Ask a Catholic!

[Dr. Ernest C. Ville, D.C.S.]

Re: Ask a Catholic!

Back that up with something from the Bible. Go ahead, I dare you.

[Born Again Kev]

Re: Ask a Catholic!

How do Catholics rationalize praying to Mary, whom you call "Queen of Heaven", a title never given within the Bible, and a slew of other dead people called "saints", when God specifically states that we are to have no gods other than Him?

God also specifically states that all dead people will remain dead until they are resurrected at Judgment Day. So how can one pray to a dead "saint"?

For a dead person to hear prayers, does that person not have to be alive at the moment? Does that person not have to be omniscient? Does that not make that person a god?

Thank you, kind sir. This was just the question I was hoping one of you would ask. Here is a quote from my religion textbook, "Understanding the Catechism: Creed" by Michael Pennock.

In regards to the saints:
"Catholics have always found devotion to the saints one important way to help us live holy lives. Devotion to saints includes veneration of them, not worship that is due to God alone. We do not pray to the saints as though they were God Almighty. Rather, we ask them to intercede for us with our heavenly Father. Devotion to the saints also includes learning about their lives and imitating one or another of their heroic virtues. For example, when Ignatius of Loyola was recovering from a battle wound, he read the lives of the saints. What he read so moved him that he vowed to reform his life"

In regards to Mary:
"One distinguishing characteristic of Catholicism is its devotion to the Blessed Mother. Our prayer to and honor of her helps us love her as our own mother. They also inspire us to imitate her obedience to God's will. Sometimes Catholics are accused of 'worshiping' Mary, if making her equal to God. This is a false charge. Mary is our mother whom we honor, but Jesus is our one and only Savior, the unique mediator between God and us. We worship God alone, but we venerate Mary as a uniquely blessed person who strongly attracts us to her Son Her role in God's plan is to give Jesus to us. Her fidelity, gentleness, and loving care model how we should respond to him. Her motherly concern is undying as she prays for us 'now and at the hour of our death.'"

I hope that helped.

[Dr. Ernest C. Ville, D.C.S.]

Re: Ask a Catholic!

Here's a start for you, assuming you can read:

http://www.chick.com/reading/books/160/160_34.asp

But my own personal question:
Why does the pope dress like a queer?

1. If the Roman Catholic church gave the world the Bible, being infallible, then why did Rome reject or question the inspiration of James and Hebrews , then later accept it? Conversely, Rome accepted as scripture books that were later rejected. If the Catholic church really is illuminated by the Holy Spirit so that men can trust her as "God's organization", why was she so wrong about something so simple? Should not the "Holy See" have known?
2. If the Orthodox church gave the world the Bible, being infallible, then why did the eastern churches reject or question the inspiration of Revelation, then later accept it? Conversely, the east accepted as scripture books that were later rejected. If the Orthodox church really is illuminated by the Holy Spirit so that men can trust her as "God's organization", why was she so wrong about something so simple?
3. If the Roman Catholic church gave the world the Bible in 397 AD, then why did many different versions of canons continue to circulate long afterwards?
4. If the Roman Catholic church gave us the Bible, why were the two synods of Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage, (397 AD) African councils, and not initiatives of Rome?
5. Since the synod Carthage in 393 AD stated, "But let Church beyond sea (Rome) be consulted about confirming this canon", does this not prove that Rome had no direct input or initiative in determining the canon.
6. Since the two synods of Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage, (397 AD) were under the control of what would later become the "orthodox church", how can the Roman Catholic church claim they determined the Canon? Would not such a claim be more naturally due the Eastern Orthodox church?
7. If the Catholic church, "by her own inherent God given power and authority" gave the world the Bible, why did she not get it right the first time? Why did the Roman Catholic church wait until 1546 AD in the Council of Trent, to officially add the Apocrypha to the Canon?
8. Both Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox church leaders make the identical claim that they gave the world the Bible. If both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches make the same claim they gave the world the Bible, why do they have different books in each of their Bibles? Whose "church authority" shall we believe? Whose tradition is the one we should follow?
9. Provide a single example of a doctrine that originates from an oral Apostolic Tradition that the Bible is silent about? Provide proof that this doctrinal tradition is apostolic in origin.
10. Provide a single example of where inspired apostolic "oral revelation" (tradition) differed from "written" (scripture)?
11. If you are not permitted to engage in private interpretation of the Bible, how do you know which "apostolic tradition" is correct between the Roman Catholic, the Orthodox and the Watchtower churches, for all three teach the organization alone can interpret scripture correctly, to the exclusion of individual?
12. Why did God fail to provide an inspired and infallible list of Old Testament books to Israel? Why would God suddenly provide such a list only after Israel was destroyed in 70 AD?
13. How could the Jews know that books of Kings or Isaiah were Scripture?
14. If the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches both believes that the scripture: "the church is the pillar and foundation of truth" means the church is protected from error then: a. Why do they teach doctrine so different that they are not even in communion with each other? b. How do you account for the vast number of documented theological errors made by the pope and the church in general?
15. If the both the Orthodox and Catholic churches follow apostolic oral tradition exactly, how come they teach doctrine so different, that they are not even in communion with each other?
16. Both Tertullian and Jerome gave a list of oral traditions that were not found in the Bible. (Tertullian, The crown or De Corona, ch 3-4), (Jerome, Dialogue Against the Luciferians, 8) Tertullian said of these practices that "without any written instrument, we maintain on the ground of tradition alone". These include, baptizing by immersion three times, giving the one baptized a "drink of milk and honey" then forbidding the person from taking a bath for a week, kneeling in Sunday mass was forbidden, and the sign of the cross was to be made on the forehead. Jerome, echoing Tertullian, said that these "observances of the Churches, which are due to tradition, have acquired the authority of the written law". Why does the Catholic church not immerse thrice and allow kneeling? Why do both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches not keep any of these traditions, with the exception of thrice immersion by the Orthodox? Why do Roman Catholic churches today have knelling rails in front of every pew? If the "apostolic tradition" was to make the sign of the cross on the forehead, why do both Orthodox and Catholic churches change this to the current practice of the sign on the chest and head? If extra-biblical oral tradition is to be followed, then why don't the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches practice all of these things?
    

When you finish with those, continue here....

[OnYourKnees]

Re: Ask a Catholic!

How do Catholics rationalize praying to Mary, whom you call "Queen of Heaven", a title never given within the Bible, and a slew of other dead people called "saints", when God specifically states that we are to have no gods other than Him?

God also specifically states that all dead people will remain dead until they are resurrected at Judgment Day. So how can one pray to a dead "saint"?

For a dead person to hear prayers, does that person not have to be alive at the moment? Does that person not have to be omniscient? Does that not make that person a god?

[Born Again Kev]

You all seem to misunderstand the Catholic religion and its beliefs and practices. I figured I'll try and abolish such misunderstandings. So give me a question about the Catholic Church and I shall respond truthfully and to the best of my ability, quoting books on the subject if needed to. Please try to ask decent, non-mocking questions. This means no, "Why are you all homers?" or other stupid, insulting questions. Ask away!

P.S. I have a life, so if you see a build up of questions, it's because I'm not here. Don't let this thing get overflowed while I'm gone.