Changes

There are many great conservative Catholics, such as Abby Johnson, Former Planned Parenthood Clinic director and Lila Rose, President and founder of Live Action. Nevertheless, I have extreme misgivings about the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and many of the things its priesthood and Magisterium have done.

There are many great conservative Catholics, such as Abby Johnson, Former Planned Parenthood Clinic director and Lila Rose, President and founder of Live Action. Nevertheless, I have extreme misgivings about the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and many of the things its priesthood and Magisterium have done.

====Why I will never be Roman Catholic====

====Why I will never be Roman Catholic====

It's frightening to think that so many Catholics have trusted in the sacraments to save them rather than Christ (See "Talking with Catholic Friends and Family" by former Roman Catholic James G. McCarthy starting on page 55). Paul said in Ephesians 2:9, Romans 3:27, and Romans 4:2, no one can boast about the things that they do to merit Eternal Life. Paul teaches in Romans 4:4 that anything that is earned by works and deeds is not a gift (which Salvation is described in Ephesians 2:8) and in Romans 11:6, Paul teaches that if you add works to grace, it is by definition no longer grace. The Roman Catholic Church, on the other hand, defines "grace" something that is quantifiable and increases through works such as good deeds and the sacraments, and decreases with sin. Isaiah 64:6 reveals that God considers any works we do as useless "filthy rags" when it comes to our standing I am not attempting to start a debate with Catholics, I leave that to men who are much wiser than I. I merely wish to articulate my beliefs. I have also heard many Catholics deny that the Bible was ever denied to the common people despite ‘We prohibit also that the laity should be permitted to have the books of the Old and the New Testament; unless anyone from the motives of devotion should wish to have the Psalter or the Breviary for divine offices or the hours of the blessed Virgin; but we most strictly forbid their having any translation of these books.’ From the council of Toulouse in 1229 [http://www.justforcatholics.org/a198.htm]

It's frightening to think that so many Catholics have trusted in the sacraments to save them rather than Christ (See "Talking with Catholic Friends and Family" by former Roman Catholic James G. McCarthy starting on page 55). Paul said in Ephesians 2:9, Romans 3:27, and Romans 4:2, no one can boast about the things that they do to merit Eternal Life. Paul teaches in Romans 4:4 that anything that is earned by works and deeds is not a gift (which Salvation is described in Ephesians 2:8) and in Romans 11:6, Paul teaches that if you add works to grace, it is by definition no longer grace. The Roman Catholic Church, on the other hand, defines "grace" something that is quantifiable and increases through works such as good deeds and the sacraments, and decreases with sin. Isaiah 64:6 reveals that God considers any works we do as useless "filthy rags" when it comes to our standing. In Catholicism, there is no sense of becoming a wholly "new creation" as outlined in 2 Corinthians 5:17, rather, they are the same person with sins removed by a priest in a temporary state of righteousness until they sin again. Dataclarifier posted a copied article in which a Catholic priest says "St. Paul commands all Christians to be intercessors/mediators." While I agree with the intercessory prayer part. I do not see that as commanding churches to set up the confession booths with the "forgive me father for I have sinned..." and the "pray the Rosary 5 times and do 3 Hail Marys..." Hardon also says "And remember, we are not talking about necessity here. The Church is not claiming Christ couldn’t get the job done so he needed help. Of course not! He could do it all—and all by himself—if he wanted to. He could come down here right now and write this blog post much more effectively than I ever could. But he chooses not to do everything himself, strictly speaking. He delights in using his body to communicate his life and love to the world." Exactly, but Catholics get it in their minds that they can't be forgiven without a priest to do the confession rite. Yes, Christ does use his body to communicate, there is no conflict with what Protestants believe there. "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow." 1 Corinthians 3:5-6 A priest, however, makes himself more than a mere servant, actually having a level of supernatural control over the penitent's forgiveness and being able to declare what they must do to have their sin removed. Richard Bennett understood this when he used to take confessions and never tried get around it the way Hardon does. As [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNSLBUl-KXM& This video] says "Most, if not all, that happens to us when we receive Christ would be invalidated if salvation could be lost." Ultimately, a Catholic's salvation is dependent on continuous participation in Church rites and rituals, not on being Born Again or a new creation. I am not the best debater, there are men who are much wiser than I. I merely wish to articulate my beliefs. I have also heard many Catholics deny that the Bible was ever denied to the common people despite ‘We prohibit also that the laity should be permitted to have the books of the Old and the New Testament; unless anyone from the motives of devotion should wish to have the Psalter or the Breviary for divine offices or the hours of the blessed Virgin; but we most strictly forbid their having any translation of these books.’ From the council of Toulouse in 1229 [http://www.justforcatholics.org/a198.htm]

====The Roman Catholic Church's dark history and present evil====

====The Roman Catholic Church's dark history and present evil====