Serious question for Catholics

[Anonymous]

How does the Catholic church reconcile their use of saints, priests, etc, in light of 1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does the Catholic church reconcile their use of saints, priests, etc, in light of 1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

This is what I never could figure out. I'm Episcopalian, but I grew up in the Catholic Church. Always seemed sacrilege to me to pray to saints.

[Anonymous]

The prayers are asking people to pray for them. Mary, pray for us, etc. People do this naturally all the time whether they are catholic or not. There are many people that pray or talk to angels and dead family members.

[Anonymous]

Do you ever ask your friends or relatives to pray for you? Catholics ask their friends and relatives here on earth to pray for them and they also ask those who have gone before them to heaven to pray for them.

Catholics believe in a concept called "the communion of the saints" which means that we are all, the living and the dead, in communion with each other. We are all God's children and we can all pray for each other and we will some day all be together with God.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you ever ask your friends or relatives to pray for you? Catholics ask their friends and relatives here on earth to pray for them and they also ask those who have gone before them to heaven to pray for them.

Catholics believe in a concept called "the communion of the saints" which means that we are all, the living and the dead, in communion with each other. We are all God's children and we can all pray for each other and we will some day all be together with God.

OP

This isn't just about prayer. Don't people confess to priests and get their sins forgiven? Absolution?

As for prayer, asking someone to pray for them is one thing, praying to someone to intercede is a whole other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you ever ask your friends or relatives to pray for you? Catholics ask their friends and relatives here on earth to pray for them and they also ask those who have gone before them to heaven to pray for them.

Catholics believe in a concept called "the communion of the saints" which means that we are all, the living and the dead, in communion with each other. We are all God's children and we can all pray for each other and we will some day all be together with God.

OP

This isn't just about prayer. Don't people confess to priests and get their sins forgiven? Absolution?

As for prayer, asking someone to pray for them is one thing, praying to someone to intercede is a whole other.

I remember clearly, as a Catholic child, that we were told that saints could intercede with God for us. THe prayer was "Saint (whoever) Intercede for me." I didn't do it. It seemed weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you ever ask your friends or relatives to pray for you? Catholics ask their friends and relatives here on earth to pray for them and they also ask those who have gone before them to heaven to pray for them.

Catholics believe in a concept called "the communion of the saints" which means that we are all, the living and the dead, in communion with each other. We are all God's children and we can all pray for each other and we will some day all be together with God.

does this apply to non-catholics too, or do only Catholics receive these benefits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you ever ask your friends or relatives to pray for you? Catholics ask their friends and relatives here on earth to pray for them and they also ask those who have gone before them to heaven to pray for them.

Catholics believe in a concept called "the communion of the saints" which means that we are all, the living and the dead, in communion with each other. We are all God's children and we can all pray for each other and we will some day all be together with God.

OP

This isn't just about prayer. Don't people confess to priests and get their sins forgiven? Absolution?

As for prayer, asking someone to pray for them is one thing, praying to someone to intercede is a whole other.

Now you're mixing apples and oranges. Prayer is prayer. Confession/Penance is a sacrament:
http://www.catholicscomehome.org/your-questions/what-is-the-sacrament-of-confession/

[Anonymous]

Catholic doctrine is a demonstrable Christian heresy. This is one of many reasons.

[Anonymous]

You are confusing worshiping someone with asking for someone's prayers. You are acting as though Mary and saints are considered on the same level as God and Jesus. They are not. They were just people. It's no different than asking a friend or relative to pray for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does the Catholic church reconcile their use of saints, priests, etc, in light of 1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

They are mediators to Jesus, and as such, God. They promote ways of living that model faith and bring "lay people" closer to God.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are confusing worshiping someone with asking for someone's prayers. You are acting as though Mary and saints are considered on the same level as God and Jesus. They are not. They were just people. It's no different than asking a friend or relative to pray for you.

According to Catholic doctrine, Mary went bodily to heaven, like Jesus. That makes her more than "just people."

The other saints went through a long, grueling process before they were named saits, including preforming miracles for people who prayed to them. Nothing ordinary about that.

None of my friends or relatives have performed miracles or gone bodily to heaven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does the Catholic church reconcile their use of saints, priests, etc, in light of 1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

They are mediators to Jesus, and as such, God. They promote ways of living that model faith and bring "lay people" closer to God.

The Bible is quite clear both that we are not to try to communicate with the dead and that we have direct access to Christ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are confusing worshiping someone with asking for someone's prayers. You are acting as though Mary and saints are considered on the same level as God and Jesus. They are not. They were just people. It's no different than asking a friend or relative to pray for you.

According to Catholic doctrine, Mary went bodily to heaven, like Jesus. That makes her more than "just people."

The other saints went through a long, grueling process before they were named saits, including preforming miracles for people who prayed to them. Nothing ordinary about that.

None of my friends or relatives have performed miracles or gone bodily to heaven.

Absolutely zero Biblical evidence for the assumption of Mary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does the Catholic church reconcile their use of saints, priests, etc, in light of 1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

They are mediators to Jesus, and as such, God. They promote ways of living that model faith and bring "lay people" closer to God.

There is no concept of lay people and the priesthood in the New Testament. The book at Hebrews explains at length how Christ is our great high priest. The concept of the priesthood and laity is complete fiction, devoid of any Biblical merit whatsoever.