Any Catholics here?

[Supreme]

Hi, I'm very interested in world religions. For Catholics (or for non Catholics, if you know the answer)

1) Why do you pray to Mary and the saints? Why not just directly to God?
2) Why do you revere the Pope? Jesus alone if the head of the Church, no man can make His laws for Him...
3) Would you consider Eastern Orthodox Christians your brothers as opposed to Protestants? Which do you believe is more in line with Christ's teachings, the Eastern Orthodox Church or Protestantism?

There's more questions, but I would appreciate an answer to these. Thank you.:statisfie

 

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam/Peace

...
1) Why do you pray to Mary and the saints? Why not just directly to God?

Your questions remind me of my time in the Catholic forum . U should go and ask the Catholics directly there .

A warning : environment is very hot there ; some Catholics can be verrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy rude but u will get your answers :statisfie

 

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you Supreme;

1) Why do you pray to Mary and the saints? Why not just directly to God?

Rightly or wrongly we ask Mary and the Saints to intercede for us.

2) Why do you revere the Pope? Jesus alone if the head of the Church, no man can make His laws for Him...

I admired Pope John Paul and his great passion to meet up with people of other faith, and his attempt to build bridges.

3) Would you consider Eastern Orthodox Christians your brothers as opposed to Protestants? Which do you believe is more in line with Christ's teachings, the Eastern Orthodox Church or Protestantism?

I look on people of all faiths and no faith, as my brothers and sisters, the same God hears all our prayers. I feel only God can say who follows the teaching of Christ, sadly my opinion holds little value.

In the spirit of praying for greater interfaith friendship and understanding

Eric

 

[Humbler_359]

2) Why do you revere the Pope? Jesus alone if the head of the Church, no man can make His laws for Him...

Well, I learned from Catholics friends that Pope is the example of Jesus (Peace be upon him), Pope is acting like Jesus and forgiveness through confession. So people will understand the example of Jesus as a Pope.

I think, Pope is a middle men as connection to people directed to God. That's why Protestant rejected it. Still Protestant came from Catholics traditions and history.

 

[Supreme]

Greetings and peace be with you Supreme;


Rightly or wrongly we ask Mary and the Saints to intercede for us.



I admired Pope John Paul and his great passion to meet up with people of other faith, and his attempt to build bridges.



I look on people of all faiths and no faith, as my brothers and sisters, the same God hears all our prayers. I feel only God can say who follows the teaching of Christ, sadly my opinion holds little value.

In the spirit of praying for greater interfaith friendship and understanding

Eric

Peace Eric

Why do you pray to the saints and Mary? I know you don't worship them, but they aren't divine like Jesus, and they can't answer prayers.

Pope John Paul was a fantastic man, and a role model for all Christians, Catholic or non Catholic. I particularly like this quote from him:

'Freedom consists not in doing what we want, but in having the right to do what we ought'.

However, that's all the Pope is: a good Christian. He isn't a medium, and doesn't possess any outer worldly powers. He has no more right to say what goes than any other right minded Catholic.

Eastern Orthodox teaching and theology is very similar (indeed, almost identical) in places to Catholic teachings isn't it? Far more so than Protestantism anyway.

Thanks and God Bless

 

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you Supreme;

Why do you pray to the saints and Mary? I know you don't worship them, but they aren't divine like Jesus, and they can't answer prayers.

I guess we all sound a bit strange to each other.

I think it is common for people of most faiths, to pray for friends and family who have died. In praying for them we seem to be interceding for them on their behalf. How many times do you see on this forum, that someone asks another person to pray for them.

In a similar kind of way, we pray to Mary and the Saints, asking them to intercede for us. Praying for each other brings us closer together.

However, that's all the Pope is: a good Christian. He isn't a medium, and doesn't possess any outer worldly powers. He has no more right to say what goes than any other right minded Catholic.

I have to agree with you, and the further up the ladder you appear to be in Christianity, the more of a servant you should be. The Pope might do far more good by washing the feet of his followers, rather than claim authority. I believe the perceived authority of the pope is one of the biggest obstacles in the way of Christian Unity.

Eastern Orthodox teaching and theology is very similar (indeed, almost identical) in places to Catholic teachings isn't it? Far more so than Protestantism anyway.

Jesus said, love one another as I have loved you, by this all men will know that you are my disciples. I feel the biggest obstacle to unity, is a lack of love for each other, rather than the differences in teaching and theology.

in the spirit of praying for a greater interfaith understanding and friendship

Eric

 

[Pygoscelis]

It is the eucharist that baffles me about Catholicism.

Catholics symbolically EAT their lord and saviour. mg:

 

[Woodrow]

It is the eucharist that baffles me about Catholicism.

Catholics symbolically EAT their lord and saviour. mg:

I'll answer this as a former Catholic. Although it has been a long time since I was a Catholic.

Catholics do not believe the eucharist is symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus(as) they believe it is the true body and blood of him, in the form of bread and wine.

This is one of the most noticeable differences between Catholics and Protestants.

 

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam/Peace

..How many times do you see on this forum, that someone asks another person to pray for them.

hello Eric. We ( Muslim participants ) request here ( others who are alive ) to pray to God for us . We are not allowed to ask those who died already. We should pray for them but can't ask them to pray for us .

In a similar kind of way, we pray to Mary and the Saints, asking them to intercede for us.

But Jesus pbuh did not teach that . Did he ? Who invented this kind of prayer ? Why someone else's teaching is more important to you than the teaching of your Lord ?

Praying for each other brings us closer together.

I love to pray for others but I beleive prayers should be directly to God only. Anyway , I guess , this difference will remain between Muslims and Christians till the last day.

 

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you Muslim Woman;

I love to pray for others

That is wonderful.

but I beleive prayers should be directly to God only. Anyway , I guess , this difference will remain between Muslims and Christians till the last day

We have many differences, but we can still pray for each other, in the hope that we might all find salvation, despite all our differences.

In the spirit of praying for salvation for all people

Eric

 

[Supreme]

I'll answer this as a former Catholic. Although it has been a long time since I was a Catholic.

Catholics do not believe the eucharist is symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus(as) they believe it is the true body and blood of him, in the form of bread and wine.

This is one of the most noticeable differences between Catholics and Protestants.

I think Lutheran are Protestants who view the Eucharist the same as Catholics. But yes, most of us believe it's just symbolic.

hello Eric. We ( Muslim participants ) request here ( others who are alive ) to pray to God for us . We are not allowed to ask those who died already. We should pray for them but can't ask them to pray for us

That sounds far more logical.

But Jesus pbuh did not teach that . Did he ? Who invented this kind of prayer ? Why someone else's teaching is more important to you than the teaching of your Lord ?

That's exactly true. It is mostly Catholic tradition.

I've got another question. Eric, have you ever visited and been on a pilgrimage to the Vatican and St Peter's Basicila where St Paul is allegedly buried, and if so, is this an important part of Christianity for you?

God Bless.

 

[Grofica]

Salaam/Peace




Your questions remind me of my time in the Catholic forum . U should go and ask the Catholics directly there .

A warning : environment is very hot there ; some Catholics can be verrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy rude but u will get your answers :statisfie

i dont know about that i think there are a lot of people here that could prob. answer. i think that this forum is a lot more accepting to conversational topics then some other forums... hopefull someone here could answer... those are questions that i have asked often also and i have never had the guts to ask my deeply relgious grandfather... (i think he would pass out) :-(

 

[ardianto]

Excuse me Eric, I just want to know, are you Catholic ?.

 

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you Supreme;

I am a Catholic, but I am also troubled by much of the seemingly dogmatic and fundamentalist ways of the church. Having said that, I know beyond a doubt, that the Catholic Church is the right place for me to be, and I could not change for another faith.

I've got another question. Eric, have you ever visited and been on a pilgrimage to the Vatican and St Peter's Basicila where St Paul is allegedly buried, and if so, is this an important part of Christianity for you?

I would not call going to the Vatican a pilgrimage, it is one place I could not in all conscience go to. I have just come back from Jerusalem, and the Sea of Galilee, this is where I believe the Pope should be living. I feel this troubled place is where the centre of Christianity should be.

I look on taking the bread and wine, as being the real body and blood of Christ, and I know this causes problems to many people.

in the spirit of praying for a greater interfaith understanding and friendship

Eric

 

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you Muslim Woman;

Your questions remind me of my time in the Catholic forum . U should go and ask the Catholics directly there .

A warning : environment is very hot there ; some Catholics can be verrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy rude but u will get your answers :statisfie

I have come close, to being banned from a Catholic forum too

In the spirit of praying for a greater interfaith friendship

Eric

 

[Woodrow]

Greetings and peace be with you Muslim Woman;


I have come close, to being banned from a Catholic forum too

In the spirit of praying for a greater interfaith friendship

Eric

Peace Eric, we are glad you chose to be our resident Catholic. I am surprised as to how few Catholics we have as members, although a number of us Muslims were former ones.

 

[OurIslamic]

You can try searching your questions on google and ask us if the site you found is reputable.

 

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam/Peace

.... I have come close, to being banned from a Catholic forum too

haha , so u are not irritating the moderators enough ?

btw I do miss some good Catholics there . Hope they all are okay :statisfie

 

[Amadeus85]

Hi, I'm very interested in world religions. For Catholics (or for non Catholics, if you know the answer)

1) Why do you pray to Mary and the saints? Why not just directly to God?

Holy Mary and saints play special role in heaven, as they either were chosen by the Creator or died for faith. They are close to the Creator, so we believe that we can ask them for help in turning our prayers to the Creator.

2) Why do you revere the Pope? Jesus alone if the head of the Church, no man can make His laws for Him...

Pope is the head of the Church, he is the guarantee of oneness and unity of the Church, which prevents us catholics to divide in many denominations and branches. In matters of theology, during speaking in special occasions, for example - council, pope is infallible. Which doesnt mean that in other matters he is infallible, for example economy, poltics, literature etc. Pope is holy father, who enables the eternal and constant existence of Roman Catholic Church and the firm defender of unchangable orthodoxy.

3)

Would you consider Eastern Orthodox Christians your brothers as opposed to Protestants? Which do you believe is more in line with Christ's teachings, the Eastern Orthodox Church or Protestantism?

There is no one protestantism, as there are many branches of protestantism. There are reformed churches, evangelical-lutheran, baptist, anglican, methodist. Protestant differ in attitudes between themselves, for examples episcopalians in USA and Canada bless homosexuals and lesbian couples, they dont oppose abortion, while baptist and evangelicals are more conservative, closer to our, catholic teaching. On the matter of liturgy and theology of course orthodox christians are closer to us, since protestants in great majority rejected much of the tradition of the Church. We catholics see mistakes of protestantism (and orthodoxy) but it doesnt stop us from treating you as friends and brothers.

 

[Grace Seeker]

Salaam/Peace

Your questions remind me of my time in the Catholic forum . U should go and ask the Catholics directly there .

A warning : environment is very hot there ; some Catholics can be verrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy rude but u will get your answers :statisfie

Greetings and peace be with you Muslim Woman;


I have come close, to being banned from a Catholic forum too

In the spirit of praying for a greater interfaith friendship

Eric

I'm probably close to getting banned from there myself right now.

I believe the perceived authority of the pope is one of the biggest obstacles in the way of Christian Unity.

And that pretty much describes why. Beyond the justification provided for this belief (one that I think falls well short of any proof) and the view that Catholicism is the whole of THE Church, I really don't have much problem with the rest of Catholic theology.