Posted on 05/15/2010 7:50:29 AM PDT by markomalley
THE PROGRESS OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM
IN THE UNITED STATES
AMERICA is the most democratic country in the world, and it is at the same time (according to reports worthy of belief) the country in which the Roman Catholic religion makes most progress. At first sight this is surprising.
Two things must here be accurately distinguished: equality makes men want to form their own opinions; but, on the other hand, it imbues them with the taste and the idea of unity, simplicity, and impartiality in the power that governs society. Men living in democratic times are therefore very prone to shake off all religious authority; but if they consent to subject themselves to any authority of this kind, they choose at least that it should be single and uniform. Religious powers not radiating from a common center are naturally repugnant to their minds; and they almost as readily conceive that there should be no religion as that there should be several.
At the present time, more than in any preceding age, Roman Catholics are seen to lapse into infidelity, and Protestants to be converted to Roman Catholicism. If you consider Catholicism within its own organization, it seems to be losing; if you consider it from outside, it seems to be gaining. Nor is this difficult to explain. The men of our days are naturally little disposed to believe; but as soon as they have any religion, they immediately find in themselves a latent instinct that urges them unconsciously towards Catholicism. Many of the doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic Church astonish them, but they feel a secret admiration for its discipline, and its great unity attracts them. If Catholicism could at length withdraw itself from the political animosities to which it has given rise, I have hardly any doubt but that the same spirit of the age which appears to be so opposed to it would become so favorable as to admit of its great and sudden advancement.
One of the most ordinary weaknesses of the human intellect is to seek to reconcile contrary principles and to purchase peace at the expense of logic. Thus there have ever been and will ever be men who, after having submitted some portion of their religious belief to the principle of authority, will seek to exempt several other parts of their faith from it and to keep their minds floating at random between liberty and obedience. But I am inclined to believe that the number of these thinkers will be less in democratic than in other ages, and that our posterity will tend more and more to a division into only two parts, some relinquishing Christianity entirely and others returning to the Church of Rome.
I don’t post on Catholic threads, respect all Christian religions.
BUT this entire discourse is about attacking Protestants and painting them with broad brushstrokes.
This unfair rant against protestants will not gain you any converts, I assure you.
I also take issue with the unsupported and rather doubtful statement that “disproportionate number of the conservative intelligentsia, in America and around the world, are Catholic Christians”
Frankly, if I were Catholic, I would be embarrased by this discourse, which, as I said demonstrates the intolerance of Catholics of other Christian religions, but I guess supportive of dictators and Sharia — the Pope met with Saddam Hussein’s foreign minister and told us not to “invade” Iraq.
Catholics should focus on cleaning their own house, before they make such vicious attacks against Protestants.
Mark,
Get a life, join the battle to defeat the godless left, stop constantly trying to divide us.
1. All Protestant Churches (not my choice of words, but yours) are not imploding.
2. All Protestant Churches are not decendants of the Roman Catholic Church. Catholics are Christians, too.
3. Most, as you described, Evangelical Christians Did Not help elect Obozo.
4. Many, unfortunately, in the Catholic faith profess “Liberation Theology”(Marxism in a Christian wrapper, like Obozo) And they voted for Obozo and his Commies.
5. Persecution of Christians in Europe is a major reason that, what is now the United States, was populated. There were oppressive “state” religions there that were much more political than religious.
6. I have many Catholic friends and a few Catholic relatives. No problem.
We are in the same battle my friend, not opponents.
When Protestant churches hold true to their creeds - and the creeds are consistent in the nature of God and Man, the Scriptures, and the means of salvation - then they are strong and growing churches. Compare the LCMS to the ELCA, for example.
We are on the same side for morality and truth and social behavior, and we're the ones getting shot in the back by Catholic writers - not the Catholic authorities.
Interesting article. I agree that most of what is called “evangelical” today is very loose in following the bible...but I would also caution against laying all of the mess that we live in at the feet of the protestant churches. There are plenty of “Catholics” that are in power (Pelosi,Kerry, Biden, etc) that have contributed to the mess. As Christians we need to return to following God and his Word...
1 Timothy 6:11-12 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
God bless
“. Many, unfortunately, in the Catholic faith profess “Liberation Theology”(Marxism in a Christian wrapper, like Obozo) And they voted for Obozo and his Commies.”
Even many Catholics who don’t profess Liberation Theology voted for Obama — I think more than half Catholics voted for Obama.
As I said in my post - Catholics need to look inward first, before criticizing other Christian faiths.
Given the number of outright liberals claiming Catholicism as their faith in this country and throughout the world ... a better question would be whether Catholicism and conservatism can coexist. Practicing Protestants are far more likely to be conservative than are practicing Catholics.
The most Protestant countries in this world tend to be the freest and most prosperous countries in this world ... led by the United States.
SnakeDoc
You wrote:
“Get a life, join the battle to defeat the godless left, stop constantly trying to divide us.”
What’s wrong with being divided from Protestants on religious issues?
Should we pretend the issues don’t matter?
As evidence of that, please note another item I posted this morning: Liberation Theology and U.S. Catholics -- an exhaustive item that is not AT ALL complimentary to my own church.
And, by the way, I am not terribly interested in converting people on the Internet (I have never met anybody who truly changed their minds as the result of something they read on the 'net). I just post things that I think would be of interest. Just so you know.
In the US:
Christianity: (78.5%)
Protestantism (51.3%)
Roman Catholicism (23.9%)
Mormonism (1.7%)
Jehovah’s Witnesses (0.7%)
Orthodox Church (0.6%)
other Christian (0.3%)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_United_States
You wrote:
“As I said in my post - Catholics need to look inward first, before criticizing other Christian faiths.”
Not your call.
Discussing differences is one thing, viciously attacking other Christian religions with untrue and unfair allegations, as this article does, is quite different.
Nothing, simply believe what you want and leave me alone. We are both answerable to God for our actions and beliefs, not to another man.
I have to agree.
Too many of the liberal churches have worthless shepherds who spend more time preaching social gospel and hate speech against ‘biblical’ Christians AND Israel. These are the same numbskulls that fell for Obama’s lies and voted for him. They will eventually wholeheartedly welcome the antichrist into power too.
Protestants and Catholics alike....a church goer and doctrine-holder does not a true Christian make. IT is MORE important to be a follower of Christ than it is to be called by any denomination and if you have trouble with that...I would worry.
Given that this nation was largely founded by protestants and the governing documents are protestant, I think it will be OK.
Overwhelmingly Roman church countries like Mexico have not faired nearly as well.
Vicious how?
Untrue and unfair how?
And I’m sure you always post that way in threads that attacks Catholic beliefs, right?
If nothing is wrong with it, then why were you complaining?
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