dch1591 said: "Remember that Martin Luther was a priest and left once he saw the error."

But he held true to the belief and love in the Mother of God.

Honor to Mary

Despite his unremitting criticism of the traditional doctrines of Marian mediation and intercession, to the end Luther continued to proclaim that Mary should be honored. He made it a point to preach on her feast days.

"The veneration of Mary is inscribed in the very depths of the human heart."5

"Is Christ only to be adored? Or is the holy Mother of God rather not to be honoured? This is the woman who crushed the Serpent's head. Hear us. (Interccession of the Saints) For your Son denies you nothing."6 Luther made this statement in his last sermon at Wittenberg in January 1546.

http://www.mariology.com/sections/reformers.html

"be clear on your own Christian faith and what you believe.
become more informed on what Catholics believe.
develop a friendly relationship and get to know the person.
let them see Christ in you.
don't get sidetracked by the thorny issues and don't even make Catholicism the issue. Don't debate. Start with God, Jesus and the things Baptists and Catholics hold in common."

And study the early church fathers. Learn your common history. This is something we who call ourselves Christian have in common. These men were taught and ordained by the Apostles. They are the men who safe-guarded the unwritten Truth which became the Bible, and also the unseen but palatable Faith. Check out how they saw the Body of Christ, but be very careful; the way they saw the Church and the practice of their faith is very contagious.

Folks - your blanket condemnation of Catholism is really based upon ignorance. I am not Catholic, but I know something about their beliefs. They don't worship the Virgin Mary, they just "venerate" her and hold her in high esteem. This is not idolatry. When one meditates on the complete humility of the Virgin and the fact that without her free act of accepting God's Will, none of us would be saved. Granted, over the centuries there has been excesses, but I am sure all you Protestants have some skeletons in your closets.

The Catholic church holds tradition above the Word of God.
I was trapped in this cult for 43 years until I heard the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Southern Baptists should not compare evangelical Christianity with the non-Biblical
theology of the popish regime. Jesus said "you must be born again". Paul says that "if we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Do not be deceived the Pope does not preach the Gospel of Jesus because he believes that he is alter Christus.There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.

For the record, Martin Luther was attempting to get the Church on track, and was excommunicated for his efforts. He didn't leave voluntarily, nor was it his intention.

As an ex-Catholic and now born-again Advent Christian, all I can say, is "Thank you, Jesus, for Martin Luther!"

dch1591, you are right on the money! I couldn't have said it better! MARY is the main idol - then the Pope. Don't forget the 7 minute "preaching" and the 45 minute parade of rituals!

I grew up in this "system" and still have family and friends trapped in it. It is unbiblical to the core so decide if you believe the Bible or the church's doctrine because they are directly opposed. Research it and you will see. Now the Vatican restated that "non-Catholic churches are defective and not true churches"...doesn't surprise me because they don't want Catholics to find the truth and leave. Isn't that the markings of a cult that says we are the only ones that have the truth and everyone else is wrong? Catholic churches exalt Mary more than Jesus like the church I grew up in with statues of Mary holding the baby Jesus. They want to portray Jesus as either a baby or hanging on the cross. This de-emphasizes Jesus as mediator and emphasizes the need for a priest...pretty convenient for their system. Praying for the dead, the doctrine of Purgatory, the sacraments, rosary, etc., a system of works not grace. Remember that Martin Luther was a priest and left once he saw the error.