Catholicism's Opposition to the Bible
[Catholicism's Opposition to the Bible by Mike
Gendron Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries]
"In our conversations with hundreds of former Catholics, most of them tell us
they were never encouraged to read the Bible. In fact, many of them said their
priests actually discouraged them from reading the Bible because it was too
difficult to understand. Could it be that the priests were worried that people
would interpret the Scriptures correctly and undermine the authority of the
Church? Or were the priests worried that those who studied God's Word would
realize they were sitting under deceptive teachers and leave the church?
Historically, popes have openly condemned the reading
of the Bible and often persecuted those who were caught with the Scriptures in
their possession. Many loyal and devoted Catholics still deny the Vatican's
fierce opposition to the Bible because they do not know their church's sordid
history.
The Council of Toulouse in 1229 A.D, stated: "We
prohibit laymen possessing copies of the Old and New Testament ... We forbid
them most severely to have them in the popular vernacular."
The Council of Trent in the 16th century placed the
Bible on its list of prohibited books. People were forbidden to read the Bible
without a license from a Roman Catholic bishop. The council warned: "If any one
shall dare to read or keep in his possession that book, without such a license,
he shall not receive absolution (from the punishment of sins) till he has given
it up to his ordinary (bishop)."
Why would a religion that upholds the name of Jesus
Christ forbid its people from reading the Bible? Clearly, it was because those
who were reading God's Word were learning the truth, and the truth was setting
them free (John
8:31-32). During the Reformation in the 16th
century, there was a mass exodus of people leaving the Roman Catholic Church. As
they studied God's Word, they were being set free from the religious bondage and
deception of an apostate church. People who were once woefully deceived and dead
in their sins were being born again through the imperishable seed of God's Word
(1
Pet. 1:23). Then they began testing every man's
teaching with the infallible Word of God (Acts
17:11).
Scripture awareness among Catholics grew after the
Second Vatican Council in the late 1960's when the Sacrifice of the Mass changed
from Latin to the common vernacular. Later, the Charismatic movement exposed
Catholics to Scripture even more. Some Catholics became interested in studying
the Scriptures at protestant churches through the international
Bible Study Fellowship program. The Catholic
Church responded with its own
Little Rock Scripture Study. In 1981, I was
responsible for organizing the first Scripture study at a Catholic Church in
Dallas.
As more and more Catholics begin reading God's Word,
we pray that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth
(2
Tim. 2:24-26). We pray many Catholics will
exchange their religion for a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is
prime time to be pointing Catholics to the infallible Word of God as their
authority since they have a pope who continues to make bizarre statements that
oppose historic Roman Catholicism and the Bible. Our DVD message
Why Should I Believe the Bible? would be an
excellent resource to share with your Catholic friends and loved ones." Pro-Gospel.org
You have never read Romans or Galatians at mass (Jud 11 ).
...[C]onsider the source.
As a reminder, Cruciform is a grace-perverter
(Gal.
1:6–8), bound by traditions (Mt
15:9) and deceitful in all his ways (Eph.
4:14).
See:
Cruciform
As a reminder, serpent is a truth-perverter (Gal. 1:6–8), bound by traditions (Mt 15:9) and deceitful in all his ways (Eph. 4:14).
I have many friends of the RCC who faithfully read and study Scripture... [ ad hominem Eph 4:14, 2 Ti 1:7] No...Let the reader decide (Eph 4:14).
[ Re 18:4] Now go ahead... God will save whom He will regardless. My experience is that very few in the RCC pledge their total allegiance to the Magisterium anyway. We know our Sovereign God can save anyone out of their ignorance, rebellion and wrong beliefs."The reader will decide for himself (Eph 4:14). Your religion tried very hard to murder Jews and believers but you will not succeed (Mt 16:18). You're going to be bummin' soon (Re 18:8).
...[N]o proof whatsoeverYou have magnified Your word above all Your name (Ps 138:2).
Truth is truth independent from me (Ac 5:29, Mt 15:9).
[He has rescued many people out of the Roman Catholic religion (Jud 11). ] intensional Ga 5:9, Eph 4:14