The Catholic Church and its views and teachings on specific subjects.
32
votes
5answers
565 views
Praying to people outside the Trinity
I understand that the Roman Catholic church direct some prayers to Mary, the mother of Jesus. For me it would be strange to address my prayers to anyone outside the Holy Trinity. Do Catholics pray to ...
28
votes
2answers
1k views
When did the prohibition of marriage for priests in the Catholic church originate?
The Bible mentions that one of the miracles Jesus performed was the healing of Peter's mother-in-law. This makes it quite clear that Peter himself was married, and Peter is the considered the first ...
27
votes
1answer
2k views
Why didn't C.S. Lewis convert to Catholicism?
This might seem like a weird question if you're a protestant and really like C.S. Lewis, but as a Catholic, I don't see him as ever espousing particularly non-catholic positions and he is very well ...
22
votes
7answers
2k views
As a protestant, may I participate in the Eucharist (Communion) when visiting a Catholic church?
I think the title sums it up. I'm a protestant Christian, and have many Catholic friends. When I visit their churches, is it permissible for me to participate in the Eucharist/Communion ceremony by ...
18
votes
3answers
454 views
What is the Roman Catholic view on Matthew 23:9?
In Matthew 23:9, Jesus says:
Matthew 23:9 (NIV)
And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
What is the Roman Catholic view on this? In the Roman ...
18
votes
2answers
256 views
According to Roman Catholic doctrine, why does Mary refer to God as her Savior if she was born without sin?
In the Magnificat, Mary refers to God as her Savior. According to Roman Catholic doctrine, Mary was born sinless and remained sinless throughout her life.
So, why does Mary refer to God as her ...
16
votes
3answers
387 views
Are Catholics like pagans, in Evangelical vision?
This question is based on my personal experience. Some time ago I had a discussion with a friend of mine who's an evangelical pastor.
In a very subtle way, he was asserting that I actually believe ...
15
votes
4answers
430 views
What exactly is a “Hail Mary”?
The practice of a saying a "Hail Mary" is often referred to in colloquial speech, sometimes as a way to caricaturize Catholics. References to the practice instantly conjure up images of Catholicism, ...
15
votes
3answers
274 views
What significance, if any, does the doctrine of the eternal virginity of Mary have?
I understand that the Catholic Church (and perhaps the Orthodox church as well) teaches that Mary is "the eternal virgin" Mary.
If this were an important doctrine, it seems there would be fairly ...
15
votes
5answers
289 views
What is the Biblical support for Purgatory?
Exactly as the title asks; where do Catholics get their Scriptural support for the idea of Purgatory? To be more specific, how I think of Purgatory (which may be incorrect) is that it's a temporary ...
15
votes
1answer
121 views
Is the Pope allowed to publish books after resignation?
I've heard that after popes die (at least after Bl. John Paul II died) all their unpublished works and letters are burnt and I heard on the radio this morning that Pope Benedict XVI is pretty much ...
15
votes
1answer
253 views
What is the basis for clerical celibacy?
In the Catholic Church, priests are required to stay celibate. (As far as I know, protestant priests that convert to Catholicism are allowed an exception -- they can become Catholic priests even if ...
14
votes
5answers
771 views
What is the Biblical evidence against the perpetual virginity of Mary?
I understand that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the eternal virgin in that she never had sexual relations with Joseph (or any other man)--either before or after the miraculous ...
14
votes
3answers
1k views
When does the Pope speak ex cathedra?
The Catholic Church considers the Pope infallible, but only in limited circumstances. The Pope is a human being like the rest of us, and capable of sinning. However, when the Pope speaks ex cathedra, ...
14
votes
1answer
115 views
Are today's Catholics encouraged to study the Bible at home?
How do Catholics view personal scripture study? Are members of the congregation encouraged to do any studying at home?
14
votes
2answers
192 views
What is the origin of the Catholic apocrypha?
In the Catholic tradition, several "apocryphal" books are used in addition to the same Old Testament canon used by Protestants.
What is the origin of these books and how do they differ from from the ...
14
votes
3answers
2k views
How should I understand the emphasis on “begotten, not made” in the Nicene Creed?
I'm trying to understand the importance the repetition of "begotten" in the Nicene creed. It states (emphasis mine):
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son ...
13
votes
3answers
891 views
Significance of virgins in the Catholic church
Why are virgins so popular in the Catholic church (specifically in Mexico or Latin America)? Aside from the obvious, virgin Mary, there are "virgins" of practically every major Catholic church ...
13
votes
1answer
188 views
On what do Catholics base their doctrine of the eternal virginity of Mary?
I understand that the Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the eternal virgin in that she neither had sexual relations with Joseph (or any other man) either before or after the miraculous conception ...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
What effect did the Reformation have inside the Catholic Church?
I confess my knowledge of church history branches at about the Reformation. I know a quite a bit about Catholicism today, and I have an idea of what it was before the Reformation. These are not at all ...
12
votes
3answers
479 views
Do Catholics view atheism as a sin?
Are there any passages in the Holy Bible or any Catholic doctrine saying that it is a sin to be an atheist?
Please, don't refer to me any Biblical assertion where it is stated that you should follow ...
12
votes
2answers
1k views
How do Catholics justify confessing to a priest?
Roman Catholic churches have a practice where congregational members confess their sins and the like to a priest in a confessional. As I was saying to a friend a couple days ago, the practice doesn't ...
12
votes
1answer
547 views
Are Catholics allowed to read the NIV translation?
I know this is kind of an odd question. However, there is a question that has popped into my mind while considering these quality standards that we've been starting to implement.
My thoughts are ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
The differences between Roman Catholic and Irish Catholic
I've heard the terms Roman Catholic and Irish Catholic since i was little, but i never understood what, if any, where the differences between the two. Why the differentiation of the two? What makes ...
12
votes
2answers
742 views
Why does Vatican require “Yahweh” not to be used?
This news article by Catholic News Service tells of the removal of the Tetragrammaton from Catholic masses.
"Yahweh" -- a name of God that the Vatican has ruled must not "be used or pronounced" in ...
12
votes
1answer
227 views
What is the argument for papal succession?
First off, I do not mean for this question to sound as an attack on the Catholic Church. I would like to know the stance of the church regarding this.
I found this resource, which documents the ...
12
votes
1answer
136 views
How do Catholics support transubstantiation?
As I understand it, the doctrine of transubstantiation maintains that bread and wine literally* become the body and blood of Christ...yet it is impossible to detect this. That is, they do not ...
12
votes
1answer
701 views
Why did G.K. Chesterton convert to Catholicism?
G.K. Chesterton is one of my favorite authors. On a lot of subjects, his way of looking at things really astonishes me. He can still show things in a fresh perspective, though his books are about a ...
12
votes
1answer
966 views
What were Martin Luther's main disagreements with the Catholic Church?
What were Martin Luther's main disagreements with the Catholic Church? Were these beliefs of Luther's and his disagreements with the Catholic Church the origin of the Lutheran Church?
12
votes
1answer
605 views
Why did Rome and Constantinople split in 1054 AD?
The Great Schism represents the break between the Eastern and Western churches. I know that a primary bone contention that the East had with the West was Rome's insistence on Papal Supremacy. My ...
12
votes
1answer
68 views
Is the marital act of consumating marriage part of Sacred Tradition in the Catholic Church?
How far back does the idea of consummating a marriage go?
Is it tied to the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony? Is it like going to confession, but not fully receiving the sacrament of reconciliation ...
11
votes
4answers
2k views
Why does Catholicism have priests but Protestantism does not?
The Catholic Church (and apparently Anglican or Episcopalian churches) have clergy with the title of "priest", as did Old Testament Judaism. Are Protestant "preachers", "reverends", "pastors", ...
11
votes
4answers
3k views
Why the difference in depiction of the cross between Catholics and Protestants?
As I understand it, Roman Catholic crosses have Jesus hanging on them, but Protestant crosses do not. I understood that Protestant crosses do not because they want to focus on the Resurrection, not ...
11
votes
3answers
448 views
Are non-Catholics allowed to go to confession?
As an Episcopalian, we techincally have the rite of Confession and Reconciliation as one of the things we are supposed to do, but in actual practice, I've never seen it done.
In contrast, I know that ...
11
votes
2answers
280 views
What is transubstantiation?
According to Wikipedia:
When at his Last Supper, Jesus said: "This is my body", what he held in his hands still had all the appearances of bread: these "accidents" remained unchanged. However, the ...
11
votes
2answers
182 views
How is “Veneration” similar or different from “Adoration”?
Most Catholics teach about honoring the saints, and mostly about "venerating" the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Though in my country (I'm from the Philippines), the line between honoring saints / Mary and the ...
11
votes
2answers
194 views
Is the stigmata biblically sound?
The stigmata is sores or wounds in the places that Jesus suffered wounds during the crucifixion. That's about as much as I know.
My questions:
What's the purpose of the stigmata?
Is the stigmata ...
11
votes
1answer
125 views
What Popes have resigned in the past?
Pope Benedict XVI recently announced his resignation. What other Popes have abdicated in the past? The media keep pointing to Gregory XII, but it is my understanding that he was deposed by the Council ...
11
votes
2answers
460 views
Which of Luther's 95 Theses are still potentially valid critiques of Roman Catholicism?
Pope Leo X enumerated 41 positions that he required Luther to recant from in order to be restored to communion with the Latin Church. Presumably, he wasn't all that excited about some of the other ...
11
votes
1answer
117 views
Should Catholics silently hum the Tetragrammaton when they're supposed to sing it?'
I was telling the kids in my Catechism class yesterday that we don't pronounce God's name anymore in hymns during Mass. They were a tad taken aback, especially since apparently they're supposed to ...
11
votes
3answers
178 views
When did Mary and Joseph learn that they were never supposed to have marital relations, according to Roman Catholic doctrine?
Roman Catholic doctrine teaches that Mary remained a virgin her entire life, even after marrying Joseph. It would seem that Joseph and Mary, at their betrothal, had likely expected to have, and ...
11
votes
1answer
202 views
How do the Catholic and Orthodox views of original sin differ?
While reading about original sin, I often read that the Catholic and Orthodox churches disagree on the doctrine of original sin. But as far as I can tell, they both reject the idea that mankind ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
What are the steps to become Confirmed in the Catholic church?
In the Catholic church you go through confirmation to become an adult member of the church. What are the steps you have to take (general steps not necessarily church specific) as someone raised in ...
11
votes
3answers
216 views
How do Catholics reconcile Christ's intercessory prayer with the doctrine of the Trinity?
John 10:30 (KJV) is often quoted to support the doctrine of the Trinity:
30 I and my Father are one.
But during the great intercessory prayer, Christ asks God for his disciples to also be one ...
10
votes
3answers
98 views
Where can I learn about Catholic terms and phrases?
A number of very good questions and answers on this site refer to specifically Catholic doctrine or terminology. I've been one to ask for clarification on these terms at times, however I think it's ...
10
votes
1answer
205 views
How can a Pope be chosen from outside the conclave?
It is well known that the cardinals can choose any baptised male Catholic to be the new Pope, though they typically choose one of their own, and that the election is held under strict conditions of ...
10
votes
1answer
79 views
Who calls the conclave?
There must be someone to oficially call the cardinals to a conclave. Who is it?
It can't be the old pope - resignation is hardly the normal situation, so the old pope is supposed to be dead. I guess ...
10
votes
3answers
424 views
What is the difference between “catholicism” and “catholic”?
In the Apostle's Creed, the term "catholic" is used in describing the reciter's belief:
I believe ... in the holy catholic church
This creed is used by a wide variety of denominations, and ...
10
votes
4answers
408 views
When does the bread and wine become Body and Blood?
Exactly when during the Mass does transubstantiation occur? I am aware that it occurs during the Eucharistic Prayer, but at exactly what moment? Would this change if a priest were to consecrate ...
10
votes
2answers
243 views
Do Priests, Cardinals, and Popes have a confessional to which they themselves can/should/must go?
The confessional is a standard practice of the Roman Catholic Church where church members may (or must) go to confess their sins to a priest. As I understand it, the priest then decides whether or ...
