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ROMAN
CATHOLICISM
BRIEF HISTORY -- The first century church
was established by Christ. It remained true
as a whole, but even in early times some
were departing from the faith (I Timothy
4:1-3). The form of church government was
gradually changed by some men who desired
preeminence in the churches. These men soon
began to regard themselves as successors to
the apostles. In 325 A.D., Constantine
recognized the Council of Nicea as the first
official church law-making assembly. He made
Christianity the national religion of the
Roman Empire and stopped all persecution
against Christians. There were many changes
in organization, worship, moral standards,
name, etc., brought about by the various
councils. In 608, Boniface proclaimed
himself the "universal bishop" or "papa,"
setting the precedent for all subsequent
popes, an office unknown prior to that time.
The Council of 1870 (Vatican Council)
proclaimed the doctrine of papal
infallibility, culminating the authority
claims for the traditions of the hierarchy,
termed by Jesus as "doctrines and
commandments of men" (Matthew 15:7-9).
A major division occurred in 1054. The
eastern division became known as the Greek
Catholic Church ("The Holy Orthodox Catholic
Apostolic Eastern Church"). The official
name of the western church became "The Holy
Catholic Apostolic and Roman Church."
Useful Books on Catholic Tradition
Catholicism Against Itself, Vol. I & 2, O.C.
Lambert
Faith of Our Fathers, James Cardinal Gibbons
(paper)
Churches of Today, Tomlinson (paper)
Confraternity New Testament (paper) or 4
version NT: RSV, KJ, Phillips, Catholic
Slides: Catholicism In the Light of the
Bible
Note: All references quoted are official
publications of the Roman Catholic Church.
Every volume quoted is on deposit at the
library of Abilene Christian College through
the generosity of the late O. C. Lambert.
TRADITIONS VERSES THE WORD...The Book is
here
Catholic Tradition.The Word of God.
I. Authority and the Bible
1.Tradition is to be held as the highest
authority in the church, even above the
Bible. "Other spiritual books ... are
preferred" (Plain Facts For Fair Minds,
Searle, p. 154).
Must not add to nor take from Scriptures
inspired of God. Deuteronomy 4:2, Isaiah
8:20
Traditions of men make void the Word of
God. Matthew 15:3, 6, 7-9. Worshipping
thereby makes worship vain.
2. "If the sacred books are permitted
everywhere . . . in the vernacular, there
will arise...more harm than good" (Council
of Trent, Schroeder, 273-8).
The
Scriptures are alone sufficient for the man
of God. 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Revelation
22:18-19; 1 Corinthians 4:6.
3. The Bible is not to be read by all; the
Pope forbids it; all must not read it.
(Catholic Dictionary, p. 82)
Scriptures are to be read and understood
by everyone. Ephesians 3:4; John 5:39; Acts
17:11 ; I Peter 2:2; 2 Peter
1:20.
II. The Church
The Roman Catholic Church is the only true
apostolic church.
"If it is not identical in belief,
government, etc., with the primitive church,
then it is not the Church of Christ."
(Catholic Facts, p. 27)
No union of church and state in the
Bible. Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-7.
2. Bible names for the church do not
include "Roman" or "Catholic." Romans 16:16;
1 Corinthians 1:1; Hebrews 12:23; Acts
20:28.
3. Catholic church is described as the
apostate church, the Mother of Harlots.
Revelation 17:1-18.
a. Rome on.7 hills. Revelation 17:9, 18.
b. Rome on many waters, etc. Revelation
17:1, 15.
c. Has the world drunk with spiritual
fornication. Revelation 17:1-2
d. Drunk with blood of martyrs.
Revelation 17:6
e. Mysterious. Revelation 17:5
f. Called Babylon (confusion). Revelation
17:5
g. Mother of Harlots (originator of all
churches except Christ's).
III. Peter, Founder and Head of the
Church
Peter established the church; he was the
first pope and his successors were popes.
(Faith of our Fathers, p. 78). "The records
of the second century are so scanty as to
throw but little light on the subject."
Catholic Encyclopedia X 11, p. 267.
1. Only the apostles could pass spiritual
gifts to others. Acts 6:1-6; Acts 8:12-18;
19:6, 7; 2 Timothy 1:6. 2. Paul, an apostle,
could pass spiritual gifts. Romans 1:10-11.
The church at Rome evidently had never had
an apostle visit them.
3. Peter denied the church was built by
him or on him. I Peter 2:4-6.
4. Christ is the rock, "petra." I
Corinthians 10:4. He is the builder and head
of the church. Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:
18; Ephesians 5:2
5. Peter was not superior to the other
apostles. I Peter 51; 2 Corinthians 11:5;
Acts 15:13-19; Matthew 20: 25-26.
6. To be an apostle, one must have been a
companion of Christ. Acts 1: 21-22. Must
have several qualifications which cannot be
passed on by others.
7. Only one case of apostolic succession
in Bible: Acts 1:15-26. When James was
beheaded, no one was selected to succeed him
like in the case of Judas. Acts 1:15-26;
15:1-29.
8. The only personal representative of
Christ on earth is the Holy Spirit. John,
14:15-17, 26; 16:7, 13.
9. Peter was a married man. Matthew 8:14;
1 Corinthians 9:5. Popes are not allowed to
marry.
10. Peter would not allow men to fall
down to worship him. Acts 10:25, 26. See
also Acts 14:14-15; Matthew 4:10. Not even
an angel is to be worshipped by men.
Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9
IV. The Priesthood
1. The priest is 'another Christ,' the means
of access between the sinner and God ..."who
holds the place of God." (True Spouse of
Christ, St. Ligouri, p. 93). "More certainty
of doing the will of God by obedience to
superiors than by obedience to Jesus
Christ." (ibid., p. 92-93)
Only one mediator-Christ 1 Timothy 2:5.
Christ has the only unchangeable high
priesthood. Hebrews 7:11,12,22-24.
All Christians are priests who have
access to God through Christ. 1 Peter 2:5-9;
Revelation 1:5-6.
2. Catholics and non-Catholics are expected
to call Priest "Father."
Call no man "Father" in religious sense.
Matthew 23:9, 10.
3. Priest has power to forgive sins (Council
of Trent, and Lateran Council of 1215). He
receives gifts to say prayers. (Catholic
Dictionary, Vatican Edition, p. 821.)
Forgiveness of sins belongs to the
Godhead Mark 2:6-10; 1 John 1:9; 2:1. 2. The
gift of God cannot be purchased with money.
I Peter 1:18.
V. Purgatory
There is an intermediate state or place
called Purgatory where the dead go to suffer
punishment until they can be purified.
(Council of Florence, 1439) Made an official
doctrine, though man began to teach the idea
early as the sixth century.
These people have not fully made amends for
their failings, so must atone for them by
suffering before being admitted into heaven.
These sufferings are lessened by prayers and
masses, according to Council of Trent.
(Fulton J. Sheen, World Book, "P", 803)
Prayers of saints or others cannot change
our destiny after death. Hebrews 9:27.
The righteous acts of others cannot be
transferred to my credit (before or) after
my decease. I must answer for my own acts of
my own body. 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans
1:29.
I cannot be saved by the prayers or
righteous acts of others or even of my own
self. Ephesians 2:8-9.
After death there is no changing from
place of punishment to place of bliss. Luke
16:19-31..
The Bible knows nothing of indulgences
either plenary or partial. Hebrews 2:3.
VI. Concerning Morals
A. Killing
"The temporal sword is in the hand of Peter
... spiritual and temporal...are in the
power of the church... temporal authority is
to be subjected to the spiritual." (Bull
Unam Sanctum, November 18, 1302). "The power
of capital punishment is acknowledged for a
perfect society ... now the Catholic church
is a perfect society." (Tablet, November 5,
1938). "Holy" Wars justified by Church,
called a "Pious work," such as Crusades,
"Full remission of sins," granted soldiers.
(Disciplinary Decrees of the General
Councils, Schroeder, 295).
Thou shalt not kill." Exodus 20:13.
Murders forbidden. Romans 1:29.
Resistance and retaliation forbidden.
Romans 12:19- 21; Matthew 5:3845. Love
enemies and pray for them. 2. Murders
forbidden. Romans 1:29.
Resistance and retaliation forbidden.
Romans 12:19-21; Matthew 5:38-45. Love
enemise and pray for them.
B. Adultery
Monks and nuns lived in same monastery since
fourth century (Disciplinary Decrees of the
General Council, p. 154-155).
Permanent concubinage is not immoral
(Catholic Encyclopedia, IV, p. 207).
Priest can forgive and absolve "an
accomplice (partner in guilt) who is in
danger of death" (New Code of Canon Law, p.
208).
Priest does not break vow of chastity
by-adultery (Explanation of Catholic Morals,
p. 149). "All celibates are not chaste . . .
one who takes the vow of celibacy does not
break it by sinning against the sixth
commandment; he is true to it till he weds."
�Thou shalt not commit adultry.� Exodus
20:14. Principle is ageless.
Lustful gaze as well as overt act sinful.
Matthew 5:27-32; Galatians 5:19-21.
C. Stealing
1. "Extreme necessity, when a person takes
only what is necessary ..
2. Secret compensation ... when debtor
cannot recover his property by any other
means." (Manual of Christian Doctrine, p.
157, 297).
"Eye for eye" doctrine cancelled by Jesus
as a ministration of death. 2 Corinthians
3:7-9; Matthew 5:38-39.
D. Lying
1. Doctrine of "mental reservation" permits
Catholics to lie if by so doing they can
further their religion. (Manual of Christian
Doctrine, p. 444).
"A Catholic who on being asked denies that
he is one, does not necessarily deny the
faith. Such answer might be a fitting reply
to an impertinent question" (Manual of Moral
Theology, 1, p. 171-172).
"Do not live by fixed principles; live by
opportunity and circumstances." (Handbook
Oracle, Tarazona, Spain).
2. Relics are fakes:"Many of the more
ancient relics duly exhibited for veneration
... are either certainly spurious or open to
grave suspicion." (Catholic Encyclopedia,
XII, p. 737). Saint Christopher recently
declared never to have existed!
"Shalt not bear false witness." Exodus
20.
"Lie not
one to another." Colossians 3:9.
"Speaking
the truth in love." Ephesians 4:15.
Some will turn from truth. 2 Timothy
4:4.
Some receive not love for truth. 2
Thessalonians2: 10.
. "Through hypocrisy that speak lies,
branded in their conscience as with a hot
iron." 1 Timothy 4:2
VII. Baptism.
1. Affusion, or sprinkling is sufficient for
Baptism, as well as immersion: (Catholic
Dictionary, Addis and Arnold, p. 60;
Question Box, 366).
2. An infant should receive baptism.
"Baptism, nowadays, is given almost
exclusively to children." (OurPriesthood,
Bruneau, p. 154).
3. He should be christened with the name of
a "saint" and should have a "godfather and a
godmother."
4. Original sin, inherited from Adam, is
forgiven when the infant is baptized .
Baptism is a burial. Romans 6:4;
Colossians 2:12.
Baptism is a
planting. Romans 6:5.
Baptism is a resurrection. Colossians
2:12.
Baptism is a washing. Acts 22:16.
Baptism is a birth of water. J oh n 3:5.
Baptism is a Greek word which is
translated to "dip, plunge, submerge."
There is only one baptism. Ephesians
4:5.
Believers who have repented of their sins
and confessed faith in Christ are Biblically
qualified to be baptized. Romans 10:10; Acts
2:38; Mark 16:15-16.
All Christians are called saints. 1
Corinthians 1:2. Christening not in Bible,
nor godfather or godmother.
Original sin not taught in Bible. No act
or deed or guilt for such can be transmitted
from one person to another. Ezekiel 18:20; 2
Samuel 12:23; Matthew 18: 10; 19:14; Psalms
127:3-5. Children are innocent until they
themselves sin by their own lust. James
1:13-15. The child does not bear the guilt
of his father or anyone else, though he may
suffer the consequences of others' sins.
VIII.
Confirmation
In Confirmation, the Holy Spirit is received
by the hands of the bishop when the child
reaches the age of accountability (about
12).(Catholic Dictionary, Addis and Arnold,
p. 208).
"Confirmation" ceremony is not taught in
God's Word.
The Holy Spirit is given when a believer
is immersed. Acts 2:38; 5:32.
Only Christ prayed for Holy Spirit to be
sent. John 14:15-17.
IX. Holy Eucharist
1. "Transubstantiation" is the change from
bread and wine to the actual body and blood
of Christ, performed at the consecration of
the mass (adopted at the Lateran Council in
1215 A.D.)..
2. The communion (or "Eucharist") is an
"unbloody" sacrifice of the mass.
3. "Communion under one kind" allows
"clergy" to receive the wine, and "laity"
supposedly receive both body and blood in
the one element, the bread.
Christ was materially present when He
gave the bread and fruit of the vine to the
disciples and said, "This is my body," and
"This is my blood." It is obviously a figure
of speech (metaphor), the same as when He
spoke of Himself as a "door" and as a
"vine." John 10-7; 15.
He was not literally a vine or a door.
There was only one offering of Christ; He
was once sacrificed for our sins. Hebrews
6:6; 9:25-26; 10:11-12.
Both bread and fruit of the vine are to
be given to all Christians. Matthew 26: 27;
Mark 14:23; 1 Corinthians 11:28. There is no
clergy-laity distinction among Christians in
the Bible.
X. Extreme Unction
Health and strength to the soul and body at
the point of death.
Must not go what is written! 1
Corinthians 4:6, No such practice in the
Bible.
XI. Holy Orders& Dress
Holy Orders are said to be one of the seven
sacraments by which the bishops, priests and
officers of the church are ordained to
office. Peculiar attire (habits) distinguish
each order.
Sacraments not in Bible.
Divisions, "Orders of Catholicism, are
condemned in 1 Corinthians 1:10.
By fruits (not collars or robes) Jesus
said we shall be known. Matthew 7:20.
XII. Matrimony
1. A "Sacrament whereby grace is imparted."
2. Marriage is void unless performed by a
priest. All non-Catholics living in 'concubinage'
instead of Christian matrimony (Question
Box, p. 349,350) (Leo XIII, Life of Leo XI
11, p. 332)
3. There is no cause for which the marriage
bond may be broken.
4. No artificial birth control method may be
employed in marriage, even if the life of
the mother is in jeopardy. (American
Ecclesiastical Review, July 1948-quoted in
Birth Control, by Alvin Jennings, Star Bible
Publications, 1961, 24 pages.)
Bible silent. 2 John 9, 10,11.
Where was the priest at the wedding Jesus
attended? John 2.1-11. Marriage is not a
"church ordinance" nor a "sacrament"
according to the Bible.
Jesus allowed fornication as the sole
cause for divorce. Matthew 5:32; 19:9.
1 Corinthians 3:17; Ephesians 5:29; 1
Peter 3:7--The Christian is to care for his
body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Anything done deliberately which endangers
health is sin.
XIII. Celibacy
"The law of celibacy of the clergy is not a
divine institution but is a rule of the
Church which developed gradually, and was
finally made a part of the legal code for
the greater part of the world" (Externals of
the Catholic Church, Sullivan, p. 6).
Hebrews 13:4.
Bishop must be married. Titus 1:5-6; 1
Timothy 3:2.
Forbidding to marry a doctrine of devils.
I Timothy 4:1-3.
XIV. Doctrine of Mary
(Glories of Mary-page numbers below) 1. Mary
shunned the sight of men. 627, 641, 642. 2.
She alone can obtain pardon. 51, 71, 83. 3.
Cannot be saved without praying to Mary.
254, 255, 189. 4. Perpetual virgin; not
defiled by man. 331. 5. Not subject to
Christ. 200. 6. Mother of God. 202, 211. 7.
"Assumption of Mary," doctrine defined in
1950. 8. "Immaculate Conception of Mary"
doctrine originated in England; she was born
without the stain of original sin. (Life of
Blessed Virgin, De Gentilucci, 104-105).
Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5.
Only one mediator, Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5.
Colossians 3:17. All in the name of
Christ.
Matthew 1:25. Joseph 'knew' her after
Jesus' birth.
Christ Lord of all. Acts 10:36; Matthew
28:18-20. 6. Genesis 1:1.
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