Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 4/29/2005

Question
Hello, as you may have guessed from the title of my question, I am a Protestant. I was wondering what your answers are to many concerns I (and many Protestant, and even, in some cases, Orthodox believers) have about Catholicism deviating from Bible verses.

1)Mary was a virgin her whole life?
Acts 1:14, Matthew 13:55-56, and Mark 6:3 all speak of Jesus' siblings. It is common Protestant belief that James the author of The Book of James was Jesus' brother. does the Catholic church hold that this James is the son of Zebedee? Why does the Catholic church maintain that Mary remained a virgin?

2)Immaculate conception?
Romans 3:23 states that ALL have sinned. Why does the Catholic church hold that Mary was perfect? Or am I confused about Catholic beliefs?

3)Purgatory?
there are many references to Hades in the Bible, am I correct in believing that these references are where the belief in Purgatory comes from? However, I have not read anything in the Bible about necessarily going to Purgatory(Hades). For instance, when the poor man named Lazarus went to be with Abraham, the rich man went to Hades (Luke 16:19-31). Where does the belief that all people go to purgatory come from? I have also not seen anything about getting out of Hades through prayer, is this belief included in the Apocrapha?

Furthermore, Christ died for all sins. By having to pay for them ourselves, isn't this denying his Godhood (this is obviously a VERY big problem)? (This goes for "unforgivable sins" in Catholicism that automatically send people to Hell as well, such as suicide.) Protestantism holds that no sin will keep you out of heaven because God's grace is greater than our mistakes.

4)The Apocrapha
Who wrote it? By what authority is it included in the Bible, I admittedly have absolutely no idea about this. Protestantism holds that only teachings affirmed by Christ himself or the apostles are inspired. When and why did the church begin using the Apocrapha?

5)Sacraments

Ephesians 2:8-9 says that salvation is by faith alone, and not works.
I believe that the sacraments are ok to do, but I have a serious problem with them being the basis of Salvation. Obviously if you truly believe that Christ is Lord, you will do works (James and 1John are strong on this) but the Bible is equally clear that it is the faith that saves you, the works are only evidence and the logical product of that salvation. Why do Catholics believe that Sacraments save people?

6)Clerical Celibacy
1 Tim 4:1-3  "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth."

Why do Catholics not allow their priests to marry?
Marriage was to be allowed so that those who "burned with passion" would have a sexual outlet. I do not need to go into cases where Catholic priests have found inappropriate outlets for their desires. That is why there is marriage.

I understand that celibacy would be encouraged so that a person would be able to dedicate more of their time to the church, instead of having to worry about a family, but I don't see how this would be a problem anywhere other than in perhaps the very high clergy (people who have extensive church responsibilities) and even then, only when a person has pre-adult children does their family take up so much time that they would possibly be unable to perform necessary priestly functions.

Why do Catholics disallow priests from marrying even though the Bible calls it a "hypocrisy of liars"? (no disrespect intended, I am simply quoting from the verse that I am questioning from)

7)Papal infallibility
While the bible clearly states that we are to obey our leaders, it also says that "One is our leader, and He is Christ" Therefore, if a leader says to do something that goes against scripture, Protestant belief is that it shouldn't be done. The Bible is also clear that humans are imperfect. I also understand that the pope was originally the patriarch of Rome and was "The first among equals" with the other patriarchs. Where did the idea of papal infallibility and speaking ex cathedra come from?

8)Father
Matthew 23:8-9 says that we are all brothers and that One is our father. Protestantism holds that pastors are "older brothers" placed in authority by God to watch over His other children. Do Catholics give more authority to their priests than to the Bible? I am also aware of places in the bible where the apostles refer to other believers as their "children", out of affection. How far does Catholicism go with this?

Sorry for the oustanding length of this question; I have been struggling lately with whether or not Catholics are saved(not that I get to decide, but I am concerned for them with regard to Christ's Godhood) However, if you gave me information I would be thrilled, as for one, I am curious, and two, it would allow me to formulate a more accurate view on Catholicism.
Thank you very much for your help,
Clint  

Answer
                           Peace

Dear Clint Harris
  Wow!! what length...hehehe. Christ said: Fear not. So I shall not as I tackle your questions. Thank you for your concern for me and my fellow Catholics.
   1. Siblings of Christ?
There are about ten instances in the New Testament where "brothers" and "sisters" of the Lord are mentioned (Matt. 12:46; Matt. 13:55; Mark 3:31–34; Mark 6:3; Luke 8:19–20; John 2:12, 7:3, 5, 10; Acts 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5).

When trying to understand these verses, note that the term "brother" (Greek: adelphos) has a wide meaning in the Bible. It is not restricted to the literal meaning of a full brother or half-brother. The same goes for "sister" (adelphe) and the plural form "brothers" (adelphoi). The Old Testament shows that "brother" had a wide semantic range of meaning and could refer to any male relative from whom you are not descended (male relatives from whom you are descended are known as "fathers") and who are not descended from you (your male descendants, regardless of the number of generations removed, are your "sons"), as well as kinsmen such as cousins, those who are members of the family by marriage or by law rather than by blood, and even friends or mere political allies (2 Sam. 1:26; Amos 1:9).

Lot, for example, is called Abraham's "brother" (Gen. 14:14), even though, being the son of Haran, Abraham's brother (Gen. 11:26–28), he was actually Abraham's nephew. Similarly, Jacob is called the "brother" of his uncle Laban (Gen. 29:15). Kish and Eleazar were the sons of Mahli. Kish had sons of his own, but Eleazar had no sons, only daughters, who married their "brethren," the sons of Kish. These "brethren" were really their cousins (1 Chr. 23:21–22).

The terms "brothers," "brother," and "sister" did not refer only to close relatives. Sometimes they meant kinsmen (Deut. 23:7; Neh. 5:7; Jer. 34:9), as in the reference to the forty-two "brethren" of King Azariah (2 Kgs. 10:13–14).
I close this question will a from Genesis and Revelation, respectively:
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (3:15)

and the dragon was angry against the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, those keeping the commands of God, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ. (12:17)


Immaculate Conception

  Luke 1:28 uses the perfect passive participle kecharitomene. The perfect stem of a Greek verb
denotes 'continuance of a completed action'; 'completed action with permanent result is denoted by the perfect stem.
  On morphological grounds, therefore, it is correct to paraphrase kecharitomene as 'completely, perfectly, enduringly endowed with grace.'  We believe she was born without the stain of Original Sin by the foreseen merits of Christ yet she chose to remain sinless by the power of same Lord and Savior. Mary needed the redeeming Saviour to obtain this exemption, and to be delivered from the universal necessity and debt (debitum) of being subject to original sin.

In the Constitution:Ineffabilis Deus of 8 December, 1854, Pius IX pronounced and defined that the Blessed Virgin Mary "in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin."

Genesis 3:15 can be used to support our teaching as well.


Purgatory:
Purgatory: A Dogma of Mercy and Justice

Purgatory Defined

   The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines purgatory as a "purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven," which is experienced by those "who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified"1. It notes that "this final purification of the elect . . . is entirely different from the punishment of the damned"2.
   Through perfect contrition we can relieve of both guilt and punishment due to our sins. However, imperfect contrition can only relieve us of our guilt but not our punishment due. The punishment needs to be done “in the here and now” or in the world to come. We face that punishment by doing the penance a priest may assign us during the Sacrament of Reconciliation and/or other acts of charity in the spirit of restoration of the damage we have done and the building up the Kingdom.
When we die, we undergo what is called the particular, or individual, judgment. In Sacred Scripture we read, "it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment". 3 We are judged instantly and receive our reward. We know at once what our final destiny will be. Or in the words of St. Augustine of Hippo:

Temporal punishments are suffered by some in this life only, by some after death, by some both here and hereafter, but all of them before that last and strictest judgment. But not all who suffer temporal punishments after death will come to eternal punishments, which are to follow after that judgment".
     (The City of God 21:13)

However if we die before we can fulfill our assigned penances, we are granted a mercy in the form of purification. This purification is also punishment that satifies the justice of God in relation to our sin's, due punishment. Purgatory is the temporary state or
place of the purification before entering into the Heaven. Purgatory's Latin root means to purge or to cleanse. This purification is necessary because, as Scripture teaches, “nothing unclean will enter the presence of God in heaven”. 4

Purgatory: A Biblical Doctrine

Some non-Catholic charge, as though it actually proves something, "The word purgatory is nowhere found in Scripture."  I freely admit that. I also freely admit that the words: Trinity and Incarnation yet they are the central mysteries of the creeds of all whom truly confess: Jesus is Lord and Savior. To say such doesn't disprove the existence of God is a trinity of persons and Jesus was true God and true Man but one divine Person or the fact the belief in the said doctrines has always been part of Church teaching. Likewise, Scared Scripture teaches that purgatory exists, even if it doesn't use that word.
Where is it taught in Sacred Scriptures?

In Matthew 12:30-32, we read:
whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Now let ask our selves some questions. It states some “won't be forgiven in this age or in the next”; does it mean some will be in some manner? What sins need to be forgiven if a soul is in Heaven? Is not Hell eternal punishment for unrepentant sins? Could Purgatory be spoken about here?

2 Macc.12: 41–45
1 Peter 3:19
Luke 23:43
  
1.   They all therefore praised the ways of the Lord, the just judge who brings to light the things that are hidden. Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out. The noble Judas warned the soldiers to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen. He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.

2.    In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison

3.   He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in
              Paradise."

              Where did they think the souls of the dead soldiers were?
What need was there for Christ to preach to soul in Hell? Or in Heaven? Was the good thief promised Heaven, that very day? I would say no cause Christ didn't raise that day and didn't go to Heaven that day. These show at the very least a “third” place or state after death before Christ rose from the dead. Where in Sacred Scripture does it say said place/state was abolished?

There are other scriptures for sure, so dive into them and see what others you can find in the awesome written “Word of God”

The Fathers Know Best

  Was the doctrine/dogma of the Purgatory taught by the Fathers, in the early days of the Church?  Besides the quote above here is two of my favorites, note they are from Catholic Bishops from about the time the Bible was canonized.

Cyril of Jerusalem:


"Then we make mention also of those who have already fallen asleep: first, the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, that through their prayers and supplications God would receive our petition; next, we make mention also of the holy fathers and bishops who have already fallen asleep, and, to put it simply, of all among us who have already fallen asleep, for we believe that it will be of very great benefit to the souls of those for whom the petition is carried up, while this holy and most solemn sacrifice is laid out"5




John Chrysostom

"Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice [Job 1:5], why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them"6




A closing question and request
  Do any other Christians besides Catholics believe in the existence of purgatory?
Yes. The Eastern Orthodox, although separated from the See of Peter, they pray and offer the Sacred Liturgy for the deceased. If you add the number of Catholics to the Eastern Orthodox, it is apparent that three quarters of Christianity accepts the doctrine of purgatory. Protestants, in all their various and contradictory sects, churches, and denominations, constitute less than one quarter of those who profess to be Christians in the world.

Footnotes
1.   CCC 1030
2.   CCC 1031
3.   Hebrews 9:27
4.   Revelation 21:27
5.   Catechetical Lectures 23:5:9 [A.D. 350]
6.   Homilies on First Corinthians 41:5 [A.D. 392]


The Books You are Missing

Pope Damascus formally recognized this canon as early as the year 386 A.D. as the canon of the universal Catholic Church. He did so at the request of several regional councils and individuals, and requested that St. Jerome to updated the more common Latin. This update came known as the Vulgate, meaning “Common”

Sacraments
The sacraments are "of the Church" in the double sense that they are "by her" and "for her." They are "by the Church," for she is the sacrament of Christ's action at work in her through the mission of the Holy Spirit. They are "for the Church" in the sense that "the sacraments make the Church," since they manifest and communicate to men, above all in the Eucharist, the mystery of communion with the God who is love, One in three persons.  Sacraments apply the grace of Christ to those who recieve them. We can not earn grace, its a free give from God. I will share more on this in my closing.


Married Clergy vs. Non Married Clergy

First, the question you ask deals with displine not doctrine. Mean it can change and has. I will share some doctrine as well.

Doctrine
In the Catholic Church there are three orders/classes of clergy: Deacon, Priest, and Bishop. The Pope is first the Bishop of Rome before being pastor to the universal church.

Displine
The Church has Western and Eastern rites. In All rites clergy in order to be married they need to married before one is ordained to the state of clergy.
In the West it been a long tradition of only deacons to be married, in the East men to be priest and bishop could be married. Generally bishops were widowers.

Bible Support
Some protestant say the practice, is unbiblical therefore wrong. One pastor friend told me it was unnatural therefore demonic. He changed his views when I said: it a gift to practice it and share these verses:

Mathew 19:11 Who said to them: All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it.

Revelation 14:4 These are they who were not defiled with women: for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb


Also St Paul said he desired all to be like him in this regard but if lust over takes them, they should marry to prevent scandal. Also are not all to be more like Christ. He wasnt married.

The Pope
When we say the pope is infallible, we do not mean he can't sin. We mean when he teaches on faith or morals, he can't error when he teaches in a special way. He has to be addressing the whole Church, on Faith and Morals, makes it clear he is declaring it binding on the Whole Church. It is never new doctrine but confirmation of a doctrine the Church has always taught. The Pope or other bishops never get new doctrine. Doctrine is what is believed. Dogma is doctrine that has been explicitly confirmed.


Father
Many Protestants claim that when Catholics address priests as "father," they are engaging in an unbiblical practice that Jesus forbade: "Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven" (Matt. 23:9).

He was using hyperbole (exaggeration to make a point) to show the scribes and Pharisees how sinful and proud they were for not looking humbly to God as the source of all authority and fatherhood and teaching, and instead setting themselves up as the ultimate authorities, father figures, and teachers.

It Should be noted Pastor comes from a greek word meaning shepard or shepherder. Jesus calls himself the Good Shepard.
Also after He rose from the dead, he told only Peter to feed his flock. Is your "pastor" the good Shepard or called and sent with Peter?

Closing...

As Catholics we believe "As the Sacred Text says: We are already saved (Justified by the merits of Christ) Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5-8),but We are also being saved (growing in relationship 1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15,Phil. 2:12), and we have the hope that we will be saved ( to have eternal life Rom. 5:9-10,1 Cor. 3:12-15). So like the Spirit inspired apostle St. Paul, we are working out our salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11-13). We do so recalling the fact the word saved has several meanings within the Sacred Text, especially in the light of this Spirit inspired verse:

1st Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shall both save thyself, and them that hear thee.


                     your servant under Christ's King
                               george
PS. Thanks again for the fun.I will answer in more detailif you want. Please stick to one area of questions at a time, so I can answer other peoples as well. I cut/pasted most of my answers from some of other answered questions or from some of other writtings.
                  God Bless