THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

As I began my search for the church that Jesus built I knew that I must first study the oldest and largest denomination in the Christian faith: The Roman Catholic Church. I did so by reading official Catholic writings and talking to Catholics both clergy and laity. It soon became clear that there is one thing that makes Catholicism different from all other denominations. This is the Papacy. But understanding the doctrines concerning the Pope is complicated because they developed over such a long period of time. For example the first Bishop of Rome to use the title "Universal Bishop" was Boniface III in 607 AD (1) but the Pope was not proclaimed "infallible" until the Vatican Council of 1870 AD (2). But before we begin our study there are three things I want you to understand. First, I will do my best to explain simply and fairly what I found the Catholic Church believes concerning the Pope and the power he claims for himself. Second, I have many family members and friends who are faithful Roman Catholics and I have never had a reason to question the honesty of their faith or dedication to their church. And third, while Catholics and Protestants have, for centuries, debated the doctrines that are unique to Catholicism I believe that this is a waste of time. You see, if the Pope is who he claims to be then every teaching of the Catholic Church is true! But everything stands or falls on the office of the Pope. Stated simply my study came down to one question: If I want to know what to believe in order to go to heaven do I follow the New Testament or the Pope of Rome?

The first thing I did in my study was to search the New Testament to learn all I could about the Pope. It didn't take long to realize that the word "Pope" is not in the Holy Bible. I then tried to find "Universal Bishop" but it was not there either. In fact there was not one part of the organization of the Roman Catholic Church that was part of the church in the first century! What differences did I find? They are summed up in the word simplicity. The organization of the Lord's church in the New Testament was simple. Christians met to worship and serve God in local groups that we call congregations. Godly men were selected in each congregation to serve as their leaders (3). These men had to meet specific qualifications: for example they were to be married, moral men and able to teach God's word (4). The work they did is revealed by the names given to their office. They were called "elders" (5), "overseers" (6) and "shepherds" (7). Every reference to these men shows that there was always a plurality, never one man over the others, and they only had influence over the local congregation that had chosen them (8). This is simple isn't it?

The change from multiple elders in each congregation to one Bishop over the world wide church took over five hundred years. It wasn't until 381 AD that this power was finally concentrated in just 5 men. These were the Bishops in Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Constantinople and Rome and they were called Popes from the Latin for Father. (9) It is understandable that this sharing of religious and political power could not continue for long. It is the nature of some men in positions like this to desire absolute power. In 595 AD John IV the Faster, Bishop of Constantinople, declared himself the "Universal Bishop" of the church. For his claim to succeed he would need one of two things. Either his political supporters must be stronger than those of his fellow Bishops or the other Bishops would have to accept his religious claim of being the sole head of the church. Neither was true in this case. But in 607 AD the Bishop of Rome, Pope Boniface III, with the support of the Roman government, was proclaimed Universal Bishop. (1) The title the Pope of Rome wears to this day. Rome and Constantinople parted ways in 787 AD and became the first two denominations, The Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church in 1054 AD.

Pope Boniface III

Let's go back to John IV of Constantinople assuming the title of Universal Bishop. We have only looked at the political side of the issue but what was the religious position of the other Bishops? Read carefully what the Bishop of Rome, Pope Gregory I, wrote in 596 AD: "I have however taken care to admonish earnestly the same brother and fellow-bishop (John of Constantinople) that, if he desires to have peace and concord with all, he must refrain from the appellation of a foolish title ... Now I confidently say that whosoever calls himself, or desires to be called, Universal Bishop, is in his elation the precursor of Antichrist, because he proudly puts himself above all others." (10) This may be the most important statement ever made about the Papacy, and a Pope made it. Not only did the Bishop of Rome condemn the Bishop of Constantinople for making himself the Universal Bishop, calling it "a foolish title," but he also said that No One could be the sole head of the church! No Roman Catholic has been able to answer this question: If John IV in 595 AD was assuming a foolish title, was the precursor of Antichrist and a man motivated by pride in calling himself the Universal Bishop then why didn't these principles apply to Pope Gregory's successor in 607 AD? As I said, every unique doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church stands or falls on one question: Is the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, the Universal Bishop of the church? Pope Gregory the Great said that no one was the Universal Bishop and never had been!

Pope Gregory I

Keep in mind that the Vatican Council of 1870 decreed that Popes are and always have been infallible! (2) So Gregory was infallible! When he said, "whosoever calls himself, or desires to be called, Universal Bishop, is in his elation the precursor of Antichrist" he made all claims for Popes living before 596 AD worthless and after this date meaningless. This means that Peter was not the first Pope. It means that there is not an apostolic succession from Peter. It means that Boniface III, the first Universal Bishop in the Catholic Church, derived his authority from the Roman government and not from God. It means that the Pope is not the Holy Father. It means the Pope is not the Vicar of Christ on Earth. It means that the Pope does not hold "upon this earth the place of God Almighty". (11) It means that every doctrine taught by the Roman Catholic Church that was not taught by the Apostles and found on the pages of the Holy Bible must be rejected because the Pope has no right to speak for God!

Here are some of these doctrines that are claimed to be true because of the authority of the Pope, but are not in the New Testament, along with the date they were officially accepted. Prayers for the dead (300 AD), Praying to Mary and the Saints (379 AD), Lent (519 AD), Extreme Unction (526 AD), The Bishop of Rome is the Universal Bishop (607 AD), Canonization of saints (995 AD), Penance (1022 AD), Celibacy for priests (1079 AD), Sale of Indulgences (1190 AD), Transubstantiation (1215 AD), Priestly power of absolution (1268 AD), Baptism changed from immersion to sprinkling or pouring (1311 AD), Purgatory (1439 AD), Tradition of the church equal to the Bible (1545 AD), Infallibility of the Pope (1870 AD) and the Immaculate conception of Mary (1954 AD). (12)

Please do not trust me, I am only a man who is searching for the truth. Go to the bookstore and buy a Bible Concordance. This is a book that lists every word in the Bible and tells you every passage were it is found. Now, see if you can find these words in the Holy Scriptures:

Lent?

Canonize?

Penance?

Celibacy?

Indulgences?

Transubstantiation?

Absolution?

Purgatory?

Universal Bishop?

Pope?

The truth is that not one of these words or the doctrines they represent is in the Bible! Sincere Catholics are told they are true and must be believed because the Pope is infallible and says they are so. But since we have learned from an official Catholic document that his authority comes from man and not from God what must be our standard of authority in matters of faith? This is what the inspired Word of God says about itself:

"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (13)

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." (14)

"I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them." (15)

"Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work." (16)

My search for the church that Jesus built is just starting but I have learned an important lesson. It is that the Word of God and it alone must be the standard of truth. When I want to know what God says I only have to open the pages of the New Testament and read. However, the Roman Catholic Church's claim to be equal to the Scriptures is like a house of cards and if one card is removed it all falls. Pope Gregory The Great pulled that card himself when he said that no one man can be the head of the church, the Universal Bishop. The house of Catholicism has fallen. Now I know the truth: The Roman Catholic Church came from the hearts and minds of mortal men and not from God. I must continue my search for "The Church On The Rock".

FOOTNOTES

1. Phocas through imperial decree of the Roman government proclaimed Pope Boniface III "Head of all the churches" and "Universal Bishop" in 607 AD.

2. "We teach and define as a divinely revealed dogma that when the Roman pontiff speaks Ex Cathedra, that is, when,

a. In the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians,

b. In virtue of his supreme apostolic authority,

c. He defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole church,

He possesses, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, that infallibility which the divine Redeemer willed his church to enjoy in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals.

Therefore, such definitions of the Roman pontiff are of themselves, and not by the consent of the church, irreformable.

So then, should anyone, which God forbid, have the temerity to reject this definition of ours: let him be anathema." Vatican Council I, 1870

3. Titus 1:5

4. 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-8

5. Titus 1:5-6; 1 Peter 5:1

6. I Timothy 3:1-2

7. Acts 20:28

8. 1 Peter 5:1-3

9. The Second Ecumenical Council, Constantinople, Canon III, 381 AD

10. Gregory the Great, Book VII, Epistle XXXIII. To Mauricius Augustus, 596 AD

11. Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical "The Reunion of Christendom" 1885

Pope Leo XIII

(Didn't Leo XIII read the warning of the Apostle Paul? "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ... Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come, until the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." 2 Thess. 2:1-4)

12. My thanks to Steve Rudd for his work in finding the dates of these and many other Catholic doctrines.

13. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

14. Rev. 22:18-19

15. Romans 16: 17

16. 2 John 9-11

Larry A. McKee

"The Parson"