HOLY ORDERS
Celibacy
Priests are forbidden to marry, but isn't that against what is in the Bible?
Like St. Paul, some men volunteer to stay single to better serve the kingdom of God.
"An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided." 1 Corinthians 7:32-34
Catholicism requires that most priests remain single, but no person is required to become a priest. This is a voluntary act on the man's part.
Related verses: Matt. 19: 11-12, Luke 14:20, 1 Cor. 7-8
HOLY ORDERS
Calling Priests "Father"
Matthew 23:9 says "do not call anyone on earth father." So why do we call our priest "father?"
That verse means not to honor a man like you honor God. Jesus didn't mean you couldn't call your dad or a priest "father." St. Paul wrote....
"I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel." 1 Corinthians 4:15
The Church has always considered her priests to be like St. Paul - "spirtual fathers" under the authority of our Heavenly Father.
Related verses: Acts 7: 2-5; Rom. 4:16, 9:10; 1 Tim. 1:2; Tit. 1:4, Phlm. 1:10
HOLY ORDERS
Priesthood
Why does the Catholic Church have priests? After all, aren't ALL Christians priests? In 1 Peter 2:9 it says "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood."
The Jews were also a "nation of Priests," yet they still had a ministerial priesthood. The early Christans followed the same pattern.
"So I exhort the presbyters among you, as a fellow presbyter and wtiness to the sufferings of Christ....Tend the flock of God in your midst..." 1 Peter 5:1-2
Priests, or "presbyters," minister to the church through preaching and offering the sacraments.
Related verses: Lev. 21:10-12; 1 Cor.12:28; Acts 6:6, 13:3, 20:28; John 21:15-17, Tit. 1:5
STATUES
Idol worship?
If Exodus 20:4 forbids making the likeness of anything in heaven or on earth, why do Catholics have statues in their churches?
God forbids making images to be worshipped. He didn't forbid all images in general. In fact, images were used in His Temple.
"...on its panels, he carved cherubim, lions and palm trees." 1 Kings 7:36
If God forbade all images, you couldn't sculpt figures or draw pictures of birds, fish or anything.
Related verses: 1 Kgs. 6:23-29; Ex. 25:18-19; Num. 21:8-9
STATUES
Idol Worship?
Catholics did NOT take out the second commandment. We do NOT worship statues.
We number the Commandments differently, but they are the same as what the protestants follow.
"You shall have no other gods before Me." Deuteronomy 5:7
Our first Commandment forbids all idol worship. Your second Commandment is part of our first.
Related verses: 1Kings 6:23-29, 7:25-45; Num. 21:8-9; Deut. 5:8-9
STATUES
Idol Worship?
The Bible forbids "graven images," so why do Catholics use statues?
God Himself instructed Moses to make two statues for the Ark of the Covenant.
"Make two cherubim of beaten gold." Exodus 25:18
God forbids the worship of images, not the mere use of them as aids to prayer.
Related verses: 1Kings 6:23-29, 7:25-45; Num. 21:8-9
CONFESSION
The Difficulty With It
"It would be too embarrassing to tell my sins to a priest."
It can also be embarrassing to show yourself to a doctor, but you do it so you can get well.
"All this is from God, Who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:18
God gave us this wonderful sacrament to remove the sins we commit after baptism.
Related verses: Matthew 18:18; 1 John 5:16; James 5:13-16
CONFESSION
Power to Forgive Sins
Why do Catholics tell their sins to a Priest? After all, man can't forgive sins.
Jesus gave priests the power to forgive sins.
"He breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.'" John 20:22-23
Priests forgive sins only through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Related verses: 2 Cor. 5:18, James 5:16, Matthew 18:18
SAINTS
Relics
Do Catholics believe that the bones of dead saints can heal people?
Elisha's bones cured a dead man.
"But when the man came in contact with the bones of Elisha, he came back to life and rose to his feet." 2 Kings 13:21
God can use the natural world to bring about supernatural results.
Related verses: Acts. 5:15-16; 19:11-12; Mark 5:25-29; Tob. 11:7-15
SAINTS
Holy Objects
Why do Catholics wear medals of saints and the scapular? Wouldn't they fall under the category of superstition?
God can work through physical objects.
"So extraordinary were the mighty deeds God accomplished at the hands of Paul that when face cloths or aprons that rouched his skin were applied to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of the them." Acts 19:11-12
Grace that is received from holy or blessed objects is not due to the objects themselves, but because of God's grace working through the objects.
Related verses: Acts. 5:15-16; 2 Kings 13:21; Mark 5:25-29
SAINTS
Interecession
Why do Catholics pray to dead people?
The saints in heaven are not dead. Jesus said...
"Have you not read 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?' He is not the God of the dead, but of the living." Matthew 22:31-32
Those who die in Christ are now alive in Christ in Heaven.
Related verses: Mark 9:4; Luke 23:43; Rev. 6:9-11; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Heb. 12:1, 12:22-24
MARY
Rosary
Based on Matthew's Gospel, wouldn't the Rosary be considered "vain repetition"?
Jesus was against "vain" or insincere repetition. Even Jesus used repetition.
"He prayed a third time, saying the same words." Matthew 26:44
Jesus also tells us in Matthew's Gospel to pray in secret, but that doesn't mean we can't pray together in church. These two admonitions are against superficial prayer.
Related verses: Matt. 6:6, 15:8-9, Rev. 4:8
MARY
Intercessor
Why do Catholics pray to Mary when we can go directly to Jesus?
All good mothers pray for their children. Mary, especially, prays for us because Jesus made her the mother of us all when he said...
" 'Woman, behold your son.' Then He said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' "
John 19:26-27
Remember, Jesus worked His first miracle at the wedding at Cana at Mary's request. She is very influential with her Son!
Related verses: John 2:1-11; 1 Tim. 2:1-6; Col. 4:2-3; 1 Thess. 5:25; Rom. 15:30; Rev. 5:8; Tob. 12:12
MARY
Queenship
Why do Catholics call Mary "Queen of Heaven"?
Remember what St. John wrote in Revelation about the vision of the woman in heaven....
"...and on her head a crown of twelve starts." Rev. 12:1
King Solomon in the Old Testament honored the Queen Mother, Bathsheba. Jesus, the King, reveals His mother Mary as Queen Mother in the book of Revelation.
Related verses: 1Kings 2:19; Jer. 13:18
MARY
Was She Sinless?
We, as Catholics, believe that Mary never sinned, even though she called God her "Savior."
God saved Mary by giving her a special grace to preserve her from sin. The angel Gabriel said to Mary...
"Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you." Luke 1:28
To be "full of grace" means to be without sin. The Ark of the Covenant was created perfectly to hold the World of God - the Ten Commandments. Mary was created without sin to hold the Word of God - Jesus.
Related verses: Ex. 25:10-22; Gen. 3:15; Luke 1:49
MARY
Was Jesus an Only Child?
Does Matthew 13:55-56 really prove that Jesus had brothers and sisters?
No. Scripture often calls close relatives "brothers and sisters." For example, Abraham and Lot were called "brothers," but Abraham was really Lot's uncle.
"...and they were separated one brother from the other." Genesis 13:11
The "brothers and sisters" of Jesus were actually close relatives, not children of His mother Mary.
Related verses: 1 Thess. 2:9; Lev. 10:4; Gen. 29:15; 1 Chr. 23:21-22
MARY
Mother of God
Catholics call Mary the Mother of God, but wouldn't she just be the mother of Jesus' human nature?
No. Jesus had both a human and divine nature, and they can't be separated. Mary gave birth to the Lord Jesus. Of Mary, Elizabeth said...
"And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Luke 1:43
She who was created...gave birth to her Creator.
Related verses: Luke 1:28-33; Matt. 1:22-23, Is. 7:14; Gal. 4:4-5
MARY
Worship or Veneration?
Does the Bible say we should "honor Mary"?
In Luke's Gospel, Elizabeth declared, "Blessed are you among women." Mary herself knew she would be honored by future Christians when she said...
"...all generations shall call me blessed." Luke 1:48
Mary knew that she would be called "blessed" becasue she carreid Jesus, the Savior, in her womb.
Related verses: Luke 1:28, 1:42, 1:45; Matt. 1 :22-23
MARY
Worship or Veneration?
Do Catholics worship Mary?
To worship Mary would be a grave sin. Worship is reserved for God alone. The Ten Commandments tell us...
"You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3
Catholics venerate, or honor, Mary in prayer and song. Some people mistake that for worshipping her, but it's not. The Mass is our worship, and in it we worship God alone.
Related verses: Luke 1:28-30, 1:43, 1:48; 1 Kgs 2:19; Prov. 31:9; Ps. 45:10
BAPTISM
Infant Baptism
Why do Catholics baptize infants? They can't give their heart to Jesus.
The Bible refers several times to the baptism of entire families.
"After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation."
Acts 16:15
Nowhere does it say, "except infants."
Related verses: Acts 2:38-41, 16:33, 18:8; Luke 18:15; Col. 2:11-12; 1 Cor.1:16; Mark 10:14
BAPTISM
Symbol or Sanctifier?
Is Baptism just symbolic or does it really save us?
Baptism does save you. Just as the Great Flood washed away sin at the time of Noah, so baptism washes away sin and saves us. St. Peter wrote of the flood…
"This prefigured baptism, which now saves you." 1 Peter 3:21
God uses things in the natural world, like water, to bring about supernatural results.
Related verses: Mark 16:16; Tit. 3:5; Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4
BAPTISM
Born Again
Are Catholics "born again"?
Yes!! We are born again at baptism. Jesus said baptism is the way to be born again.
"Unless one is born again of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God." John 3:5
Baptism is the way that Christians become members of God's family.
Related verses: Acts 2:37-38; Tit. 3:5; Rom. 6:3-4; Matt. 28:19-20
PURGATORY
Nature of…
Do Catholics think of Purgatory as a second chance to get saved?
No. Purgatory is only for the saved. But they still have imperfections that must be purged away before seeing God.
"But if a man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire." 1 Corinthians 3:15
Notice that the verse says the person "will be saved," but that his works will be burned up. The works are sinful works.
Related verses: Matt. 5:48; Rev. 21:27; Heb. 12:14; 2 Macc. 12:44-46
PURGATORY
Existence of…
St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that to be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord and that Christians go straight to the Lord after death. Does that mean that there IS no purgatory?
Let's read the verse again. It doesn't exactly say what you just implied.
"We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NIV)
All good Christians would "prefer to be" with Jesus than in this troubled world. Just because we would "prefer to be." doesn't mean we instantly will be.
Related verses: Matt. 12:32, 1 Pet. 3:19, 1 Cor. 3:15, Luke 12:59, 2 Macc. 12:44-46, Heb. 12:14
PURGATORY
Purpose of...
Protestants believe that Purgatory is not necessary. You're either saved or not saved.
Purgatory is only for the saved. It's a place or state where those who died in God's friendship are made perfect so they can enter heaven, of which St. John writes…
"Nothing unclean will enter it." Revelations 21:27
If you were to meet the President or the Pope, you would first get cleaned and dressed up, right? Well, God gave us purgatory to get spiritually cleaned and dressed up before seeing Him.
Related verses: Matt. 12:32, 1 Pet. 3:19-20, 1 Cor. 3:15, Luke 12:59,
2 Macc. 12:44-46, Heb. 12:14
SALVATION
Faith, Works or Both?
Do Catholics think that salvation is earned?
Salvation is a gift, but it must be accepted in faith, hope and charity. Charity means living out this faith through acts of love.
"Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the One who, for His good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work." Philippians 2:12-13
In the words of St. Augustine: "When God rewards our merits, He rewards His own gifts to us."
Related verses: Rom. 2:2-8; Jas. 2:24-26; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Pet. 1:17; Heb. 5:8-9; Matt. 16:27, 25:31-46
SALVATION
Faith, Works or Both?
The Bible teaches that we're saved by faith alone, not by works. Is that true?
No. We believe salvation comes through "faith working in love." The only place the Bible uses the phrase "faith alone" is when St. James condemns the idea.
"See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone...so also faith without works is dead." James 2:24-26
Catholics believe that we're saved by "faith working in love." It's not enough to simply say "Jesus is Lord" and accept Him into your heart. With His grace, we must follow His commandments.
Related verses: Matt. 7:21, 19:16-17; John 14:15, 14:21; Rom. 2:2-8; Gal. 5:6; Phil. 2:12; 1 Cor. 13:2
SALVATION
Eternal Security
Is it true that once you become a Christian, you can't lose your salvation?
No, that is not true. The Bible warns believers many times to persevere in faith and be obedient tot he end.
"Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of trial." Luke 8:13
Clearly, believers can fall away.
Related verses: Rom.11:22; 1 Cor. 10:11-12; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 6:4-6, 10:26-27;
1 Cor. 9:27; Phil. 2:12; Ez. 18-24
SALVATION
Eternal Security
Why does it say in 1 John 5:13 that we can know we have eternal life? Isn't that contradictory?
No, nothing in the Bible contradicts anything else. The whole book of 1 John does say that the way we can know we have eternal life is if we keep God's commands.
"The way we may be sure that we know Him is to keep His commandments."
1 John 2:3
We can't proclaim Jesus as Lord and then not obey Him. Obedience is necessary for salvation.
Related verses: Matt. 7:21, 24:13; Rom. 11:22; 2 Tim. 2:11-13
SALVATION
Eternal Security
Do Catholics know for sure that they are going to heaven?
It's a nice thought but it's not biblical that we, personally, can know that we are definitely going to heaven.
"He saved us...that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life." Titus 3:5, 7
We can have assurance God wants us to go to heaven and will give us the graces we need. That's the virtue of hope. But we must persevere to the end.
Related verses: Matt. 7:21, 10:22, 24:13; Phil. 2:12; 1 Cor. 9:27, 10:11-12;
Rom. 8:24-25, 11:22
EUCHARIST/MASS
Transubstantiation
Did Jesus literally mean for us to eat His flesh?
Some of Jesus' followers wondered the same thing and decided not to follow Him anymore.
"This saying is hard, who can accept it?" ...As a result of this, many of His disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied Him." John 6:60, 66
Jesus could have said it was only a symbol, but He didn't because He meant it literally.
Related verses: 1 Cor. 10:16; John 1:29; Ex. 12:8, 46