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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
History of the Catholic Church	Ryan	Sunday, April 10, 2011
Question: Hello there. I am wondering, how am I to come to defense regarding the Catholic Church's history? If it is indeed the institution of God and a representation of Christ, why was it subject to so many abuses and why did it torture so many people? Was this because demons were influencing the jurisdiction of the time? Was it because European political interests drew too close to the forum of the Magisterium? What about these people who assert the Church is full of cover-ups and over-stating heresy (i.e. calling something a heresy that others may point to as a possible truth the Church just simply did not want disclosed) Also I would appreciate it if you could quote for me some of the apologies future popes have made about the abhorrent elements of the Church's history, for I know there have been apologies but I do not know from whom or where I can find them. Please help, as I am desperate to be adequately armed to defend the Holy Church of the only Christ begotten Son of God.
Question Answered by Dear Ryan: I am sitting in for Mr. Matthew who is on vacation. The first thing you need to do is to learn the accurate history of the Church. Frankly, that is hard to do since the history of the Church is distorted so much, even by professional historians. What is read in history books in school is mostly lies and exaggerations. For example, the church did not torture "so many people." What all those things that people are saying that you refer to are lies, distortions, exaggerations, and outright bigotry. Thus, your first task is to learn the truth. Two good one volume histories that will tell you the unvarnished truth are: Christ the King-Lord of History: A Catholic World History from Ancient to Modern Times by Dr Anne W. Carroll. This is actually a high school textbook. It is an excellent introduction to the truth of Catholic history. The second one-volume book written on a professional historical level is: Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church by H. W. Crocker III. But if you want the definitive scholarly history of the Church then read the multi-volume work, The History of Christendom, by Warren H. Carroll (Anne Carroll's husband). These volumes are definitely scholarly and difficult to read, but the series is the all-time best treatment of Church history. Vol 1: The Founding of Christendom (to 325) Vol 2: The Building of Christendom (325-1100) Vol 3: Glory Of Christendom (1100-1517) Vol 4: Cleaving Of Christendom (1517-1661) Vol 5: The Revolution Against Christendom (1661-1815) Vol 6: The Crisis of Christendom (1815-2000) is forthcoming Catholic Answers has a series of tracts that deal with various issues of Church teaching that will be helpful to you as well. Stop listening to anti-Catholics, who have an agenda to spread lies about the Church to justify their rebellion against the Church that Jesus personally founded, and learn the truth. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

History of the Catholic Church

Ryan

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Question:

Hello there. I am wondering, how am I to come to defense regarding the Catholic Church's history? If it is indeed the institution of God and a representation of Christ, why was it subject to so many abuses and why did it torture so many people? Was this because demons were influencing the jurisdiction of the time? Was it because European political interests drew too close to the forum of the Magisterium?

What about these people who assert the Church is full of cover-ups and over-stating heresy (i.e. calling something a heresy that others may point to as a possible truth the Church just simply did not want disclosed) Also I would appreciate it if you could quote for me some of the apologies future popes have made about the abhorrent elements of the Church's history, for I know there have been apologies but I do not know from whom or where I can find them. Please help, as I am desperate to be adequately armed to defend the Holy Church of the only Christ begotten Son of God.

Question Answered by

Dear Ryan:

I am sitting in for Mr. Matthew who is on vacation.

The first thing you need to do is to learn the accurate history of the Church. Frankly, that is hard to do since the history of the Church is distorted so much, even by professional historians. What is read in history books in school is mostly lies and exaggerations. For example, the church did not torture "so many people." What all those things that people are saying that you refer to are lies, distortions, exaggerations, and outright bigotry.

Thus, your first task is to learn the truth.

Two good one volume histories that will tell you the unvarnished truth are:

Christ the King-Lord of History: A Catholic World History from Ancient to Modern Times by Dr Anne W. Carroll. This is actually a high school textbook. It is an excellent introduction to the truth of Catholic history.

The second one-volume book written on a professional historical level is:

Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church by H. W. Crocker III.

But if you want the definitive scholarly history of the Church then read the multi-volume work, The History of Christendom, by Warren H. Carroll (Anne Carroll's husband). These volumes are definitely scholarly and difficult to read, but the series is the all-time best treatment of Church history.

Vol 1: The Founding of Christendom (to 325)
Vol 2: The Building of Christendom (325-1100)
Vol 3: Glory Of Christendom (1100-1517)
Vol 4: Cleaving Of Christendom (1517-1661)
Vol 5: The Revolution Against Christendom (1661-1815)

Vol 6: The Crisis of Christendom (1815-2000) is forthcoming

Catholic Answers has a series of tracts that deal with various issues of Church teaching that will be helpful to you as well.

Stop listening to anti-Catholics, who have an agenda to spread lies about the Church to justify their rebellion against the Church that Jesus personally founded, and learn the truth.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary