Why are Catholics in so much error regarding St. Peter?

Question

Otherwise, the Holy Spirit would have descended only on St. Peter on Pentecost rather than the other Apostles.

For athiests with closed hearts and minds, there is really nothing to explain or to assert.

http://www.newadvent.org/bible/mat016.htm#13

"And I say to thee: That thou art Peter [Kipha, a rock], and upon this rock [Kipha] I will build my church [ekklesian], and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven"."

All of the Apostles did teach the same faith after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Many centuries later, the Catholics started talking about the primacy of St. Peter and how the Popes received their infallible direction from Jesus Christ himself via St. Peter.

OK, Peter was leader of the Apostles but received the same gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost as they did. Are the successors of St. Peter more superior than the other 11 Apostles and their successors/followers? St. Peter, as a leader was also the lowliest servant if one pays attention to what Christ said. At the time of Pentecost, St. Peter was a leader but he was no more superior than the other Apostles.

Some of the latter answers make a lot of sense but introduce additional error which is not within the scope of the question. I'm not asking this question from a Protestant point of view; so the concept of "little popes" is in more error than what the question asks.

The Catholic Church has built a world empire based on the primacy of St. Peter. During the recent sex abuse settlement, someone commented that if the Catholic Church were Enron, the Church would have been out of business by now. The error of infallibility, going back to the misinterpretation of what Jesus told St. Peter, is the root cause.

The original 4 Eastern Patriarchates plus Moscow are alive and well: Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), Antioch, Jerusalem & Alexandria

Answer 1

Remember the pharisee Gamaliel in Acts 5;36-40?

When the other pharisees wanted to kill St. Peter and the other apostles, he said this:

"...if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them - in that case, you may even be found fighting against God!"

Isn't this also true regarding the primacy of the Pope?

Answer 2

Your logic on Pentecost is all wrong.

The ones who are obviously in error are those who have hundreds of thousands of "little popes" who develop tens of thousands of various and faulty doctrines, all the while blaming the sad state of affairs on the Holy Spirit.

On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven on what was then the entire church of Christ ... including the Blessed Virgin and others.

The matter of authority had been dealt with earlier, by Jesus himself, and Pentecost had nothing to do with it.

The apostles were the first bishops of the church, but only Peter was selected by Jesus and the Father to lead the church.

God's people on earth have always had leaders, and they always will.

Anyone who thinks the Catholic Church is in error about St. Peter and the office of Pope needs only study modern world history prior to the 16th century.

The principle was undisputed, from the very beginning of the church, and the Pope was not only the ruler of the church, but was also the ruler over the kings of the earth, as well.

God gave Abram a new name when he gave him a new job.

God gave Jacob a new name when he gave him a new job.

God gave Simon a new name when he gave him a new job.

None of the other apostles were given a new name, none of the other apostles were selected as the leader of the church by both God the Father and by Jesus himself, and none of the other apostles voluntarily traveled to Rome to begin converting the original "evil empire" for Christ.

And lest any doubt remain, St. Peter's bones are indeed resting below the foundation of the basilica in the Vatican that's named for him, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus wasn't kidding when he said, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church."

Answer 3

Nonsense.
St Peter was chosen by Jesus to be the vicar of the Church not the replacement of Jesus. The Pope is the Successor of Peter not the successor of Jesus for Jesus is still with us in the Church.
St Peter is the "princeps Apostolorum" or "leader of the apostles" and the other apostles and disciples are important.
The Church is made up of all the faithful not just the Pope or bishops or clergy. However, the Church cannot be the Church without the Pope or bishops.

Answer 4

true.. Peter was not the only recipient of the Holy Spirit, but all the other apostolic sees have all been lost - Jerusalem, Antioch, Constantinople, Alexandria. Only Rome remains.

Well Rome and the Eastern Patriarchs. Which is why the Eastern Orthodox Catholics are considered merely separated brethren.

That is why Rome holds the primacy it does.

Answer 5

Jesus Christ Himself gave Peter his individual position of being the "rock he would build His Church on."

Peter's position was also recognized by the other Apostles and followers. Paul even sought out Peter after his conversion, spent two weeks learning from him, and then proceeded only after getting word to do so from Peter.

Peter's primacy in the Church was never questioned, even in his day.

Answer 6

Nothing we believe about St. Peter precludes the Holy Spirit from descending on others.

Answer 7

Can you please explain and support your assertion. I have no idea what you are talking about.

I am not an atheist you ding dong. You posted a question without details. I will insted answer you as a Catholic. We are not in error on St. Peter however you may mean. I only wish you would have posted the details of what you were asking so you could be flayed with your own vitriolic words.

Answer 8

You speak as if the apostles all went in separate directions and each taught His own version of the Faith. That is so far from the truth its crazy.

They taught ONE Faith because they were only given ONE Faith. They spread ONE Church because Christ only set down ONE Church. ONE.

If the Protestants have it right, why don’t they all believe the same things? Why isn’t there a protestant Vatican?

Answer 9

John 21:15-17 states:

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep.

And as you have mentioned, Matthew 16:17-19 states:

Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

The Catholic Church believes the Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock.

The Pope is the senior pastor of 1.1 billion Catholics, the direct successor of Simon Peter.

The Pope’s main roles include teaching, sanctifying, and governing.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 880-882: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p4.htm#880

With love in Christ.

Answer 10

Jesus never made Peter the head of the church...

Peters greatest sin that satan requested was not that he would deny him, Jesus.. after all only Peter and another disciple followed Jesus.. The others all ran away..
Luke 22:
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may SIFT YOU AS WHEAT:
{ Peter to please the Jews and to betray the gospel ]

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
[ To reconvert the Jews back to the true gospel ]

Peters greatest sin was to deny the true gospel of Jesus and in front of His disciples, the Jews
Gal. 2:11-16

Jesus knew this and shamed him into remembering Jesus' words. John 21:15-17

Jesus asked him the third time to emphasize and reason for when he did it..

John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?

And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus [ Jesus did know Peter was to betray the gospel for the sake of the Jews. ]

however the roman Pontiff took this as Jesus' invite to be the head... If this were so why would he humiliate Paul, by keep asking him..

Also when Jesus said will give you the keys to the kingdom.. its what ever evil you bind in earth shall be bound in heaven, same with loosing evil on earth in heaven..

It is Jesus' true ministry, what ever you bind you sow, good or evil it is Eternal Karma your eternal tabernacles..

The Catholic church would kill and burn you alive if you did not listen to the pope.. were is Jesus in any of the roman Catholic history only satan..

Jesus never made Peter head of His church..The harlot= catholic church that made fornication with the kings of the earth, and slew the true chidren of God, made Peter the head of the church.

read Jesus' true ministry