Expert: Dr. Tim Gladu - 11/13/2008

Question
Hi,
Im not Catholic, but throughout studies of 19th century America, our class comes across examples of anti-catholic sentiment throughout protestant (particularly southern) America. Would you say any anti-catholic sentiment remains in protestant communities across America. If there is, what is the cause, or what was the cause when it existed. Ive never understood the anti-catholic feelings in protestantism.
THank you

Answer
James,

I think that you are talking about something that has existed ever since Martin Luther started the entire protestant movement. I would recommend that you look at what the early church was like. The one that Christ started. Christ wanted to free people from religion. He wanted people to have that close relationship with God. The Catholic church created religion and placed all these rules on people that they actually re-created the religion that Christ died to abolish. The early church spent most if not all their time devoted to each other and witnessing to the lost. There came a time when they were large enough to have a following. I am not anti-catholic but I would never be one. I believe that there is no man between God and me. Christ is my priest with God and no priest or pope can dictate what I believe. I understand that there are those who are truly anti-Catholic and those people have hate when they should have love. I have many friends that used to be catholic and they came to realize that they were not where they needed to be. I also believe that another reason for this kind of feeling is because in the early days of America those people were trying to get away from Catholicism and freedom of religion so those feeling still hold true today. I truly believe that in the not so distant future we are going to see one Christian faith. The next generation and their children are open to so much more and even more accepting of people and tolerant. I would love to see the religious lines break down and all people that believe in Christ were one faith. How powerful would all Christians united be against the faiths that want to see us destroyed. Do some more study on the early church and what they taught and you will be surprised