Why do Catholics follow the pope if the Bible doesn't even mention him or priests?
371927
The purpose of the pope as the Successor of Peter is to be the shepherd of Christ's flock as we see in John 21:15-18.  Christ entrusts Peter the care of His flock until His return.  Christ didn't leave His flock without a shepherd until He returns.  Christ warns in the Scriptures if you take away the Shepherd the flock will scatter.  We clearly see this in the Protestant faiths where there are now more than 20,000 different Christian Communities all saying different things and holding different beliefs and practices.  There is only one Church founded by Christ that represents Him on earth.  To find it look for the Successor of Peter when you find him you will find the true Church of Christ.
407060
I quit being catholic because of these things.. Like I have always wondered why they taught us to pray to the saints and Mary when it is made clear in the bible that our prayers are to be to God only..If you ask a priest you will most likely get a 30 minute answer that answers NOTHING...I am still looking for those answers so good luck...Just read your Bible and go by that . It won't lie to you.
106105
Early leaders of the church tried to make everyone feel welcome, even pagans. In doing this they incorporated many pagan practices into the church by mixing them with Christianity. Because of this, A lot of Catholic ritual has obvious pagan aspects. This by itself makes Catholicism open to criticism by those who think theirs is the ONLY religion. And then of course the pedophile priests don't help things either. When I was growing up in a Catholic part of New Orleans, every kid knew of some other kid that had been molested by his priest. My friend got all of his buddies fraudulent baptismal certificates from the priest that was molesting him. We used the certificates to get ID with drinking ages on them. One guy even used his to join the military at 14. With stuff like this going on for decades, the religion is very open to criticism.
1127228
Priests are people too. There's no Divine barrier that shields these people from sin once they are ordained.  Mind you, only 6% of priests have been associated in any way to molesting children.\n\nWe all know that society is a cess pool of immorality, so when the average man on the street is discovered to be a child molester, nobody really cares.\n\nBut we expect a Catholic priest to exhibit a proper moral code. So when one is discovered molesting a child, it's a shock.\n\nSociety has made two mistakes here:\n\n1) People, many of them Catholics, have placed priests upon a moral pedistal with standards impossible for any person to follow. We have to remember that priests are people too. They sin like everyone else.\n\n2) The Catholic Church's moral code is unpopular with Western civilization because what it finds morally acceptable, and what secular humanists find morally acceptable, are two different things entirely.\nThe media, largely secular humanistic, uses it's power and influence to attack the Catholic Church whenever possible - and people eat it up because they don't consider themselves sinners.\n\nMy point is that 'what IS' and 'what SEEMS TO BE' are two different things. Yes, some priests are child molesters - but only 6%. That's 6% too high of course, but let's face it; doesn't the media and the anti-Catholic crowd make things seem worse than they really are?
267927
there are certain things that have been omitted from the bible to serve the purpose of the catholic church. i think that jesus did throw down with mary magdolin(spelling may be off) there are rumors that he did have children. i don't believe that he was anything more than a man who got some attention in the mis written annuals of time. \ni'm the recovering catholic
305049
Catholics believe that the bible teaches truth about God but is not necessarily historically accurate.
136039
The Catholics use intercession to the Saints.\nI do not agree that they should be doing this at all, but i do not think they are "Worshipping" them.   Now there is the Virgin Mary that they do seem to Idolize.  I respect the Virgin Mary greatly, but I do not worship her.  \n\nI do not need any man nor saint to get to God.  I peay directly to God and to his son Jesus Christ.
143574
Basicly, the tech. postion from Rome is that only, The Cardinals and The Pope, have God speak to them regarding spiritual matters.  Which is then handed down to the catholic priests to share with their faith community.  In the United States, though many would disagree with me, Catholicism is more influenced by alot of Bible centered protestant influences, and you are likely to get a hybrid of Catholic / Christian answers from many sincere Catholic Believers.  The source to go to what Rome truly teaches however, is in the writings and declarations from the past former councils.  Many of these differ STRONGLY with Bible Centered Christians, then what Catholics in America would claim to believe and practice.
1156157
The bible was written by human beings, so who is to say that any of it is true? Show me something tangible, and not just something that is written down by people, who for all we know, could have just been yankin our chains. As for priests, pastors and the like, every one of them has their own interpretation of the bible, so if you believe, why in the world would you need someone to be a "relay" from you to god??? I don`t know how many times I have heard the saying, "god hears all prayers", so why go to church to have the priest or whoever, tell you what is what, when you could do it in the privacy of your own home, and I will even answer that as well, $$$$$$$, have any of you ever checked out how much the catholic church is worth, tunzamoney, thats how much, not too mention the real evil types, the televangelists, who rake in who knows how many millions a year, and look at all the trouble they are constantly getting into, and yet, there are so many Gullible people that still continue to send them money.  Religion=Money, and none of it is intended for your benefit.
572463
Many simply don't understand what we, as Catholics, are about.\n\nIt is sad really, if people would spend half as much time researching the truth about the Catholic Church as they do in researching the lies - everyone would be much better off.
1059895
I never quote the Bible word for word. I have enough faith that I know what I am talking about and don't have to do that. You are punishing all religions and preachers for the sins of a couple of the Catholic churchs. No, I am not saying the Catholics sin, I am saying those are the priest you always hear about molesting children. That doesn't always happen. Look at all the teachers that have sex with their students- do you keep your kids out of school? \nAnother thing- you can't base all religion on J. Witness' either. I had a friend that was one of those and her beliefs were completely different than mine. You can't base your decision based on two things you know from two religions. You need more facts about other religions and then choose if you want to believe. \nI am not in any way downing Catholic or J. Witness' so please don't anyone get offended. I am just trying to make a point that he can't judge everyone or ever religion because of two experiences.
891382
The catholic church has gotten mired down in man's words, and don't think for themselves.  They let the pope, bishops, cardinals, etc, etc think for them and they follow blindly.
910699
The Catholic version of the Bible constains the Apocrypha--the seven or so books written by minor prophets--which is appended to the Old Testament section. However, biblical scholars apart from the Catholic church, i.e., those of Protestant and other denominations, do not consider the Apocrypha to be critical enough to be considered part of the canon[ical] law or codified laws governing a church. Hence, the Authorized King James Version was so printed WITHOUT including the books of these minor prophets.\n\nPeace be with you.
463213
there were popes who cheated on their wives and one pope picked up a boy off the streets for sex and made him a cardinal,\n\nso around this time the church said no make these priests all celebiate no wifes no mistresses no boyfriends \n\none guy died on top of his mistress\n\nso thats why thats the history none of that crap about the bible or egypt
70532
One thing that a Catholic is not is a bible worshipper.  Catholics believe in tradition and theology practiced within the church as well.  Catholics do not get hung up in literal interpretation and therefore can often find greater meaning and application of the bible’s writings.  Also Catholics tend to observe for who, what, when, where the scripture was written and try not to mix apples and oranges to make a point (or get a donation).  \n\nMany would say... well there ya go!  Catholics DON'T believe the bible.  I would say to them... do you believe God (infinite and eternal) can be contained in a book?  Open your eyes.  The word is alive but your ears have died to the truth.  You are the temple of the Lord.  That doesn’t mean to get fit… it means the Lord is in you.  God has given you everything you need.  He has sent Jesus to awaken you but still you cannot see past the marked and worn pages of your demigod.  Catholics read and adhere to their understanding of the bible based on theology and tradition, as well as, historical fact.  But Catholics worship God and every chance they get they let Jesus into there souls through communion.  \n\nI am sorry if my rant is so negative... we just here these things over and over.  It is ignorance and fear that they preach against us.  The world has enough of that...  God bless each of you.\n\nAside:\nThe Mary stuff is the same as the saints… we ask them to pray for us.  Like you would ask a friend to pray for your Mom in the hospital.  Mary is a very special Saint and one we can all find strength in character in; she is a role model.  ‘Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death.’
907418
Because they do not follow the entire truth. I believe that Jesus said that very thing somewhat specially for the Catholics who He knew would come.
940239
because the catholic religion is all about tradition. \nand nobody in leadership has bothered to look at what the bible says, instead, they go by the ritualistic traditions which are actually un-biblical.\n\nconfessing to a priest will do nothing for you, coz God says to confess to Him. \nthey sometimes use the excuse of the scripture that says "confess your sins one to another".. but if you read that passage, you will realise its talking about discussing your sins honestly with others in order to be accountable to someone to change. but its only God that we get forgiveness from.\n\nas far as Mary goes? again, they dont read the bible where it says that you are only to pray to the Father in heaven in Jesus name. they also obviously missed the spot where it forbids you to talk to the dead. mary is dead. she was awesome, but she is dead at the moment, in heaven and unable to hear them. it says nowhere that she and only a selected special few are saints. we are all saints when we are saved into Christ Jesus. thats what God calls us, saints.\n\nif any catholics dont believe me, take a look at all of the epistles, alot of them start with "to the saints of (insert place like ephesus or corinth here)". He addresses the people of the church, as saints. so unless that church is full of corpses of great men and women of God... He is writing to alive people. \n\n"My people perish from lack of knowledge".\n\nits just a lack of knowledge of what the bible says..so, what God says.\n\nits sad :-(