Do You Think Catholics are Often Unappreciated by the CF?

CF as in Christian forums? If so, no. I think CF has their back more than anyone else's. Their safe haven is policied and threqds about the Pope and Church being evil are moderated and often closed, and if you say the slightest bad thing about Pope Francis your username will change colors and you won't be able to post. Bash Trump though, that's cool.

I don't see much good coming out of this thread.

I think the real problem is Catholics not appreciating other Catholics. The constant superfluous labels that everyone keeps adding is moronic imo. And it shows a real lack of priorities. And if not that, no respect for non-Catholic believers in Christ. It is like some sort of weird spiritual contest on who is higher up in their imaginary spiritual caste system. It's gross. Having experience on both the Catholic and protestant side, there is a real lack of appreciation and communication for one another. Anyone that lords their supposed superiority over fellow believers are a thorn in the side of the Body of Christ imo. That's all I have to say about it.

Monk Brendan said:

Let's face it, Most Catholics have an uphill road ahead of them. A lot of Protestants believe that the Pope is anti-Christ, and the Catholic Church is run by demons.

You and I know that this is not true. We KNOW that (along with other Pre-Reformation Churches--Orthodox, Coptic, Thomas Christians of India, and others) We are the Church that Jesus founded, and that Peter and the other Apostles planted churches all over the known world.

Yet to hear some Protestants tell it, we are scum that should be wiped off their shoes, and that there is no chance of a Catholic ever making it to Heaven.

And then there are the myths that fly around. The Catholic Church wasn't started until 350 AD, or some say 700 AD. We believe in cannibalism, and that the Mass is one cannibalistic Saturnalia. Or the ones about how the Pope is chosen, or the Cardinals and the sexual abuse of little boys.

Come on, let's be real. Do you think the Catholic Church is evil? Or do you think that the Church has been an agent of God's Grace, drawing civilization upward?

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I have not even one of those misperceptions about the Catholic church. None of them. (also not that one about having a monopoly on being His 'Church' -- not that one either; He has the monopoly, not us)

But a whole church as an agent? I want to say none of the above. Because instead it's about individuals, individual pastors and such, and individual moments in time.

And a all-powerful God that can accomplish His purposes in spite of all our foibles.

I don't believe in humans having infallibility, else Paul wouldn't have had to confront Peter over refusing to eat with the uncircumcised, nor would Paul himself later need a torn in the flesh to humble him, and on and on. There are no perfect agents, us human beings.

God is able to work past all sorts of human shortcomings, so of course God can work through any church anywhere of any kind with believers in Christ in it, in spite of whatever seeming barriers might sometimes (or not) arise, etc., errors, or lack of errors, etc., and even the very imperfect can nonetheless be His agents at times I suppose so....from that then the answer is it has had plenty of 'agents of Grace' all along, no doubt! As has any other place with His believers.

Regular members defend the Church more than anything. It's the real fundamentalist hard-core Protestants like SDA and Pentecostal types who like to use random all caps, random underlines, random text colors, and rant about incoherent nonsense that are usually the issue.

Monk Brendan said:

Come on, let's be real. Do you think the Catholic Church is evil? Or do you think that the Church has been an agent of God's Grace, drawing civilization upward?

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Your poll probably won't get any really bad results placed here in OBOB. To have really taken the measure of CF you would have to have parked it in one of the more general fora of CF.

Being overly obsessed as a Catholic with Protestants and Protestants with Catholics with no true desire to communicate or understand one another's belief system while perpetrating lies and ignoring facts without charity is a rotten witness. It is the pot calling the kettle black.

Monk Brendan said:

Let's face it, Most Catholics have an uphill road ahead of them. A lot of Protestants believe that the Pope is anti-Christ, and the Catholic Church is run by demons.

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I don't know who these people are but the Catholic church and Protestants have a lot more political animosity between them then theological.

You and I know that this is not true. We KNOW that (along with other Pre-Reformation Churches--Orthodox, Coptic, Thomas Christians of India, and others) We are the Church that Jesus founded, and that Peter and the other Apostles planted churches all over the known world.

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True, and not all of them were founded by or overseen by Rome.

Yet to hear some Protestants tell it, we are scum that should be wiped off their shoes, and that there is no chance of a Catholic ever making it to Heaven.

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I would never say that about Buddhists, let alone fellow Christians.

And then there are the myths that fly around. The Catholic Church wasn't started until 350 AD,

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The church at Rome was most likely founded on Pentecost. The Jews that founded that church were run out of town by the time of Paul, so we don't really know what the Gentile Christians that remained were actually doing.

or some say 700 AD.

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Or you could say around 1000 AD when they excommunicated the Eastern Orthodox.

We believe in cannibalism, and that the Mass is one cannibalistic Saturnalia.

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Well if they are into that it should stop immediately.

Or the ones about how the Pope is chosen, or the Cardinals and the sexual abuse of little boys.

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The molestation of little boys wasn't so much about the abuses, it was about the cover up.

Come on, let's be real. Do you think the Catholic Church is evil? Or do you think that the Church has been an agent of God's Grace, drawing civilization upward?

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They are a Christian community, just like the Orthodox and Protestants. They have a criminal element and more then enough room for criticism. They have worked tirelessly in missions, education and compassionate relief for the poor, they have a long history of that. We share a common faith and many, if not most of the core convictions that make all believers Christians.

Hate them? I just wish there were a way I could in good conscience join them. I can't accept devotions to the Virgin Mary or their ecclesiastical authority but I could never hate them. I love them as fellow Christians and wish God's blessings in this life and the life to come.

Grace and peace,
Mark

I am often guilty of arguing about catholic doctrines. I'm a noncatholic Christian. I do think there was a long period when the catholic church was led by evil men. Mostly during the inquisitions period. I don't believe that is the case today. Obviously we don't see that type of behavior in the church anymore. What concerns me is the teachings of the church. I love my Christian brothers and sisters no matter what denomination they are. Even nonchristians I still consider to be my brothers & sisters. I just have this overwhelming feeling that compels me to proclaim the good news. When I see someone with a belief I disagree with I feel compelled to discuss it and help them understand why I disagree with this belief. I also ask them to help me to understand why they believe it. My goal is to either learn something I didn't know before or help someone learn something they didn't know. I always try to be as polite as possible but I'm not always successful at it. Some things are hard to discuss without offending someone. What's most important they teach people to love and honor God. Even tho we have different doctrines the catholic church does teach people to obey the two most important commandments. Love and honor God with all your heart soul and mind and love each other as Jesus loves us. Just because they are our misled brothers & sisters doesn't mean that we don't still love them. God bless

My wife was educated in Catholic schools and her family are Catholic. Being with her has greatly enhanced my understanding of the Catholic faith. I did a paper in Catholic theology as part of my MDiv degree. That helped a lot.

What we have to realise that in the dark ages of the Church where there was a serious threat coming from Islam, the Catholic Church held on to the foundations of the Christian faith and have preserved the ancient documents on which our Bible is based. We have to honour the Church for that.

[Staff edit]. All it needs for anyone to be truly born again is that they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He rose from the dead. That's what Peter said on the Day of Pentecost. Therefore, because the majority of Catholics believe that and live their lives in the light of it, then who is to say they are not saved?

So they have some doctrines that others don't agree with and pray to saints and Mary? Does that threaten salvation? I don't think so. We are all earthen vessels subject to failure and shortcoming. Other churches have doctrines that don't appear in the New Testament as well. I have met Mormons who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He rose from the dead. They decided to stick with the Mormon church in order to get others saved as well. Does that mean that by sticking with the church they are unjustified? I think not, because God looks on the heart of people, not what goes on in their heads.

The majority of Catholic priests and nuns are good people who have dedicated their lives in special ways in order to serve the Lord and to assist other people in their communities. They need to be honoured for that.

Well this is quickly turning anti-Catholic. As someone that used to be protestant, let me just say these accusations and what you disagree with is a non-issue with Catholics. Unless you have any knowledge or understanding in how the Church works and why She believes as she does... You might as well be screaming into a paper bag. If you want to evangelize intelligently, know what you are talking about and what that Catholic believes and why. Otherwise you are just adding to the divide. Same goes with Catholics evangelizing Protestants.

This is a bad thread.

My church has had speakers bashing Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists...but not Catholics.
I guess I've been too critical of them.