I had a Protestant friend who told me that his pastor said that Catholics worship Mary. It made me wonder where they get their information and how they can be teaching something that isn't true.
Also, why do they bash Catholicism (I consider that bashing) while you never hear Catholic priests bashing what Protestants practice? (At least I never have.)
Just to be clear, I'm not saying ALL Protestant pastors do this. It's just that most of the Protestant friends I've had were under this assumption, so it just made me wonder.
Serious answers only please.
2007-01-12 17:30:09 · 12 answers · asked by blank 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Neon Camo - So when we ask our friends and family to pray for us, we're worshiping them?
2007-01-12 17:38:35 · update #1
They have to demonize the Catholic Church in order to justify their breaking away from the Church Christ Himself founded.
2007-01-12 17:46:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Neon - Catholics do NOT worship Mary. We ask for her to pray FOR us and WITH us. The same way that those of other religions ask their friends and family to pray for them and with them.
Just another example of ignorance. *sigh*
I know some Protestants get their info from Chick Tracts. He is notorious for bashing Catholics and other religions. It's horrible. I've actually read some of his works and it makes me ill.
Maybe one day people will learn to open a book or look up information about a subject before they condemn it.
2007-01-12 17:43:13 · answer #2 · answered by Jennifer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Protestants being thus impious enough to make liars of Jesus Christ, of the Holy Ghost, and of the Apostles, need we wonder if they continually slander Catholics, telling and believing worse absurdities about them than the heathens did? What is more absurd than to preach that Catholics worship stocks and stones for gods; set up pictures of Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and other saints, to pray to them, and put their confidence in them; that they adore a god of bread and wine; that their sins are forgiven by the priest, without repentance and amendment of life; that the pope or any other person can give leave to commit sin, or that for a sum of money the forgiveness of sins can be obtained ? To these and similar absurdities and slanders, we simply answer: "Cursed is he who believes in such absurdities and falsehoods, with which Protestants impiously charge the children of the Catholic Church. All those grievous transgressions are another source of their reprobation."
"But what faith can we learn from these false teachers when, in consequence of separating from the Church, they have no rule of faith? ... How often Calvin changed his opinions! And, during his life, Luther was constantly contradicting himself: on the single article of the Eucharist, he fell into thirty-three contradictions! A single contradiction is enough to show that they did not have the Spirit of God. "He cannot deny Himself" (II Timothy 2:13). In a word, take away the authority of the Church, and neither Divine Revelation nor natural reason itself is of any use, for each of them may be interpreted by every individual according to his own caprice ... Do they not see that from this accursed liberty of conscience has arisen the immense variety of heretical and atheistic sects? ... I repeat: if you take away obedience to the Church, there is no error which will not be embraced.
Source(s):
Against the Reformers
Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible online
Additional Reading
St Alphonsus Mary De Liguori (1696-1787)
Bishop and Doctor of the Church
2007-01-13 06:20:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The simple answer is ignorance.
I used to do the samething as far as "bashing." Many of the things I was taught was either handed down by my parents or Sunday School teachers. Also, movies also portray priests in a stereotypical fashion which also informs people.
I learned a lot when I sat down and talked with a Catholic priest. Lord forgive me for my errors.
2007-01-12 17:35:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just to help with neon camo, Catholics do not pray to Mary. Just like asking your friend to pray for you, they ask Mary to pray for them.
This seems to be a very difficult thing for people to understand.
2007-01-12 17:48:08 · answer #5 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it IS offensive. Unfortunately, they are given to preaching their own interpretation of things.....that's why there's so many different denominations. That being said, they carry their desire to put their own spin on things unto how they perceive what the Catholic Church teaches.
Get this: I am Catholic....my parents are Assembly of God-ers. My mom told me recently that Catholics are wrong to baptize infants. I challenged her as to why, then, the Orthodox, Episcopalians, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists all INSIST on infant baptism. She had NO answer, of course.
You're right....it IS Catholic bashing.....plain and simple.
2007-01-12 17:39:55 · answer #6 · answered by The Carmelite 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am being completely serious... one side of my family is strict catholic and the other side is strict protestant. I am an agnostic. I seriously think that both sides are ignorant about each other because they don't bother to learn and/or don't want to.
2007-01-12 17:35:35 · answer #7 · answered by Rat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is praying not a form of worship? Cause you pray to Mary. And don't you consider her "Holy"? Know your religion, Catholics worship Mary.
2007-01-12 17:36:29 · answer #8 · answered by Tripper 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Ever said a Hail Mary?
Read a Bible....Mary always takes prayer and praise directed at her and says "NO, direct it at my son"
Ever pray to your friends or family? Having someone pray FOR you and praying TO someone is a little different.
David T
2007-01-12 17:48:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Frequently they hear a little bit of information and then make it up from there.
Like some posters here.
2007-01-12 17:38:24 · answer #10 · answered by Scott M 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋