Why do Roman Catholics ask why Protestants might feel the need to attack Roman Catholicism?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApkFN3d_f5Q.ff1ez.4jrSnsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080830050432AAgqIiP

Just look at my answer sitting at the bottom due to all the thumbs down that they gave me. And they ask 'WHY?!'

I wonder if they know now?

"Why do many "Christians" on here feel the need to attack Roman Catholicism?"

Maybe it's the hypocrisy? Just maybe?

Answer 1

I think you actually raised a fair point in your answer:  Neither side wants to admit that they may be wrong.

Many Protestants accuse Catholics of being in a "cult", and being "pagan."

Some Catholics accuse Protestants of being ignorant (which some are, some aren't), and heretical.

I think all Christians would be better off if we admitted two things:

1.  Catholics really were the first Christians.  No matter which way you look at it, Christians were referred to as "Catholic" starting in the 2nd century at the latest.

2.  Catholics have done a lot of things wrong.  The actions that led to Martin Luther's posting of the 95 theses were WRONG.  Sacred Tradition was being used in such a way that was not Sacred by any stretch of the imagination, and at certain points in history, the Catholic Church was hypocritical.

However, in my opinion, point 2 does not mean that the Catholic Church is not, and was never, Christ's Church.  It simply means that as humans, we make mistakes.  Even the Pope can make mistakes sometimes.  But we would be a lot better off if ALL of us stopped slinging mud at each other.  I'm tired of all the infighting.  I'm trying to be fair, as a Christian raised in a Protestant home who is now considering converting to Catholicism.

Answer 2

They're bored?  

Answer 3

Errm I'm not a Catholic. I thought I made that clear.

Also contrary to what you may think I did not thumb you down. I never thumb any answer down.

Edit: Look, you making a judgment on my character does your denomination no favors. While Catholicism appeals to me on a deep level I am not a bigot and accept the validity of all religions and denominations. Even if they are not quite so thoughtful. The question I asked was based upon unbiased observation of peoples writings on Y!A.

Answer 4

You make a valid point. A smug, self-righteous Baptist, or evangelical is just as offensive as a smug, self-righteous Catholic.  

Now, I say that as a conservative Lutheran, and one who is quite close to converting to Catholicism.  As it stands, I am a self-described "fellow traveler."  

Are there a goodly number of protestants of various flavors that have grown up learning to bash the RC based on little more than the hate propaganda as seen in Chick tracts?  Certainly.  

Are there a few Catholics who are so zealous for their denomination that they can't grasp the realities behind the reformation, and that there are valid criticisms to be levelled at the RC?  Yep.  There sure are.

Nonetheless, this is YA.  You can bet that a sizeable percentage of people here tend to be more obnoxious than they are in the real world.  Which is a fancy, round-a-bout way of saying: relax. It's just YA, after all.  

Answer 5

Tubey, your answer to that question -- at least before you started in on Nicea, and how the apostles weren't Roman Catholic (of course they weren't called that, dear, but the fact remains that the church Christ founded in them was the same body of believers that came to be known as the Catholic Church) -- was correct, in that there have been some questions posted from Catholics that were deliberately antagonistic toward Protestants.  

But it's a matter of volume.  For every such question you are able to find, it would take anyone about three minutes to find at least 30 going the other way. Making a case that it goes both ways does not change the fact that it is predominantly Protestants (or whatever they prefer to call themselves) making demands from, preaching against, and spouting deliberate misinformation about Catholics.

As for the thumbs-down you received on that question, how exactly does that prove anything?  Do you know for a fact that it was Catholics who gave them to you -- or any other people who answered the question, for that matter?  I would have thought that as long as you've been around here, you'd have developed a thicker skin with regard to the "thumbs-down" by now.  And you'd also have figured out that our lizard friend is not necessarily a "he".  You know what they say about the word "assume", right?

Answer 6

Yes, i read the links you posted in answer to the other question.  All but one of those questions was posted by ONE person.  

On the other hand, there are well over a DOZEN nasty anti-Catholic bigots who attack catholics on a regular basis.

Answer 7

I don't see many catholics attacking anyone here!

Maybe the hypocrisy?What was hypocritical about the question?

he said some and he's right.

Catholic teaching and Faith was passed on from the Apostle's and in a time of freedom the council sat and all agreed with the creed. Catholics still hold to this creed.As peter said Give a shepherds care to the Flock and Again the Lord has revealed to me my death, but be assured I will pass on the teaching. It is not for someone who broke from tradition to stand and condemn the faith of others that is routed in Apostolic tradition.

I have asked questions of protestants, and their reason for blatant attacks can no be backed by scripture.

So how is t you see Hypocrisy from the Catholics? in what manner are they doing this?You where probably thumbs down because they disagreed with you. I didn't but I do disagree with you.

surely you can't say you have heard a Catholic tell other Christians they are going to h**l?

Answer 8

<<Why do Roman Catholics ask why Protestants might feel the need to attack Roman Catholicism?>>http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Because Catholics who are outspoken about their Faith and Church are often attacked by non-Catholics. Granted, we know these anti-Catholics represent a putridly small minority of non-Catholic Christians, but that does not excuse them.

<<Just look at my answer sitting at the bottom due to all the thumbs down that they gave me. And they ask 'WHY?!'

I wonder if they know now?

"Why do many "Christians" on here feel the need to attack Roman Catholicism?">>

Are they really "many", or does it simply appear that way, because these types know how to "get noticed".

<<Maybe it's the hypocrisy? Just maybe?>>

Is it? There's nothing wrong with defending one's theology, as long as it's done in a Christian manner. There is something wrong with going on the offensive with it.

Answer 9

you wouldnt understand the answer to that unless you lived where i live,

northern ireland.

Answer 10

You can't be serious. Thumbs down on a quite inconsequential website justifies attacking an entire religion? Now I've seen it all.

I guess you couldn't come up with all those Protestant-bashing links, huh?

Edit: I've unblocked you and I'd encourage you to add yourself to my contacts, even if only temporarily, to see how many times I've answered Catholic-bashing questions, or starred them for my Catholic contacts. They go on all day, every day. (I can't add you 'cause I'm at my limit.)

Edit 2: Ah, so you did indeed find 6 links. Like I said, look at my profile. The Catholic-bashing here *never* stops.

I think the saddest part of this is that you're defending those who bash Catholics, who are  your fellow Christians.