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I'm Baptist. I have no problem with Catholics what-so-ever. In fact, I've considered joining the Catholic faith. There is so much ignorance in the Protestant circles regarding Catholicism and there are many lies and myths about Catholicism that my denomination perpetuates, that many Baptists will never seek out the truth. On the other hand, (not often) I hear Priests on Catholic radio perpetuating myths about Protestants. All of us believe that Jesus Christ is the true Savior; born of a virgin; crucified for our sins; and rose from the dead. Accepting Christ is the absolute directive to get into Heaven. To me, the rest is a matter of the worship and the structure of each faith.

For once, I agree with the Pope. And one other thing, we must all stick together, respect our differences and fight the enemies of Christianity.

All of us believe that Jesus Christ is the true Savior; born of a virgin; crucified for our sins; and rose from the dead.

To which the Roman Catholic has added a whole bunch of other things you MUST believe.

Accepting Christ is the absolute directive to get into Heaven.

Per some Roman Catholic writers, though not supported by the New Testament, one must accept Mary before one can accept Christ.

I have no problem with Catholics what-so-ever.

You might want to do a bunch more homework. Much of what is required in Roman Catholicism is not supported by the New Testament.

Thank you, Liberty Women, for your good will and good heart. I am a Catholic blessed to have many fine Protestants among my friends and family. I do think we are one family in Christ.

I’m afraid a few (not many, but a few) of the non-Catholic FReepers will admonish you not cast any fond looks at Catholics. Sigh. Just pray for them!

In His Love,

Julianne (Mrs Don-o)

There is so much ignorance in the Protestant circles regarding Catholicism and there are many lies and myths about Catholicism that my denomination perpetuates, that many Baptists will never seek out the truth.

Whatever that means, it remains that distinctive Catholic teachings are not manifest in the only wholly inspired substantive authoritative record of what the NT church believed (including how they understood the OT and gospels), which is Scripture, especially Acts thru Revelation.

All of us believe that Jesus Christ is the true Savior; born of a virgin; crucified for our sins; and rose from the dead.

Mormons also affirm that, but have a different God and gospel and Spirit, against which we are warned:

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Corinthians 11:4)

And Catholicism has a gospel in which souls must actually become good enough in heart and character to enter Heaven, via baptism and (usually) Purgatory .

And a Eucharistic christ whose appearance does not confirm to what He physically became in the incarnation (and which manifest physicality Scripture emphasizes, looking, feeling, behaving as human, and which body would scientifically test as human flesh), but instead appears as inanimate objects, which are said to not even exist (though looking, feeling, behaving etc. and would scientifically test as mere bread or wine), the Catholic christ having replaced their substance. Until that is, the non-existent "host" begins to manifest the decay of corruption, at which point the Catholic christ is said to no longer exist under that form either.

Add to that such unscriptural novelties as praying to created beings in Heaven, with a mighty Mary whose glory, virtue and powers largely parallel those of Christ , and the the novel and unScriptural premise of ensured perpetual magisterial infallibility. Which is supposed to be the basis for RC confidence in her teachings.

And note that if you want to assert that the above are lies and myths about Catholicism then this can result in you being exposed as one who is ignorant regarding Catholicism.

I'm Baptist. I have no problem with Catholics what-so-ever. In fact, I've considered joining the Catholic faith. There is so much ignorance in the Protestant circles regarding Catholicism and there are many lies and myths about Catholicism that my denomination perpetuates, that many Baptists will never seek out the truth. On the other hand, (not often) I hear Priests on Catholic radio perpetuating myths about Protestants. All of us believe that Jesus Christ is the true Savior; born of a virgin; crucified for our sins; and rose from the dead. Accepting Christ is the absolute directive to get into Heaven. To me, the rest is a matter of the worship and the structure of each faith.

Then you really don't know much about Catholicism.

Catholicism adds a whole lot to the simple gospel, good news that Jesus came to save us.

They add requirements to be saved. One must be baptized, but ooops, that's not enough. You also have to go to confession, do penance, take communion, (literally eat Jesus literal flesh and literal blood, do good works to *merit* (aka earn) God's grace to stay in His favor.

They are a works based religion that says if you sin, you go to hell, therefore you have to keep short accounts with God.

And if you have sin on your soul when you die, then you go to purgatory to have it burned off, and then after an indefinite time of suffering to pay for those sins and be cleansed from them, you can be come good enough to be in God's presence.

They don't think Jesus atonement in and of itself qualifies you to be in God's presence and for them forgiveness is not a gift freely given, it's something you have to earn or work for.

And former Catholic here.

Born, baptized, and raised in Catholicism and found Christ at age 22.

It's a difference of night and day between the legalistic bondage of requirements set for by Catholicism to get and stay saved, and the freedom found in Christ who cancels the record of sin debt we owe and imputes HIS own righteousness onto us.

It is said that ignorance is bliss. How blissful you must be!