A few serious questions for Catholics?

Question

Do Catholics pray to the saints and Virgin Mary?
If so, why if the Holy Spirit is our intercessor?

Do Catholics really believe that they are taking Christ off the cross and repeatedly crucifying Him over and over again every time communion is taken?

Do Catholics really bow down before the communion bread? If so, why?

Why do Catholics have confessionals when only God can forgive sins?

Are Popes really considered to be infalliable beings?

Do Catholics pay the Vatican for their loved ones to get out of pergortory?

Do Catholics participate in bapitism for the dead?

These are all things that I have heard but I would like to hear from those who practice the faith because I can't find Biblical references for these things.

Is there another sacred document that the Catholics teach other than the bible?

Answer 1

Saints: Eph 1:22-23, Eph 5:21-32, Col 1:18, 24, 1 Cor 12:12-27, Rom 12:5, Eph 4:4, Col 3:15, Rom 8:35-39, Rom 12:10,
1 Thes 5:11, Gal 6:2, Gal 6:10.

Intercessory Prayer to Saints: Rom 15:30, Col 4:3-11, 2 Thes 1:11, 2 Thes 3:1, Eph 6:18-19, Rev 5:8, Mk 9:4, Rev 6:9-11,
Heb 12:1, Tob 12:12, Lk 16:19-30, Rev 20:4, Jos 5:14, Dan 8:17,
Tob 12:16, Mt 18:10, Heb 13:7

This is my Body...Jn 6:35-71, Mt 26:26, Mk 14:22, Lk 22:17,
1 Cor 10:16, 1 Cor 11:23-29, Ex 12:8, 46, Jn 1 :29, 1 Cor 5:7,
Jn 4:31-34, Mt 16:5-12,

If Jesus can create the whole universe would it be so difficult for Him to turn bread and wine into His Body and Blood?

If Jesus said this IS my Body then I take Him at His word. Give reverence to what Jesus claimed was His Body. Bowing would be appropriate if you believe His words.

Confession of sins: Mt 9:2-8, Jn 20:22-23, 2 Cor 5:17-20,
James 5:13-15, James 5:16, Mt 18:18, 1 Jn 5:16.

Primacy of Peter: Mt 16:18, Mt 16:19, Lk 22:23, Jn 21:17.
Mk 16:7, Lk 24:34, Acts 1:13-26, Acts 2: 14, Acts 2:41, Acts 3:6-7
Acts 5:1-11, Acts 8:21, Acts 10: 44-46, Acts 15:7, Acts 15:19, Gal 1 :18,

Catholics do not pay to get out of purgatory. Boy, that's an old bigotry! LOL!

Mormons baptize the dead, not Catholics!

Now I challenge you to find one Biblical reference to the man made "Bible Alone" dogma. (Not in the bible)

Where did Jesus command or write anything down?

Where is the Faith Alone man made dogma? Faith and works is bibilical, and Grace Alone is biblical. Faith alone is not in bible.

Answer 2

Wolfeblayde already provided some good answers for you, but here's a little more explanation:

Q: Do Catholics pray to the saints and Virgin Mary? If so, why if the Holy Spirit is our intercessor?

A: According to Jesus, Abraham and the rest of the righteous souls are alive in heaven. They had a certain amount of authority when they were here, and it would be very unlikely for God to strip it away. We believe all the saints are empowered by God to assist him in the work of bringing souls to heaven, whether they're alive on earth or alive in heaven.

Q: Do Catholics really believe that they are taking Christ off the cross and repeatedly crucifying Him over and over again every time communion is taken?

A: The crucifixion was a one time, once for all sacrifice for sin. We don't re-crucify Christ at Mass.

Through the work of his Church, his priest, and the Holy Spirit, we ask that ordinary bread and wine be transformed into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ for us, just as he commanded.

Once Jesus, who IS the eternal sacrifice of Calvary, becomes present, he leads us, approaches his Father on our behalf, and obtains for us whatever it is we might need.

Jesus is of course, the ONE mediator between God and man, and he is also our eternal and spotless High Priest, big brother, prophet, and king.

Q: Do Catholics really bow down before the communion bread? If so, why?

A: Catholics don't bow down before bread. Catholics bow down before the real presence of the glorified and risen Christ ... body, blood, soul, and divinity, triumphant and glorious, substantially and sacramentally present for us, on the holy altar.

What do Protestants do in the presence of God?

Q: Why do Catholics have confessionals when only God can forgive sins?

A: Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on his apostles, and then proceeded to empower them to evaluate the sinner, and to either retain or forgive sins, according to that authority.

This is totally scriptural.

Under the new covenant, anyone whom God so empowers can forgive sins in his name. Jesus said so. Read it. Believe it.

Q: Are Popes really considered to be infalliable beings?

A: When Jesus gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom along with the power to bind and loose, he placed no limits or reserves on those powers.

When Jesus says he will bind what you bind and loose what you loose, that's about as infallible as anyone can ever get!

Nonetheless, the pope has only invoked infallibility twice in the entire history of the papacy.

Like those in the old testament who spoke infallibly because they sat in the chair of Moses, the one who sits in the chair of Peter has similar powers, given to him directly by Jesus Christ.

Q: Do Catholics pay the Vatican for their loved ones to get out of pergortory?

A: No. (It's spelled Purgatory.)

Q: Do Catholics participate in bapitism for the dead?

A: Absolutely not. Never have. Never will.

Q: Is there another sacred document that the Catholics teach other than the bible?

A: The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a compendium of virtually all Catholic beliefs and practices. It also includes numerous scriptural and documentary citations and references.

To view the catechism on-line go here:

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm

Answer 3

Yes if we choose to we pray to the saints because we believe that they are in heaven with God now and can interceed for us because they witness the Lord and are closer to him then we on earth are... we refeer to the passage in the bible of Revelations Ch. 8 1-5

We believe that The Holy Spirit is our Intercessor and only He Who is God can convince the father for they're will is one but we believe that God will listen to the saints prayers for they go before his altar like insence..

In the Mass Jesus is not re-crucified or sacrificed again, but instead his sacrifice is re-presented so that we may share in its graces in His life giving body and blood only his sacrafice is re-presented un-bloodly like the actual scarafice

Yes we Bow Down before Jesus no commnion bread is present at this time any more But the Real Body Blody Soul and Divinity of Jesus... Why In the Bible Jesus clearly states this is my Body this is my Blood he also states whoever doesn't eat his body or drink his Blood will not earn eternal life he also said to Commemerate the same practice he did which we call Consecration also see early christian wrightings. Anyways since this is Jesus who is God he deserves worship... and bowing is not just for worship but yes we do worship the Eucharist ....Matthew 26:26 Mark 14:22 Luke 22:19 John 6:54

We ask God for forgivness only but the confessional is for the priest to hear are confession to give us penance and to decide if we are truly sorrowful and if our sins shall be truly forgiven or retained...John 20:21-25

No popes are not infalliable beings only God is popes make mistakes and sin Infalliablity is the doctorine of belief that if ever a pope was said to make a speech ex-cathedra meaning from the throne of peter that if he were to say false things The Holy Spirit would not allow this from happening.

No catholics don't pay the vatican for their loved ones and never was this true yes long time ago priest made people pay and this was wrong but this does not happen anymore we pray for our loved ones and indulgences are obtained through works for our loved ones

No we don't participate in the Baptism of the dead we believe that, that statment that was made in the Bible meant either some apostolic form that is not used anymore or prayer for those who are in purgatory

No there is no other sacred document whatever is not in the bible is also from ancient apostolic tradition.

Answer 4

You are asking waaaaaay too many "few" questions to give good, detailed answers to, but I'll give it a shot.

1) No, we ask for them to pray for us. Since we are all part of the Communion of Saints and since Christ said that "All live unto God," asking a saint to pray for you is no different than asking your mom or friend for their prayers.

2) No, we don't believe that. We believe that we are remembering His death until He comes again in glory, as He promised.

3) When Christ said, "This is My Body," He didn't say this is sorta like My Body or it just looks like bread but it's really Me. We bow before our Creator, Who is present before us in Communion.

4) Only God can forgive sins, that's true. But it sure is nice to be able to talk to someone "with skin on" and receive spiritual advice on how not to sin again.

5) Only when he is speaking ex-cathedra, which isn't that often, and which would take several posts' worth to explain in and of itself.

6) There was a time when indulgences were misused, but not by those who were in accordance with Church teaching. And no, you cannot "buy" God's love and mercy for yourself or anyone else with any coin or deed.

7) Where did you hear that one? St. Paul mentions baptism for the dead in Corinthians, but that's never been a church practice or doctrine.

Catholic doctrine is based on the Bible. Again, any discussion of the doctrine of "Sola Scriptura" and why Protestants and Catholics differ on this point would take a lot more time and space than I have.

I hope this helps to clear up your confusion. Catholics love God the Father, accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, and receive the Holy Spirit. Bottom line: I love my Lord Jesus!

Answer 5

Yes, we ask Mary to intercede for us--to ask Jesus things for us as she is our Mother. No we do not crucify Christ over and over. We are there at the same crucifixion standing with St John and Mary we are also at the Heavenly banquet with our Lord Jesus when he feeds us his Ressurected Body and Blood in the form of bread but, because it is truly him yes, we bow to him. I personally would be flat on my face if they allowed it as I KNOW it is him. Popes do have the infallible gift when it comes to teachings of doctrine because Christ has said "Thou art Peter, Rock, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against her" The Pope is a man and as such can still be responsible for his own personal sin but not in teaching the Faith. Didn't God put Moses in charge and then Moses appointed Joshua? It is the same thing. They are stewards of the Kings. All of the other Christian denominations have their own little Pope in their pastor do they not and if not what? They make themselves their Pope. Someone has to be an authority figure. No we do not pay money for souls in Purgatory and no we do not baptize the dead. and no there is no other Sacred document that Catholics teach other than the Bible. You must be referring to the Cathecism of the Catholic Church. All the points in the Catechism can be found in Scripture. As far as only God being able to forgive sins read John 20:23--It is clear he gave the Apostles and their successors this ability. He also said "what you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and what you shall loose on Earth shall be loosened in Heaven"

Answer 6

I fear you have been terribly misinformed. As a Catholic for more than 40 years, I can tell you without hesitation that you should not trust whoever said these things to you, because the truth is not in them. Instead of anwering your questions, try reading this. I hope it helps.

The top 10 most common misconceptions of the Catholic Church are:

1. Catholics worship Mary. No, we pray to Mary for her intercession, just as you would ask a friend or family member to pray for you. The traditional “Hail Mary” prayer recited by Catholics is a mirror of the words spoken by the Angel Gabriel in the first chapter of Luke.

2. Catholics think works get them to heaven. No, we believe, as it says in the Book of James, that faith without works is empty. We further believe that we are saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus and that He paid the debt for our sins. Our good works show that our faith has merit.

3. Catholics worship the Pope. No, we believe that the Pope is a human being, capable of sin, just like all the rest of us. We do believe that he is the successor of St Peter on earth as it says in the Gospel of Matthew and that when he speaks from the Chair of Peter, on a matter of faith or morals, he speaks without error. As a matter of point, Pope Benedict has never done this.

4. Catholics pay to get their loved ones out of purgatory. No, we ask that masses be said for our dead loved ones just as St Paul reminds us to pray for the living and the dead. A small donation ($5) might be made to pay for the card that we then send to the family to let them know that a mass was said in honor of the deceased.

5. Catholics do not read the Bible. Yes, we do. John Paul II declared the year 2000, the Year of the Bible, and Catholics around the world read the entire Bible during that year. Virtually all Catholic Church’s have a bible study program. At every Sunday Mass, there are three readings from the Bible. Catholics are required to attend Sunday and thereby hear the Word of the God.

6. Catholics think the Sacraments get them to heaven. No, we believe that only the death and resurrection of Jesus get us to heaven. We believe the Sacraments, such as the Eucharist Jesus instituted at the Last Supper, give us grace to help us follow God's will for us.

7. Catholics belong to a cult. No, our church has been around for 2000 years, much longer than any other Christian church. At more than one billion members, the Catholic Church is the single largest Christian denomination. Many people join and some (sadly) leave the Catholic Church every day of their own free will.

8. Catholics don't baptize. Yes, we do and our Church started baptism. Whether a person is immersed or sprinkled is a man-made technicality. It cannot be believed that Jesus would condemn someone to hell for all eternity because of the rite of Baptism they received. There are countless historical Christian texts, of reliable authorship, that speak of sprinkling in the very early Christian Church.

9. Catholics are not Christians. Yes, we are and we profess with our lips and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord, the Messiah, the Son of God come down from heaven to save men from their sins. We pray the Apostles Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus name is mentioned in some form more than 50 times at every Sunday mass. We strive to follow the two great commandments of Jesus to love God with our whole heart and our neighbor as ourselves.

10. Catholics have a different Bible. No, we have the Bible approved by the Universal Christian Church since the year 380. During the Protestant reformation several books were taken out of the Bible in the late 1400s. Martin Luther even took the Book of James and Revelation out of the Bible as well, before they were restored. The Catholic Bible has been the most consistent of all translations for more than 1600 years.

Answer 7

I hesitated to answer your question because I am what is known as a "cafeteria catholic." I take what I want and go. You have too many questions here to answer but you are so misinformed on most of them so I don't know where you are getting your information on the subject of catholics. To answer one question...be aware that catholic do not read the bible...it is frowned upon because it is a well known fact that people misinterpret it. We learned about catholicity thru catechism taught to us by the nuns. And, like most religions we were taught ours was the only religion..among other things...and I'm not going there because as I said, I am a cafeteria catholic.

Answer 8

Sorry for the long answer but you did ask for it.

+ Saints +

Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.

The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.

Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mother Teresa.

As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother in heaven to pray for you.

Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p5.htm#946

+ The Crucifix +

Catholics do not believe that we are taking Jesus Christ on and off the cross repeatedly.

However, as Jesus commanded, “Do this in memory of me,” we do remember that Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead during every Mass.

+ Eucharist +

Yes, Catholics really bow down before the Eucharist (Body and Blood of Christ.) because we believe Jesus is really present in the consecrated bread and wine. Jesus said, “This is my body,” and, “This is my blood.” Would you not bow down before Jesus Christ in the flesh?

+ Reconciliation +

The Catholic Church believes that "Only God forgives sin."

When a penitent person asks God for forgiveness, his (or her) sins are immediately forgiven.

Catholics also believe that when someone sins they not only hurt their relationship with God, they also injure the entire church, the body of Christ. In addition, the Bible tells us to confess our sins to each other.

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation with a priest ordained in the name Jesus Christ not only reconciles the sinner to God but with the entire church, including you and me.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm

+ Papal Infallibility +

The Catholic Church teaches that the Pope is infallible at closely defined times.

The Pope is only infallible when he, in union with the body of bishops, solemnly teaches that a doctrine as true.

This comes from the words of Jesus to Peter (the first Pope) and the Apostles (the first bishops), “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" (Matthew 18:18) and "He who hears you hears me" (Luke 10:16).

At all other times the Pope can be just as sinful as you and me and be in need of forgiveness.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p4.htm#891 http://www.catholic.com/library/Papal_Infallibility.asp

+ Purgatory +

No, Catholics do not pay the Vatican for their loved ones to get out of purgatory.

Are you perfect now? Most people would say no.

Will you be perfect in heaven? Most people believe yes.

Purgatory (or purgation) is the process of God's love changing our imperfect selves into perfect beings.

Depending on the amount of change needed by different people, this can be an easy or slightly harder process.

Everyone in purgatory is on his or her way to heaven.

I do not think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art12.htm#1030

+ No Baptism for the Dead +

No, Catholics do not baptize the dead.

+ Sources of Doctrine +

The Catholic Church does not use Holy Scripture as the only basis of doctrine. It could not. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written (by Catholics).

There were hundreds of Christian writings during the first and second centuries. Which New Testament writings would become official was not fully decided until about 400 AD.

Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like:
+ The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
+ Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the Ten Commandments)
+ The Communion of Saints
+ Which writings include in the New Testament?

Things that are even more modern like
+ Slavery is bad. Slavery is never declared evil in the Bible. This was one of the justifications for slavery in the Confederate States.
+ Democracy is good. The Bible states that either God should be the leader of the nation like Israel before the kings or kings should be the leader, "Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's." This was talked about a lot during the American Revolution.

This second source of doctrine is called Holy Tradition.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect1chpt2.htm#80

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 9

Im so happy that finally someone has posted these questions.