Roman Catholic Church's "separated brethren"?

Question

Why refer to Protestants as the Roman Catholic Church's "separated brethren".
Didnt you Roman Catholics all used to call them Heretics back in the day?
Why the change?

P.S. Im Not a Roman Catholic or a Protestant.

Answer 1

"Brethren" means "brothers" - therefore the Catholic Church treats people of other denominations as family. "Separated" refers to the act of the Protestants choosing to separate from the Catholic Church, thus it is primarily qualitative descriptor. If you are still pre-occupied with Roman Catholics calling people "Heretics" "back in the day", perhaps you should be careful about leaving your home to make sure you don't fall off the face of the flat Earth.

Answer 2

The old English translation was not faithful to the original texts, they were modified to better follow them. Not really sure how that makes us "whack" There are over a billion Catholics. No one argues that. Jesus did found the Catholic Church. No honest historian argues that. If you hate the Catholic Church with such a passion, you certainly won't enjoy the Orthodox Church. There are many flavors of Lutheranism (Confessional, ELCA, moderates). There are also many different types of Presbyterians (Orthodox and regular) and Pentecostals. Methodists are somewhat more unified. But all Protestant Churches have no claim to validity at all. They were founded a mere few hundred years ago, over a thousand years after Christ established his one and only Church. EDIT: Well, I am glad I can dispel these horrible lies you have been told. "Oh really?! I thought it was some Emperor named Constantine, which still was before the church split." No, there were over 20 martyred popes by the time of Constantine. The thought that Catholicism magically came into existence after Constantine is based off of nothing but hatred and denial, pure stupidity. "Why wouldn't I enjoy the Orthodox church?" Because the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are so similar. The Mass, the hierarchy, the vestments. The only differences are aesthetic and some doctrinal differences (the two biggies are the Supremacy of the Pope and the Immaculate Conception of Mary). In your day to day worship, you would not even notice the differences of theology. "They don't worship a "Pope" who believes he is the "word of God"." The pope is not the word of God, no idea where you got that. We also don't worship the pope, once again, not sure where you get these things. The pope is the successor of Peter, the bishop of Rome. He is the material head of the Church while Jesus is the spiritual head, just as humans are made of both body and spirit, so is the Church. For a Catholic to worship anyone but God is heresy. It is best you start with a clean slate with Catholicism and let go of whatever you learned because from what I have seen so far, every single thing you say regarding Catholicism is false. I'd be happy to speak more about anything you please if you message me.

Answer 3

Because not everything they say is heretical....it's more that they want an 'easier' form of Christianity.

Most protties are innocent- it's their pastor who are the heretics, if anyone. Their leaders spout lies about the Church, and the people believe tham ( you can see it here on Answers ALL the time!)


If the Catholic Church were as wrong as some of these people claim, do you really think God would have let it hang around for 2000 years?

Answer 4

I have heard the term associated with the Vatican 11.

It has been a few hundred years when both denominations were calling each other names,and our times are markedly different now. The squabbing has stopped a very long time ago when the church members have gradually changed over time.
These church members have become more thoughtful, exposed to various other religions that were not even considered worth mentioning in the past, and now mindful that Christianity should be solidified into a single movement instead of being a bunch of fractious power cliques.

Answer 5

Actually, the CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) say's "Sisters."

Vatican II is the second Reformation the Chruch (RC) has made to acknoledge reformation call's in the 1600's (when the Protestants split). John Paul II (we luv u) ... did take to heart the Vatican II clarification. In 1978 JPII made one of the biggest wishes of the Prodestans which is unified Scripture readings at Mass. Ironically, the Prodestants have split so many times that their Church resembles the Catholic Church in the 1600's while the Catholic Church represents what the Prodestants desires so much they left their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ behind for.

Answer 6

Heresy is the obstinate denial after Baptism of a truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith. Only a Catholic (or former Catholic) can be a heretic to Catholicism.

This is similar to treason. An citizen of the U.S. can commit treason against the U.S. but against France.

Most Non-Catholics Christians today have never been Catholic Christians so they cannot be heretics.

They are our brothers in Christ but separated a bit in faith.

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

I've never referred to them as such. They are Protestants and became so because they did not agree with some of the RC Church's teachings. America, land of the free.

Answer 8

When Protestants first separated, it was over doctrine.
After centuries of further separation, differences appeared.
Now mainline Protestants are divided more over authority.
That is, they do not differ so much on doctrinal issues.
Since Vatican II many dialogues have been started.
Catholics are seeking ways of reconciliation.

Answer 9

When the Church Seperated...during the time of Martin Luther...Catholics coined the term Seperated Brethern..
"we are all Brothers in Christ, but seperated by Beliefs"

Answer 10

The word "Heresy" means "To Choose." Heretics then are "Ones who choose." In this case it's meant to say "One who chooses other than the established (orthodox) view." Heretic, despite it's negative connotation is then still an applicable term.