Catholic Heretic Priest John Corapi

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Heretic Priest John Corapi

By David J. Stewart

Catholic Priest John Corapi

Matthew 23:9, "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."

One of the most popular Catholic priests in America is John Anthony Corapi (born 1947). John Corapi(known as "Father Corapi" by Catholics) makes the following heretical statements:

Show me in the Bible where it says, 'Only The Bible' (sola scriptura). Catholic teaching is Divine revelation not 'sola scriptura'. (Bible only) Look to the teachings of the Pope and the Magisterium for the truth. What do you think the Rosary is? It is the Gospel. Believe everything the Holy Church has presented for our belief. That is faith.

SOURCE: http://www.thecatholictreasurechest.com/corapi.htm

I cannot call John Corapi "Father," for Matthew 23:9 strictly forbids doing so; for only God in Heaven is our spiritual Father. To answer Mr. Corapi's first question: Romans 3:4 states, "...let God be true, but every man a liar..."

Jesus condemned the traditions of men in Mark 7:9, "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." Jesus plainly told us in John 5:39 to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES! Never are we told to go to a church nor priest to get our doctrine. Mr. Corapi is teaching doctrines of devils.

Catholic teaching is not divine, and neither are the writings of any man, woman, nor group. Only God's Words are divine! Corapi tells people to look to the teachings of the Pope and the Magisterium (i.e., the teaching of the office of the Catholic Church; the Vatican).

Mr. Corapi errantly states that believing everything the Catholic Church presents is faith. No, that is religion! Catholics have churchianity without Christianity. Jesus would say to John Corapi today the same exact thing He said to the doctrinally corrupt Sadducees...

Matthew 22:29, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."

Catholic Priest, John Corapi shares in his conversion testimony (231,000 YouTube views) how that he was a homeless, suicidal, drug-addict in Los Angeles in 1984; but he came to have his sins absolved by a Catholic priest. Corapi claims that he went to Catholic confession in his dire condition and knelt down before the priest saying: "Bless me Father for I have sinned." Corapi states in his testimony: "From his mouth I heard these words... 'I absolve you of your sins'"

This is John Corapi's profession of Catholic faith; but it is not the Biblical way of salvation. John Corapi is as lost in his sins as the Devil himself. I say this not to be unkind; but to warn all who are reading this that the Catholic way of conversion is a false way of damnation. Religious conversion is not God's salvation.

The Bible teaches a very different way of salvation...

John 20:31, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." Acts 10:43, "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."

There is no mention in the Word of God about having one's sins absolved by a Catholic priest. You're as likely to get your sins forgiven in a Catholic confessional booth as your are in a phone booth. John Corapi is still in his sins, because he foolishly thinks that another priest forgave his sins in 1984. That is simply impossible. No man can forgive another man of his sins against God in Heaven. Sin is the violating of God's Laws (Romans 3:19). Jesus came into the world to pay for men's sins and to redeem us back to God through His blood sacrifice. Collossians 1:13-14, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, EVEN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS."

The Rosary is NOT the Gospel as Corapi Teaches

John Corapi has the errant view that the Catholic Rosary is the gospel...

"What do you think the Rosary is? It is the Gospel."

SOURCE: http://www.thecatholictreasurechest.com/corapi.htm

The Rosary is a heathen religious chant, which Jesus condemned as "vain repetitions" in Matthew 6:7. According the the Vatican's tradition (bogus hoax) of Our Lady of Fatima, anyone who comes to Mary by reciting the Rosary will never perish. Ladies and gentleman, that is a false gospel, damnable heresy, and the words of Satan himself. Catholics chant "Hail Mary" 53-times in every Rosary, and in an extended Rosary MUCH more than that. Jesus is not mentioned. Catholics are so blinded by their false religion.

The Bible Calls Idols "gods"

They gather around their statue of Our Lady of Fatima in their living room, with family and friends, to worship their god in the form of a statue. The Bible calls statues and idols, gods, in genesis 31:32...

Genesis 31:32, "With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them."

Jacob's uncle (Rachel and Leah's father) was Laban. Laban was an unsaved heathen who worshipped idols, which the Bible calls gods in Genesis 31:32. When Jacob departed from Laban after 20-years of servitude, Rachel stole Laban's idols. The Bible calls these idols "gods," for they were Laban's gods. That is very interesting. Catholics worship gods—statues of Mary, the Queen of Heaven, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Anthony, and many others. They worship the Image of Divine Mercy, bowing and praying in idolatry to their gods made of stone, plastic, marble, gold, and wood.

The Catholic Church is a prisonhouse of religion, worshipping a host of idol gods; just as did wicked Laban. The word idol does not appear in the Old testament Genesis 35:2, "Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments." Here again we see a Biblical reference to idols as "gods." The word "gods" is found 207 times in the King James Bible's Old Testament. Jacob said, Not in my house! Amen and amen!

We find the word "idols" 89 times in the Old Testament. Idols are false gods. 2nd Kings 17:12, "For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing." Oh listen to me you Catholics, you need to come to the true and living God! The idea that God can be reached through a statue of Mary is despicable idolatry.

Catholics repeatedly quote John 19:27 ("Behold thy mother!") in a sinful attempt to exalt Mary. Catholics claim that Jesus identified Mary as everyone's mother. However, Jesus also said in John 19:26, "Woman, behold thy son!" So is John everyone's son? This evidences just how ridiculous and lame Catholic indoctrination really is. They have no Biblical basis for their

It is Jesus' Blood That Washes Sins Away; NOT the Catholic Priest

The saddest thing about John Corapi's conversion testimony is when he mentions his father coming to him for salvation after 50-years. I intend no disrespect to Mr. Corapi nor his deceased father, God forbid; but if his earthly father thought he was going to Heaven because his son forgave his sins, then he is not in Heaven according to the Bible. Mr. Corapi states that he absolved his father's sins at a Confessional. It simply does not work that way friend. Only God can forgive sin, and the Bible is very clear that forgiveness is only promised on the basis of Christ's blood sacrifice; not by the whim of an earthly priest nor some sinister minister.

In the Old Testament, the tabernacle high priest killed a lamb, a lamb without spot nor blemish (picturing the sinless Lamb of God) and brought the blood of the lamb into the holy of holies. The priest then sprinkled that blood on the mercy seat to atone for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:15). This represents Christ's blood that He applied to the mercy seat in the heavenly Holy Place (Hebrews 9:12, 22-24). Thank God, the blood has been applied! This is the basis of true salvation by which our sins are eternally forgiven.

With that in mind, it becomes so obvious just how ridiculous it is for Catholic priests to claim the power to forgive sins. It is the precious blood of Jesus Christ that washes away our sins (1st John 1:7), in response to one's faith in Christ; and not the arrogant words of some priest who says, "I absolve you of your sins." What arrogance! Notice that the priest says "I" absolve your sins. No priest can absolve anyone's sins, not even his own. Woe unto Catholics!

What you had better say is: "Forgive me Lord Jesus for I have sinned!"

Catholic "Father Corapi" is a Wolf is Sheep's Clothing

Father Corapi is a heretic, a phony, and a spiritual fraud. I do not enjoy saying that, but it needs to be said to warn others. The truth must be told. I have nothing against John Corapi personally. He seems like a nice man who has been through a rough past. Corapi is certainly a powerful and winsome speaker, which makes him even more dangerous spiritually. The issue is not about liking or not liking a person. I admire anyone who kicks drug-addiction and takes a higher path in life; but unfortunately, Mr. Corapi has taken a lower spiritual path which can only lead to Hell, fire, and destruction in eternity.

Proverb 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." I believe Mr. Corapi is sincere; but he is sincerely wrong and on his way to the Lake of Fire. Corapi was looking for answers to his problems and found Catholicism; but reformation my friend is not regeneration. Ye must be born-again (John 3:3-7). I haven't heard John Corapi mention being born-again in his testimony. He doesn't even mention Jesus. All he mentions is saying "Bless me Father for I have sinned" to a Catholic priest. That is NOT Biblical salvation. Romans 1:16 teaches that the POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ...

Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

You cannot show me even one Scripture where someone was saved by confessing their sins to a priest nor Apostle. Mr. Corapi has some very unbiblical beliefs that are a road to Hell. Corapi thinks that chanting the Rosary is the Gospel, and he claims salvation comes from saying "Bless me Father for I have sinned." Well, you certainly are sinning by going to a priest to be forgiven; but no priest can bless nor forgive you. The blessing sought is forgiveness through the priest. That is 100% false religion! Only God has the power to forgive sins!!!

It is only by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ that men are declared righteous in God's eyes (Romans 4:5-6). This happens by faith alone in Christ Jesus to forgive one's sins (Ephesians 2:8-9). Only Jesus has the nail-scared hands and feet; so only in Jesus' name can anyone be forgiven (Acts 4:10-12).

May I say, Biblically, you can confess your sins to a Catholic priest until your face turns blue and your tongue falls off, but it won't help you get your sins forgiven in the least. Catholic priests are extremely arrogant and revel in their self-proclaimed power to forgive people's sins. Catholic priests love teaching the masses that they alone have such POWER. It is a form of aphrodisiac for priests.

Catholic priests relish in their claim that they alone can forgive people's sins, which is the height of arrogance, self-exaltation, and pompous stiff-necked pride. They set themselves up in the place of God; and in so doing lead Catholics to commit idolatry every time they step into the confessional booth, confessing their sins to a priest who is only a sinful man himself. Galatians 6:3, "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." Catholic priests are nothing, and they can do nothing. God has NEVER given anyone, neither His Apostles, power to forgive men's sins.

Catholic priests are the blind leading the blind, knowing not the Scriptures nor God's saving power...

Matthew 22:29, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."

The Bible plainly tells us how to obtain the forgiveness of sins in Acts 10:43, "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."There you have it... WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL RECEIVE REMISSION OF SINS! That is the only way to have one's sins forgiven. Read more at christian-truths2.blogspot.com

 

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Pope John Paul II — Burning in Hell

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Pope John Paul II — Burning in Hell

The death of Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)

April 3rd, 2005

Please understand that I don't condemn anyone, for the Bible condemns all of us as guilty, dirty, rotten, hell-deserving sinners. My salvation solely rests in Christ's righteousness, because of the precious blood that He gave for our sins. My intention is not to be unkind; but rather, to contend for the Christian faith. According to the Bible, Pope John Paul II went to burn in Hell on April 2nd, 2005, because he trusted in the Catholic Church to save him. Jesus clearly stated in John 3:3...

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

The Pope NEVER spoke of being "born-again." The Pope NEVER made any public profession of faith ALONE in Jesus Christ. On the contrary, Pope John Paul II placed his faith in the traditions and manmade doctrines of the Catholic religion. There is NOTHING in the King James Bible (or the Catholic Bible) about keeping the Seven Sacraments to get to heaven... nothing! There is NOTHING in the Word of God about the Immaculate Conception of Mary. There is NOTHING in the Bible about the Rosary or praying to God through Mary. There is nothing in the Bible about priests being celibate. Matthew 23:9 outright forbids calling any priest "Father." So why do Catholics do it?... because they are being taught the commandments of men...

"He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." —Mark 7:6-9)

Pope John Paul II was a minister of Satan, a false prophet...

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." —2nd Corinthians 11:13-15

Pope John Paul II will be held responsible at the Great White Throne of Judgment someday for misleading hundreds-of-millions of people with damnable heresies, causing them to burn in hell.  I say this with great sorrow because God does not want anyone to perish in hell...

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." —2nd Peter 3:9

No one goes to hell unless he or she chooses to go there ("And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" -John 5:40).  All you have to do to go to hell is "nothing."  If you don't get born-again, you are automatically going to hell ("He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." -John 3:18).  The Pope made the deadly mistake that so many foolish people make, he ADDED good works to his faith in Christ ("For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" -Ephesians 2:8,9).  Salvation is a gift of God ("For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" -Romans 6:23).  Salvation is free, you CANNOT add works to it; otherwise it is not a gift anymore.  Please read my article, Are You Really A Christian.  Also please read, Good Works Verses Grace.

FOX News and CNN have been covering the death of the Pope round the clock.  I've heard nothing but lies, heresy and ridiculous comments by many famous people.

President George W. Bush: Pope was a "hero for the ages."

President George W. Bush: "A good and faithful servant of God has been called home."

When George W. Bush was running for the office of governor in Texas, he said publicly that a person must accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior to go to heaven.  George Bush has claimed publicly to be a Christian.  I can say with confidence that George W. Bush is NO Christian!  No true Christian would ever praise the Pope as "a good and faithful servant of God" (not to mention the fact that George W. Bush is also member of the eerie occult groups, Skull and Bones and Bohemian Grove).  seewww.bushrevealed.com

It's disgusting to hear professed "Christians" like Billy Graham and Robert Schuller praising the Pope.  It's hard to believe that Billy Graham was actually once a board member of the Sword of the Lord in Tennessee.  Billy Graham is a sell-out and the pioneer of the ecumenical movement.

Bush Sr., Bush Jr., Bill Clinton, Jimmy carter, Nancy Reagan...all praising Pope John Paul II...does anyone believe the Bible anymore?  Does anyone care about the TRUTH?  Evidently not in The White House.

To be expected, priests from across the world are praising the Pope as the Vicar" of Jesus Christ.  Can you show me that in the Bible?  No you cannot!  No one in the Bible was ever reverenced as "God upon the earth," other than our Lord Jesus Christ (Who in every respect was God Almighty upon the earth, 1st Timothy 3:16).  The Pope was a heathen sinner just like anyone else, and he surely was not God's Vicar.  The Pope was the Vicar of hell.  I say this not to be unkind, but to try to wake you up concerning the TRUTH.

The Catholic religion is also guilty of worshipping the dead.  There is NOTHING in the Bible leading us to bow unto a statue of Mary.  On the contrary, Exodus 20:4,5 commands us NOT to make unto ourselves ANY graven images, nor to BOW to them.  The Catholic religion leads people into idolatry and vain worship, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (Mark 7:6-9).  Catholics worldwide bow in worship to statues of saints, such as Saint Anthony.  Now they're talking about making Pope John Paul II a saint.  Well, if you want to worship the Pope, then you'll have to look down to the ground because he's burning in hell fire and brimstone according the the bible.

I just heard a Catholic man from Rome say, " The Pope brought us the gospel of Christian hope."  The gospel of Christian hope?  You've got to be kidding?  The Bible declares the gospel of Christ in 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 (The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ).  So what's with the Seven Sacraments?  Why does the Catholic church claim that they ARE Christ, and that baptism is the door into the Catholic church?  These erroneous teachings are manmade doctrines which are nowhere found in the Scriptures.

Pope John Paul the second was the first Pope to ever visit The White House.  President George W. Bush was the first president to ever visit the Vatican in Rome.  He was the most traveled Pope.  Pope John Paul II was also the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years of Pontiff history (he was Polish).  Sadly, of the estimated one million Polish people living in Chicago, 98% are said to be Catholic.  According to the Bible, 98% of the Catholic people in Chicago are going to hell when they die.  Don't get mad at me, get mad at God because He wrote the Bible.  You can get mad at me all you want to...my beliefs are based upon the Bible, not the TRADITIONS of some false religion.  Show me anywhere in the Bible where you're supposed to go into a confessional booth to confess your most innermost immoral secrets and sins to a priest (just another dirty, rotten sinner).  The Bible teaches no such nonsense!  We are supposed to confess our sins to Jesus Christ alone (1st John 1:9).

Cardinal Egan of Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York said that Pope John Paul II was "just like Jesus."  Egan said that the Pope cared about people, "Just as Jesus did."  Egan said that the Pope loved others, "Just like Jesus did"...and on and on.  Nothing could be further from the truth, the Pope was nothing like Jesus.  Jesus was a very controversial figure in His day, offending people everywhere He went.  Why do you think they crucified Him?  Jesus was against the hypocritical religious leaders of His day (those who led the masses astray in false religion).  Don't you see it?  The Pope and the priests are the religious hypocrites (the Pharisees) of our day!  Jesus would have roasted them with His preaching, just as He did the phonies back in His day...

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." —Matthew 23:27

The Pope and cardinals in the Catholic religion adorn themselves in the most expensive of garments, they drink from cups made of pure gold and silver, they assemble in magnificent palaces...while the poor rot in the streets, millions die of starvation, and little children suffer at the hands of their merciless predators.  Listen to the words of Jesus...

"But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ." —Matthew 23:5-10

The Catholic religion is of the devil, and it's leaders are the sinister ministers of Satan.  The Pope was nothing like my Saviour Jesus Christ...Jesus spoke the TRUTH and made no apologies for it.  The Pope never warned anyone about hell-fire.  Jesus spoke of weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth in hell.  Jesus didn't just visit the poor and needy...he actually helped them.  How much money has the Vatican given to world's poorest?  Nearly 3,000,000,000 people live on less than $2 a day.  The Pope toured all around the world, but what did he do to actually help those people?  Nothing!  Why is it that the Vatican in Rome is so filthy rich, while the poor stay poor?

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." —Matthew 23:14

The Catholic religion is a fraud.  The Pope is a phony.  Pope John Paul II is sadly burning in hell.  The doctrines of Vatican II are nothing more than TRADITIONS and MANMADE doctrines.  Even the novice Bible student will find this to be true.  I am not happy about this, but greatly saddened every day that passes.  I wish it were not so.  The fact that the Catholic religion is one of the most popular religions on the earth should be a grave warning sign to us.  The world is unanimously praising Pope John Paul II (now they're even talking about making him a saint).  But what did Jesus say...

"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." —Luke 6:26

The next Pope may very well be the False Prophet who will accompany the Antichrist to rule the New World Order.  Earlier today I heard former Secretary of State, Madelyn Albright, say that the Pope had given people the sense that "those who believe in God are united a certain particular way."  In other words, "it doesn't matter what you believe."  Talk about one-world religion!  The Devil desires to consolidate everything to prepare the stage for the coming Antichrist.  We are witnessing the formation of the New World Order—which will be composed of a one-world government (a confederate), a one-world religion (ecumenicalism), a one-world economy and money system, to form a global police-state.  Surely, the return of the Lord Jesus cannot be far away. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

"It is without question that John Paul II, former head of the Roman Catholic Church, spoke strongly to many of the moral issues of our day, from protecting unborn children and marriage to voicing opposition to stem cell research and human cloning. However, he was a fallible man, like the popes before him, who rejected the authority of Scripture in favor of a religious system based on the doctrines and traditions of men. Christians must not be led into pledging allegiance to the deceased pontiff, but should pray for the Catholic and Protestant people who are far from biblical teachings, and are now leading the effort to embrace ecumenicism."

—Michael Marcavage, director of Repent America Read more at christian-truths2.blogspot.com

 

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Worship Of "The Virgin Mary" Do Catholics Worship Mary?

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Worship Of "The Virgin Mary"

BUFF SCOTT, JR. Columnist - Reformer - Defector

Do Catholics Worship Mary?

Opening Statement

Do Roman Catholics and their ecclesiastics worship Mary? Their solid stance is, "No, we do not worship Mary!" However, the evidence is overwhelmingly against them. But before the evidence is presented, I'd like to cut at the root of this dispute.

The "early bird that got the worm" is the truth that not once does the apostle Peter, who is alleged to be the first pope, mention Mary in any of his biblical letters. Nor is there any record in any of the other letters, such as Acts of the Apostles, that Peter ever referred to Mary. Not only did he not mention her, directly or indirectly, but zero nothing is said by anyapostle about the need to venerate or worship her. This fact speaks volumes against the Catholic's view of Mary.

Why? Why did Peter fail to mention the "Virgin Mary"? Surely if all popes worshipped Mary and leaned on her for salvation, and they have, as the evidence will show, and if Peter was the first pope, why does he not praise and adore Mary in the same vein as other popes? The question demands an answer.

The Late Pope John Paul II Worshipped Mary & Relied On Her For Salvation

If the pope is the role model and instructor and guide for Catholics, and he is, and if they are striving to follow in his footsteps, and they are, they give the same level of reverence to Mary as their "Supreme Pontiff." It is a documented fact that the late Pope John Paul II relied more on Mary for salvation than on Jesus.

Pope John Paul made more than 40 pilgrimages to her shrines at Lourdes and Fatima. He wrote in his Apostolic Letter of Oct. 16, 2002, the following words:

"I entrust this Apostolic Letter to the loving hands of the Virgin Mary, prostrating myself in spirit before her image in the splendid Shrine built for her by Blessed Bartolo Longo, the apostle of the Rosary."

He continued:

"O Blessed Rosary of Mary, sweet chain which unites us to God... tower of salvation against the assaults of Hell, safe port in our universal shipwreck, we will never abandon you. You will be our comfort in the hour of death; yours our final kiss as life ebbs away. And the last word from our lips will be your sweet name, O Queen of the Rosary of Pompei, O dearest Mother, O Refuge of Sinners, O Sovereign Consoler of the Afflicted…."

Salvation In Mary & The Rosary!

Embroidered inside all of Pope John Paul's robes was the phrase, "Totus tuus sum Maria," which means, "Mary, I am all yours." The Catholic Rosary concludes:

"HAIL, HOLY QUEEN, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!"

It is of interest when we ponder Roman Catholicism's popular "15 Promises of Mary." Among them we find:

"The soul which recommends itself to me [Mary] by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish...I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall…at the moment of death…participate in the merits of the Saints in Paradise."

It is obvious, then, that not only did the late pope worship Mary and place his eternal security in her, but it is equally obvious that "the faithful" follow in his footsteps. When Catholics turn from faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation to trusting Mary and the Rosary, as did Pope John Paul II, they place their eternal salvation in jeopardy, for Jesus Himself declared, "No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

If Jesus spoke the truth, and He did, there is zero security and salvation in Mary and the Rosary. In the pope's "Prayer For The Marian Year," he prayed:

"Sustain us, O Virgin Mary, on our journey of faith and obtain for us the grace of eternal salvation."

Need I continue? There is ample evidence that Catholics in general worship Mary. It is a sad day in human history whenany person, whether Protestant or Catholic, places his/her allegiance and salvation in anyone except the Son of God.

Even More Clear Evidence

But if the evidence above is insufficient to establish that popes and their disciples do indeed worship Mary and rely more on her than on Jesus, I hereby dispense more.

The Glories of Mary by Alphonsus de Liguori explicitly mentions Marian worship in the fifth stanza of the hymn, "Mary, Virgin of Virgins" (page 589).

"Queen thou art, whom all things worship, Earth and hell, and heaven above; But thy heart o'erflows with goodness, Just and sinners feel thy love."

Frank Hutto, one of my readers, commented on the above hymn. "The statement about her being worshipped is unmistakably clear. Since Liguori's book bears both the nihil obstat and the imprimatur (Latin for 'Let it be printed'), it must contain nothing objectionable to the Roman Catholic Church's Teaching Magisterium. Besides, Liguori not only bears the title of 'saint,' but also was designated a doctor [outstanding teacher] by Pope Pious IX in 1871."

Jesus Blessed Other Women

The thing that rubs the bone with me is that Jesus had a unique relationship with numerous people during his time on planet Earth, including many women, yet none of them have been set apart by the papacy as "holy vessels" to be venerated or worshipped. Jesus had an exceptionally close relationship with Lazarus and his sister Mary. After she anointed Him with costly perfume, He told the Twelve, "Wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her" (Matt. 26:10-13).

Then there was a different woman who, on a another occasion, wet His feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured an alabaster jar of perfume on them (Luke 7:36-50). Jesus turned to Peter, in the format of a rebuke, and said:

"Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet....Jesus said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.' "

Now tell me why the papacy has not "sanctified" this woman and instructed "the faithful" to venerate or worship her? True, she was not Jesus' earthly mother. Nor was Lazarus' sister. Yet look what praise—what acclaim—Jesus awards them. Should we not construct an image, a statue—an idol—of them and bow down and worship them, as Catholics do the statue (idol) of Jesus' mother?

If I might be so bold as to claim that it is futile for our Catholic friends and their clergy to deny they worship Mary. The evidence—the documentation, the confirmation, the testimony—is stacked against them.

You Of The Catholic Persuasion

The Lord warned old Israel against worshipping "man-made gods of wood and stone [statues, images, idols], which cannot see or hear or eat or smell" (Deut. 4:28). And when the devil offered Jesus "all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor...if you will bow down and worship me," Jesus replied, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only' " (Matthew 4:10).

"Bow down and worship me"? Isn't this what our Catholic friends do when they stoop in the presence of a statue of Mary—or some other idol? Are they not aware that God requires them to worship and serve Him only? And I announce from the roof tops: Away with all religious statues, images, and idols that are bowed down to and worshipped! Ground them to powder and cast them upon the waters! Let it then become "unholy water!"

When Moses came down from the Mountain of God and saw his people had made an idol in the form of a golden calf and were bowing down and worshipping it, he "took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it upon the water and made the Israelites drink it" (Exodus 32:19-20). Take heed, you who have built images, statues, and idols and bow down to them—whether Catholics or Protestants. The Lord will some day demand an answer for your idolatrous behavior.

Closing Remarks

Lest it be said that I have a personal vendetta against Catholics, let me clarify by saying that I have many friends who are of the Catholic persuasion. Most of them are sincere, just as most Protestants are candid and forthright. My main thrusts of contention are the sectarian systems that have enslaved Catholics and Protestants alike. These religious orders and factions that have brainwashed and subjugated so many must be disarmed and ejected before there can be any semblance of what Jesus founded. May that day soon arrive.

If you'd like to receive my weekly Reformation Rumblings, or otherwise make contact, click on the address below.

Renewal@mindspring.com

Renewal@mindspring.com Read more at christian-truths2.blogspot.com

 

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Who is Like God? Worship ONLY God!

NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED, yet Catholicism indeed does render worship to St. Michael and to other angels. In fact, until the custom died a couple of hundred years ago, the Saint's Day of Michael (Sept. 29) was a holy day of obligation, requiring the Catholic faithful to attend Mass in his honor. When the warlike Germans embraced Catholicism, the church morphed Wotan, chief of their pagan gods, into Michael, the chief of the warrior angels. Another easy adaptation of pagan beliefs and practices into Romish orthodoxy. Now, throughout the lands once walked by the German hordes we see not the ancient hilltop temples of Wotan, but churches and shrines dedicated to angel Michael.

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Who is Like God?

Worship ONLY God!

In the movies, paratroopers loudly shout "Geronimo!" as they leap into the night sky. Before that dramatic moment, however, it is likely that Catholic troopers mutter a little prayer to invoke the protection of "St. Michael," patron saint of paratroopers, police, mariners grocers and those suffering from sickness.

St. Michael is known to Christians as Michael, the archangel who led angels loyal to God in the heavenly war of Lucifer's insurrection. Though Lucifer has been cast out of Heaven, he and his band of rebel angels apparently still have access (cf. Job 1:6; 2:1) and a state of war exists even now (cf. Rev. 12:4; cf. Dan. 10:13; Jude 9). Some unspecified event is going to trigger a mighty angelic battle (Rev. 12:7) and Michael, whose name signifies "Who is like God?," will lead the Lord's host to victory.

The Bible refers to Michael as "archangel" and "one of the chief princes," but the early Greek fathers and others consider him the most senior of all the angels, or "Prince of the Seraphim."

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, tradition assigns four offices to Michael:

1) To fight against Satan. 2) To rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death. 3) To be the champion of God's people, the Jews in the Old Law, the Christians in the New Testament 4) To call away from earth and bring men's souls to judgment

In the imagery of Catholicism, Michael usually is depicted as a fully armed warrior standing over the body of a slain dragon. Often, he is shown to be holding a pair of scales (to weigh the souls of the dead) or the Book of Life (to indicate that he participates in the judgment).

Michael is a created being, yet how many of the responsibilities and offices ascribed to him by tradition intrude upon the authority of the Christ and the Holy Spirit?

He is a created being and, as such, not to be worshipped:

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;--Exodus 20:2-5

NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED, yet Catholicism indeed does render worship to St. Michael and to other angels. In fact, until the custom died a couple of hundred years ago, the Saint's Day of Michael (Sept. 29) was a holy day of obligation, requiring the Catholic faithful to attend Mass in his honor. When the warlike Germans embraced Catholicism, the church morphed Wotan, chief of their pagan gods, into Michael, the chief of the warrior angels. Another easy adaptation of pagan beliefs and practices into Romish orthodoxy. Now, throughout the lands once walked by the German hordes we see not the ancient hilltop temples of Wotan, but churches and shrines dedicated to angel Michael.

Every Catholic saint worth his salt can claim a string of miracles, preferably miraculous deliveries, and the best of them make the occasional earthly visitation. Those who venerate Michael can point to both:

According to an (apocryphal?) legend of the tenth century he appeared over the Moles Hadriani (Castel di S. Angelo), in 950, during the procession which St. Gregory held against the pestilence, putting an end to the plague. Boniface IV (608-15) built on the Moles Hadriani in honour of him, a church, which was styled St. Michaelis inter nubes (in summitate circi).

Well known is the apparition of St. Michael (a. 494 or 530-40), as related in the Roman Breviary, 8 May, at his renowned sanctuary on Monte Gargano, where his original glory as patron in war was restored to him. To his intercession the Lombards of Sipontum (Manfredonia) attributed their victory over the Greek Neapolitans, 8 May, 663. In commemoration of this victory the church of Sipontum instituted a special feast in honour of the archangel, on 8 May, which has spread over the entire Latin Church and is now called (since the time of Pius V) "Apparitio S. Michaelis", although it originally did not commemorate the apparition, but the victory.--Catholic Encyclopedia, copyright © 1913 by the Encyclopedia Press, Inc. Electronic version copyright © 1996 by New Advent, Inc.

How did Michael the archangel, one of the chief princes of God's angelic host (Dan. 10:13), become St. Michael, patron of paratroopers and police? There are those who would suggest the process was nothing more than apotheosis, or god-making, so well known to the ancients and to those who today makes deities of sports figures, matinee idols and rock stars. Rome, of course, denies such an idea, claiming instead that those she canonizes are nothing more than friends and servants of God whose holy lives merit His special love:

"The true origin of canonization and beatification must be sought in the Catholic doctrine of the worship (cultus), invocation, and intercession of the saints. As was taught by St. Augustine (Quaest. in Heptateuch., lib. II, n. 94; Contra Faustum, lib. XX, xxi), Catholics, while giving to God alone adoration strictly so-called, honour the saints because of the Divine supernatural gifts which have earned them eternal life, and through which they reign with God in the heavenly fatherland as His chosen friends and faithful servants. In other words, Catholics honour God in His saints as the loving distributor of supernatural gifts. The worship of latria (latreia), or strict adoration, is given to God alone; the worship of dulia (douleia), or honour and humble reverence, is paid the saints; the worship of hyperdulia (hyperdouleia), a higher form of dulia, belongs, on account of her greater excellence, to the Blessed Virgin Mary.--Catholic Encyclopedia, Op. cit.

DULIA, HYPERDULIA, LATRIA. Call it what you will, worship is worship and worship is to be rendered to the Creator, not created things or beings. Playing word games and inventing new meanings for what is represented by the practice of kneeling before an image, praying and sacrificing to a created being and holding special rites to honor such beings is idolatry, clear and simple. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck -–it is a duck!! When it comes to worshipping created beings and things – you can call it dulia or hyperdulia, but it still is idolatry.

Scripture particularly warns us against being beguiled into worshipping angels.

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,--Colossians 2:18,

Angel worship was becoming a big thing in the area around Colosse, where the practice continued for centuries. In it's worship (dulia) of Michael, Gabriel, etc., Roman Catholicism is in clear violation of God's commandment against idolatry. The proscription against worshipping (or rendering obsequious honors to) angels may be seen also in Matthew 4:10, Revelation 19:10 and Revelation 22:8,9.

There are similarities between the teachings and practice of the Roman church as concerns angels and those of the heretics who were proselytizing angelic worship in Paul's time. The Colossian heretics based their teaching on visions and revelations they claimed to have received. This of course, sounds a lot like the apparitions and "developing" traditions of the Roman church. These false teachers claimed to have secret wisdom and transcendent knowledge which only is available to the spiritually elite, similar to the Roman Magisterium. Like those of the Magisterium, their claims are false. The Scriptures are clear: Jesus Christ is God's final and complete revelation to man (Hebrews 1:1,2)

In writing to the Colossians, Paul stressed that all the truth necessary for salvation, sanctification and glorification is available in Christ, who is God revealed. (John 1:14; Rom. 11:33-36; 1 Cor. 1:24, 2:6-8; Eph. 1:8-9, 3:8-9) In the first two chapters of his letter, the Apostle stressed Christ's deity and his sufficiency to save believers and to bring them to spiritual maturity. There is no reason to worship or seek the assistance of Michael or any other created being. Christ is enough!

The Catholic Encyclopedia provides an alternate point of view:

It is objected that the invocation of saints is opposed to the unique mediatorship of Christ Jesus. There is indeed "one mediator of God and man, the man Christ Jesus". But He is our mediator in His quality of our common Redeemer; He is not our sole intercessor nor advocate, nor our sole mediator by way of supplication." --Catholic Encyclopedia, Op. cit.

Is it God who promotes angels and selected dead people to the status of sainthood? Not at all. It is the pope, the Vicarius Filii Dei, who determines just who are the particular friends of God who merit His "special" love. And, by golly, he does so infallibly. At least, that is the consensus of a lot of the good ole boys who, in their fantasies, determined the Pontifex Maximus to have such powers.

Is the pope infallible in issuing a decree of canonization? Most theologians answer in the affirmative. It is the opinion of St. Antoninus, Melchior Cano, Suarez, Bellarmine, Bañez, Vasquez, and, among the canonists, of Gonzales Tellez, Fagnanus, Schmalzgrüber, Barbosa, Reiffenstül, Covarruvias (Variar. resol., I, x, no 13), Albitius (De Inconstantiâ in fide, xi, no 205), Petra (Comm. in Const. Apost., I, in notes to Const. I, Alex., III, no 17 sqq.), Joannes a S. Thomâ (on II-II, Q. I, disp. 9, a. 2), Silvester (Summa, s. v. Canonizatio), Del Bene (De Officio Inquisit. II, dub. 253), and many others. In Quodlib. IX, a. 16, St. Thomas says: "Since the honour we pay the saints is in a certain sense a profession of faith, i.e., a belief in the glory of the Saints [quâ sanctorum gloriam credimus] we must piously believe that in this matter also the judgment of the Church is not liable to error." These words of St. Thomas, as is evident from the authorities just cited, all favouring a positive infallibility, have been interpreted by his school in favour of papal infallibility in the matter of canonization, and this interpretation is supported by several other passages in the same Quodlibet. This infallibility, however according to the holy doctor, is only a point of pious belief. Theologians generally agree as to the fact of papal infallibility in this matter of canonization, but disagree as to the quality of certitude due to a papal decree in such matter. In the opinion of some it is of faith (Arriaga, De fide, disp. 9, p. 5, no 27); others hold that to refuse assent to such a judgment of the Holy See would be both impious and rash, as Suarez (De fide, disp. 5 p. 8, no 8); many more (and this is the general view) hold such a pronouncement to be theologically certain, not being of Divine Faith as its purport has not been immediately revealed, nor of ecclesiastical Faith as having thus far not been defined by the Church. "---Ibid.

Did you know there is a "Chaplet to St. Michael?" According to one Antonia d'Arsonac, the archangel visited her one day and taught her about the chaplet. He promised her that anyone who recited this chaplet before receiving communion would be escorted to the communion rail by a corps of nine angels, one from each of the nine angel choirs. To make things even better, Michael promised that those who recited his chaplet every day could count on his help and that of all the angels for so long as he lived. Sigh!

To give the reader some idea of what this chaplet involves, in addition to the usual multiplied Hail Maries and Our Fathers, here are a couple of the chaplet's concluding prayers:

O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.

Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.

This is the law of the Roman Catholic Church:

Can. 1186 To foster the sanctification of the people of God, the Church commends to the special and filial veneration of Christ's faithful the Blessed Mary ever-Virgin, the Mother of God, whom Christ constituted the Mother of all. The Church also promotes the true and authentic cult of the other Saints, by whose example the faithful are edified and by whose intercession they are supported.

Can. 1187 Only those servants of God may be venerated by public cult who have been numbered by ecclesiastical authority among the Saints or the Blessed.

Can. 1188 The practice of exposing sacred images in churches for the veneration of the faithful is to be retained. However, these images are to be displayed in moderate numbers and in suitable fashion, so that the christian people are not disturbed, nor is occasion given for less than appropriate devotion.--Code of Canon Law

This is the Law of God:

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;--Exodus 20:2-5

When the time comes for the sheep to be separated from the goats, do YOU want to stand before the Great White Throne and try to explain to the Perfect Judge that when you were praying to one of His angels, or to Mary or some other dead person, you were not really worshipping with latria – merely dulia or hyperdulia? Do you honestly believe that Christ's judgment will be based upon Roman Catholic dogma and doctrine?

Think about it. Get right with the Lord while you still have breath. Read more at christian-truths2.blogspot.com

 

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Homosexuality a Factor in Sex Abuse by Priests

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Homosexuality a Factor in Sex Abuse by Priests

Joel Mowbray

www.townhall.com

Although greeted with a wave of protest, suggestions by Vatican spokesman Dr. Joaquin Navarro-Valls of a link between homosexuality and sexual abuse by priests cannot be lightly dismissed, and in fact, demand further exploration.

Part of the sensitivity in this discussion is the fear that such comments imply a connection between homosexuality and pedophilia. But in the overwhelming number of cases made public so far, the victims have been teenage boys (not girls), meaning that this does not fit the clinical definition of pedophilia, which is the obsessive sexual attraction to prepubescent children.

In order to truly get at the root of the problem, the imperative question is why has the homosexuality of priests resulted in the molestation of adolescent boys?

According to most estimates, 25-50% of priests are homosexuals, compared to the 3-5% of men in the general public who are gay. Not only does the priesthood have a disproportionately strong appeal to homosexuals, but most of the priests involved in the scandals came of age during the sexual revolution of the late 60's and early 70's. Adding further fuel to the fire is the immaturity of many of these priests, who often joined the seminaries fresh out of grade school, denying them the normal social experiences of adolescence. The combination of homosexuality, lax sexual attitudes, and immaturity has proven a recipe for disaster.

The vast majority of priests accused of sexual abuse are middle-aged, an age group who came into the priesthood at a time of massive social upheaval, both in society at large and within the Church hierarchy. Around that time, homosexuals, or those who were at least sympathetic, began assuming more positions of power, including heading up dioceses and seminaries, according to Michael S. Rose, author of the forthcoming book Goodbye Good Men. In an interview, Rose discusses how now-deceased Joseph Bernadin, who was later Cardinal of Chicago, pushed out many conservative clergy members throughout the diocese and in the seminary when he became Archbishop of Cincinnati in 1972, replacing them with homosexuals and homosexual sympathizers.

Male homosexuality is inherently promiscuous. In a heterosexual relationship, women moderate the innate, intense male sex drive. But in a homosexual context, there is no such check. In short, gay couples have two people with male attitudes about sex, which naturally leads to a more permissive view of sexuality. And when seminaries began filling up with homosexuals—-both in terms of seminarians and in leadership positions—-promiscuity inevitably followed.

In The Changing Face of the Priesthood, author Father Donald Cozzens, the former head of a Catholic seminary, depicts the priesthood as "becoming a gay profession," and says that homosexual culture is now dominant at many seminaries. In an interview for this story, one priest says that at his former Milwaukee seminary, an openly gay seminarian often had his "good friend" come for overnight visits—-all with the knowledge and tacit approval of the administration. Rose cites several examples in Men of gay priests and seminarians living an active, promiscuous homosexual lifestyle, including some who party together at gay nightclubs.

So how does this relate to the sex abuse scandals? The generation of priests who are largely responsible for the rash of sexual abuse cases mostly entered the priesthood at an extremely early age, ushered into an ensconced environment where they never got a chance to grow up. Teenage boys are the natural objects of sexual desire for an immature homosexual who was enveloped in a promiscuous, homosexual culture in the seminary.

What's the solution to this national tragedy? Given that homosexuals are such a significant presence in the American priesthood, the Church can't exactly run them all of out of town, nor should they. Just because someone is homosexual does not mean that he is necessarily sexually active, although Rose is skeptical that a gay priest in a sexually charged, all-male environment can adhere to the chastity discipline.

Reducing the number of homosexuals in the priesthood also might prove an elusive goal, because someone who's gay still faces a much lower personal cost to becoming a priest than a heterosexual, who actually has to forgo having a wife and kids. Rose says that many vocation offices have been actively recruiting gay men to seminary life for at least 30 years, perhaps to enhance the clout of what liberal priest Father Andrew Greeley has dubbed the "lavender mafia," or the power structure of the gay subculture of the priesthood.

The Church needs to come to grips with the situation that has developed over the past 35 years. Homosexual conduct by seminarians and priests must be absolutely condemned, and chastity must be thoroughly reinforced as a crucial element of the priesthood. The only way to achieve that goal is by altering the dominant gay culture found in many seminaries and even some dioceses.

Changing the culture of the priesthood is only the first step in addressing the sexual abuse crisis, but it is an absolutely necessary cornerstone of any successful reform effort.

Editor's note: Joel Mowbray is a lifelong, practicing Catholic. Read more at christian-truths2.blogspot.com

 

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