Criticism of the Catholic Church

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Further information: Roman Catholic Church

Criticism of the Catholic Church subsumes critical observations made about the current or historical Roman Catholic Church, in its actions, teachings, omissions, structure, or nature; theological disagreements would be covered on a denominational basis. Criticisms may regard the concepts of papal primacy and supremacy, or aspects of church structure, governance, and particular practices. Since the Catholic Church is the largest Christian church representing over half of all Christians^[1] and one sixth of the world's population,^[2], these criticisms may not represent the majority view of all Christian believers.

Criticism of the Catholic Church in previous centuries was more closely related to theological disputes. The Protestant Reformation (16th century in Europe) came about in no small part due to abuses of church practices by corrupt clergy in addition to these same theological disputes.^[3]

Political disputes compounded the theological grievances between Protestants and Catholics and to this day the debate begun at the Reformation has been reflected in the diversity of Christian denominations. Contemporary criticisms of the Roman Catholic church have tended to come from outside of Christianity, relating more to concepts in philosophy and culture e.g., Christianity vs. humanism.

Contents 1 Historical controversies 1.1 Inquisition 1.2 Crusades 1.3 Pope John Paul II's apology 2 Anti-clericalism 3 Opposition to Catholic doctrine 3.1 Catholic teaching considered as unbiblical 3.1.1 Church tradition 3.1.2 Saints 3.1.3 Marianism 3.1.4 Religious exclusivism (One true Church) 3.2 Papal infallibility 3.3 Use of Latin 3.4 Traditionalist and sedevacantist Roman Catholics 3.5 Ordination of women 3.6 Clerical celibacy 3.7 Human sexual behavior and reproductive matters 3.7.1 Opposition to contraception 4 Contentious interactions with other religious and non religious social groups 4.1 Proselytism 4.1.1 Asian subcontinent 4.1.2 Russia and Eastern Europe 4.2 Position on the Jewish religion and people 4.2.1 Anti-semitism 4.2.2 Post Vatican II Council 4.3 Anti-communism 4.4 Position on the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) 4.5 Position on Islam 4.5.1 Middle Ages 4.5.2 A quote by Pope Benedict XVI 4.5.2.1 Response to quote 4.6 Anti-Protestantism 4.6.1 Middle Ages 4.6.1.1 Modern Times 4.7 Position on Freemasonry 5 Separation of church and state 5.1 Restrictions on homosexual behavior 6 Sexual abuse controversy 7 See also 8 Notes and references

[edit] Historical controversies

[edit] Inquisition

Main article: Inquisition

Before the twelfth century, the Catholic Church gradually suppressed heresy usually through a system of ecclesiastical proscription and imprisonment. During this time in history, an accusation of heresy could be construed as treason against lawful civil rule, and therefore punishable by death, though initially the death penalty was not frequently imposed, as this form of punishment had many ecclesiastical opponents^[4][5].

[edit] Crusades

Main article: Crusades

The Crusades were a series of military conflicts of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal threats. Crusades were fought against Muslims, pagan Slavs, Russian and Greek Orthodox Christians, Mongols, Cathars, Hussites and political enemies of the popes.^[6] Crusaders took vows and were granted an indulgence.^[6]

Elements of the Crusades were criticized by some from the time of their inception in 1095. For example, Roger Bacon felt the Crusades were not effective because, "those who survive, together with their children, are more and more embittered against the Christian faith."^[7] In spite of some criticism, the movement was still widely supported in Europe long after the fall of Acre in 1291. From that time forward, the Crusades to recover Jerusalem and the Christian East were largely lost. Later, 18th century rationalists judged the Crusaders harshly. As recently as the 1950s, Sir Steven Runciman published a highly critical account of the Crusades which referred to Holy War as "a sin against the Holy Ghost".^[7]

[edit] Pope John Paul II's apology

In May 1995, Pope John Paul II apologized for certain historic offenses committed by the Catholic Church, In 2000, he asked publicly for pardon "for the sins of Catholics throughout the ages".^[8][9]

[edit] Anti-clericalism

Main article: anti-clericalism

Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious (generally Catholic) institutional power and influence in all aspects of public and political life, and the encroachment of religion in the everyday life of the citizen. It suggested a more active and partisan role than mere laïcité. The goal of anti-clericalism was to reduce religion to a purely private belief-system with no public profile or influence. Anti-clericalism has at times been violent, leading to attacks and seizure of church property. Anti-clericalism has tended to be associated with the left of the political spectrum, and with middle and working class intellectuals.

Anti-clericalism in one form or another has existed through most of Christian history, and is considered to be one of the major popular forces underlying the 16th century reformation. The philosophers of the enlightenment, including Voltaire, continually attacked the Catholic Church, its leadership and priests. These assaults led to the expulsion of the Jesuits from most Catholic countries by 1800, and played a major part in the wholesale attacks on the very existence of the Church during the French Revolution.

[edit] Opposition to Catholic doctrine

[edit] Catholic teaching considered as unbiblical

Some Protestants charge that some Catholic teachings are unbiblical.^[10] Members of the King-James-Only Movement contend that modern versions of the Bible deliberately retain unsound and unbiblical Catholic doctrine. The contention is that such teachings were later inventions and not part of the original deposit of faith.^[11]

The Catholic notion of traditio refers to what is passed down, and it is generally considered that the Church predates the Bible in written form.^[12] As a result, the institution, in the Catholic faith, of the Church on Earth was an organic growth responsible for the Bible, descended from Christ, and it changed as the world changes.

Protestants who have attacked the Catholic Church's reliance on tradition cite the doctrines of "sola scriptura" (Scripture only) and "sola fide" (faith only). These scholars have held that the position of the Reformers regarding justification was pronounced as anathema by the Roman Catholic Council of Trent in 1547.^[13][14]

Some opponents of Sola Scriptura argued that, rather than being a return to fundamental Christianity, it was actually more of an innovation than traditional Roman Catholic beliefs. For example, the "salvation through faith alone vs. faith and works" controversy depends on how you read the Epistle of James. The Catholics hold the Epistle of James as important. In the earliest editions of his Bible, Luther wrote his now famous comment: "The St. James Epistle is really an epistle of straw compared to [St. Paul's letters], for it lacks this evangelical character."

In response to these charges, Dave Armstrong argued that, far from straying from the Bible, Catholicism is biblical. He asserted that Catholicism is the only Christian religion that is in full conformity with what the Bible clearly teaches. To demonstrate this, Armstrong (a former Protestant campus missionary) focused on those issues about which Catholics and Protestants disagree the most: the role of the Bible as a rule of faith, whether believers are justified by faith alone, whether doctrine develops, what the Eucharist really is, veneration of Mary and prayer to the saints, the existence of [purgatory], the role of penance in salvation, and the nature and infallibility of the papacy. (See "A Biblical Defense of Catholicism" by Dave Armstrong with foreword by John A. Hardon, S. J.)

[edit] Church tradition

Protestants critical of the Catholic Church have attacked its reliance on what was referred to as "tradition" by the Church.

Others countered that the notion of "church tradition" did not mean custom. Traditio is that which is handed down — Catholics believe that the whole "deposit of faith" was given by Christ to the apostles. Tradition, the written part of the larger tradition, are the scriptures which, the Church says, must be interpreted in the context of the community founded by Christ.

[edit] Saints

Catholics have venerated Mary and other saints for supplication, or requested help of some sort. Some Protestant Christians argued that in order for Mary and the saints to actually hear all the prayers directed to them, they would by necessity be required to possess the attributes of omniscience and omnipresence, thus allowing them to know all the requests made by either ultimate knowledge or by actually being present with each supplicant simultaneously. Many Protestant religions have not traditionally called on the saints or apostles as intermediaries as do Catholics.

Catholics answer that when they have prayed to a saint they have asked the saint to pray to God for them, not to have the saint do something for them. For Catholics, belief in the "Communion of Saints" means that death does not separate believers and requesting prayers of a saint is the same as asking any friend. They also say that Christians have historically believed that only material beings occupy time and space: as spirits, saints and angels do not occupy space.^[15]This would suggest that angels and saints do not need to be omnipresent or omnipotent to answer prayers.

[edit] Marianism

For the critics of the traditional role of women in Latin America, see: Marianismo.

Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, asserted "The issue of Mary remains one of the hottest debates on the Protestant/Roman Catholic divide, and new proposals for Marian doctrines are likely to ignite a theological conflagration. At stake is not only the biblical understanding of Mary, but the integrity of the work of Christ."^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Religious exclusivism (One true Church)

Section 8 of the Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium stated that "the one Church of Christ which in the Nicene Creed is professed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic" subsists "in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him." (The term successor of Peter refers to the Bishop of Rome, the Pope; see Petrine theory).

Protestants have rejected the pope's statement that Jesus established ‘only one church’ (Catholic Church.)^[16]

They also rejected the remark by the pope that only the Catholic Church could be called church[2]. The pope said that Protestant denominations are not even churches “in the proper sense.”^[17]

Protestants argued that pope is wrong, and that they were churches as well[3].

Although the Catholic Church establishes, believes and teaches that it is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church,^[18] it also believes that the Holy Spirit can work through and make use of other churches to bring people to salvation. In its Constitution, the church acknowledges that the Holy Spirit is active in the Christian churches and communities separated from itself and is called by the Holy Spirit to work for unity amongst all Christians.^[19]

[edit] Papal infallibility

Main article: Papal infallibility

In Roman Catholic theology, Papal infallibility was the dogma that the Pope is preserved from error when he solemnly promulgated, or declared, to the Church a decision on faith or morals.

This doctrine has a long history, but was not defined dogmatically until the First Vatican Council of 1870. In Catholic theology, papal infallibility was one of the channels of the Infallibility of the Church. Papal infallibility does not signify that the Pope was divinely inspired or that he was specially exempt from liability to sin.

The Old Catholic Churches, organized in the Union of Ultrajectine independent Catholic Churches, resisted Papal infallibility along with the First Vatican Council's dogma of Papal primacy of universal jurisdiction.

[edit] Use of Latin

Before the reforms from Vatican II in the late 1960s the Catholic church was best-known outside the church for the Tridentine mass, a liturgy exclusively said in Latin. The traditional use of the ancient Roman language, along with a few sentences in Ancient Greek and Hebrew, had been criticized.^{[citation needed]}

During the Reformation the Protestants almost totally rejected the use of Latin as "hocus pocus".

The French Catholic Church in the 18th century adapted vernacular missals in some dioceses. In 1794 the Synod of Pistoia, firmly influenced by Jansenism, rejected the use of Latin and demanded the use of the vernacular. In the 19th century the "Old Catholic" anti-primacy movements adopted the vernacular liturgy along with other reforms. In 1962 the encyclical Veterum sapientia of Pope John XXIII instructed priests and seminaries to hold to the all-Latin Mass and to promote studying the Latin language. While the Second Vatican Council for the first time allowed the use of the vernacular in the liturgy of the Mass, it also demanded conservation of the use of Latin and stimulated of Latin Gregorian chant. The new, 1970 edition of the reformed Roman Missal allowed for a world-wide use of the vernacular in the Eucharist for the first time.

[edit] Traditionalist and sedevacantist Roman Catholics

Traditionalist Catholics see the Church's recent efforts at reformed teaching and (liturgical) practice (known as "aggiornamento"), in particular the Second Vatican Council, as not benefitting the advancement of the Church. Some groups, claiming the Church has betrayed the core values of Catholicism, have rejected some of the decisions of the Holy See that they see harmful to the faith. They have in common the firm adherence to the pre-conciliar Traditional Latin Mass.

Others, a numerically minor group, have characterized the current Pontiffs of the Catholic Church as heretics. Several groups, known as sedevacantists, claim that the current Pope (as well, perhaps, as some of his immediate predecessors) were not legitimate. Sedeprivationists claim the post-conciliar Popes were still materially Popes, but formally non-Catholics due to formal personal and public heresy.^[clarify]

Another tiny, extreme group of Vatican II opponents, known as conclavists, have appointed papal replacements: see list of conclavist antipopes. These groups were estimated to compromise not more than a few hundred Catholics worldwide.

On the other hand, some non-Catholic^[disputed] historians have seen a clear continuity of the teachings of the Church throughout the centuries, a "handing over" (traditio) of "living faith" which according to George Weigel "inspires innovative thinking."

[edit] Ordination of women

For the critics of the traditional role of women in Latin America, see: Marianismo.

In recent times, the Roman Catholic Church's exclusion of women from the ordained clergy, and so from many of the most important decisions, was seen by some (including some Catholics) as unjust discrimination (at a time when feminist and other movements have advocated equal access for women to traditionally male professions).

As a result of feminism and other social and political movements that have removed barriers to the entry of women into professions that were traditionally male strongholds, in the latter quarter of the twentieth century many women in a handful of countries sought ordination into the Roman Catholic priesthood.

The Church was convinced that it was not free to change this practice, which the Church traced back to Jesus himself, and has declared the matter closed for discussion. (This has not, however, actually ended the discussion: dissenting Catholics are continuing to talk about it.) Yet, at the same time the Church had also been praised by many historians as having raised the dignity of women relative to their treatment in the pagan societies (e.g. the Roman paterfamilias had legal authority over them-theoretically). Women were treated by medieval knights as ladies, a custom characterized by gentleness and reverence inspired by the Catholic Church's veneration for a woman, Mary, as the greatest of all saints.^{[citation needed]}

The Roman Catholic position (as well as that of the Orthodox and, arguably, other ancient churches), is that this has been the clear teaching of the Church since the time of the Apostles. As the Priest is acting 'in persona Christi' (that is, in the Person of Christ) and Christ took the body of a man, the priest must be a man.^{[citation needed]} In particular, in the sacrifice of the Eucharist, the priest acts in representation of Christ. Furthermore, Jesus chose only men to be the twelve apostles and because priests and bishops are successors to the Apostles, only men can become priests and bishops.^{[citation needed]}

On May 22, 1994, Pope John Paul II issued an apostolic letter, Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (Priestly Ordination) which reaffirmed the traditional position, and concluded:

Although the teaching that priestly ordination is to be reserved to men alone has been preserved by the constant and universal Tradition of the Church and firmly taught by the Magisterium in its more recent documents, at the present time in some places it is nonetheless considered still open to debate, or the Church's judgment that women are not to be admitted to ordination is considered to have a merely disciplinary force.

Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Luke 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful.

Within Roman Catholicism itself, debate on the subject now largely focuses on whether this statement is meant to invoke extraordinary papal infallibility (see the concept of the extraordinary magisterium) and raise the rule that women cannot be Roman Catholic priests to the level of an irreformable dogma of the Roman Catholic Church. That disagreement as to the status reached to the heart of the Church. However, its infallibility was asserted by the CDF in its Responsum Ad Dubium on October 28, 1995, when they responded to a Bishop's inquiry with the following:

"This teaching requires definitive assent, since, founded on the written Word of God, and from the beginning constantly preserved and applied in the Tradition of the Church, it has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium (cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium 25, 2). Thus, in the present circumstances, the Roman Pontiff, exercising his proper office of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32), has handed on this same teaching by a formal declaration, explicitly stating what is to be held always, everywhere, and by all, as belonging to the deposit of the faith.

The Sovereign Pontiff John Paul II, at the Audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, approved this Reply, adopted in the ordinary session of this Congregation, and ordered it to be published."

Critics accused some of those attached to Ratzinger's Congregation of trying to make the document sound infallible to try to kill off the debate, in effect spinning a fallible document as infallible. Such an accusation has been made in the past, notably Pope Paul's encyclical, Humanæ Vitæ about which one conservative curial cardinal stated "the Holy Father has spoken. The issue is forever closed."

Those criticisms are based on what some Catholics consider to be a faulty understanding of the doctrine of infallibility. What is missed by those who make these criticisms is that "what has always been taught" is, according to Catholic clergy, as infallible as a solemn definition that springs from the Pope's Infallible Magisterium. That which has always been taught by the Church is a part of its Universal Magisterium, which is as infallible as such solemn definitions as that used to define the Assumption of Mary. A mere layperson is considered to be infallible when he would simply repeat what the church has always taught.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Clerical celibacy

Main article: Clerical celibacy

The Catholic Church's discipline of mandatory celibacy for Latin-Rite priests (while allowing very limited individual exceptions) is criticized for differing from Christian traditions issuing from the Protestant Reformation, which apply no limitations, and even from the practice of the ancient Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, which, while requiring celibacy for bishops and priestmonks and excluding marriage by priests after ordination, do allow married men to be ordained to the priesthood and diaconate (Catholicism also permits married men to be ordained as deacons). Some also claim that mandatory priestly celibacy appeared only in the Middle Ages.

Some have argued that abolishing the rule of celibacy and opening the priesthood to women would update the Church's image as more relevant to modern society, and would help solve the problem of an insufficiency of candidates for priesthood in Western countries.

Many contend that maintaining the tradition in the modern age is unrealistic. In July 2006, Bishop Emmanuel Milingo created the organization Married Priests Now!.^[20] Responding to Milingo's November 2006 consecration of bishops, the Vatican stated "The value of the choice of priestly celibacy... has been reaffirmed."^[21]

In the wake of the clergy sexual abuse scandals, some critics have charged that priestly celibacy was a contributing factor. (see below)

[edit] Human sexual behavior and reproductive matters

Some criticize the Church's teaching on sexual and reproductive matters.^[22] The Church requires members to eschew homosexual practices,^[23] artificial contraception,^[24] and sex out of wedlock, as well as non-procreative sexual practices, including masturbation. Procuring or assisting in an abortion can carry the penalty of excommunication, as a specific offence.^[25]

Although some charge that the Catholic Church rejects sex for purposes other than procreation, the official Catholic teaching regards sexuality as "naturally ordered to the good of spouses" as well as the generation of children.^[26]

Some criticize the Church's teaching on fidelity, sexual abstinence and its opposition to promoting the use of condoms as a strategy to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS (or teen pregnancy or STD) as counterproductive.^{[citation needed]} The Catholic Church has been both praised and criticized for its stauch pro-life efforts in all societies. The Church's denial of the use of condoms has provoked criticism especially in countries where AIDs and HIV infections are at epidemic proportions. The Church maintains that countries like Kenya where behavioral changes like abstinence are endorsed instead of condom use, are experiencing greater progress towards controlling the disease than those countries just promoting condoms.^[27]

[edit] Opposition to contraception

The Roman Catholic Church maintains its opposition to birth control. Some Catholic church members and non-members criticize this belief as contributing to overpopulation, and poverty.[4]

Pope Paul VI reaffirmed the Church's position in his 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae (Human Life). In this encyclical, the Pope acknowledges the realities of modern life, scientific advances, as well as the questions and challenges these raise. Furthermore, he explains that the purpose of intercourse is both "unitive and procreative", that is to say it strengthens the relationship of the husband and wife as well as offering the chance of creating new life. As such, it is a natural and full expression of our humanity. He writes that contraception "contradicts the will of the Author of life [God]. Hence to use this divine gift [sexual intercourse] while depriving it, even if only partially, of its meaning and purpose, is equally repugnant to the nature of man and of woman, and is consequently in opposition to the plan of God and His holy will." [5]

Supporters of birth control argue that economic growth which allows for a high population density without poverty is a direct function of the availability of birth control, as it leads to smaller families (as is the case in all nations which allow birth control), which in turn have more purchasing power to support themselves and provide their children with education, which is universally recognized as necessary for sustainable growth.

The Church counters this argument stating that "Though it is true that sometimes it is lawful to tolerate a lesser moral evil in order to avoid a greater evil or in order to promote a greater good," it is never lawful, even for the gravest reasons, to do evil that good may come of it —in other words, to intend directly something which of its very nature contradicts the moral order, and which must therefore be judged unworthy of man, even though the intention is to protect or promote the welfare of an individual, of a family or of society in general. Consequently, it is a serious error to think that a whole married life of otherwise normal relations can justify sexual intercourse which is deliberately contraceptive and so intrinsically wrong." [6]

The Church stands by its doctrines on sexual intercourse as defined by the Natural law: intercourse must at once be both the renewal of the consummation of marriage and for the purpose of procreation. If each of these postulates are not met, the act of intercourse is, according to Natural Law, an objective mortal sin. Therefore, since artificial contraception expressly prevents the creation of a new life (and, the Church would argue, removes the sovereignty of God over all of Creation), contraception is unacceptable. The Church sees abstinence as the only objective moral strategy for preventing the transmission of HIV. [7] [8]

The Church has been criticized for its opposition to promoting the use of condoms as a strategy to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, and STDs. Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, has stated that Pope Benedict XVI asked his department to study the question of condom use as part of a broad look at several questions of bioethics.^[28] However, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, in an interview reported by Catholic News Agency on May 4, 2006, said that the Church "maintains unmodified the teaching on condoms", and added that the Pope had "not ordered any studies about modifying the prohibition on condom use."^[29]

[edit] Contentious interactions with other religious and non religious social groups

[edit] Proselytism

Proselytism is the practice of attempting to convert people to a religion. The Catholic Church is also accused of proselytism.^[30][31]

Catholic Church replies that "The Church has a duty to evangelize; it is also its inalienable right"^[32]

[edit] Asian subcontinent

Sisters of Mother Teresa's order were imprisoned on proselytism charges in India. Church officials reply that the nuns were illegally imprisoned and that they do not proseltize the dying AIDS patients they are caring for.^[33]

[edit] Russia and Eastern Europe

After the end of communism in Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church experienced a resurgence. The recent expansion of the Catholic population in Russia strained the Catholic-Russian Orthodox relationship. Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow has demanded that the Vatican curb "proselytism" by Catholic clerics in Russia and eastern Europe.^[34] Catholic officials have replied that their efforts in Russia were not aimed at Orthodox believers, but were reaching out to the vast majority of Russians who are not churchgoers.^[34]

According to Catholic church CDF document called "Doctrinal Note on some aspects of evangelization", the Church doesn't see that as proselytism but rather as evangelism, although it's converting Orthodox Christians (at least nominally) to Catholicism. The Eastern Orthodox Church beliefs are closer to Roman Catholic than any other Christian denomination. They are so close that the two churches have recently discussed reunification but this goal has not yet been achieved.^[35]

[edit] Position on the Jewish religion and people

[edit] Anti-semitism

Pope Pius VII (1800-1823) had the walls of the Jewish Ghetto in Rome rebuilt after the Jews were released by Napoleon, and Jews were restricted to the Ghetto through the end of the Papal States in 1870.

[edit] Post Vatican II Council

In 1998, Pope John Paul II apologized for past actions by Christians that caused suffering to the Jewish people, calling them our "elder brothers" in the faith.^[36] Even so, some claim that antisemitism is endorsed by the Vatican.^[37] Defenders say this criticism is exaggerated.^{[citation needed]} Critics reply that Pope Benedict XVI was a member of Hitler Youth a paramilitary organization of the German Nazi Party, as were all German youth of his day.

There are also concerns about Pope's Benedict's endorsement of the Tridentine Mass. Concern by some groups is now focused on the Good Friday liturgy according to the Tridentine missal, which contains a prayer "For the conversion of the Jews". The prayer then refers to Jewish "blindness" and prays for them to be "delivered from their darkness."^[38] After protest, Catholic Church acted by deleting a reference to their "blindness".^[39] However, Jewish leaders are still disappointed about the revision.^[40]

[edit] Anti-communism

Catholic church has a history of Anti-communism. In fact Pope John Paul II was harsh critic of communism[9], other popes shared this view as well, for example Pope Pius IX issued Papal encyclical called Quanta Cura in which he called "Communism and Socialism" the most fatal error[10].

[edit] Position on the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons)

The Catholic church is accused of Anti-Mormonism.^{[citation needed]} The now defunct Catechism of 1913 labelled them a sect, though such a reference is absent in the new Catechism issued in 1994^[41] Catholics also see the Mormon priesthood as a counterfeit of their own Apostolic Succession[11] [12][13]

In Slovakia Catholic bishops tried to block registration of an LDS church, saying that would be a betrayal of the Catholic Church[14]. Mormons see this as anti-Mormonism.

The Catholic Church rejects Joseph Smith as a prophet. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "Christian faith cannot accept "revelations" that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such "revelations"."^[42]

[edit] Position on Islam

Although Islamic people are respected by the Catholic Church, Roman Catholics do not agree that Mohammad was a prophet and his teachings are not part of Roman Catholic belief. The Crusades and Inquisitions of Medieval Europe were partially born out of the effort to drive Muslims out of Europe, an effort that was ultimately successful but that did not improve relations between these religions. Later popes like John Paul II and Benedict XVI have worked for improved relations between these religions by holding ecumenical discussions and trying to find common ground on certain issues.

[edit] Middle Ages

Medieval Europe consisted of a hundreds of small states and principalities. Simultaneously, Europe faced encroachment of Muslim military forces from both the East via the Balkins and the West via Spain and North Africa. The Catholic church, representing all of Western Christendom, encouraged crusades against Islamic controlled territories in Europe and in the Holy Land from 1095 through 1272 after Islam had conquered most of the Byzantian empire, including the Holy Land.

[edit] A quote by Pope Benedict XVI

In 2006 Muslims objected to Pope Benedict XVI quoting the 14th-century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II who wrote "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."^[43] The Pope emphasized that he was quoting the emperor, and he neither agreed with nor disagreed with the statement.

[edit] Response to quote

There was considerable response to the pope's quote^[44]. Islamic political and religious leaders expressed their concerns about his speech^[45]. There were protests in much of the Islamic world, including Turkey, the West Bank of the Jordan^[46], Indonesia, Iran, and especially from terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda^[47].

Turkey's ruling party likened the pope to Hitler and Mussolini and accused him of reviving the mentality of the Crusades, while Malaysian PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that "The pope must not take lightly the spread of outrage that has been created"^[48].

The pope responded "In the Muslim world, this quotation has unfortunately been taken as an expression of my personal position, thus arousing understandable indignation. I hope that the reader of my text can see immediately that this sentence does not express my personal view of the Qur’an, for which I have the respect due to the holy book of a great religion. In quoting the text of the Emperor Manuel II, I intended solely to draw out the essential relationship between faith and reason"^[49]

[edit] Anti-Protestantism

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[edit] Middle Ages

See also: List of people burned as heretics

During the Inquisition the Catholic church persecuted those Christians who disagreed with key doctrines of Catholic Church. Believing that the souls of heretics were in danger of being consigned to hell, the authorities used whatever means they considered necessary to bring about a recantation.

[edit] Modern Times

Definition - As used in the following, "sect" is a pejorative but is not a "cult", as sometimes used by Protestants.

The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia (supereceded in 1967) used the term "sect" or "Protestant sect" when referring to Unitarians[15], Waldensians^[50], Adventists^[51], Pentecostals^[52][53] and Evangelicals^[54] often blaming them for anti-catholicism[16]. Catholicism has never employed the term 'sect' in reference to major Christian denominations such as Calvinism-Presbyterianism, Lutheranism, Anglicanism and Methodism.

During the pope's visit to Brazil, he laid out a plan to halt the growth of sects.^[55][56][57]

Protestant Churches reject the "sect" remark and claim that they are churches or denominations which should not be branded as sects^[58]. "However, it has a destructive effect on ecumenical relations if one church deprives another church of the right to be called a church. It is just as destructive as if one Christian denies another Christian the right to be called a Christian."^[59]

[edit] Position on Freemasonry

Main article: Catholicism and Freemasonry

Catholics have stated that Freemasonry holds back its members from fully committing to their nation^[60]. Critics claim that compared to Operative Masonry's clear denunciations of treachery^[61] Masonry after 1723 (Speculative masonry) was far more ambiguous^[62]. It is alleged in the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia that Masonic disapproval of treachery is not on moral grounds but on the grounds of inconvenience to other Masons.^[63] The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia argues^[64] that the adage "Loyalty to freedom overrides all other considerations" ^[65] justifies treason.

[edit] Separation of church and state

Main articles: Separation of church and state, History of Western civilization, and Roman Catholic Church

Throughout much of the history of Western Civilization, the Roman Catholic Church has functioned as a government to many cultures including and beginning with Europe. Many functions like education, a judicial system, and collection of taxes to be used for the common good performed by government today were begun and even continued in these cultures by the Roman Catholic Church. The beginning of separation of church and state was actually a gradual transformation that took place over time in Europe and more timely in Latin America. The church openly opposed the abuses of Spanish and Portuguese authorities over their colonies during the Age of Reason and took steps to operate outside of these authorities in spite of protests from the various monarchs.^[66]

Separation of church and state is a political and, since 1947, a legal doctrine which states that government and religious institutions are to be kept separate and independent of one another. The Catholic church has criticized governments and has tried to influence their policies and practices. However when governments have tried to do the same, then they accuse them of Anti-Catholicism.^{[citation needed]} For example Cardinal Kung Foundation even blamed Chinese government for Anti-catholic aggression [17]. Although some argue that church and state should be separated, some say that "separating church and state" is easier said than done" [18].

The Catholic church has tried to influence government to preserve Sunday as a day of worship. Catholic Social Teaching advocates a living wage, proper work hours and treatment of workers. Freedom to practice one's religion is one of the basic human rights the Church has been noted in defending especially in Communist countries around the world.

[edit] Restrictions on homosexual behavior

The Roman Catholic Church requires homosexuals to practice chastity in the understanding that homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered" and "contrary to the natural law."^[67] All unmarried persons who have sex outside of marriage commit adultery according to basic Christian belief. Homosexual acts are considered one form of adultery that harms both the soul of the person who commits adultery and their relationship with God.

It insists that the only appropriate expression of sexuality is within the context of marriage, which by definition is permanent, procreative, heterosexual, and monogamous. The Church describes homosexual tendencies as "a trial" and stresses that people with such tendencies "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity."^[67] In reference to the possible ordination of homosexuals to the priesthood, distinguishing between "deep-seated homosexual tendencies" and those that are "only the expression of a transitory problem", the Vatican requires that any homosexual tendencies "must be clearly overcome at least three years before ordination to the diaconate."^[68]

The Vatican has reiterated the standing instruction against ordaining gay candidates for the priesthood.^[69]

[edit] Sexual abuse controversy

Main article: Roman Catholic sex abuse cases

See also: Roman Catholic sex abuse cases by country

In 2002, allegations of priests sexually abusing children were widely reported in the news media. It became clear that the Church was aware of some of the abusive priests, and shuffled them from congregation to congregation (sometimes after psychotherapy), in some cases without removing them from contact with children. It is estimated that up to 3% of American priests were involved.^[70]. While some clergy of other religions have also perpetrated sexual child abuse, many established religions haven't tolerated it the way the Catholic establishment has.^[71]

Some of these reassignments were egregrious. The worst of these led to the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law from the Boston archdiocese. Victims of such abuse filed lawsuits against a number of dioceses, resulting in multi-million dollar settlements in some cases. Similar allegations of abuse in Ireland led to the publication of the Ferns report in 2005, which stated that appropriate action was not taken in response to the allegations.

Some critics^{[citation needed]} have charged that the Church's doctrine of mandatory celibacy for priests has been a major contributing factor to the problem; in response, the Vatican focused on the issue of homosexuality within the clergy, mainly because over 90% of the sexual abuse victims were teenage boys, not girls or children.

[edit] See also

• Anti-Catholicism
• Roman Catholicism's links with political authorities
• King-James-Only Movement
• Anti-Protestantism

[edit] Notes and references

• This one appears lost: ³ Technically each diocese operates separately of its neighbours, while religious orders in each diocese are not answerable to or under the control of the local bishop. As a result suspicions about the behaviour of secular priests (priests belonging to the diocese) were not always reported to other dioceses or to religious order-run schools or hospitals, while abuse by religious priests (priests belonging to a religious order) was not always relayed by his order to the diocese and its schools. The most notorious example involved Fr. Brendan Smyth, a Norbertine Order priest in Ireland, whose activities (known about since 1945) were not reported to diocesian clergy let alone the police. In 1994, Brendan Smyth pleaded guilty to a sample set of 17 charges of sexual abuse of children in Belfast from a far longer list. A number of dioceses, the Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh and Smyth's own order publicly blamed each other and accepted no responsibility themselves for the failure to stop Smyth over 47 years.

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