Why do Catholics bow to the Pope?

Question

By the way, I am Pentecostal and am wholly against Catholics.

#1. I am a Bahamian. I am not an American.
#2. I don't hate anybody. I don't hate Catholics, I'm just against the religion. No offense to anybody.
#3. My father is my pastor and he has never talked about any other religion in a hateful manner. He just simply told us the truth about the other religions. So please leave my Pastor(my daddy) out of this.

Answer 1

they think he has a special connection with God... as if..

Answer 2

To answer your question, Catholics bow to the Pope for the same reason the English bow to the Queen...It's a sign of respect. And in response to some of the other answers given, no Catholics do not "worship false idols" (ie: the saints, or the Virgin Mary). They venerate them. Catholicism is the original form of Christianity. All other forms of Christianity exist because of Catholicism. Do your homework. Just because they worship differently or have different traditions doesn't make Catholics any less Christian than any of the rest of you.

But back to your statement....What kind of Christian are you if you're "wholly against Catholics"? It seems to me that you're judging others, something your own holy book tells you not to do, and for that matter, you're practicing hate, which I always understood to be against the teachings of Christ. I guess it goes to show that humans aren't perfect, no matter religion's banner they wave!

Answer 3

I was raised in the Catholic church and now go to a Pentecostal church. I've never heard our pastor say anything bad about any other religion. He's a true Christian and so am I. Shame about you. When I was a Catholic, I never met the Pope in person, but I have bowed to people I admire. So do most people I know. You might want to pray about that prejudice you have. It cant feel very good.

Answer 4

When we bow to any human being, it is out of love and respect.

Any Christian would bow in worship to
+ God the Father
+ God the Son
+ God the Holy Spirit

Bowing can also show respect instead of worship. A man might go down on one knee to propose marriage to a woman.

In some Asian cultures bowing is a formal greeting of respect. Christians in these cultures do not stop bowing in greeting.

The Church on Earth is the Body of Christ. Each of us is a part of that body. I see nothing wrong with a Christian bowing in respect to the Christ in another believer.

The Pope has been selected by the Holy Spirit for his office. This act of God is also deserving of respect.

In the Bible Jesus' followers did not allowed anyone to worship them but does not say that they rejected shows of simple respect and love.

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

perhaps, as an illustration of reverence to God, for giving us the present of the pope and for the advantages He bestows Pope Benedict. I particularly have heard that it truly is an illustration of understand to kiss a bishop's ring, as stated indoors the 1st answer. i could be reluctant to bow in the previous the Queen of england or the President of u.s., by using very fact i think of of it may furnish the message that the Queen or President is via some means "greater effective effective" than the undemanding citizen. an significant theory taken from the very fact of Independence is that all and sundry are equivalent, it truly is why country's founders did away with titles such as "His Majesty" and diverse titles of royalty. Sending the message that some each and every individual is a techniques much less human than others is a violation of human dignity. i think of of contained related to the pope, a gesture such as a bow does no longer be misinterpreted, once you think approximately that he's this form of humble guy, and lives as though he's the servant of the servants of God, somewhat than in basic terms paying lip service to the very incontrovertible fact that one in authority is to serve those over whom he or she has authority. "in case you go with peace, paintings for justice." -Pope Paul VI God bless! Dave

Answer 6

The same way you would bow to a judge( commonwealth) in a court! Sad, Americans have thrown away a lot of things when they want to be separated or difference from their colonial masters that they( protestant) cannot grasp that the bible was written in the language and style of ancient Israel 2000 years ago!!!

Answer 7

It's basically a cultural thing. Are you against the British people because they bow to Queen Elizabeth II to show their respect for her?

Didn't think so.

Bowing is odd to Americans because we don't bow as a general rule to anybody. Catholicism, unlike Pentacostalism, is not a U.S. phenomenon. Catholicism began in cultures where people bowed to the king, bowed to the judge, bowed to the teacher, bowed to their fathers, etc.

The Pope, for us Catholics, is our spiritual father. He is elected to lead us because he is wise, very knowledgeable about Scripture, loves Jesus, has a good prayer foundation, understands all the diverse nations where the Catholic Church exists, and so on. (This might seem odd to you, since Pentacostal leaders basically just set themselves up as the guy in charge and hope people pay attention.) We know our pope spends many hours in prayer for our sake and many hours in study to write messages that will inspire us to holiness in Christ. We love him for that, and we show our respect to him for that by bowing.

As a pentacostal, you probably show respect to your pastor in other ways, such as clapping after his sermon, taking notes during his sermon, calling him "Pastor Bob" instead of just "Bob", allowing him to be the first one to fill his plate at the church dinner or whatever. You use cultural signs of respect that are appropriate for your pentacostal culture. We Catholics us cultural signs of respect that are appropriate for our Catholic culture.

P.S. We don't think the Pope is equal to or more important to Jesus. We bow to Jesus, too. As a pentacostal, you might bow down to Jesus during an altar call -- same sort of thing. Try not to condemn Catholics simply because you don't understand us.

Answer 8

Bowing is a sign of respect. We respect the pope because he takes the place of Our Lord on earth. And why do you hate Catholics so much? What harm have we done you? We don't hate you so why hate us?

Answer 9

Don't be against them unless someone who is Catholic and causing you harm... they're people just like you are and only wish to be happy, just like you do, wanting to learn altruism, wisdom and compassion, just like you do, in their own way, just like you do. They bow to the Pope out of respect for his "authority" in teachings. It's what they believe, you believe what you do, let there be peace between you unless one or the other causes harm, then of course, one must stop the harm with compassion.

_()_

Answer 10

Bowing is a sign of respect in many cultures.

By the way, I am Catholic and I have nothing against Pentacostals

Answer 11

If you are wholly against Catholics, what's the point in answering your question?

I will provide an answer, not necessarily for you but, for other more tolerant readers who may want to know the answer:

Biblical teaching on Posture in Prayer, Veneration and Worship:
Deut. 5:9 - God's command, "you shall not bow down to them" means "do not worship them." But not all bowing is worship. Here God's command is connected to false worship.

Rev. 3:9 - Jesus said people would bow down before the faithful members of the church of Philadelphia. This bowing before the faithful is not worship, just as kissing a picture of a family member is not worship.

Gen. 19:1 - Lot bowed down to the ground in veneration before two angels in Sodom.

Gen. 24:52 - Abraham's servant bowed himself to the earth before the Lord.

Gen. 42:6 - Joseph's brothers bow before Joseph with the face to the ground.

Jos. 5:14 - Joshua fell to the ground prostrate in veneration before an angel.

1 Sam. 28:14 - Saul bows down before Samuel with his face to the ground in honor and veneration.

1 Kings 1:23 - the prophet Nathan bows down before King David.

2 Kings 2:15 - the sons of the prophets bow down to Elisha at Jericho.

1 Chron. 21:21 - Ornan the Jebusite did obeisance to king David with his face to the ground.

1 Chron. 29:20 - Israelites bowed down to worship God and give honor to the king.

2 Chron. 29:29-30 - King Hezekiah and the assembly venerate the altar by bowing down in worship before the sin offerings.

Tobit 12:16 - Tobiah and Tobit fell down to the ground in veneration before the angel Raphael.

Judith 14:7 - Achior the Ammonite kneels before Judith venerating her and praising God.

Psalm 138:2 - David bows down before God's Holy Temple.

Dan. 2:46 - the king fell down on his face paying homage to Daniel and commands that an offering be made to him.

Dan. 8:17 - Daniel fell down prostrate in veneration before the angel Gabriel.

1 Macc. 4:40,55 - Judas and the faithful fell face down to the ground to praise heaven and worship God.

2 Macc. 10:4,26; 13:12 - Maccabeus and his followers fall down prostrate praying to God.