Catholics weren’t the original church. That claim of theirs basically hinges on the claim that Peter started the Papal succession which is bullshit also, when Peter came to Rome James was already Bishop in Jerusalem. Coptics are also definitely contenders, tracing themselves back to Mark. That was all before the New Testament was written, the newest parts date to as late as 100CE.
…and that’s organisationally. When it comes to rites and theology the Orthodox Churches and Coptics have a much better claim at being original, Rome forming its doctrine to serve the unity of state and governance of the people as they were essentially the ministry of religion. And thus arguably the last remnant of the administration of the Roman Empire, I’ll give them that.
As to idolatry: Protestants deny that there’s a distinction between dulia and latria, consider it a rhetorical justification ex post, “We’re doing that stuff but as we can’t be idolaters we must now make up new terms to explain how it’s not actually idolatry”. That’s, mind you, Calvin and Luther, not the current bunch of nutjob US evangelicals I doubt those have ever considered anything about theology.
Catholics weren’t the original church. That claim of theirs basically hinges on the claim that Peter started the Papal succession which is bullshit also, when Peter came to Rome James was already Bishop in Jerusalem. Coptics are also definitely contenders, tracing themselves back to Mark. That was all before the New Testament was written, the newest parts date to as late as 100CE.
…and that’s organisationally. When it comes to rites and theology the Orthodox Churches and Coptics have a much better claim at being original, Rome forming its doctrine to serve the unity of state and governance of the people as they were essentially the ministry of religion. And thus arguably the last remnant of the administration of the Roman Empire, I’ll give them that.
As to idolatry: Protestants deny that there’s a distinction between dulia and latria, consider it a rhetorical justification ex post, “We’re doing that stuff but as we can’t be idolaters we must now make up new terms to explain how it’s not actually idolatry”. That’s, mind you, Calvin and Luther, not the current bunch of nutjob US evangelicals I doubt those have ever considered anything about theology.