of the Bible.

Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.