Catholics: Why did your church commend St. Augustine, but reject Martin Luther?

Well, here we go again with the usual distortion of history. Catholics still believe that we are saved by unmerited grace alone - consistent with Augustine. Calvin and Luther taught that we are saved by FAITH alone. Grace and faith are two separate things. Grace is what God does for us. Faith is what we do for Him. We also believe that both faith and works are the fruits of grace, but we are not saved by either. We are saved by God's merciful grace and there is nothing we can do to merit it.

Think of it this way. Parents love their children unconditionally. But kids still have to make up their beds. Making up the bed is not what makes the parents love them, but it is still required.

Faith and works are not what brings God's grace. His grace is a free gift, like a parent's love. His grace gives us the ability to have faith and do works. Both are required.

St. Augustine rectified his position with the Church. I finished a study on his 4 months ago. He met with the bishop on 3 different occasions and after their talks, St. Augustine received Reconciliation. Luther did more than rebute the Church's teachings on salvation. He "rewrote" the Bible, omitting several books and verses. The Bible is God's word and is not to be omitted or added to. And Luther spoke out against the papacy. It was Jesus that started the papacy with St. Peter and St. Paul and gave them authority over His church on earth. Luther stated that we are to go thru Jesus only for everything and the papacy was in error. So of course he was excommunicated.

I have been a Catholic for 37 yrs (devoted for the past 5 yrs). I have played devil's advocate in many of our Bible study groups and now am at an understanding of the Catholic Church and have no doubts. The Church teaches the Bible and follows what St. Peter and St. Paul began and it's following through with what Jesus taught. Of course man is with error but every time the Church, the Pope, speaks out on faith and scripture, he is infallible. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit (God's Spirit) to the Church to guide it and advise it. I have had many email talks with non-Catholics that continue to say there are contradictions and every time I can show them that there isn't.

Reasons why these things happened:

1. The catholic was famous for its corruption during the middle ages and the renaissance, and people decided to criticizing the Church.

2. The church wanted to prevent ordinary people from getting an education during that time so they can control the people.

3. Erasmus wanted to reform the Catholic Church and Luther wanted to split away from it.

I would rather read the Bible rather than get crap from the RC Church. But I wouldn't side with Luther because he opposed Jews.

Meg and Myth are right. You need to drop your focus on the Catholic Church, unless you decide to learn what we believe first. Your version of what we believe just isn't true. Thus you've got a problem with bearing false witness....

The Church's problems with Luther went far beyond the issue of salvation by grace.

Basically, the Catholic Church is right in rejecting a guy who was highly anti-Semitic, who advocated the killing of disabled babies, and who argued that someone who accepted Christ could still go to heaven even if they committed 20 murders a day.

Oh, and Luther also wanted to take out several books of the Bible -- including some of St. Paul's letters -- because he just didn't like them. Another reason why the Church was right in not taking him seriously.

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>>the reason Luther was excommunicated was not because of the things you accuse him of, but because he refused to recant on his teaching that, at core, was salvation by grace alone.<<

Then why is "salvation by grace alone" NOT ON THE LIST?

http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/L10EXDOM.HTM

Check your sources.

Luther taught salvation by FAITH alone.

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

824 United with Christ, the Church is sanctified by him; through him and with him she becomes sanctifying. "All the activities of the Church are directed, as toward their end, to the sanctification of men in Christ and the glorification of God." It is in the Church that "the fullness of the means of salvation" has been deposited. It is in her that "by the grace of God we acquire holiness."

Council of Trent:

CANON IX.-If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.

I am not for sure..but I think it might have been because Martin Luther protested against some of the untrue doctrines the hierarchy was forcing on people..Something to do with one being able to buy sin or something like that.

Like I said I am not for sure so you might get and answer from someone that attends meetings at this organization or one of their employees.

You're right. But of course, only Calvin took Augustine to his logical conclusion. Calvin is the ultimate Augustinian.

Which is why ALL of western Christianity -- Catholic and Reformed alike -- is marked so strongly by Augustine's theological (and probably psychological) perversion.

Compatibilism... pah. "I will choose free will," and the hell with Augustine, Calvin, Luther, and the whole vile brood.

Please, I am interested in what Catholic belief(s) contradics the Bible. By the way, works earn you grace.