Catholics have been evangelizing the world long before the first Protestants came about. Other than an inquisistion, the church has no way to force people, and nations, to rid themselves of idols and beliefs contrary to church doctrine. That is exactly why the Magesterium is so necessary.
It is true that African and Native American cultures used saints to secretly practice their native Pagan rituals. How can you concieve that the Catholic church, who brought the word of God to these parts of the world, and for the most part evangelized these cultures, would be at fault for their pagan origins and influence?
And what rash generalizations would those be?
Voodoo came from Africa, not the Vatican.
Yes, and that is why I described their pagan gods as African. The saints that the practitioners of Voodoo, Santeria, Candoble, et al conflate these African gods with are Catholic, though, as are the practitioners themselves.
Any form of witchcraft, voodoo, etc. is strictly forbidden in our church.
By decree, yes. In practice, in the Carribean and Latin America, not so much. It's tolerated.
Your issinuation of some sort of relationship is ignorant and offensive.
You've taken offense due to my pointing out that your church is overlooking the occult practices of Catholic sects in the Carribean and Latin America, but that does not constitute ignorance on my part. If there is ignorance present in this exchange, it's willful, and not coming from me.
Catholics have been evangelizing the world long before the first Protestants came about.
In some instances, yes, but in most it was as much political as Godly, and was conquering territory by the sword.
Other than an inquisistion,
Oh, yes ... that.
the church has no way to force people, and nations, to rid themselves of idols and beliefs contrary to church doctrine.
Well, there's that little kerfluffle in England. France, too, come to think of it, and there's that little Conquistador thing, but other than that ...
That is exactly why the Magesterium is so necessary.
One wonders, then, at the aforementioned. Were they napping?
It is true that African and Native American cultures used saints to secretly practice their native Pagan rituals.
Yes, it is true that they did so. It continues to be true.
How can you concieve that the Catholic church, who brought the word of God to these parts of the world, and for the most part evangelized these cultures, would be at fault for their pagan origins and influence?
As I've stated upthread, in the Carribean and Latin America, these syncretist beliefs are quietly overlooked. I suppose it's driven by a fear of losing adherents or something? I find it baffling, personally.