Catholics! Are you feeling persecuted? The media, as you have no doubt noticed, takes great pride in printing and broadcasting everything it can find, that is of a negative nature regarding the Catholic Church. Many Protestant denominations appear to spend the majority of their time attacking us with hatred and lies, rather than preaching love to their flocks, as Christ commanded all Christians to do. It is ironic, and whether these detractors realize it or not, they are helping all Catholics to salvation by their actions. Here is the proof... "Woe to you when all men speak well of you." Luke 6:26 See? If we were not persecuted, where would we be now? We would surely be in the THROES of the WOES. Want another one? Okay! "Blessed are you when men reproach you, and persecute you, and, speaking falsely, say all manner of evil against you, for My sake. Rejoice and exult, BECAUSE YOUR REWARD IS GREAT IN HEAVEN; for so did they persecute the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12 Here is yet another one for you. "No disciple is above his teacher, nor is the servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and for the servant to be like his master. IF THEY HAVE CALLED THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE BEELZEBUB, HOW MUCH MORE THOSE OF HIS HOUSEHOLD!" Matthew 10:24-25 See? Jesus Christ even gave us a token of what the detractors would say. Here are some more Scriptural examples for you to ponder: The detractors charge: The Catholic Church has many scandals... So? Is it not Scriptural that Jesus Christ said this would happen? So what is the problem? Do they not believe what He said? "Woe to the world because of scandals! For it must needs be that scandals come, but WOE TO THE MAN THROUGH WHOM SCANDAL DOES COME!" Matthew 18:7 And He said to His disciples, "It is IMPOSSIBLE THAT SCANDALS SHOULD NOT COME; BUT WOE TO HIM THROUGH WHOM THEY COME." Luke 17:1 These are the words of Jesus Christ Himself. Did he say the Church is the source, or the cause of the scandals? No, He said a man (or woman, to be politically correct for the time of the Gospel writing) is. Remember, the Catholic Church is not a hotel for saints, it is a hospital for sinners (Mark 2:17). Hmmm, I seem to recall a certain man named Judas, chosen by Jesus Christ Himself. This man was responsible for the scourging, crucifixion, and death of the creator of the universe. It was the worst possible scandal ever conceived and perpetrated by.....none other than a man. The Catholic Church itself is indefectible. It has to be, because it has an indefectible founder. See Ephesians 5:25-27 Detractors charge: The Catholic Church is a cult founded by Satan... "The father from whom you are is the devil.......When he tells a lie he speaks from his very nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44 "I write these things to you hoping to come to you shortly, but in order that you may know, if I am delayed, how to conduct yourself in the house of GOD, which is the Church of the Living GOD, the PILLAR AND FOUNDATION OF THE TRUTH." 1Timothy 3:14-15 Here is another point on the same subject: But the Pharisees, hearing this, said, "This man does not cast out devils except by Beelzebub, the prince of devils." And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?" Matthew 12:24-26. See also, Mark 3:22-26, and Luke 11:17-20. It is well documented that the Catholic Church has been performing successful exorcisms for many centuries, beginning with Saint Peter in Acts 5:15-16, and Saint Paul in Acts 16:16-18. So, with the above words of Jesus Christ in mind, how has the Catholic Church stood for almost 2000 years, while during that same time period, being successful in casting out Satan innumerable times, if it were a satanic cult? Anyone with common sense and the power to reason can see that this false charge is self defeating. Detractors charge: The Catholic Church is not the Church which Jesus Christ founded, for that primitive Church apostatized soon after the last Apostle died. If that is the case then Jesus Christ lied when He said... "I am with you ALL days, even until the end of the world." Matthew 28:20 "...and the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against it." Matthew 16:18 "...and I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate to dwell with you forever, the Spirit of Truth..." John 14:16-17 "I will not leave you orphans." John 14:18 "...a husband is head of the wife, just as Christ is head of the Church, BEING HIMSELF SAVIOR OF THE BODY." Ephesians 5:23 Isn't Saint Paul saying that Jesus Christ is the Savior of His Church here? Well then, just who are the detractors fighting against anyway? Is there any doubt whatsoever in your mind as to who will win? "He who does not believe the Son, makes Him a liar." 1John 5:10 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; HE WHO IS UNBELIEVING TOWARDS THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE, BUT THE WRATH OF GOD RESTS UPON HIM." John 3:36 Detractors do not have one shred of evidence to support this false charge. Just ask them for genuine historical documented "proof" of what they say. You will find that they have none whatsoever. However, the Catholic Church has many authentic historical writings, which not only do not mention this so-called "Great Apostasy", but these writings attest to just the opposite. They show a Catholic Church growing and expanding despite the incessant attacks from the Jews, Romans, Heretics, Protestants, and others. See? Since we have the truth, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself".* *A quote from Franklin Delano Roosevelt... My favorite verse, "What shall we say to these things? If GOD is for us, who is against us?" Romans 8:31 What does Holy Scripture say will happen to those persecutors and purveyors of falsehood? "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." Matthew 13:47-50 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the householder came and said to him, "Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?" He said to them, "An enemy has done this". The servants said to him, "Then do you want us to go and gather them"? But he said, "No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn." Matthew 13:24-30 Here is some food for thought for all of those who persecute the Catholic Church... "So now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone. For if this plan or work is of men, it will be overthrown; But if it is of GOD, you will not be able to overthrow it. Else perhaps you may find yourselves FIGHTING EVEN AGAINST GOD." Acts 5:38-39 After almost 2000 years of continuous , non-stop persecution, the Catholic Church is still here....and still growing. How do you account for that other than the promises of Acts 5:38-38, and Romans 8:31? GOD is protecting His Catholic Church just as He said He would in Matthew 16:18, and 28:20. In every century for almost 2000 years, heretics have been composing the epitaph of the Catholic Church, but instead of burying the Church, the Catholic Church has been burying the heretics.

How can you call correction, persecution? When Jesus Christ was attacking the teachers of the law, Pharisees and Sadducees (Who claimed to know everything about ancient laws of righteousness), was he persecuting them or trying to correct their errors?

Jesus Christ called them generation of vipers, hypocrites etc...Because they were busy deceiving themselves thinking that they were righteous and true servants of God because they were in possession of the laws and Prophecies of the Prophets of old! Yes, they were in possession of all those materials and prophecies but never studied or practised any of it, which explains why they couldn't recognize God when he manifested in the flesh and lived amongst them.

The Roman Catholic Church as we all know is in possession of a lot of materials passed on by the early apostles (which later became the Bible) but they don't study or practice any of it....rather they created their own doctrines (Mostly unscriptural) and some even claim that their Church is greater than the Bible...Smh!

How would they know when they don't study but follow the same routine in Church everyday...after the tradition and commandments of men?

Catholics should go back to practicing what the early apostles taught they early Church written all over the epistles of the apostles!

DoubleDeeX:
How can you call correction, persecution? When Jesus Christ was attacking the teachers of the law, Pharisees and Sadducees (Who claimed to know everything about ancient laws of righteousness), was he persecuting them or trying to correct their errors?

Jesus Christ called them generation of vipers, hypocrites etc...Because they were busy deceiving themselves thinking that they were righteous and true servants of God because they were in possession of the laws and Prophecies of the Prophets of old! Yes, they were in possession of all those materials and prophecies but never studied or practised any of it, which explains why they couldn't recognize God when he manifested in the flesh and lived among them.

The Roman Catholic Church as we all know is in possession of a lot of materials passed on by the early apostles (which later became the Bible) but they don't study or practice any of it....rather they created their own doctrines (Mostly unscriptural) and some even claim that their Church is greater than the Bible...Smh!

How would they know when they don't study but follow the same routine in Church everyday...after the tradition and commandments of men?

Catholics should go back to practicing what the early apostles taught they early Church written all over the epistles of the apostles!

I guess the pharisees,sribes and sadducees will have thought they were correcting Jesus in line with the law of Moses.

I thank God you know we posse the scripture as pass down by the apostles.but u av wrongly assumed that we do not practice what is written there in. All I have to say I have said in my earlier post.he that has ears let him hear

How can minority persecute majority Only a catholic who doesn't know what he/she is will feel persecuted. I see most of our separate brothers as lost children trying to find their way. I pray God shows them the way.