Why haven't protestants updated their information about the Catholic Church?

Question

Let me give a couple of examples: Protestants think that Catholics don't read the bible. But many do. Many protestants still think that Catholics are told not to read the bible, yet no official Church pronouncement has ever given such a directive. Church teaching actually encourages all to read the scriptures. Some protestants think that Catholics believe that they can buy their way to heaven. Yet no official church teaching has now, or in the past, ever said such a thing. Many protestants think that a Catholic believes that going to confession gives one the right to sin again. Yet the Church has always taught the exact opposite. Why are so many protestants misinformed about what the Catholic Church actually does teach?

Someone actually answered and said, "it was a death sentence to even possess a bible." Please give the Name of the Law, the place it was enforced, and by whom? Don't just say it, show it!

Answer 1

Prior to Martin Luther it was a death sentence to even posses a bible.

Answer 2

I am Catholic and I read and study Scripture quite a bit. I remember when I was very young, we had catechism school, and no, back then, we did not refer to, or study the Bible very much. That was quite a while ago though - things have changed quite a bit. I think that it's encouraged more now, mostly in response to the realization that sola scriptura Protestants have claimed Scripture as their own, when in fact it has always been a "Catholic book". Fact is, the Catholic Church was the originator and guardian of Scripture, it would not exist without the Catholic Church.

There are, unfortunately, some Catholics who still believe that you can buy your way into heaven. I run into them all the time at the church that I attend. They are mostly older Catholics, but not always..... I think that most people now, including Catholics, realize that your actions alone in and of themselves (saying a certain number of set prayers, regular church attendance, etc.) will not buy you a place in heaven.

It actually was forbidden for the laity to read or possess the Bible for a time (from about the mid 1200's to the 1500's) There actually was a valid reason for this - the Albigenses and Waldenses in southern France were threatening to break the Church apart in the 1200's with their teachings of individual interpretation of the Bible. No such prohibition exists today - in fact, we are encouraged to read it, but at the same time keeping in mind the Catholic Church's teachings and interpretation concerning it.

I don't think any true Catholic believes that going to confession gives you the right to sin again. The Act of Contrition prayer, which we usually say toward the end of confession, ends by saying " ... and I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasions of sin." Yes, the Church has always taught the exact opposite.

I think so many Protestants are misinformed mainly because they want to be. They don't want to face the truth that the Catholic Church, even with all of it's imperfections, is still the original Apostolic Church that Christ Himself instituted on earth to carry on until the end of time.

Answer 3

I was raised Protestant and never heard any of that about Catholics - you need to get out of Northern Ireland now and then! You have met a few dinosaurs, or you are getting the exact kind of flawed intell about Protestants that you are objecting to about Catholics, eh? Many do? Exactly how was this scientific poll conducted? I just might have known more Protestants than you in the course of my life and have never heard anyone claim these as contemporary beliefs. Iw as told that in the 1950's some Protestant churches were still claiming that Catholics sacrificed babies at their communion, which is why is was closed to outsiders! Oops, now you will think most of them believe this nowadays too :(.

Answer 4

I know that there are some Roman Catholics who read the Bible.

I know that Roman Catholics are able to have Bibles and are told to read them. I have at least one of those.

There has been a church Bull to disallow the possession of Bible's which were in a common tongue, so there is disagreement there.

http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/

The first hand-written English language Bible manuscripts were produced in the 1380's AD by John Wycliffe, an Oxford professor, scholar, and theologian. Wycliffe, (also spelled “Wycliff” & “Wyclif”), was well-known throughout Europe for his opposition to the teaching of the organized Church, which he believed to be contrary to the Bible. With the help of his followers, called the Lollards, and his assistant Purvey, and many other faithful scribes, Wycliffe produced dozens of English language manuscript copies of the scriptures. They were translated out of the Latin Vulgate, which was the only source text available to Wycliffe. The Pope was so infuriated by his teachings and his translation of the Bible into English, that 44 years after Wycliffe had died, he ordered the bones to be dug-up, crushed, and scattered in the river!

I understand that the doctrine of 'indulgences' is no longer practiced by the Roman Catholics.
Again, what you are saying is not true.

Look, denying these things are not going to have a positive effect upon creating peace between Protestants and Roman Catholics. So Now that was two fallacies that you have stated. I do not know the source where you are claiming these things from, perhaps in the future you will restate the question and provide your sources.

So according to what I have responded to so far, The Inquisition was a band of good hearted reasoning people who did nothing wrong, and Martin Luther was complaining about things that did not exist.

You will bridge no gap between us in this manner. I will not respond to the rest of your post.

Answer 5

Many of the false pretenses actually DO have a basis in the history of the Church. People were never told NOT to read the Bible, but since in the early days many people could not read, and so could not take the entire passages in context. So it was encouraged that they not do so. With the rise of education this practice has of course long since ended, and all are encouraged to daily read the scriptures. There actually WAS a practice of "Indulgences" where by providing a "substantial" donation to the Church, many sins were forgiven. That practice was very soon condemned and NOT promoted by the Vatican. It was seen as a sort of penance. The misconceptions about reconciliation (confession) simply comes from a lack of understanding as most protestant religions do not practice this sacrament and so do not fully understand what it is about. The best way to dispel the myths of the uninformed...is to inform them. I'm not talking about converting them, just inform them. I do.

Answer 6

I don't believe any of those things. I know many Catholics that don't own a bible and have never read it. Recently though, some are getting their own and are actually reading it. I don't agree with confession. It is between you and God, none else, yet I don't believe that it gives them the RIGHT to sin again. That is completely not the point for ANY Christians. Maybe your actually misinformed on what Protestants believe about the Church.

Answer 7

keltasia: did you even read the Q? your A shows you werent paying attention in the masses you attended. i hope you havent tried to warp your step-sons faith.

hossteacher - protestants have pastors and ministers who will not stand up for catholics even though they know that what you say is true. they allow these lies to be told and retold again and again even in their worship sessions.

any "tom dick and sally" (born-againers) can give a testimony and therefore add their 2cents worth in (ive seen this many times in so-called worship sessions) and sadly many former catholics use it as a forum to spew out falsehoods about the Church they left!! they believe these LIES because they WANT TO.

even those who think they are well-informed (like tuberoot eg - see his answer) are sadly afflicted by this lack of desire to truelly get to know what Catholics actually believe. It doesnt help that protestants believe we worship statues, Mary, the Saints and the Pope!! if i was protestant and i believed catholics worshipped Mary (let alone eveything else!) i too would be DISGUSTED with catholics.

If only protestants will really pray for us catholics the way i know we catholics pray for our protestant brothers and sisters we will have a much greater chance of christian unity.

*sighs*

Answer 8

You mean that Catholics think that Protestants think that Catholics don't read the Bible.

I grew up going to several different types of Protestant Churches. I never heard anyone say anything negative about Catholics.

Perhaps the Protestants that you happen to have encountered are just weird.

Answer 9

It is not by what the Catholic Church SAYS, but "By their fruits you shall know them."

Covering up 1700 years of corruption, and pretending it does not exist, does not change the nature of the tree.

I know MANY Catholics -- my whole family is Catholic -- and NOT ONE OF THEM has read the Bible. The VAST majority of Catholics do not read the Bible; and most don't even own a Bible. In fact, I've found that most Catholics don't even know the doctrines of their own Church! let alone the doctrines of God.

It is obvious to us, that YOU have been duped by lies, Catholic propaganda. The Catholic Church HAS done these things (such as banning the Bible, widespread exchange of money for absolution, etc.), and much worse, and its corruption continues, as evident in contemporary news. The Catholic Church hasn't changed; it's just rhetoric.

Answer 10

I have never heard a protestant say such a thing....and trust me, i have been around MANY MANY protestants. They do go against the fact that the Catholic church encourages prayer towards The Saints who are merely "godly men" and it says no where in the Bible to pray to men. It says to pray to GOD, and Jesus...isn't that right?

Answer 11

The answer that comes to mind the fastest is fear. Actually learning what the Church teaches can present the need to change, to correct their thinking, and for some people that's scary.