The Wolves of Rome Prey Even Upon the Children
By Richard Bennett and Stuart Quint
“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”[1]
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals…”[2]
The Roman Catholic Church continues to defy the warnings of Christ and His Apostles.
“Catholics are ‘outragedʼ about reports of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s serial homosexual abuse, not so much because a churchman sinned, as that he did so with impunity and protection… In a bracing October essay titled ‘Catholicism After 2018,’ First Things editor Rusty Reno pinpoints an acceptance of a homosexual subculture in the Catholic clergy as the core issue underlying recent sex abuse scandals assailing the Catholic Church.”[3]
These revelations reinforce the points we made over a decade ago in exposing “The Root Cause of the Catholic Sex Scandals”[4]. The Vatican’s authoritarian control over the clergy and the laity violates Jesus Christ’s model for leadership. By the admission of leading Catholic seminarians, up to half of current Roman clergy practice homosexual sin. It is no wonder that the Catholic Church is in such disarray.
Regarding leadership of the Lord’s people Scripture states, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”[5]
Rome Elevates Its Own Growth Over the Glory of God
This is not merely a problem of good intentions gone wrong. The core issue remains that the Roman Catholic Church has sinfully elevated herself as having a place in salvation. Thus she officially states:
“The Church is the goal of all things… Just as God’s will is creation and is called ‘the world,’ so his intention is the salvation of men, and it is called ‘the Church’.”[6]
Furthermore, the promotion and cover-up of sexual abuse extends all the way to the top of the Vatican hierarchy! Let Catholic News sources explain:
“What you are about to read is an explosive testimony of the former apostolic nuncio to the United States, implicating Pope Francis and several senior prelates in covering up Archbishop Theodore McCarrick’s alleged sexual abuse of seminarians and priests.
“In an extraordinary 11-page written statement (see official English text below), Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, 77, claims that Pope Francis knew about strict canonical sanctions imposed on McCarrick by Pope Benedict XVI but chose to repeal them.
In his testimony, dated August 22, Archbishop Viganò, who served as apostolic nuncio in Washington D.C. from 2011-2016, states that in the late 2000s, Benedict had ‘imposed on Cardinal McCarrick sanctions similar to those now imposed on him by Pope Francis,’ and that Viganò personally spoke with Francis about the gravity of McCarrick’s abuse soon after his election in 2013.
But he says that Francis ‘continued to cover him’ and not only did he ‘not take into account the sanctions that Pope Benedict had imposed on him’ but also made McCarrick ‘his trusted counselor’ who helped him to appoint a number of bishops in the United States, including Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago and Joseph Tobin of Newark.
Sordid Abuses by Catholic Clerics Almost Exclusively Homosexual
Archbishop Viganò also implicates Cardinals Sodano, Bertone, and Parolin in the cover-up and insists various other cardinals and bishops were well aware, including Cardinal Donald Wuerl, McCarrick’s successor as Archbishop of Washington D.C. ‘I myself brought up the subject with Cardinal Wuerl on several occasions, and I certainly didn’t need to go into detail because it was immediately clear to me that he was fully aware of it,’ he writes. The Cardinal’s ʽrecent statements that he knew nothing about it … are absolutely laughable. He lies shamelessly.’
‘Cardinal Wuerl, well aware of the continuous abuses committed by Cardinal McCarrick and the sanctions imposed on him by Pope Benedict, transgressing the Pope’s order, also allowed him to reside at a seminary in Washington D.C. In doing so, he put other seminarians at risk,’ he attests.”[7]
The outcry of one Catholic Bishop is correct, but too little and much too late. Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison, Wisconsin called the details of the report ‘sickening’ in describing the sordid abuses carried out by Catholic clerics as “almost exclusively homosexual.”[8]
“It is time to admit that there is a homosexual subculture within the hierarchy of the Catholic Church that is wreaking great devastation in the vineyard of the Lord. The Church’s teaching is clear that the homosexual inclination is not in itself sinful, but it is intrinsically disordered in a way that renders any man stably afflicted by it unfit to be a priest.”[9]
“The bishop described the decision to act upon such a ‘disordered inclination’ as ‘a sin so grave that it cries out to heaven for vengeance, especially when it involves preying upon the young or the vulnerable.’”[10]
How horrendous and sickening for Catholics is the behavior of their priests. Yet these Catholic priests embody the very teaching of the Catholic Church itself:
“Priests have received from God a power that he has given neither to angels nor to archangels…God above confirms what priests do here below.”[11]
May many sincere Catholics see that the Priests that Papal Rome has given to them are worse than: “blind leaders of the blind.”[12]
Jesus Christ the Center of the Gospel, Not the Roman Catholic Church
Our Lord God is emphatic that all things are in Christ Jesus, including our salvation. For example the following verses in Ephesians chapter one, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ…in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will:That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”[13] Consequently the truth of the Lord’s Word is summarized in Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”[14]
In Complete Contrast, the Catholic Church officially states, “Just as God’s will is creation and is called ‘the world,’ so his intention is the salvation of men, and it is called ‘the Church.’”[15]
Dear Catholic we pray that your salvation will be in the Person of Jesus Christ “through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Amen.
Thus, factual truth is that God’s Word is clear: Our salvation is in Jesus Christ by His blood and not in any Church.
Salvation Found Only in Christ and Not in Baptism
The official Catholic teaching that teaches rebirth by baptism is given in the following words:
“Baptism, the gate to the sacraments, necessary for salvation by actual reception or at least by desire, is validly conferred only by a washing of true water with the proper form of words. Through baptism men and women are freed from sin, are reborn as children of God and, configured to Christ by an indelible character, and are incorporated in the [Catholic] Church.”[16]
In Scripture the Catholic Church is refuted by the authority of the risen Christ Himself; “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.”[17] “Faith is the key of saving grace, and unbelief is the chief damning sin. Faith is what is necessary for salvation and baptism is an ordinance that follows faith. Baptism simply testifies to saving faith.” Proof of this is found in the fact of the omission in the second half of the verse. It is not, “he that is not baptized shall be damned,” but rather “he that believes not.”[18]
Dear Catholic, do you believe on Jesus Christ for your salvation? Seek the Lord in truth. He is Faithful to give you His grace through faith, without the Counterfeit Catholic Priest.
Christ Jesus, in the Gospel, has purchased freedom for all true believers. He alone has authority and power to make them free. His Death on the Cross and His resurrection made satisfaction for their guilt as they trust solely on His absolute forgiveness. In their place, Christ Jesus has answered all demands of the All Holy God against sins in them.
True believers are fully forgiven in Jesus Christ. Then as an act of God’s grace they are not only forgiven but “are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”[19]
Conclusion:
Dear Catholic, if you then would have a bond with God that is real, rightful, and enduring, you must be saved by Jesus Christ and adopted into the family of Almighty God. The light and liberty of the Gospel is transforming. In the words of the Apostle “…we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”[20] Yes indeed where there is true faith and love of the Lord, there is in the midst of all things a joy unspeakable and full of glory.
God is the only All Holy One. His holiness is the distinguishing factor in all His essential characteristics. This is the reason why we need to be in right standing before the one and only All Holy God on the terms He prescribes by grace turn to God in faith for the salvation that He alone gives, by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, based on Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for His own, and believe on Him alone. Praise be to our Lord God!
In the Old Testament the prophet Isaiah declared, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”23 The Apostles Peter and John tell us, “You were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from our fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”[21] “And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”[22] Thus Scripture clearly states that salvation was Jesus Christ’s work and His alone. “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”[23]
We are saved by God’s work. Salvation is God’s majestic, finished work. Woven throughout is the scarlet thread of God’s glorious grace. Before coming to Him, each person is dead in sin. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved.”[24]
May we have the courage of Bible believers who have gone before us, and reject the allurements of the Catholic Church. Let us adopt their faith and confidence in the Lord God who will ensure the final victory. Let us imitate the Apostle Paul “having done all, to stand. Stand therefore.”[25]
The certainty of the final triumph should animate us in our efforts and encourage us in our struggles. “For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”[26] ♦
Our “Berean Beacon” Website: http://temp.bereanbeacon.org
Permission is given by the authors to copy this article if it is done in its entirety without any changes.
[1] Matthew 18:6. .
[2] 1 Corinthians 6:9 NASB
[3] Thomas D. Williams, PhD, “Report: Catholic Church Suffers ‘Culture of Denial’ of Homoclericalism”, Breitbart, 15 September 2018, on https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/09/15/report-catholic-church-suffers-culture-of-denial-of-homoclericalism/ accessed on September 15, 2018. Authors’ emphasis.
[4] Richard Bennett, “The Root Cause of the Catholic Sex Scandals”, Berean Beacon, August 3, 2003 on https://bb.berea.edu.pl/the-root-cause-of-the-catholic-sex-scandals/ accessed on October 6, 2018.
[5] Hebrews 13:7
[6] Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Ed. Para 760 on http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p123a9p1.htm accessed on September 15, 2018.
[7] Diane Montagna, “Pope Francis covered up McCarrick abuse, former US nuncio testifies (OFFICIAL TEXT)”, Life Site News, August 25, 2018 on https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/former-us-nuncio-pope-francis-knew-of-mccarricks-misdeeds-repealed-sanction accessed on September 15, 2018. Authors’ emphasis.
[8] Tre Goins-Phillips, “American Bishop Says There’s a ‘Homosexual Subculture’ Within Catholic Leadership”, CBN News, 08-25-2018, on http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/2018/august/american-bishop-says-there-rsquo-s-a-lsquo-homosexual-subculture-rsquo-within-catholic-leadership accessed on September 15, 2018. Authors’ emphasis.
[9] Ibid. Authors’ emphasis.
[10] Ibid. Authors’ emphasis.
[11] Catechism of the Catholic Church, Para 983 on http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p123a10.htm accessed on September 15, 2018.
[12] Matthew 15:14
[13] Authors’ emphasis
[14] Ephesians 1:3-13
[15] Catechism of the Catholic Church, Para 760
[16] Code of Canon Law, Canon 849 on http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P2U.HTM 10/18/18 Bolding added.
[17] Mark 16:15
[18] Mark 16:16
[19] Isaiah 53:5-6
[20] 2 Corinthians 3:18
[21] I Peter 1:18
[22] I John 2:2
[23] Hebrews 1:3
[24] Ephesians 1:6
[25] Ephesians 6:13,14
[26] Romans 8:16-17`
