Do catholics worship God or the pope?

As the title says: do catholics worship God or the pope?

Do they allow the pope to come between them and God?

Perhaps I'm a little biased against Catholics, but I still accept that the RCC is one of the original major churches in history, and there are certainly genuine Christians in their membership and in their leadership. That being said, I think they seriously hurt themselves in the effort to defend themselves against the secular powers in the middle ages. They consolidated power under the pope and under the Holy Roman Emperor, and in effect made their own organization the exclusive one in Western Christianity.

Since that time, Catholics have treated Christians outside of their communion as "backslidden, ignorant brothers," who apparently oppose unity in the Church. They confuse the unity that comes with organization with the unity that comes through the Spirit of God. Spiritual unity does *not* require an all-encompassing organizational unity.

This kind of sectarianism has hurt the RCC. And as a result of their exclusivity, there has been less effort to work with other Christians outside of that communion, and less willingness to be corrected from outside of their organization. The net effect has been a cover up of all their failures, and a resistance to real criticisms.

The dogma of Catholicism tends to require all Catholics to submit to the Pope not just as the legitimate leader of the organization, but also spiritual leader in all matters. This is not Christian because Christ is our spiritual leader--not the Pope. You might say that this elevates the Pope too highly, but not to the extent any Catholic "deifies" him.

Both Catholics and Protestants have been concerned that with this great power, a future corrupt Pope may lead him to embrace some false Messiah, the Antichrist. This is certainly possible in the future, but it is certainly not yet.

I’m not surprised this is a serious question on this forum. None of you actually read what Catholics believe from the Catholic sources that spell it out clearly.

My brother, catholic believe they God is Muslim God or Allah

Perhaps you would like to enlighten us?

I wish not happen, but base of her ccc841 I doubt

841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."

God did make it easier for a Muslim to become a Christian than say a Hindu or a Buddhist. The Abraham link is critical to use in attempts to convert Muslims. You have to start from a totally different place when trying to convince a Hindu of Christianity’s truth than you would a Muslim.

My brother, I know you are honest, but religion is danger, some time it lie, why catholic say Muslim worship mankind' judge on the last day, Muslim not worship Jesus. To me, I will follow Jesus, not religion, a lot of manipulation in religions.

I believe, like some say, catholic want to create one world government, and need suppott from big religion /Muslim, than she make that formula.

That is evil intend, Brother

I wish not happen, but base of her ccc841 I doubt

841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."

There has been a lot of bloodshed on account of religious hatred. Especially among Muslims and Catholics throughout history. Muslims still commit terrorism against Christians. I’m glad Christians have chosen to be better people than that.

As for a one world government, my Church most definitely wants Christians to be united in their faith...but I have seen no evidence of wanting to rule the world in the sense countries govern their territories. Every Catholic I know would agree that the Church is best when it focuses on the Church and not what Kings care about.

In the Middle Ages, the RCC tried to rule via the Holy Roman Empire. The Pope saw himself as the 1st Estate, ruling over secular powers in spiritual matters. When secular and religious powers came into conflict, the secular powers eventually won out, with their physical armies and with popular support. The Pope's rule was from afar, and without a complete sense and concern for local conditions. Secular kings rule politically, and religious rulers rule spiritually. These shouldn't be confused.

But the fact the Popes tried to rule by religious influence, setting up and taking down kings who disagreed with them, indicates there was a political component to the RCC. And it became a hammer to use on those who stood outside of their organization. Disagreement with them became to them like a State dealing with secessionists, like a political order dealing with rebels.

The RCC eventually had to concede to the secular powers, whether those powers agreed with Catholic doctrine or not. Henry 8 in England simply broke away. Protestant countries also broke away. Catholic countries had to separate secular and religious powers even though they remained officially Catholic.

To deny this political component to RCC beliefs is to deny this history. The Catholic beliefs remain in place, even if in reality the RCC is impotent in enforcing them. If the RCC is able to get a political power to represent its beliefs completely again, the Pope will indeed operate in a political way. And any human organization, secular or religious, with all-encompassing power, becomes a dangerous tyrant, robbing people of their freedom and forcing them to conform to human institutions that God never intended to be used to control them in this way.

God warned Israel about the tyrannical effects of having a monarchy. And a police State is much the same, and can get much worse, the more comprehensive the State control. If the RCC is able to bring its billion or so adherents into this web of control, the dangers of repression and control become much worse.

Your language is a little difficult for me. It seems as if you're saying you think the RCC is already going rogue by claiming salvation belongs to Muslims? If so, I would agree. I didn't know they've already done this!

Huh?

Those three were in abundance. From day one growing up

Since you agree...If you can point me to the dogma that says you can reject Christianity, practice Islam, and be saved; I’d like to see it.

The Popes of the RCC have been promoting both Ecumenism and Interfaithism for years. Ecumenism is the effort to unite all denominations of Christianity regardless of there lack of unity on biblical principles. And interfaithism is the effort to unify all world religions and encourages all to pray together to their preferred god. The bible clearly speaks against this practice.

The bible does prophecy that just prior to the second coming of Jesus a one world government and a one world religion will exist. These organizations will the led by the Antichrist and the False Prophet respectively. Christians are told to "come out of her" meaning the one world religion in order not to receive her judgement.


"When Pope John Paul II addressed 80,000 Muslims in a soccer stadium in Casablanca in 1985, he said much the same thing, according to Vatican records. "We believe in the same God, the one God, the living God, the God who created the world and brings his creatures to their perfection," he said." Dec 17, 2015

Consider Muslims do not believe Jesus is God or that He was crucified. NO ONE comes to the Father except through Jesus.

The Pope bowed and kissed the Koran. 1999

So there is no teaching of the Catholic Church that says you can reject Christianity, practice Islam, and be saved. Thanks.

I wish not happen, but base of her ccc841 I doubt

841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."

There has been a lot of bloodshed on account of religious hatred. Especially among Muslims and Catholics throughout history. Muslims still commit terrorism against Christians. I’m glad Christians have chosen to be better people than that.

As for a one world government, my Church most definitely wants Christians to be united in their faith...but I have seen no evidence of wanting to rule the world in the sense countries govern their territories. Every Catholic I know would agree that the Church is best when it focuses on the Church and not what Kings care about.