Pope Benedict's Denunciation of
True Churches
Exposes His Own System
By Richard Bennett and Michael de Semlyen
(bereanbeacon.org)
On
Prior
to this, in September 2000, when Benedict was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger,
Guardian of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,[3]
he stunned the ecumenical movement by launching an
assault on all other Churches with the
Thus
the 2007 document is formulated as five questions and answers to set the record
straight on the real intentions of the Second Vatican Council. Benedict’s
mission is to rescue its teaching and conclusions from Catholics who in their
association with Christians are drifting away from the old hard-line Catholic
dogma. In the context of this catechetical decree, the last of the five
questions is of specific importance:
“Why
do the texts of the Council and those of the Magisterium since the Council not
use the title of ‘Church’ with regard to those Christian Communities born out of
the Reformation of the sixteenth century?”
The
response, which closes the decree, states,
“According
to Catholic doctrine, these Communities do not enjoy apostolic succession in the
sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of
the Church. These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the
absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and
integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery cannot, according to Catholic
doctrine, be called ‘Churches’ in the proper sense.”
Biblical
Truth Lays Bare the Papal Decree
In declaring the universal primacy of
the Church of Rome and denying the faith of the Reformation, the Pope denounced
all those Churches and Christians whose lives are committed to the Lord Jesus
Christ and to His everlasting Gospel.[4]
Benedict is unable to see that these whom he is denouncing are the true Church
founded upon the Rock, who is Christ Jesus Himself “the
Son of the living God.” They are His people, His
bride, the true Church; believers who adhere to God only and His Written Word;
who are saved before the all-Holy God by grace alone through faith alone, and in
Christ alone and all glory and praise is to God alone. This is the Bride of
Christ, the temple of the Living God, and His dwelling place forever. This is
the Church, which Christ Jesus loved, and these are His disciples for whom He
gave Himself that they might be washed in His own blood. It is the Church
sanctified and cleansed by His Word “that He might
present it to Himself a glorious Church.[5]
It is the “general assembly and church of
the firstborn, which arewritten in heaven.” As a
Roman Catholic, Benedict must reject the Gospel rediscovered by the Reformation
out of the darkness of the Papacy. Ironically, in seeking to reestablish
hard-line Catholic dogma, he has in fact revealed his own church as biblically
counterfeit and apostate.
The
basis for Benedict’s denunciation is given in his answer to the second question
posed in the document:
“Christ
‘established here on earth’ only one Church and instituted it as a ‘visible and
spiritual community’ that from its beginning and throughout the centuries has
always existed and will always exist, and in which alone are found all the
elements that Christ himself instituted.… This Church, constituted and organized
in this world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the
successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him.’”
The presumption here is that the Apostle Peter went to
The
True Legacy of the Apostle Peter
“Apostolic Succession” is the defining dogma for the Pope’s universal primacy and his reason for denouncing other Churches. It is important, therefore, to review the legacy of the Apostle Peter. Peter did not proclaim an institution, a system, or an organization but rather only the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He made known the fact that “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”[8] The meritorious cause of Christ Jesus’ suffering was the sins of men.He offered Himself as the once and for all sacrifice to atone for the sins of His people. The Just suffered for the unjust. He substituted Himself in place of true believers and bore their iniquities in order to propitiate the just wrath of the all-holy God. He that knew no sin suffered in place of those that knew no righteousness. The blessed design of Christ Jesus’ sufferings was to bring us to God, to reconcile us to God, to give us access to the Father, to credit us with His righteousness, and finally to bring us to eternal glory. This is the bequest of Peter that he called precious faith” as he began his second epistle, “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”[9]
The teaching of Peter refutes the hierarchical organization as well as the “Holy Tradition” of the Papacy. Peter believed that all born-again Christians are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,”[10] rather than a top-heavy hierarchical system, from layperson to Priest, from Priest to Bishop, from Bishop to Cardinal and from Cardinal to Pope. He taught salvation and redemption by the blood of Christ, “forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”[11]
Pope
Benedict, in contrast, insists that physical sacraments are necessary for
salvation.[12]
Peter endorsed the writings of the Apostle Paul who condemned the traditions of
men. Peter warned of false teachers who would secretly introduce heresies[13]
into the Church—which is precisely what Roman Catholicism has done. The basis
for the Gospel truth proclaimed by Peter to those who are “born
again” is the Word of the Lord. Thus he
writes of “being born again, not of corruptible
seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for
ever. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by
the gospel is preached unto you.”[14]
The Pope’s foundation is not the word of God alone. He decrees, “Both Scripture
and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and
reverence.”[15]
Peter’s teachings totally demolish the foundational doctrines of Benedict and
his worldly system.
A
Radical Change of Policy
For more than forty
years a spurious ecumenical strategy contrived at the Second Vatican Council
(1962-1965) has been carried out by the Papacy. It is often said that “Vatican
Council II changed everything,” but in this decree Pope Benedict has stated
unequivocally, “The Second Vatican Council neither changed nor intended to
change this doctrine [No. 28, Lumen gentium on the ecclesial doctrine of the
Catholic Church].” Further, he cites John XXIII, the reigning Pope at the
opening of the Second Vatican Council, who also clearly stated that while
Catholic dogma on the church was to remain the same, the Papacy’s “manner”
needed to change as “required by our times.”[16]
Hence that Council moved from a position of condemnation of, and separation
from, other religions to a new program of false ecumenism. It was a public
relations exercise on an allinclusive and global scale. The new warmth and
acceptance was to be applied not just to the other major religions of the world,
but also to Bible believers who were “welcomed back into the fold.” “Separated
brethren” had replaced “heretics” in the
“Dialogue is not an end in itself…it is not just an academic discussion.”[18] Rather, “…it serves to transform modes of thought and behavior and the daily life of those communities [non-Catholic churches]. In this way, it aims at preparing the way for their unity of faith in the bosom of a Church one and visible: thus ‘little by little, as the obstacles to perfect ecclesial communion are overcome, all Christians will be gathered, in a common celebration of the Eucharist, into the unity of the one and only Church which Christ bestowed on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, dwells in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose….”[19]
For
the duration of more than four decades and four pontificates the ecumenical mood
music from the
The
Pontiff Again Shows His True Colors
It is one thing to declare that
This presumed Primacy is the arrogant mindset of the
Damning
Doctrine Resurfaces
Pope Benedict of the year 2007 now demonstrates that his nicknames were
well chosen when as a Cardinal the media dubbed him as “the enforcer”, “the
panzer” and “God’s rottweiler”. He has countless dictates of old to justify his
present strategy. Besides the blasphemous imposition of subjection to the Pope
as necessary for salvation contained in “Unum Sanctam”, another example of the
damning Papal decree is that of The General Council of
“The Holy Roman Church…firmly believes, professes and preaches that ‘no one remaining outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans’, but also Jews, heretics or schismatics, can become partakers of eternal life; but they will go to the ‘eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ (Mt. 25:41), unless before the end of their life they are received into it [the Catholic Church]. For union with the body of the Church is of so great importance that the sacraments of the Church are helpful to salvation only for those remaining in it…and no one can be saved, no matter how much alms he has given, even if he sheds his blood for the name of Christ, unless he remains in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.”[24]
The
force and substance of this 1442 decree reappear in the 2007 ruling of Pope
Benedict XVI. As we have seen, responding to Question Five, as the document
ends, the Pontiff determines:
"These
ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the
sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of
the Eucharistic Mystery cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called
‘Churches’ in the proper sense.”
This hard-line policy does in fact perfectly fit with much of present day official teaching. The Roman Catholic Church officially states, “There is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive. ‘There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest.’”[25] Papal Rome broadcasts the focal point of its hope: “Priests have received from God a power that he has given neither to angels nor to archangels....God above confirms what priests do here below. Were there no forgiveness of sins in the [Roman Catholic] Church, there would be no hope of life to come or eternal liberation. Let us thank God who has given his Church such a gift.”[26]
In Scripture, in complete contrast, salvation is mediated through Jesus Christ alone, the only mediator between God and man.[27] The instrument of salvation is not a Church but rather individual faith and a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The foundation of salvation is outlined by the Apostle Paul, “being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”[28] showing that God’s grace is the efficient cause, and the payment is made “through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” To attempt to bring the Papal church into the nature of the saving work of the Godhead, indeed to make her the centre of that work is grossest blasphemy. In Scripture, salvation is in Christ Jesus alone, “to the praise of the glory of his grace.”[29]
Past
and Present Hard-line Papal Policy
There is a distinct parallel between
the hard-line policy during centuries of Papal Inquisition and the new policy of
the present Pope. During the six hundred and five years of the Inquisition,
Bible believers stood remarkably strong in faith and practice. In 2007, trusting
in the same Lord Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and for ever, we
must stand firm as they did. Bible believers of old confronted by ridicule,
indifference and a deluded populace, still in no uncertain terms denounced the
Pope along with his dictates and daily lived out the Gospel of grace.[30]
We must do likewise. The Lord’s Glory, His Gospel, and His promise are at stake!
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which
cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with
reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”[31]
Christ Jesus prepared believers of old as He does today for condemnations and
false charges. He promised,
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad…for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”[32]
Those
who are falsely denounced are to rejoice, showing forth His truth and His Gospel
of grace because the Lord reigns. We, facing up to the hard-line policy of Pope
Benedict, the continuing obdurate lies, the error and blasphemies of the present
day, must preserve awaiting the power and might of the Righteous Lord God to
respond. Benedict expects to achieve greater control through his hard-hitting
decree. What he fails to realize is that such decrees of Papal monarchy let it
be seen that he rules an enslaved people. The Pope’s arrogant pretensions reveal
that by means of papal dictatorial rule, a lying system of works is ruthlessly
imposed upon Catholic people for their entire lives.
The
Absolute Response to the Decree
The conclusive response to the Pope’s decree is the
everlasting good news of the Lord God. The Lord Jesus Christ died in place of
the true believer. His life and perfect unrepeatable sacrifice alone are the
ransom payment for the believer’s soul. “The Son of
man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a
ransom for many.”[33]
This was the price demanded by the All Holy God in order that His justice might
be satisfied in the forgiveness of sins. As a result of this payment, the true
believer who trusts in Christ Jesus alone is set free from sin, from the wiles
of the devil and from the clutches of a counterfeit Church. “For
the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.”[34]
On the authority of the Bible alone, sinners turn
by the conviction of the Holy Spirit to God in faith alone for the salvation
that He alone gives, based solely on Christ’s death and resurrection for His
own. As they believe on Him alone, they realize the greatness of the Father’s
grace, “being justified freely by His grace through
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”[35]
God’s sovereign grace and forgiveness enables us to respond in faith and place
our trust in the one who died in our place. No Church can save, no ecclesiology
saves. We are made right with the All Holy God solely by His graciousness in
Jesus Christ our Lord alone.
References:
1. “Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the
Church.”
www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsaquaestiones_en.html
2. Emphasis not in
original.
3. Formerly known as the
Office of the Inquisition, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is
still housed in the same building in Rome as its predecessor had been during
more than six terrible centuries of torture and death during which the Office
made sure the inquisitorial papal decrees were carried out.
4. Matthew 16:16
5. Ephesians 5:25-27
6. Acts
7. The terms overseer and elder/pastor are used interchangeably (Acts
8. I Peter 3:18
9. II Peter 1:1
10. I Peter 2:9
11. I Peter 1:18-19
12. Catechism of the Catholic
Church (1994),
13. II Peter 2:1
14. I Peter 1:23, 25
15. Catechism,
16. John XXIII, Address,
11 October 1962, in Footnote 1 of Benedict’s
Responses, “…The
Council…wishes to transmit Catholic doctrine, whole and entire, without
alteration or deviation…it is necessary that the very same doctrine be
understood more widely…The deposit of faith itself and the truths contained in
our venerable doctrine are one thing, but the
manner in which they are annunciated is another,
provided that the same fundamental sense and meaning is
maintained.”16 (Emphasis not in
original.)
17. Vatican Council II Document No. 56,
Nostra Aetate, 28 October 1965
in Documents of Vatican II: The Conciliar and Post
Conciliar Documents, Austin P. Flannery, Ed., New
Revised Edition (1975, 1984) p. 739. All Vatican II
Conciliar and Post Conciliar documents are taken from this
volume.
18. Post Vatican Council II Document No. 42, “Reflections and Suggestions
Concerning Ecumenical Dialogue”,
20.
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_
cfaith_doc_20000806_dominusiesus_ en.html
21. “Dominus Iesus”,
Sect. 17 (2000).
22. Bull, “Unam Sanctam”, November 18, 1302 in
The Sources of Catholic Dogma
Tr. by Roy J. Deferrari from the Thirtieth Ed. of Henry Denzinger’s
Enchiridion Symbolorum, tr.
revised by Karl Rahner, S. J., 1954 (St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co., 1957)
#469.
23. Matthew 23:8
24. The Christian Faith in the
Doctrinal Documents of the Catholic Church, J.
Neuner, SJ, and J. Dupuis, SJ, Eds. (New York: Alba House, 1982) #1005.
25. Catechism,
26. Ibid,
27. John 14:6; Acts 4:12;
I Timothy 2:5
28. Romans 3: 24
29. Ephesians 1:6
30. Watch our Inquisition
video on ‘Youtube’at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx8PdvOELvY
31. Hebrews 12:28-29.
32. Matthew 5:11-12
33. Mark
34. Romans 6:23
35. Romans 3:24.
Prophecy Research
Initiative
EndtTme Issues..., August
2007 - endtimeissues.com