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Even if one’s opinions are not unusual or popular, everyone is entitled to have them.
Some views, however, are significantly more controversial than others.
Confessing to a certain religion can easily cost you relationships, social status or career prospects, while preferring chocolate to vanilla won’t get you much criticism.
Despite being the most widespread and well-known religion in the world, the broad teachings of Christianity are not universally accepted by society.
Although the Catholic Church is the largest denomination in Christianity, Catholic Christians in particular often come under fire for their more controversial doctrines.
1. The Catholic Church is Firmly Pro-Life
Recently, a question was asked on a popular social media site:
“Which Catholic position or belief, in your own experience, elicits hatred from most non-Catholics?”
The most frequent response? The Catholic Church’s strong and clear support of life.
Contrary to popular belief, the Catholic pro-life position does not represent an attempt by the Church to limit women’s freedom or control their bodies, although it may appear that way.
Instead, the Catholic Church believes that every life is sacred and should be protected from the moment of conception.
Although this may lead to many disturbing discussions and consequences, official Catholic teaching was initially motivated by love and concern for all people.
2. The Catholic Church Prohibits IVF and Surrogacy
Likewise, the Catholic Church does not strongly oppose the practice of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or surrogacy.
There are many reasons for this, but the most obvious is probably that IVF causes death.
When individuals want to conceive using this method, doctors often have to produce more eggs than the mother wants or can deliver safely. Therefore, a large number of fertilized eggs (human offspring) are organically lost, intentionally removed or frozen indefinitely.
The Catholic Church’s belief that life begins at conception leads to significant and unnecessary accidental loss of human life.
3. The Catholic Church Doesn’t Support the LGBTQ+ Lifestyle
The obvious second-most common response? The LGBTQ+ lifestyle is not supported by the Catholic Church.
Although other Protestant churches have softened or changed their views on the matter, the Catholic Church remains steadfast in its belief that God designed marriage between a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation.
Theoretically, same-sex desire and body dysmorphia are not morally wrong for Catholics. All emotions, desires, and physical ailments (of any kind) are not sins in themselves, and we all struggle with various problems and temptations.
Additionally, the Catholic Church does not promote hatred or prejudice, although some Catholics and non-Catholics occasionally engage in such behavior.
Although some people may find God’s original plan for marriage painful or inconvenient, the Catholic Church is convinced that it is best for everyone.
4. Catholics Worship the Eucharist
Catholics believe the Eucharist that the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ, once again presented on the altar, transcends both space and time.
It seems clear that Christians will revere the Eucharist as they see their Savior manifest in the wafer.
But the cracker is a cracker for most Protestants and non-Christians. At best, his worship is ridiculous; At worst it is idolatry.
5. The Catholic Church Is Obsessed with the Virgin Mary
If you ask a Catholic Christian about their views on the Virgin Mary, they will most likely tell you that they “revere” her. A fancy phrase for treating something or someone with great respect and dignity. But they will maintain that they do not worship her.
Although this is the case for the majority of Catholics, this Marian devotion may seem excessive, redundant, and strange to non-Catholics.
If you recognize that Mary leads the way to Jesus… why don’t you go straight to Jesus?
6. The Catholic Church Prohibits Birth Control
Did you know that the Catholic Church claims you can go straight to hell for using birth control?
That is accurate.
The Catholic Church says that “grown-up time” is only permitted between two married adults and can always be an exception for medical reasons, although if physically possible, it must be open to the possibility of creating a new life.
(If you’ve ever wondered why Catholic families have so many children, here’s one reason!)
Although the Church does not advise families to have more children than they can properly raise, the only “approved” methods of separating families from each other are to use natural family planning or to avoid close relationships altogether.
7. The Catholic Church Teaches One Way to Heaven
Officially, Catholics hold that there is only one path to heaven—through the Catholic Church.
Given that the majority of religions teach that their system of beliefs is the only one that is accurate, this notion isn’t all that strange.
However, this view may come out as extremely conceited, elitist, or haughty to non-Christians or members of a different Christian religion.
However, it’s critical to comprehend what Catholics mean when they say this.
Catholics hold that if Protestants and even non-Christians, through no fault of their own, were unaware that the Catholic Church was correct and true, they may still get to Heaven (because they would never pretend to know what God would decide).
Furthermore, they actually mean “through Jesus, but using the Catholic Church” when they say “through the Catholic Church as an instrument to get the word out.”
8. The Catholic Church Doesn’t Allow Women Priests
It is true that women are not allowed to become priests in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church believes that God intended only men to be in this capacity because the Bible does not mention female priests.
This does not mean that the Catholic Church is anti-feminist. The percentage of women in leadership roles outside of the priesthood in the Church is significantly higher than normal.
Although it may not always behave in a “feminist” manner, the Catholic Church still holds women in high esteem, even referring to them as the “crown of creation.”
9. The Catholic Church Has Lots of Minor Rules that Seem Unnecessary
With two millennia of existence under its belt, the Catholic Church has had ample opportunity to develop new rules and practices. Moreover, some of these “rules” may seem strange and unnecessary to non-Catholics.
For example, Catholics are required to attend Sunday Mass, go to confession at least once a year, and abstain from meat (except fish) on Fridays for the duration of Lent, if not the entire year.
Although most of these rules do not exclude non-Catholics from seeking membership in the Church, occasionally those who are thinking of converting stumble upon one or two of them.
10. The Catholic Church Doesn’t Teach “Faith Alone”
Sola fide is one of the five solas taught by some Christian sects, which believe that salvation is possible by faith alone.
But according to the Catholic Church, one prayer does not automatically save a Christian. According to them, salvation is a process of continuous growth, with Jesus deciding where we will ultimately go.
Some Protestants are not only Catholic, but also hold variations of this doctrine. Non-Catholics, on the other hand, may misinterpret this to mean that Catholics believe in works-based salvation, which is untrue.