Question for fundamentalists...?

Question

Since fundamentalists accuse Catholics of worshiping our popes, why hasn't the Catholic Church *canonized all of our popes?

*To canonize means when the Church uses the keys to formally declare a person to be a saint.

19: I [Jesus] will give you [Peter] the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
-Matthew 16

18: Truly, I [Jesus] say to you [the Apostles and their successors in the Church], whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
--Matthew 18

John Paul II would have been officially declared to be a saint on the day of his death if we worshipped our popes, but his case is still in the process.

Answer 1

What a great point. I think that along with many other things in our culture, people jump to judgement on things that they dont understand at all - such as what the roman church teaches.

Answer: Because Catholics don't worship their popes. Catholics don't worship anything/anyone other than the Lord, and if you have seen or heard otherwise, then you have heard or seen incorrect teaching/practice.

Jesus answered him, "It is written, `YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.' " Luke 4:8

Answer 2

I don't think you mean to imply that all non-catholics are fundamentalists, but it sort of comes accross that way.

There are Catholic Fundamentalists too (ie Mel Gibson)

That's probably not what you are saying. With that aside, I think most mainstream Christians view like I do, the Pope as an important and valued leader of all the Christian world. there have been a few popes in my lifetime and I am always excited and interested to see who the new one will be. i think he does symbolize the Christian world.

I don't think of him as infallable as many, but not all Catholics do, but he is certainly important and a great leader. i don;t think the vast majority of Christians think of Catholics as Papal worshiper or worshipers of Mary either. And if they were, so what? that would equate to only a doctrinal differnce.

I have known many catholics, though far fewer as time passes who think non-catholics are doomed. I think there would be hardly any who would buy into that absurdity now. But i remeber when it was more the rule and not the exception.

In conclusion I don't think we should treat any other faith, Christian or not as wrong or think we have a corner on the market.

I see catholics as fellow Christians, and I would expect the same from them and I believe it to be that way.

I also think we'll see a lot of Bhuddists, Muslims, Jews and many others in heaven.

Last thing.

i think the church has been and remains conservative and cautoius about Canonizing and I think that is a clear indicator of the fact that the Pope is not woshipped and some are seen as having been better leaders thna other. Even to the point of living saintly lives. I expect John Paul to be recored historically as a better leader of the Catholic Church, that Benedict XVI, if for no other reason . longevity, but probably for oyjer reasons too. He was an extraordinary man, whether he is ever sainted or not.

Answer 3

I think the point is more about the fact that saints are "worshipped" to begin with.....
If you pray to a saint, or even to the man named Jesus-aren't you committing the sin of worshipping a false god?
I think that anyone attempting to be closer to God is taking a step in the right direction.
I just do not personally believe in organized religion. Because in my research, I have not found a single one that does not teach beliefs and traditions that go very much against what is said in the original bible. And no offense, but Catholicism is the worst of the bunch. Ever heard of a little thing called the Crusades?

Answer 4

There are some questions you need to ask yourself first.

What is a fundamentalist?

Are there any fundamentalist Catholics?

Is the Pope a fundamentalist Catholic?

Now some other questions

Where in the Bible is the word "Pope" found?

Where in the Bible does it say "Call no man your father?"

Where in the Bible does it say anything about canonizing someone?

Does the word "saint" refer to a special group of super Christians, or is it applied to all Christians?

Is the word "saint" ever used in the Bible to refer to people who are still alive? If yes, does this mean that the Catholic process of making people saints is un-Biblical?

Answer 5

In "laymans" terms its simply recognizing the fact that they have reached Heaven, where they can pray for you in a glorified way, and amplify your prayers. Understanding purgatory, it is not difficult to understand why it sometimes takes a little while.

EDIT

This is very difficult for Americans who speak American English, because the word "worship" means to give the honor that is due.

In Latin there is a different term for each: Saints, Mary, God.

Answer 6

I am a Baptist, but I have never accused Catholics of worshipping the Pope. I'm sure, though, that many Baptists do! And that ain't right!!!

Answer 7

Have you ever been in the Vatican and seen the people crying and raising their hands up in awe and reverence to the mummified remains? They fold their hands and cry out to the dead popes. They ask them to grant their prayers. If that's not worship, I don't know what is!!

Answer 8

The faith issue is just a BUSINESS now a days. So all these saints and Imams are just misguiding the ignorant.

Answer 9

Fundamentalists are just pissed off that they didn't invent christianity, and are trying to kick everyone else out. they are, for the mostpart, ignorant and brainwashed, and taught by uneducated preachers, so you can't blame them for being so stupid.

Answer 10

Anyone who is a true bible believing Christian is a saint.