Page 556 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

“This holy Council first of all turns its attention to the church of Jesus Christ. “Unto the church of God which is
Catholic faithful. Basing itself on Scripture and at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus,
tradition, it teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on called to be saints, WITH ALL THAT IN EVERY PLACE
earth, is necessary for salvation. ... [Christ] is present CALL UPON THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD,
to us in his body which is the Church. He himself ... BOTH THEIRS AND OURS” (1 Co. 1:2).
affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church
which men enter through baptism as through a door. Error # 4—The Papacy
Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the [See Pope.]
Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God Error # 5—The Priesthood
through Christ, would refuse either to enter it, or to
remain in it” (p. 336) The RCC has created a special priesthood to mediate
Words could not be plainer. Those who say the between the people and God. These priests supposedly
Catholic Church no longer makes exclusive claims are have power to hear confession of sins, to absolve people
living in a fairyland. The objective of Roman Catholic from their sins, to offer sacrifices through the mass, to
ecumenism is for all non-Catholics to become Catholics bestow salvation through their sacramental ministry,
and submit to the authority of the pope. An ecumenical and to prepare men for death through special rituals.
Roman Catholic leader expressed this clearly: Some specific details relative to the Roman Catholic
priesthood follow:
“For the sake of the unity of the Church, the Rock of
Peter’s Office must remain through the centuries ... it is Catholic priests take the place of Christ, being called
this Papacy alone which makes possible unity ... to lord, father, and Melchizedek.
admit even the possibility that the final union of The Council of Trent, whose decrees must be
Christendom could take place other than in her and accepted by all Roman Catholics under pain of mortal
through her would be a denial and betrayal of her sin or excommunication, said: “The priest is the man of
most precious knowledge that she is Christ’s own God, the minister of God. ... He that despiseth the priest
church. For her there is only one true union, reunion despiseth God; he that hears him hears God. The priest
with herself” (Karl Adam, One and Holy, pp. 76,93). remits sins as God, and that which he calls his body at
The declarations and subtle changes made in the the altar is adored as God by himself and the
Second Vatican Council were made to make the path of congregation. ... Wherefore they are justly called not
reconciliation easier for Protestants. It was actually the only angels, but also God. ... The priestly course of
Protestants—the World Council of Churches, especially preparation reaches its climax in a colorful and solemn
—that led in attempts to be reconciled with Rome and ordination ceremony, in which the bishop pronounces
to include Rome in their endeavors. the awesome words: ‘Thou art a priest forever,
All of the important Roman Catholic dogmas remain according to the order of Melchizedek” (Loraine
intact. The changes are designed only to strengthen Boettner, Roman Catholicism, pp. 51,63).
ecumenical efforts, the efforts toward bringing the Catholic priests mediate between God and man.
“separated brethren” back into the pope’s fold. “The priest at the altar is at Mass as Jesus was on
Bible Answer: Calvary. His function is to bring God to men and raise
1. The Roman Catholic Church did not exist until the men to God. He consecrates and he sacrifices. As
5th century, at the earliest. Certainly the churches consecrator he acts in the name of God ... As sacrificer
described in the N.T. have no resemblance to he acts in the name of men” (L.G. Lovasik, The Eucharist
Catholicism. With such a late origin and heretical in Catholic Life, p. 95).
nature, it is impossible to accept the Church of Rome as Catholic priests turn the bread of the Lord’s supper into
the “one true church.” Jesus Christ and offer Him as a sacrifice.
2. No man-made organization is the true church. The “The two greatest powers of the priests are those by
N.T. speaks of the church in two ways: (1) the general which they forgive sins and change bread and wine into
church composed of all born again Christians in heaven the body and blood of Christ. ... the power to consecrate
(He. 12:23) and (2) local churches of professing bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ has
Christians on earth (e.g., the seven churches Christ been transmitted to priests down through the
addressed in Revelation 2-3). The Roman Catholic generations. ... The priest himself can never grasp the
Church is neither of these. It is wrong for any one sublimity of this power. He calls God back to earth again
organization to claim to be the true church and because through him the Incarnation has once again
possessor of salvation. Salvation is in the Lord Jesus been renewed. He actually holds the Creator in his
Christ, not in the church (Ep. 1:3). hands. ... The Mass is the ... renewed presentation of the
Neither the Roman Catholic Church nor any other sacrifice of the cross... Holy Mass ... is the sacrifice of
church has the right to claim to be the one and only true Jesus on the cross offered again on the altar ... The Last

556 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity