Papal Comments
            QUESTION from John on September 3, 2003

Recently in a discussion board at college that was talking about the Reformation, someone posted this comment: "I think it an important part of the Reformation to look at the fact that people like Luther, Calvin, John Wycliffe, John Huss, John Knox, William Tyndale, King James, Isaac Newton, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, John Foxe (author of "Foxe's book of Martyrs") ALL THOUGHT the Papal office (or office of the Pope) to be the Antichrist! Now even if you disagree with them on that, you must look to some of their REASONS for saying such strong words! And I believe they have very solid points... The Roman Catholic Church was (is?) an apostasy - so far away from the original truth of how Christ wanted his Church. Page 79 in CH says how they "pervert the law of life which Christ gave us." I found it interesting that the Russians were ready to embrace Christianity, but the Pope demanded an expensive yearly tribute to be levied upon them. P. 79 states, "For until now, the shameful lives of the heads of the Church have made the Christian name hateful to all stangers." The Pope has said some of the most blasphemous things ever uttered by man. Pope Boniface VIII said, "to be subject to the Roman pontiff is to every human creature altogether NECESSARY FOR SALVATION." Pope Pius XI said, "You know that I am the Holy Father, the representative of God on earth, the Vicar of Christ, which means I AM GOD ON EARTH." The Pope also claims to be the head of the Church, when NO ONE is the Head except Christ (Ephesians 5:23). Also, Christians who would not bow to Papal claims were horribly tortured, using every imaginable method. Pope Innocent IV promised property and remission of all their sins if they killed a heretic! Pope Pius IV stated, "The Bible is not for the people; whoever will be saved must renounce it. It is a forbidden book. Bible societies are Satanic contrivances." Pope Nicolas I and Gregory VII put Bible reading under ban, and Pope Innocent III issued a decree that all who read the Bible should be put to death. Anyways, my point of all this is the Roman Catholic Church was (is?) in a terribly corrupt state. Don't get me wrong, almost all the churches have problems - many choose to "reject the commandment of God, that they may keep their tradition" (Mark 7:9). But thank goodness people like Luther (although he wasn't right on everything) started heading Christianity in the right direction. Christ intended his followers to be in love with his Word and with Him - Christ Himself is called "the Word made flesh" (John 1:14) - and to love Truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10), not setting up a hierarchical Church system with corrupt leaders and false doctrines (Christ says of Christians that they should not have hierarchy as the world/Gentiles govern, but rather "whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant..." (Mark 10:42-45)). Pope quotes: Woodrow, Ralph. "Great Prophecies of the Bible." " Being Catholic, I take offense to this. What would be your response to this person's comments?