Roman Catholic  News

By: K. B. Napier

Witness to Christ?

The pope wrote to the archbishop of Prague, who was heading a conference about the Risen Christ. The pope said that Christ is the ‘vital principle’ in the church, but, by this he meant the centre of the Eucharist: “From intense participation in the Eucharist springs the spiritual energy needed to bring all projects of goodness to fruition.” (VIS 050228 [270])

Christ is NOT a dry biscuit made in a factory, nor is He in wine grown from grapes on a sunny hillside! Christ is God.  He is at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, and does not ‘come down’ to earth at the behest of unsaved Catholic priests!

Rome is superb at pomp and glittering show, but it has no stake in holy rewards, or in heaven itself. It is a sham, and the Vatican is the City of Death and Superstition.

Politics and Rome

Rome is deeply enmeshed in politics at all levels. On February 26th the head of the Azerbaijan state arrived at the Vatican, to talk with the Cardinal Secretary of State, Angelo Sodano. During the meeting “consideration was given to relations between the Holy See and Azerbaijan, as well as to problems in the Caucasus, with a common commitment to favour the material and spiritual progress of that region…” (VIS 050228 [190]).

Wherever there is politics, there is Rome! In history, countries acted only in tandem with Catholic wishes. It is not a good sign when heads of state consult with the pope about internal affairs.

This meddling in world affairs is commonplace for Catholicism. For example, also on February 26th, Cardinal Renato Martino presented a summary of a report on the Social Dimension of Globalisation, at the Lateran University in Rome.

The report slated the world authorities for the way they handle third world affairs and referred to the ‘imbalances’ that are ‘politically indefensible’. (VIS 050228 [270]).

It’s true that banks rip off their customers, but Rome is at the very heart of it all, directing matters not as a church but as a political machine.

Papal Blasphemy

Even in his sickness, the pope blasphemes God! Whilst still in hospital, this envoy of Satan sent his message to the people gathered in St Peter’s Square, and added “To Mary, Mother of the Church, I renew my entrustment.”! (VIS 050228).

I regularly receive blasphemous, nasty and vicious emails from Catholics who think I am being evil against their false religion. They think it wrong to speak against the ‘holy father’ and their religion. But, they are followers of the pope, who is a faithful man of Satan. They will follow him to hell, if they continue in their unsaved state.

By declaring his total adoration of Mary, the pope confirms his lost condition before God and so will face an awful, condemned future in eternity.

Not Arminian?

Did you know that, officially, Rome teaches predestination? Well, it does. But, like Protestant churches, it does not practice what it teaches. I had an email recently from an ardent Catholic who obviously knew his history, and who objected to my referring to Catholicism as ‘Arminian’.

In reality, Catholicism is a whole heap of heresies, all piled on top of each other like rotting manure. I only referred to it as ‘Arminian’ for a particular purpose…to show that Rome, like so many other heresies, bases salvation on its own efforts. Whilst it roots salvation etc., in Christ, the route to that salvation is via priests and the ‘church’ itself.

And, that makes Rome Arminian!

From His Hospital Bed…

The pope continues to misdirect millions of Catholics from his hospital bed. On March 3rd he sent a message to Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (how they love their long titles!!).

In the message (VIS 050303 [440]) the pope made particular mention of the readiness of all to comply with his previous encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia and his Apostolic Letter, Mane nobiscum Domine. Following the pope’s instructions, they prepared the ‘Instruction’, Redemptionis Sacramentum and, afterward, ‘Suggestions and Proposals’, for the Year of the Eucharist.

Basically, all this means is that Catholics are being urged to love the ‘Most Holy Sacrament’ more. It is hoped that the ‘faithful’ will celebrate the Eucharist in a ‘more worthy fashion’ – but how can Catholics do this, when the Mass is a blasphemy? The Mass is not called a Biblical rite (because it is not), but a rite that is “in conformity with liturgical norms, and, above all, with true inner participation.”

The pope confirms his own belief, and the belief of all Catholics, that “above all in the celebration of the Eucharist, a living re-presentation of the paschal Mystery, Christ is present and His action is shared in ways appropriate to our humanity, which is so in need of words, signs and rituals. The effectiveness of such action is fruit of the work of the Holy Spirit, but it also calls for a human response.”

And so the pope, even from his bed at the Genelli Polyclinic, perpetuates error so enormous as to blot out God’s word.

New Bishops

Mario Espinosa Contreras has been appointed bishop of an area called Mazatlan in Mexico. In a population of three quarters of a million, Catholics represent only one tenth. But, in Burlington, USA, the new bishop there, Salvatore Matano, will preside over a population of just over 23,000, where Catholics make up about a quarter. (VIS 050303 [120]).

This points us to the historical fact that Catholicism spread swiftly in the USA when settlers roamed the land looking for new places to live. Roman Catholic priests, amongst them the artful Jesuits, went on before the wagon trains and made sure each new proposed settlement already had at least a basic Catholic church erected! Thus, the settlers were prime targets for Rome and fell to its strategy of quick overtures.

Concerned by this country-wide activity, Abe Lincoln expressed deep worries. As a result he was murdered by Jesuits. Burlington, then, reminds us of this intrigue and evangelism-by-murder.

A Misconception

Rome teaches that suffering is a sign of Christ in a man. Recently, the suffering of the pope has made others ‘feel accepted’. (VIS 050302 [400]).

Cardinal Ratzinger, after visiting the pope in hospital, said that “The example of a pope who suffers is very important…suffering is a special way of preaching.” So, if the pope had AIDS, that would be ‘preaching’??

The cardinal also said that by suffering, the pope “participates in the passion of Jesus Christ…” a physical illness in no way equates to the death of Christ, when He suffered not just pain or mental anguish, but felt the weight of God’s wrath upon Him for all the sins of all of mankind!

Cardinal Murphy O’Connor says that “in health or sickness…the pope is offering a witness of faith to the Lord, and to his extraordinary mission in today’s world.” How badly such supposed spiritual leaders need a true perception of what God says in His word. If these cardinals knew the truth, they would never utter such foolish words.

Rome and the UN

Politics again! Should you be alarmed by the constant meddling of Rome into world affairs/ Not really – Satan will go about his business as usual, but God has control overall.

On March 2nd the foreign affairs minister for Gabon and president of the 59th General Assembly of the UN, Jean Ping, visited Rome to chat with Cardinal secretary of state, Angelo Sodano. They talked about the reformation of the UN, which is now at “an advanced stage”, and about the involvement of Rome in the African states, particularly the ‘agreement that is in force’ in Gabon. 9VIS 050302 [190])

Do not believe that Rome is just a false church. It is a major mover and shaper in world politics, with an influence it ought not to have.

Christ in Everyone?

This is what Rome teaches. It is found in the title of a seminar subject on prisoners, “Discovering the face of Christ in every human being.” (Cardinal Dario Hoyos). This is very much like the claim made by Quakers, and it is spurious. All men are made in the image of God, but only the elect will have this ‘face of Christ’.

Peter or Christ?

The pope maintained belief in the unsubstantiated claim that Peter is the rock upon which the church is founded. Speaking to a huge crowd in St Peter’s Square on February 20th, he said, “The special duty entrusted to Peter and his successors…the Petrine ministry is essentially serving the unity of the Church…’You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.’ Other comforting words of the Lord’s echo this promise…”

 And so myth becomes truth! (VIS 050221 [310]).

Rome has to twist interpretation to make Peter the ‘rock’ referred to in scripture! Christ is the Rock, as any search of God’s word will prove.

Thrones and Things…

The word ‘cathedral’ comes from cathedra, meaning the seat or throne on which a bishop sits. Another word for cathedra is ‘sede’, (seat or see), and a see is a place from which a bishop governs his diocese. Thus the holy see is the see or throne-place of the bishop of Rome, the pope…which was, says Rome, originally the see of Peter.

In actuality there is no throne or chair used by Peter (particularly as no-one can ever prove Peter was in Rome, or that he had a throne there). Yet, his supposed ‘throne’ is celebrated as the Chair of St Peter. This ‘chair’ was made not in Peter’s day, but by Charles the Bald, and presented to a pope in the year 875! (VIS 050222 [450]).

During the feast day dedicated to this chair, which is housed in a monument, thousands of candles are kept alight around it and special masses are said. It is incredible how a whole set of feasts can evolve around a chair that did not belong to the person it is ascribed to!

The Roman Curia

“In exercising supreme, full and immediate power in the universal church, the Roman pontiff makes use of the Roman Curia which, therefore, perform their duties in his name, and with his authority, for the good of the churches and in the service of the sacred pastors.” (Christus Dominus, 9).

The Curia is led by the Secretariat of State which helps the pope “in the exercise of his holy mission.”  Set up in fifteenth century by The Apostolic Constitution, it consists of 24 Apostolic Secretaries, led by the Secretarius Domesticus.

In 1988 the pope divided the secretariat into two distinct sections – the Section for General affairs and the Section for Relations with States, and Secretariat is run by a Cardinal, the Secretary of State. Then there are Congregations, Tribunals, Pontifical Councils, Synod of Bishops…and a whole cluster of bodies that go to make up the Curia.

The Swiss Guard

Pope Julius 2nd invited the Heletian soldiers to Rome to fight on his side. Known for their courage and skills, these men from the Swiss cantons fought as mercenaries on his side. In 1512 they were awarded the title “Defenders of the Church’s Freedom.” They were officially ‘born’ as Swiss Guards in Rome, in 1506, when 150 of them entered the Vatican and were blessed by the pope. The Swiss Guard resisted Spanish invaders in 1527, and only 42 guards out of 147 survived.

Applicants to the Swiss Guard must be devout Swiss Catholics, of excellent moral background, from a Swiss military school, aged 19 to 30, and unmarried, with a higher diploma.

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© February 2005

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