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Forty Anti-Catholic Lies
Tired of being stumped when false claims are made about the Catholic Church? Want to be armed with knowledge that puts these mistruths to rest?
In these pages, veteran apologist Gerard Verschuuren provides thorough yet concise answers to forty of the most common — and absurd — lies about the Catholic Church.
With precision and charity, you'll soon be able to defend the Church when you're told that Catholics . . .
Still lives in the Dark Ages
Reject modern ideas of justice
Oppress women
Oppose free speech
Killed thousands during the Inquisition
Take orders from the pope
Reject science
Worship statues and the Virgin Mary
Added books to the Bible
Invented purgatory
Wrongly call priests "father"
Celebrate pagan holydays
Helped Hitler seize power
And so much more!
Relying on historical works and official Church documents, Vershuuren authoritatively proves that these and many other claims are simply caricatures or outright misrepresentations of the real beliefs of Catholics.
Read this book and you'll be armed with the knowledge and confidence you need to defend the Catholic Church from those who wrongly disparage her teachings. Better yet, you'll be equipped to proclaim the soul-saving truth of our Faith.
In these pages, veteran apologist Gerard Verschuuren provides thorough yet concise answers to forty of the most common — and absurd — lies about the Catholic Church.
With precision and charity, you'll soon be able to defend the Church when you're told that Catholics . . .
Still lives in the Dark Ages
Reject modern ideas of justice
Oppress women
Oppose free speech
Killed thousands during the Inquisition
Take orders from the pope
Reject science
Worship statues and the Virgin Mary
Added books to the Bible
Invented purgatory
Wrongly call priests "father"
Celebrate pagan holydays
Helped Hitler seize power
And so much more!
Relying on historical works and official Church documents, Vershuuren authoritatively proves that these and many other claims are simply caricatures or outright misrepresentations of the real beliefs of Catholics.
Read this book and you'll be armed with the knowledge and confidence you need to defend the Catholic Church from those who wrongly disparage her teachings. Better yet, you'll be equipped to proclaim the soul-saving truth of our Faith.
352 pages, Paperback
Published May 17, 2018
119 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 29, 2018
This book is a must-read for Catholics and Christians. Dr. Verschuuren dissects 40 anti-Catholic lies by presenting the lie then giving a documented review of the history of the subject along with quotations from the Bible and even references from Protestant theology. He blends fact with history and then proves the lie is false based on actual information and logic.
The book clarifies many of the comments and criticisms heard in today's media. This book is informative, which piques the reader's interest, and provides logical, substantive information, which can be used to defend Catholic/Christian truths.
Everyone should read this book. From a candidate for baptism into the Catholic Church as a basis for faith formation. By Catholic adults, both practicing and non-practicing, to provide them with honest answers to difficult questions and public bias. Educators could use it as part of a faith/religion-based curriculum and as a great guide for many discussion groups.
Once again, Dr. Verschuuren writes a book geared to the reader. He presents information, gives the history of the subject, and then proceeds to showcase the truth using logic, history, examples, and theology. This book is a definite read for anyone wanting /needing to know more about the Catholic faith.
The book clarifies many of the comments and criticisms heard in today's media. This book is informative, which piques the reader's interest, and provides logical, substantive information, which can be used to defend Catholic/Christian truths.
Everyone should read this book. From a candidate for baptism into the Catholic Church as a basis for faith formation. By Catholic adults, both practicing and non-practicing, to provide them with honest answers to difficult questions and public bias. Educators could use it as part of a faith/religion-based curriculum and as a great guide for many discussion groups.
Once again, Dr. Verschuuren writes a book geared to the reader. He presents information, gives the history of the subject, and then proceeds to showcase the truth using logic, history, examples, and theology. This book is a definite read for anyone wanting /needing to know more about the Catholic faith.
June 15, 2022
First, this was easy to read, smart and intelligent, but no horribly academic. It was interesting to learn about the myths (some I knew, but many I did not) that some harbor about Catholicism. I did learn a lot and the book was not preachy but gave good explanations to why people might have believed something and what the Church teaches as truth. Glad I read it.
February 24, 2023
This book does a really good job at debunking all forty lies. I particularly enjoyed the chapters debunking the lies on the "ties" between the Church and the Pope and Galileo because I hear them from my dad frequently and I now know what to say.
June 14, 2018
Even as a Catholic I found that I had believed some of these lies. Invaluable for learning about our Catholic Faith. Also a good reference book.
March 30, 2025
I read this because I'm a Protestant and a friend of the family is Catholic and I'm curious. I know so little about it really other than there are priests and cardinals and a Pope. There are rosaries, communions, baptisms, Mary and the Saints (kind of sounds like a rock group doesn't it? :-D).
I wasn't interested in most of the chapters, just the ones about Mary and the Saints. I believe they worship them who are were human, sinful people when the praise should go to God and Jesus. How can Mary and the Saints intercede on our behalfs? Jesus in the intercessor. Mary and the Saints, died, went to Heaven and live their lives in Heaven, not Earth, not connected to Earth. Only God and Jesus and the angels have a connection to Heaven and Earth. She has no power of intercession as the book claims. So, no opinion changed there. And as to the Saints, more sinful humans that have no longer any current ties to the Earth, no connection, can do nothing for you. Pray to Jesus, not Mary, not Saint Paul, etc.
Catholics Think Salvation Can Be Earned is a chapter I had a hard time with and don't quite get but what I get I disagree with. The conclusion state, that I disagree with is, "God must invite us into Heaven first! But whether we arrive there also depends on how we live our lives. So, salvation depends on what we do ourselves."
To me that is saying that we can earn it if we live a good life. As to God inviting us... inviting us for what specifically? It seems Protestants are more specific. Jesus want's us all to go to Heaven but he won't force us, free will. Some may get the a specific opportunity while talking to someone, or when something happens in their lives. There is the option to accept or reject. We may get only one chance or many. And there is no talk about forgiveness for our sins, no talk about accepting Christ as saviour. I guess that's a Protestant thing. However, the idea is once we pray, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us and help guide and comfort us and that will create a new way of thinking, God's way of thinking, being a Christian in word and deed. We're led to live a Christian life. The getting into Heaven part is when you accept Christ specifically as your saviour, repent of sin, and ask him to help you, to guide you, to come into your life and make you and your life anew. Once you've done that you may change things in your life to make them right with God or you may "backslide" at some point. God still has given you the gift of salvation. Great is His faithfulness. He won't take it back. So it's God that locks in the salvation for you, not you yourself if you live a good life you will get into Heaven.
Sorry, I wish I could explain exactly why I have a problem with this buy I can't find the words, I'm not a writer. I could go on but you're reading this book and my review, not wanting a sermon.
Let's just end this review saying that despite the author's apologetics, I still don't agree with the worship of Mary and the Saints and I don't see salvation like they do. How will it effect my relationship with the family friend? Not at all, unless we start talking about the more specific details of religion.
I wasn't interested in most of the chapters, just the ones about Mary and the Saints. I believe they worship them who are were human, sinful people when the praise should go to God and Jesus. How can Mary and the Saints intercede on our behalfs? Jesus in the intercessor. Mary and the Saints, died, went to Heaven and live their lives in Heaven, not Earth, not connected to Earth. Only God and Jesus and the angels have a connection to Heaven and Earth. She has no power of intercession as the book claims. So, no opinion changed there. And as to the Saints, more sinful humans that have no longer any current ties to the Earth, no connection, can do nothing for you. Pray to Jesus, not Mary, not Saint Paul, etc.
Catholics Think Salvation Can Be Earned is a chapter I had a hard time with and don't quite get but what I get I disagree with. The conclusion state, that I disagree with is, "God must invite us into Heaven first! But whether we arrive there also depends on how we live our lives. So, salvation depends on what we do ourselves."
To me that is saying that we can earn it if we live a good life. As to God inviting us... inviting us for what specifically? It seems Protestants are more specific. Jesus want's us all to go to Heaven but he won't force us, free will. Some may get the a specific opportunity while talking to someone, or when something happens in their lives. There is the option to accept or reject. We may get only one chance or many. And there is no talk about forgiveness for our sins, no talk about accepting Christ as saviour. I guess that's a Protestant thing. However, the idea is once we pray, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us and help guide and comfort us and that will create a new way of thinking, God's way of thinking, being a Christian in word and deed. We're led to live a Christian life. The getting into Heaven part is when you accept Christ specifically as your saviour, repent of sin, and ask him to help you, to guide you, to come into your life and make you and your life anew. Once you've done that you may change things in your life to make them right with God or you may "backslide" at some point. God still has given you the gift of salvation. Great is His faithfulness. He won't take it back. So it's God that locks in the salvation for you, not you yourself if you live a good life you will get into Heaven.
Sorry, I wish I could explain exactly why I have a problem with this buy I can't find the words, I'm not a writer. I could go on but you're reading this book and my review, not wanting a sermon.
Let's just end this review saying that despite the author's apologetics, I still don't agree with the worship of Mary and the Saints and I don't see salvation like they do. How will it effect my relationship with the family friend? Not at all, unless we start talking about the more specific details of religion.
May 12, 2020
I am Catholic. When I was a kid, I recognized that there were other Christian denominations, but I didn’t really know why, and it didn’t bother me at all, as I thought it was a matter of preference. Live and let live.
Maybe in high school or college I learned about Martin Luther and the 95 Theses. I thought perhaps the Church had been corrupt or ignorant, and this needed to be cleaned up. It made me sad that the Protestants left.
Now that I am a parent, and we experienced the sacraments again, I have renewed appreciation of the Catholic Church. It infuriates me that the Catholic Church preserved and protected Christianity for 1500 years. The members fought off heretics, were persecuted and killed, yet these Protestants had the gall to believe they are superior to the sum of all of that history. Even Martin Luther knew that, if not for the Catholic Church, he would be nothing and have nothing, including his salvation.
When I look at the imperfections of the Church, I see my role is partly to try and make the Church better, not break away and get this big rush of superiority because I church-shopped and became a Protestant. One could argue that if you think Catholicism is so wrong; then therefore, it’s all wrong, and all of Christianity goes down in flames with your petty protestations. Be careful when you crack the strongest leg off a table.
The Forty Anti-Catholic Lies is interesting because much of the anti-Catholicism is rooted in ignorance and misperception. The biggest boast of the Protestant is that he or she is saved for “doing absolutely nothing” – by faith alone. Well, that’s interesting, because even “receiving” Christ as your Lord and Savior is an ACT. God throws a ball, and catching a ball is an action. Your brain expends chemical energy to even have the thought of faith. You have to do a million acts of eating, walking, seeing, listening, learning, reading, etc. to receive salvation. All VERBS. Plus, the saved Christian is exemplified by good deeds, not evil deeds. Furthermore, no Catholic believes he earns salvation by good deeds.
Like Martin Luther, the Protestants eat, drink beer, cuss, and fart across Europe, and they think that doing nothing saves them! I have contained my Catholic exceptionalism - until now. No longer!
So, you can read for yourself the rebuttal to misperceptions of what Catholics did during the Inquisition and Crusades. Much of it was not ideal, but Protestants are not free of misdeeds, such as the Salem witch trials. Today, many Protestant Churches are associated with accumulation of wealth and God’s favor – sort of self-help gurus that fleece small business owners for donations.
My big criticism of the book is that the author did not address the pedophile scandal. For an apologist book written in 2018, it is a mystery why this wasn’t included.
In summary, next time you see Catholics, thank them. Thank them for what? You ask. … Thank them for everything, you dolt!
Maybe in high school or college I learned about Martin Luther and the 95 Theses. I thought perhaps the Church had been corrupt or ignorant, and this needed to be cleaned up. It made me sad that the Protestants left.
Now that I am a parent, and we experienced the sacraments again, I have renewed appreciation of the Catholic Church. It infuriates me that the Catholic Church preserved and protected Christianity for 1500 years. The members fought off heretics, were persecuted and killed, yet these Protestants had the gall to believe they are superior to the sum of all of that history. Even Martin Luther knew that, if not for the Catholic Church, he would be nothing and have nothing, including his salvation.
When I look at the imperfections of the Church, I see my role is partly to try and make the Church better, not break away and get this big rush of superiority because I church-shopped and became a Protestant. One could argue that if you think Catholicism is so wrong; then therefore, it’s all wrong, and all of Christianity goes down in flames with your petty protestations. Be careful when you crack the strongest leg off a table.
The Forty Anti-Catholic Lies is interesting because much of the anti-Catholicism is rooted in ignorance and misperception. The biggest boast of the Protestant is that he or she is saved for “doing absolutely nothing” – by faith alone. Well, that’s interesting, because even “receiving” Christ as your Lord and Savior is an ACT. God throws a ball, and catching a ball is an action. Your brain expends chemical energy to even have the thought of faith. You have to do a million acts of eating, walking, seeing, listening, learning, reading, etc. to receive salvation. All VERBS. Plus, the saved Christian is exemplified by good deeds, not evil deeds. Furthermore, no Catholic believes he earns salvation by good deeds.
Like Martin Luther, the Protestants eat, drink beer, cuss, and fart across Europe, and they think that doing nothing saves them! I have contained my Catholic exceptionalism - until now. No longer!
So, you can read for yourself the rebuttal to misperceptions of what Catholics did during the Inquisition and Crusades. Much of it was not ideal, but Protestants are not free of misdeeds, such as the Salem witch trials. Today, many Protestant Churches are associated with accumulation of wealth and God’s favor – sort of self-help gurus that fleece small business owners for donations.
My big criticism of the book is that the author did not address the pedophile scandal. For an apologist book written in 2018, it is a mystery why this wasn’t included.
In summary, next time you see Catholics, thank them. Thank them for what? You ask. … Thank them for everything, you dolt!
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