Letters    

 ...To A Catholic Priest (Con't.)

25.     Concerning the Immaculate Conception of Mary—"Was the mother of Mary `immaculately conceived?'" "Was there a sinless line from the time of Adam?" And, "What does this do to Mary's own admission that she needed a Saviour" (Luke 1:47)?

     Why will you continue to defend what cannot be honorably defended? You cannot believe this yourself; why will you continue to deceive others into believing it?

26.     Concerning the Syllabus of Errors—You write, "The Syllabus of Errors was not issued as an infallible teaching in the Catholic Church." That is a convenient posture now, but if, as you teach, the Pope is infallible when he speaks on matters involving faith and morals, pray tell, what does the Syllabus of Errors address if not matters of faith and morals?

     I appreciate your reference to Pio Nono's Dei Filius condemning pantheism, materialism and atheism. However, "Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor" (Ecclesiastes 10:1).

     One of the most subtle ways to commend falsehood is to mix it in a batch of truth. Poison so mixed becomes 10 times more lethal.

27.     Concerning the Infallibility of the Pope—In order to be infallible, one would have to be perfect. Perfection is an attribute of God, not of sinful men, for "there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not" (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

     You cite John 21:15 where our Lord commanded Peter to "Feed My lambs" as though He told Peter to do something that is not commanded to all ministers. Although he only is addressed, it is highly improper to say he is preeminent.

     I have already shown that in Matthew 16:19 the keys were not given to Peter only, but to all the apostles (See: Matthew 18). It should be noted that it is after this time that Peter, who according to Rome's doctrine was the first Pope, swore and denied the Lord three times.

28.     Concerning Mary as the "Mother of the Church"—Mary was the "handmaid," and as she is never called the "Mother of God" in Scripture, so she is never called the "Mother of the Church." To add to what is already written is serious, for it is to sin with a high hand.

29.     Concerning Monkery—You know as well as I that there were no convents, monasteries or monks in the New Testament. The fact that John Baptist wore a leather girdle, ate locusts and wild honey, and lived in solitude does not make him a hermit, or a monk. This is yet another example of eisegesis.

    The fact that Anna was a devout woman who attended public worship as a way of life does not make her a nun.

30.    Concerning Palm Sunday, Ash Wednesday and Lent— You wrote of Palm Sunday, "...It seems entirely reasonable to commemorate the triumphal entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, an event recalled in all four Gospels." The feeding of the 5000 is also mentioned in the 4 Gospels, as is Christ as a guest in the home of Simon the Leper, but we are not told to observe these days.

31.     Concerning All Saints Day—What is your basis for teaching that saints, though dead, "are able to act in our behalf as examples of faith and through intercessory prayer on our behalf?" Solomon says, "The dead know not anything" (Ecclesiastes 9:5).

32.     Concerning medals—Regarding the Crucifix, it ought to be remembered, "He is not here: He is risen!" How easy is it to kiss the crucifix! It requires no repentance. So Louis XI of France could swear, kiss his crucifix; swear again, and kiss his crucifix again. It was not long ago when Christopher medals were considered to be "good luck" charms preserving one from harm. You remember. Conclusion: According to Samuel Smiles in his book entitled Duty, Spain was more prosperous under the Moors than under Roman Catholic rulers, for "their government was more liberal, more tolerant, more cultural, more educated, and more cultivated."

    And, according to the Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia, II, pp. 85-86, under "Bible Reading by the Laity, Restrictions On", we read that the Synod of Toulouse (1229) forbade the laity to have in their possession any copy of the books of the Old and New Testament except the Psalter and such other portions as are contained in the Breviary, or the Hours of the Blessed Mary. "We most strictly forbid these works in the vulgar tongue."

      It is my sincere and earnest prayer that God, who alone is good and "doeth good", may be pleased to give you eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that will obey.

      "May God Smile On You."—J. S. Bach

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