The Catholic teaching on Purgatory is frequently misunderstood, mocked, or dismissed. To many outside the Church, Purgatory sounds like a completely unbiblical invention designed to sell “get out of jail free” cards, or a terrifying middle-ground where souls are locked away to pay off their spiritual debts. The most common misconception is that Purgatory is … Read more
If you ask someone what keeps them from embracing Catholicism, the idea of sitting in a small room and telling their darkest secrets to another human being is usually high on the list. The objection is incredibly common: “Why do I need to confess my sins to a priest? Why can’t I just go straight … Read more
If you were to compile a list of the most controversial and misunderstood teachings of the Catholic Church, the papacy would undoubtedly sit right near the top. The misconception usually goes something like this: “Catholics practically worship the Pope. They think everything he says is the absolute word of God, that he never sins, and … Read more
If you ask someone on the street what Catholics believe about salvation, they will likely tell you some version of this: “Catholics believe you have to do enough good things—like going to Mass, giving money, and lighting candles—to get into heaven.” This is perhaps one of the most deep-seated misunderstandings of Catholic theology. This misconception … Read more
t is a question every Catholic has heard at least once, and it is arguably the most frequent misunderstanding about the Catholic faith: “Why do you worship Mary and the saints instead of just going to God?” To an outside observer, it’s easy to see why this confusion exists. The statues, the candles, the feast … Read more
