Why do so many people disparage Catholics?

Indeed, wise words think I all the best urban

When Jesus speaks these words he makes it clear that none is to be considered master, we are to live as brothers and sisters without hierarchy and of course Jesus is not prohibiting us from calling our immediate male ancestor, father but his is warning against calling another by his title and citing the use of father to refer to these male ancestors is no argument in support of the unwarranted practice of the Roman Church in using this term. "They pray to the saints represented by the statues asking for intercession with God" Perhaps, but that too is not warranted. "As to whether it is appropriate to make any physical representation of God, that is the question that sparked the Great Schism." No, that is incorrect, the Great Schism came about because the then Bishop of Rome decided that authority lay with him alone and abandoned the former doctrine that authority lay with the assembled collection of Bishops, declaring himself Pope and splitting away from the Orthodox Church. Many of the other novel practices of the Roman Church arose from Thomas Aquinas mixing Aristotelianism with Christianity all the best urban

urbandekay: What exactly is the verse you are referencing? Jesus speaks of honoring your father and mother and of giving unto Caesar what is Caesar's, thus he acknowledges that there is a human hierarchy that will and must be followed. That hierarchy cannot take precedence over God in any way shape or form, but it is to be respected. As for being "unwarranted" which Christian religion that exists today does not have an hierarchy of some kind. The labels may change, but the role remains the same. Is it the semantics that bothers you? As for asking for intercession being "unwarranted," according to whom? And there is no perhaps about it. That is the doctrine of the Catholic Church. As to the Great Schism, I believe that images were in fact part of the debate. However, my education on the topic was long ago and you may be correct. Your jibes are noted. However, to call the practices of the Catholic Church "novel" would imply that there is a recognized tradition that differs. I can only assume you are referring to the Orthodox Church, which also has a hierarchy that is respected. Do you feel that all Christian descendants of the Catholic Church run afoul of the bible in the same way or is the Catholic Church unique in receiving your attentions? Given that the early history of Christianity is sketchy, it is difficult for any entity or person to come up with any absolutes about its origins. However, picking and choosing facts to support attacks on one group of followers without applying the same rules to all is inappropriate. As this discussion was about Catholics, I can understand your limiting yourself to the Catholic Church. And based on your words, I can only interpret that you feel it is justified to attack Catholics for following "unwarranted" beliefs. I hope I am incorrect about this.

I've heard Baptists refer to Catholics as pagans, the antiChrist and other derogatory terms. You're right, Christians as a group tend to get the brunt of negative commentary, but even within the group as a whole there is back-biting.