Doctrines of Roman Catholicism

"I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Wherefore watch ye, ..." (Acts 20:29-31)


Introduction

In our previous lesson we have examined three basic differences between the Bible and Catholicism: the foundation, the head, and the source of authority. It will be the purpose of this present unit to survey the fundamental doctrines wherein Catholicism and the Bible differ. Roman Catholicism recognizes what they refer to as seven sacraments. First, we will study the sacraments which have to do with sin. Second, we will investigate the sacrament of the Mass. Thirdly, we will consider the two remaining sacraments -- holy orders and marriage. Fourth, we will survey other doctrines of Catholicism.

In the course on this comparative study, we will also challenge the Roman Church teachings and practices. The challenge is not always upon whether the Bible teaches a subject or not, but rather how the Roman Catholic Church preaches and practices it. Examples are: penance, the Lord's Supper, and baptism which the Bible teaches. It is questioned whether the Roman Catholic Church is following the Bible in their observance of these and other Bible teachings.


Doctrines Associated with the Subject of Sin

There are four sacraments which are pertinent to this subject: baptism, confirmation, penance, and extreme unction. Two other doctrines (indulgences and purgatory) are discussed in connection with penance.


Baptism -- Purpose. Study again Lesson 8.

Is Baptism a Regeneration?

 

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Consider: Does the act of baptism put new life into the sinner or kill sin in us? It is true that baptism stands between the penitent sinner and salvation, and that it brings a remission of past sins, but it does not, in some mysterious way, put new life in us and kill sin in us. We are begotten by the gospel -- not baptism (I Cor. 4:15). When the word of God has worked in changing the mind of a person, the consumating act which changes his relationship to Christ is baptism -- but baptism does not put new life into the sinner. Furthermore, it is the blood of Christ that saves, and baptism, as such, does not save us from sin. Baptism does not do what the Catholic Church would have it do -- in other words regenerate a person -- and even though they deny its intrinsic virtue, (Gibbons, page 227) there is a broad gap between the theory and the practice. The emphasis on "holy water" and such like, further complicates the matter; not that "holy water" is used in baptism, but that the idea is allowed to exist that there is something special and quite mystical about water.


Is Baptism for "Original Sin"?

 

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Consider: Baptism cleanses and is for the remission of sins but not for "original sin". Babies are not born with sin as the theory contends. Infants are not subjects for baptism. Since little babies do not have the capacity to do the things required --faith, repentance and confession -- it can only be adduced that they are not lost. If they were lost and could not do the things that are necessary for them to be saved, as outlined by God, this would mean that they would be damned with no opportunity to be saved. Can one believe this? The baptism which the Catholic Church has inaugurated to take care of the purported "original sins" of little babies is quite a different baptism to the one of the New Testament.

Special Comments: The doctrine of "original sin" has led to many other ideas as well as practices which are foreign to the New Testament. First there is the assumption; then there are the practices which spring up because of that assumption. What has the doctrine of "original sin" produced? The following statements come from authentic Catholic sources. They represent the official position of the Catholic Church, though one would search the Bible in vain for such statements as these.

     * "No infant should be baptized in its mother's womb so long as there is a possibility of its being born alive.
     * If, in childbirth, the head of the infant emerges, and the infant is in imminent danger of death, it must be baptized on the head.
     * If some other member, such as the hand, emerges, and the infant is in imminent danger of death, it must be baptized on the hand.
     * If a pregnant mother dies, and the foetus is extracted, it should be baptized alive; if there is doubt as to its being alive, it should be baptized conditionally. The priest is instructed to say, "If thou art capable, etc."
     * "All abortions, at whatever period of pregnancy they may occur, should be baptized if they are alive and should be baptized conditionally if there is doubt of their being alive" (All references, Matthews, pp.77-78).

Catholicism also teaches that an unregenerated child is deprived of the joy of heaven though it is not punished with torments of hell. (Gibbons, p.224).


Baptism -- Design. Study again Lesson 8.

Is Baptism by Immersion Only?

 

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Consider: "Immersion continued the prevailing practice till the late Middle Ages in the west; in the East it so remains" (Walker, page 96). The practice of sprinkling grew, as has been suggested from the doctrine of "original sin" and also from the notion of a magical effect of water to cleanse the polluted souls of men. The first case of sprinkling was in 251 A.D. when a sick man, Novation, was baptized in that manner. But many years passed before it was officially adopted by the Catholic Church in 1311 A.D.

Confirmation: The Catholic Church confirms their baptized infants at about the age of seven by allegedly giving them the Holy Spirit.


Who Bestows the Holy Spirit Upon People?

 

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Consider: Do Catholic priests have this power? Has it been handed down to them as supposed successors of Peter? Consider these points:

     * Only the apostles had this special power of laying on of hands (See Acts 8:18).
     * The apostles gave this power (to lay hands on people) to no one. If so, why was it not given to Philip, the preacher in Samaria who could work miracles? (Acts 8:6). Study Acts 8:6-20 to see that it was reserved for the apostles only.
     * The apostles were all witnesses of Christ from the days of John the Baptist until Christ' resurrection. (Acts 1:22).
     * "Laying on of hands", therefore, passed on with the death of the last apostle.

 

Penance: The Catholic Church teaches that their priests have the power to forgive sins of their members. Sin needs to be forgiven but:


Who Can Forgive Sins?

 

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Consider: Philip Schaff, a historian with no religious doctrine to support says, "Like the sacrifice of the Mass, the Roman institution of penance is an ecclesiastical invention. The New Testament knows nothing of it. Not until about 1150 was the sacrament feature fully developed. The sudden change from the New Testament idea of forgiveness to the Roman theory of priestly confession and forgiveness is one of the most mysterious transitions in the history of the church. The steps which led to it are obscure. The early post-apostolic writers knew of no confession of sin except to God directly." (Schaff, p.355).

Question: In what sense did the apostles have the power to forgive sins as John 20:23 teaches? First, note in Acts 8:22 that Peter, an apostle, told a sinner to repent and pray to God forgiveness. Why did not Peter, if he could forgive sin, simply remove them himself? Because he could NOT perform the forgiving act himself -- no apostle could. So, to what extent could the apostles "remit sins"? When they went forth telling the people the conditions which had to be met for the forgiveness of sins, they were, in that sense and only to that extent, remitting and retaining sins. Only God forgives sin, in the literal sense.

Not only is the doctrine of priests forgiving sins opposed to Bible truth, but there are two other Roman Catholic new teachings which developed out of this doctrine of penance.


Indulgences

Does a Forgiven Person Need an Indulgence to Remove the Temporal Punishment of Forgiven Sins?

 

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* "An indulgence is a remission granted by the church, of the temporal punishment which often remains due to sin after its guilt has been forgiven." (Matthews, p.98).
* "An indulgence can never be considered a permission to commit sin, nor ever an encouragement." (Matthews, p.99).

 

Consider: Roman Catholicism sometimes insists that indulgences do not give a right to commit sins. That may be an honest opinion, but history holds a contrary view. The words of John Tetzel read, "I can also grant your indulgence so that any sins you may commit hereafter shall all be blotted out" (Howard, p.40). But the question is : Is it needed?

Argument: It presupposes that the works of Christ's saints are meritorious -- "It (an indulgence) is gained only by one in a state of grace, in virtue of the application of the superabundant merits of Christ and His saints to all the Communion of the Saints." (Conway, p.285). BUT: II Peter 1:3 -- "... his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness..." Col. 2:10 -- "and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all..."

THIS DOCTRINE COMPLETELY IGNORES THE MERITS OF CHRIST'S ATONING SACRIFICE SUGGESTING THAT SOMETHING IS REQUIRED IN ADDITION -- THIS IS ABOUT THE SAME AS RETURNING TO THE WORKS OF THE LAW OF MOSES FOR SALVATION -- WHICH MANY DID AND HAVE DONE.

Consider: Many well-meaning and sincere Catholics have not and would not take advantage of the system, as history shows (and human nature remains the same), the system is open for the wicked and the corrupt to exploit to the fullest. It has happened, it is happening, and it will continue to happen. Sincere and honest people are cheated, deceived, and literally robbed of their life-savings to buy a friend or relative out of a place that no one has ever seen, and of which no evidence is given in the Bible to prove its existence.

God says to Christians who sin -- repent -pray - and I will forgive. That is ALL -- nothing more, nothing less. There is no way this simple plan can be exploited to line the pockets of the greedy.


Purgatory: This is supposed to be a place under the earth where the souls of men are purged through suffering severe torments. It became an article of faith in the Roman Catholic Church at the council of Florence in 1439 A.D.

Is There a Purgatory?

 

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Consider: The idea of a "purgatory" was common among pagan religions. (Renwick, p.69).


Extreme Unction

Do Christians Need Extreme Unction?

 

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Consider: James 5:14-15, which is the text of proof for the Catholic Church, does not say what they want it to say, Catholicism says Priest, the Bible says elders (bishops). Catholicism says it is preparation for death, but the Bible says it is to heal the sick. The passage offers no proof for this teaching.


Doctrines Associated with the Lord's Supper

There are four dogmas associated with the sacrament of the "Holy Eucharist" : real presence, transubstantiation, sacrifice of the mass, and communion under one kind.


Real Presence

Are the Bread and Wine the Literal Body and Blood of Christ?
 

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Consider: Christ's words are obviously figurative, and He speaks of the elements as "symbols" of His body and blood.


Transubstantiation: If Christ is literally present in the elements, when and how is the change made? This introduces the doctrine of transubstantiation.

Does a Literal Change Take Place?

 

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Consider: As one writer put it: "This is certainly a mysterious doctrine, hard to understand, because there is nothing like it in all our experience". (Conway, p.255).


Sacrifice of the Mass: "Out of the ideas of transubstantiation and the sacrifice of the supper grew the mass". (Miller, p.15).

Is the Lord's Supper a Sacrifice of Christ?

 

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Consider: The Sacrifice of the Mass is a return to the form and ritual of the old Mosaic system. What has been intended to bring greater honor to Christ (by sacrificing Him on the cross) is in essence a denial of His atoning sacrifice once for all.

In the development of this doctrine, we see again an illustration of how these practices are formed. First, the assumption -- the real presence of Christ, then, what shall we do with His body? The logical thing to do is to make a sacrificial ceremony out of it -- which is what has happened.


Communion Under One Kind

May the Partaking of the Wine by the Priests Be a Substitute for the Members?

 

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Consider: This practice was a natural evolvement of dogma. If Christ's real blood is in a container and some of it spills out, that would be a disgrace. So, the cup was removed from the common man and the Bible was again disregarded.

Thus, under the Catholic system, the common man can no longer obey God's word in the matter. His wonderful privilege has been removed.

Doctrines Associated with the Sacraments of Holy Orders & Marriage


Holy Orders

Does the Bible Approve of a Clergy System?

 

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Consider: Anathma means "cursed" and against such assertions there is no defense. The church does have government, and elders are to oversee its work but there is no Catholic priesthood system authorized nor a sacrament of "Ordination".


Marriage

Does the church Have a Right to Legislate in the Marriage of Members?

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Consider: Admit the infallibility of the Catholic Church and you have to admit the sacrament of marriage. She is free to impose whatever legislation she deems advisable, even to the matter of interference in very personal and private matters. But, let this not be confused with Christianity. When men return to the Bible and deny the infallibility of the Roman Catholic Church they expose this doctrine.


Other Catholic Doctrines

Mariolatry: This doctrine has to do with the worship and adoration of Mary, the earthly mother of Christ. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that she was the mother of God, that she was a perpetual virgin, and that she was conceived, born, and lived without sin.


Was Mary the Mother of God?

 

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Was Mary a Perpetual Virgin?

 

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Was Mary Without Sin?

 

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Worship of Images and Relics

Are the Images and Relics to be Venerated and Worshipped?

 

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Consider: While denying that they worship images, Roman Catholicism nevertheless ascribes to different images of the same personage different attributes, so that they do, after all, make the image the object of worship.


Worship of Angels

May One Venerate and Revere Saints and Angels?

 

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Special Comment: First, there was the partial reinstallment of the old Jewish sacrificial system with priests, a priesthood, and a continuing sacrifice of Christ. Next there was Christ's real presence in the elements of the Lord's Supper.

Then another non-Biblical practice started -- exalting individuals, emphasizing the greatness of persons. What were the results? Follow the pattern. Take the example of Peter -- just one of twelve apostles. First, he was elevated to the position, Prince of the Apostles. Next, an image was made which was befitting one in such an exalted position.

Or, take Mary as another example. The Bible calls her Mary, mother of Jesus. Gradually she was exalted to a high position. She was honoured and venerated above other women, and finally above all women. Next, an image was made which was only right and proper for a person of such great honour.

Then, there were the apostles. All equal, ordinary men -- then gradually the mantles of greatness settled upon them. Next the images were molded and the process was repeated.


Celibacy

Ministers of God Required to Remain Unmarried?

 

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Consider: The Lord approves of "voluntary" celibacy, but not "required" celibacy. (Matt. 19:12). This is another example of an alleged infallible Roman Catholic Church imposing its will upon its members.


Instruments of Music in Worship

Are Instruments of Music Acceptable in Worship?

 

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Consider: The Bible tells us what kind of music to use -- vocal music. Instrumental music is not mentioned. So, men must respect the silence of the Scriptures.

Early Christians never used instruments of music. Vitalian I introduced it into the Roman Church in 666 A.D., but there was such a threat of division that it was discontinued temporarily. Later, it was reintroduced over much opposition. When the split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox came in 1054 A.D. this was one of the points of disagreement. The Greek Church refused it and still does. It was and always has been a tool of division. The use of instruments of music in Christian worship is not of divine origin, but came from Rome.

Conclusion: From the foregoing presentation of doctrinal differences in the Bible and Roman Catholicism, one can begin to establish the following facts in his mind:

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* With the addition of many and varied innovations by the Roman Catholic Church, the church of Christ gradually lost its identity.
* The departure and changes did not come as a result of the personal preference of the common people of the church. It was the legislation and decision in councils of bishops and priests which was pushed upon the common people.
* Honest and sincere "truth-seekers" will not continue indefinitely under corrupt religious systems which permit their leaders to hold their subjects in fear and ignorance. As the truth is discovered many have, many did, and many will continue to break free of religious bondage and seek the freedom that is "in Christ".

 

 

 

VOCABULARY
auricular confession - confession of sins to a priest.
confirmation - in the Bible it means simply to strengthen and encourage other brethren. For the Roman Catholic Church it is a special sacrament.
indulgences - opportunity to be relieved of sin.
meritorius - things done by a person for which he may receive grace.
purgatory - intermediate place of punishment.
sacraments - it literally means on oath. The Catholic Church teaches seven of them -- five for the living and two for the dead. A visible sign instituted by Christ by which grace is conveyed to the souls of men.
total hereditary depravity - completely lost in sin, totally impure by nature.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gibbons, J.C., Faith of Our Fathers
Howard, V.E., Gospel Radio Sermons
Matthews, Paul, Basic Errors of Catholicism
Miller, Waymon D., A Survey of Church History
Renwick, A.M., The Story of the Church
Schaff, Philip, Our Fathers of Faith and Ours
Thompson, L.D., Churches of Today
Walker, Williston, History of the Christian Church
Wallace, Foy E., Jr., Bulwarks of the Faith, Vol. I