The Last Accepted Prejudice: Anti-Catholicism

Edmund Burke, the Irish philosopher and politician, penned these words: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Burke's words are just as prevalent today as they were in the 18th century. I am one of the lucky kids, my parents raised me to be respectful of all faiths. I was encouraged to learn about Judaism. When a friend asked me to attend Mass my parents encouraged it; as a journalist, I went to a mosque after 9/11 and have worshipped in an Amish congregation and have written about the Ba'Hai faith. I have experienced learning about various people and their cultures. Today, however, I am seeing America's last accepted prejudice rear it's ugly head. 

With news of the death of Kobe Bryant, came loads of questions about a his faith. Bryant, a devout Catholic supposedly attended Mass the morning before his death. Even in my own conservative Methodist group, people were asking "Was he a Christian?" "Was he Saved?" All I can think is that Kobe, must have been a believer, but maybe unlike some people he didn't flaunt his faith. However, that isn't why I am writing my blog today. I am one of the lucky kids, my parents raised me to be respectful of all faiths. I was encouraged to learn about Judaism. When a friend asked me to attend Mass my parents encouraged it; as a journalist, I went to a mosque after 9/11 and have worshipped in an Amish congregation and have written about the Ba'Hai faith. I have experienced learning about various people and their cultures. Today, however, I am seeing America's last accepted prejudice rear it's ugly head. 

Along with questions about his faith, and salvation, anti-catholic commenters have made reared their ugly heads. Anti-Catholic prejudice is the last accepted prejudice in the United States. “When you look back at the true, hidden history of the United States this strand of anti-Catholicism is very powerful,” said Kenneth Davis, a prominent historian and commentator. “We want to show this patriotic view that we were this melting pot of religious freedom. Nonsense. People wanted their own religious freedom, not freedom for others. There was a very, very deep hatred of Catholics.”

So what is anti-Catholism? Anti-Catholicism refers to staunch opposition to the Roman Catholic Church and to its members, usually grounded in conspiracy theory, nativism, and misrepresentation of Catholic theology (and, often, copious amounts of tangentially related wingnuttery).

The following comments, by David Nielsen and Natalie Hoehn showed up on Facebook today.: 

David Nielsen Catholicism never has been and never will be Christianity. I don't grieve the loss of Kobe Bryant's life, what I grieve is the loss of Kobe Bryant's soul. The Pope is a fraud ! Catholicism is a fraud ! Catholicism is a man-made religion requiring works to get to heaven. Kobe Bryant was deceived by this pseudo-Christian man-made religion. It grieves me that millions will go to HELL, will wake up in HELL and ask, "What happened?" It is because you have been deceived by another gospel. There is only one Gospel that's the Gospel of Jesus of the Bible. Catholicism does not follow the Gospel of the Bible. If it anything in this loss of the life of Kobe Bryant is meditated on, I pray that people will sober up to their mortality and understand that one day they too will die and will have to stand before God in judgement (Hebrews 9:27).

REPLY TO DAVID: Natalie J. Hoehn David Nielsen Catholicism has been around for 200 sum years when Christianity has been around for a couple thousand years.. you’re so right David Nielsen.. it’s a fabricated religion. It’s so sad that Catholics have to pray through a priest in order to get to God. It’s nice being a Christian and we are able to pray directly to our God. And we can repent in our sins by asking our God directly for forgiveness. Catholics think they can’t. The only father there is is God. Not a Pope or Priest.. it’s sad.

Bishop Robert Barron states “The correct doctrine is that God, in Christ, entered, out of love, into the depth of human misery, sin, and failure in order to bring the divine light even to those darkest places. It is in this sense that he took away the sins of the world and brought us life from the Father. In John’s Gospel, Jesus said, simply, “I have come that you might have life and have it to the full;” and St. Irenaeus, the great second century theological master, said, “the glory of God is a human being fully alive.”

Theological differences between Protestants and Catholics are still wide and in places very deep. As the 500th anniversary of the Reformation just passed, I believe it’s important to be conversant with some of the main issues that legitimately divide us, lest we think all the theological hills have been laid low and all the dogmatic valleys made into a plain.

Below are a few of the main points that still separate Catholics and Protestants. Of course, many Roman Catholics may not believe (or even know) what their formal theology states. But by seeking to understand official church documents we can get a good idea of what Catholics are supposed to believe and see how these differ from traditional Protestant beliefs (unless otherwise noted, quotations are from the Catechism of the Catholic Church).

The Church

Since Vatican II, the Catholic Church has softened its stance toward Protestants, calling them “estranged brothers.” Nevertheless, to be a part of the church in its fullness one must be immersed in the Roman Catholic system of sacraments, orders, and under the authority of the Pope. “Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who . . . are joined in the visible structure of the Church of Christ, who rules here through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops.” Further, the Pope is considered infallible when he speaks ex cathedra (from the chair); that is, when he makes official doctrinal pronouncements.

The Catholic Church also has seven sacraments instead of two—Eucharist (or Lord’s Supper) and baptism like Protestants, and then penance, holy orders, marriage, confirmation, and last rites.

Scripture

Catholics have a larger biblical canon. In addition to the 66 books in the Protestant Bible, Catholic Bibles include the Apocrypha, with books like Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccebees, Sirach, and Baruch. Catholic teaching also elevates tradition more than Protestants do. 

Granted, many evangelicals suffer from ignoring tradition and the wisdom of the past. But Catholic theology goes beyond just respecting the past; it sacralizes it. “Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence,” the Catechism states.

Likewise, the Magisterium has the authority to make definitive interpretations. “The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching, office of the Church alone . . . to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.” The issue of authority continues to be the biggest practical divide between Protestants and Catholics.

Lord’s Supper

Central to the Catholic faith is the Mass (their worship service), and central to the Mass is the celebration of the Eucharist. Catholics believe that bread and wine are transubstantiated into the actual, physical body and blood of Jesus Christ.

The elements are offered as a sacrifice from the church and a sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s work on the cross. This is not simply a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice, but the same atoning work: “The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice . . . the sacrifice [of the Eucharist] is truly propitiatory.”

Baptism

Catholics teach that “justification is conferred in Baptism.” The waters of baptism wash away original sin and join us with Christ. Baptism is not merely a sign and seal of grace, but actually confers saving grace.

Mary

Mary is not only the Mother of Christ, but the Mother of the church. She was conceived without original sin (the immaculate conception) and at the end of her earthly life “was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things” (assumption). She intercedes for the church, “continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation,” and is “a mother to us in the order of grace.”

Mary was more than just the faith-filled mother of Jesus: “The Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.”

Purgatory

Those who die in God’s grace, but still imperfectly purified, are assured of eternal life, but must first undergo purification in purgatory. Because of the presence of this intermediate state, the Catholic Church has developed the practice of prayer for the dead. “The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead.”

Concerning the salvation of those who do not hear the gospel, the Catholic Catechism is committed to inclusivism: “Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience—those too may achieve eternal salvation.”

Merit

It is not really fair to say “Catholics teach that you can earn your salvation.” That may be what many Catholics believe, but the official teaching of Rome is more nuanced, though still a long way off from the Reformation understanding sola gratia. The Catechism summarizes: “Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification, at the beginning of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life.”

Justification

Catholic teaching rejects the Protestant doctrine of imputed righteousness. The question is this: is the righteousness whereby we are forgiven and made right with God a righteousness working in us or a righteousness reckoned to our account? Catholics say the former, Protestants the latter. According to Catholic teaching, justification is more than God’s declaration of our righteousness based on Christ’s work, it is also a renewal of the inner man and reconciliation with God. Of course, these are good things too, but Catholics make them present in and through justification, rather than by faith alone.

Despite our differences, Catholics and Protestants should always treat each other with decency and with respect. We should always labor side by side on important moral and social matters. If we don’t know what a church believes we shouldn’t be scared to ask, or better yet pick up a copy of their official doctrines and use that as your starting point. Once you understand the theology of the Catholic church, then and only then can you criticize it. The Council of Trent, from the 16th century Catholic counter-reformation, declares: “If anyone says, that men are justified, either by the sole imputation of the justice of Christ, or by the sole remission of sins, to the exclusion of grace and charity that is poured forth in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, and is inherent in them; or even that the grace, whereby we are justified, is only the favor of God: let him be anathema.” While individual Protestants and Catholics may work to find common ground on justification, the official teaching of the Roman Church is still opposed to any notion of an imputed righteousness through faith alone.