Home Forums Everything Else How does the Catholic Church view the Protestant denominatio Reply To: How does the Catholic Church view the Protestant denominatio

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[quote:1st73z37]Suppose that one thinks that saints are great role models but they shouldn’t be used to intercede for you when you pray to Christ.[/quote:1st73z37]
A Catholic does not need to use the saints to intercede for them, however when one has the option of having those close to God pray for us, why not use them? The fact is that Catholics believe that death does not exclude us from the Church, and that those who are alive and those who have passed from this life in God’s love constitute the Church, and those in heaven give Glory and Honor to God. Many who deny the intercession of the saints, also have an idea that the Church only exists here on earth.

[quote:1st73z37]Suppose a neighbor thinks that a rosary is an unnecessary form of prayer that only shows respect to Mary. (Keep in mind that this neighbor does believe that Catholics do not worship saints.)[/quote:1st73z37]
Again, the intercession of the saints including our Lady is not required, but then again, any friend of God’s is my friend too.

[quote:1st73z37]Suppose a friend told me that God doesn’t judge on what a person knows but by the faith he had in Christ.[/quote:1st73z37]
Would that friend also believe that a baby who died would not go to heaven because he or she did not make a “Choice for Christ” or that they did not have faith because they had yet to “accept Jesus”?

[quote:1st73z37]Suppose another friend told me that Catholics put too much emphasis on good works and that because of our sinful nature, we cannot complete a “bridge” to Christ. Therefore, we cannot totally base salvation on works alone.[/quote:1st73z37]
That friend would show by a statement that salvation is based on works alone does not understand what the Church teaches about Faith in Christ, and how works are not the sole basis for our salvation. They misrepresent the teachings of the Catholic Church on works.

[quote:1st73z37]Suppose one thought that because Luther and other Protestant reformers were considered heretics that if they did go to Rome to be tried of their doctrines, they would be given an unfair and biased judgement, then they would be executed.[/quote:1st73z37]
We will never know the answer because Luther and the others did not accept the offer of safe conduct. However if someone is going to propose some sort of conspiracy against Luther by the Catholic Church, he would also have to deny the historical fact that when Luther and Eck debated, and at other times and places in Germany, the big bad Catholic Church could have grabbed, imprisoned and killed Luther. The Council of Trent was not the only time he was summoned to defend his position, it is simply the highest ecclesiastical gathering that he was invited to. When he debated Eck, most historians would say that Eck won the debate, and Luther not having any reply made his famous, “Here I stand, I can do no other” statement.

Luther was used as a pawn by many German Princes, as they had much to gain in the area of power, and in taking the lands and posessions of the Church if the Church could be removed from power. The same thing happened in England after King Henry VIII supressed the Monastic orders and disbanded the convents. The secular power gained power, and when they destroyed and sacked the lands of the Monastaries started abusing the peasants who had been protected by the monks, taught by the monks, and had been treated for medical conditions by the monks. After the Monastic houses where supressed, elementary education became unreachable to the poor.

As for other Protestant Leaders… There was little unity among them. Calvin and Luther wrote horrible things about each other, and used rather base words when they condemned each other. In Calvin’s Geneva, people where executed who publically disagreed with him while he was in power.

[quote:1st73z37]Suppose that friends told me that the Pope is not the Anti-Christ but rather it is his position as pope that is. Since Catholics believe scripturally that Christ gave Peter power, and the pope is “infallible”, these friends said that the pope (position, not person,) somewhat took over the position of Christ and therefore is the Anti-Christ[/quote:1st73z37]
My impression would be they don’t understand the limits of the Pope’s office, and have been poorly instructed on what the Papacy claims. I’d also ask them what I asked you to do before you posed these questions, and explain what their understanding of Papal Infallibility is, as I can’t read minds, and based on the previous questions, find their understanding of the Catholic Church to be lacking, as well as tainted by at least some paranoia about the extent of temporal power the Church has.