Eastern Orthodox Still Leery of Signing on With the Pope

About 200 Catholic and Orthodox theologians and church leaders met June 18-22 at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., for the fifth annual "Orientale Lumen" (light of the east) conference, devoted to fostering closer ties between western Catholicism and eastern Orthodoxy.

Don't forget, the pope will need the Orthodox in his camp if he is to attain religious hegemony in Europe and beyond.

This year's theme was, "Primacy and Conciliarity: Finding a Common Vision." Of course, the main impediment to a union is the "primacy" of the pope as a sole ruler versus the Orthodox "conciliarity" concept of a college of equal bishops or patriarchs. Looking at the quote below, the pope still has some selling to do.

At this conference, Archbishop Vsevolod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Eparchy (diocese) of Chicago said, "The Holy See is judged by no one and there is no appeal or recourse from decisions of the Roman Pontiff...the Orthodox are not able to accept the notion that this particular human individual has an all-powerful right to judge the entire world, purely on his own initiative, and simultaneously enjoys a unique, curious exemption from judgment himself...Since the pope cannot possibly know personally all the men he names, the practical result is bishops are selected by the Roman Curia; nameless, faceless ecclesiastical bureaucrats whom no one call to account because they hide behind the claim that nobody can judge the Roman Pontiff."

I'm sure the Catholic members of this conference (including retired Roman Archbishop John Quinn of San Francisco) let this statement slide because they are courting the Orthodox.

Now, don't get your hopes up - these so-called Orthodox bishops, minus a belief in a pope, teach the same hell-bound sacramental works based system that Rome does - baptismal regeneration, eucharistic idolatry, Mary worship, prayers for the dead, worship of images, auricular confession, and so on.

Archbishop Vsevolod and other Orthodox bishops are not interested in pointing people to faith ALONE in the real Christ any more than the pope is, but in protecting their own little church "systems."

May the Holy Spirit convict Catholics and Orthodox of their sin, and give them the gift of repentance and faith in Christ ALONE. John 1:12 says, "AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM HE GAVE THE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME."

Twisting the Bible to Meet Their Needs

Three bishops of northeast Ohio, Roman bishop Anthony Pilla, Lutheran bishop Marcus Miller, and Episcopal bishop J. Clark Grew II, met for "Solemn Evening Prayers," on June 3 in Cleveland. At the end of the evening, they affixed their names to a document they called, 'A Covenant,' with the purpose that they, "work toward the day when there will be no obstacles to our full union in the tradition of the apostles."

However, the document that will matter in heaven is the Lamb's Book of Life. Participating in the sin of Romanism is the surest way to have a name blotted out of the Lamb's Book of Life.

This, 'Covenant,' in its preamble, twists the scriptures to support its cries for unity. It quotes Ephesians 2:14-15, from which version I'm not quite sure, it might be the NAV (New Apostate Version), as saying He has, "broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us...that He might create in Himself one new humanity."

However, that tried and true sword, that gift of God to the English speaking peoples, the King James Version has it saying, "AND HATH BROKEN DOWN THE MIDDLE WALL OF PARTITION BETWEEN US...FOR TO MAKE OF HIMSELF ONE NEW MAN."

The Greek word for the last word quoted is, 'anthropos,' which means, "MAN," in a singular sense, not, "humanity." The context of Ephesians 2 speaks of the drawing near to God because of Christ, not a gathering of churches. The eye of Rome is ever on the lookout to make the scriptures say whatever she pleases, not what God plainly meant. Also, I'm sure Rome does not use, "MAN," because it's much more politically correct to say, "humanity," than, "MAN," these days.

Rome kills two birds with one stone here - they please both the feminists and globalists!

May God give Catholics the grace to read the bible for themselves and see that Christ will free them from the sin of Catholicism if they repent and come to Him by faith ALONE.

Anti-Abortion - Just Another Roman Tool

With the Roman Catholic Church so often allied with godless liberals on welfare, one-world issues, illegal immigration, gun control, the death penalty, and debt relief, I have wondered why Rome shows itself as being against abortion, since the "right" to abortion is a hot-button issue with liberals.

Abortion is a terrible crime, and I hope all bible-believing Christians are praying daily for its stoppage. But the pope and his legion of loyal clergy have shown themselves to be as 2 Corinthians 11:13 says, "FALSE APOSTLES, DECEITFUL WORKERS, TRANSFORMING THEMSELVES INTO THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST."

These men claim to lead the one true church, but in fact actively keep people away from Christ through the eucharist, auricular confession, indulgences, purgatory, - the list is endless. So what motive would cause such unregenerate men to care for the unborn? They present a false Jesus to the born, and certainly don't want anyone to be born again!

If you read their documents on abortion, three phrases pop up all the time: "Inherent dignity," "life is sacred," and each person is created in, "the image of God." Two observations come to mind:

1. Those reading such things are led to believe that people are basically good, so they feel good about themselves and see no need to repent from their sin. After all, they have an, "inherent dignity." Do we? The bible says in Ephesians 2:1 we, "WHO WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS," and verse 3 says we, "WERE BY NATURE CHILDREN OF WRATH." Romans 3:10-11 says, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE; THERE IS NONE THAT UNDERSTANDETH, THERE IS NONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER GOD." We have no, "inherent dignity," but as Hebrews 10:27 says, "A CERTAIN FEARFUL LOOKING FOR OF JUDGMENT," without the cleansing blood of Christ! Yes, being created in the, "image of God," is in the bible, and Rome substitutes, "life is sacred," instead of using the sixth commandment from Exodus 20:13, "THOU SHALT NOT KILL." However, I maintain Rome is using such phrases to fool people into thinking they aren't really that bad.

2. Such pro-life language elevates Rome to a high moral ground among other religions of the world, and dovetails nicely with her efforts to find common ground with Moslems, apostate Protestants, the eastern (so-called) Orthodox, etc. I'm sure none of these listed groups would have any problem accepting the idea of an, "inherent dignity." But they scorn the truth that we are, "BY NATURE CHILDREN OF WRATH," and that there needs to be a repentance and a placing of faith in Christ ALONE.

As Dr. Ryle once wrote, "A right knowledge of sin lies at the root of all saving Christianity." I say Rome does not care one bit for the unborn, but in using the abortion issue to preach a false reassurance of the "goodness" of man, and to further her global ambitions. May the Lord stop abortion today, and may He open Catholics' eyes to the false nature of the Roman church.

Jesuitspeak

"The Gospel in an Age of World Communications" was a June 1 address by the American Cardinal, Avery Dulles. His speech was in general about the media today, but after 60 years as a Jesuit, the habit of Jesuitical thought and deception bubbles to the surface in his speech.

Deception must run in his family. His father, Allen Dulles, was on the Warren Commission that investigated the assasination of President Kennedy.

'His Eminence' said, "Catholicism inculcates respect for hierarchical authority, but the press, being incorrigibly democratic, allows no authority to dictate its findings." "Inculcate." Hmmmm......since Dulles is using fancy words, let us "scrutinize" the Webster dictionary on this word!

It is based on the Latin word 'inculcare.' Breaking down the Latin, it is from 'in', which means in or on, and 'culcare', to trample underfoot. (Has Rome ever trampled anyone underfoot?) The dictionary definition for today is, "to impress upon the mind by frequent repetition or persistent urging." A plain reading of what Dulles means is that respect for Catholic authority is accomplished in a trampling underfoot, repetitive, and persistent method aimed at the mind. This sounds like the brainwashing technique of a Communist Commissar!

Next, he laments that the press is, "incorrigibly democratic, (and) allows no authority to dictate its findings." Now I think the media is horrible today, but I wonder what "authority" Dulles would have to "dictate" the press' "findings?"

I'll take the media as is - and an open bible, instead of a Roman system that would deny me the word of God!

The spirit of Rome longs to keep the bible away from the people. In the Council of Trent's "Rules Concerning Prohibited Books," section IV says, "The matter is in this respect left to the judgment of the bishop or inquisitor, who may...permit the reading of the Sacred Books." Would Avery Dulles take the bibles out of our hands if could? You bet he would! Nothing from Trent has ever been taken back by Rome.

Dulles also said, "Church doctrine is complex and subtle." He's right. Roman theology has been designed to confuse and frustrate people, thus making them putty in the hands of their clergy.

But the truth of the BIBLE is very simple. The Holy Spirit anticipated men like Avery Dulles. It says in 2 Corinthians 11:3, "BUT I FEAR, LEST BY ANY MEANS, AS THE SERPENT BEGUILED EVE THROUGH HIS SUBTILTY, SO YOUR MINDS SHOULD BE CORRUPTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST." Jesus said in Mark 10:14, "SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME TO ME, AND FORBID THEM NOT."

Oh, that the Lord give Catholics the grace to throw away the false Jesuitical teaching that has confused them their whole lives. May they repent of Romanism, and receive Christ by faith ALONE. Lord, protect us from the Jesuits!

The Romish "Jesus" - No Repentance from Sin Necessary

One of the false gospels of Rome is the one in which the love of God is proclaimed, yet the need for repentance and the placing of faith in Christ ALONE are omitted. This is very clever on Rome's part, because without repentance and the forgiveness of sins, the only thing a person will get from God is judgment.

An example of this false Roman teaching is found in the June 8 article, "Our Most Important Task," by Green Bay, Wisconsin bishop Robert Banks. He writes, "A fuller understanding of the crucifixion believes that from the pierced heart of that person on the cross comes the love that forgives all the sins of humanity." Can you "bank" your eternity on such teaching? Does God's love in and of itself forgive sins?"

God gave us the bible to test men like Bishop Banks, as Revelation 2:2 says, "WHICH SAY THEY ARE APOSTLES, AND ARE NOT, AND HAST FOUND THEM LIARS."

In Mark 10:17-22 is the story of the rich, young ruler. He asked the Lord, "WHAT SHALL I DO THAT I MAY INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?" Jesus said, "THOU KNOWEST THE COMMANDMENTS," and the Lord listed some of the commandments. The young man answered, "ALL THESE HAVE I OBSERVED FROM MY YOUTH." It then says in verse 21, "THEN JESUS BEHOLDING HIM LOVED HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM: 'ONE THING THOU LACKEST'," and Jesus tells him to give up his riches and follow Him. The rich man, "WAS SAD AT THAT SAYING, AND WENT AWAY GRIEVED."

The bible shows in verse 21 that Jesus, "LOVED HIM," but that didn't save the rich, young ruler!! The young man did not repent.

Jesus said in Mark 1:15, "REPENT YE, AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL." He said in Luke 24:47, "THAT REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS SHOULD BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME AMONG ALL NATIONS." Romans 5:8-9 says, "GOD COMMENDED HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. MUCH MORE THEN, BEING NOW JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, WE SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH THROUGH HIM." 1 John 1:7 says, "THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN."

"Our Most Important Task" is - do we believe a Roman bishop who says God's love forgives sins, or the bible which shows that it took Jesus' blood, not His love, to cleanse us from all sin? I'll take the bible.

May Catholics obey Jesus Christ and, "REPENT YE," from the sin of Romanism, and then receive, "THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD."

Making Mary Politically Correct

Combining the spirit of political correctness and idolatry, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio is sponsoring an art show in October called, "The Many Faces of Mary."

This show is supposed to celebrate the spirit of "Encuentro," which according to the diocesan letter on this event describes a, "Face-to-face meeting of persons of deep faith." As the letter notes, such an example of an "Encuentro" was Mary going to see Elizabeth and, "In that meeting, a new dynamic was created." "New dynamic?!" That's all it says, with no further explanation.

But in a way, it does make sense, because Rome is always looking for ways to preach Mary outside of what the bible says, and the phrase, "new dynamic," is open-ended enough to be the source of many Catholic homilies on the false Mary Rome teaches on.

The bible nowhere talks about a, "new dynamic," but it does say in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW." People need to repent of their sins, and have a new relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ ALONE, not a, "new dynamic."

To further quote the letter, "This art show is an opportunity for artists of the diocese to express their experience of Mary in the richness of their cultural and personal diversity." This is the politically correct side of the show - I can just see it now - paintings of the "Colored Mary," "Navajo Mary," Guatemalan Mary," "Nigerian Mary," "Kenyan Mary," "Hindu Mary," "Vietnamese Mary," "Samoan Mary," and maybe even a, "Polish Mary."

This art show is not going to honor God, but it's another Roman attempt to mix Mary worship with a twist of "diversity" certain to please all those liberals out there.

However, I must give Rome credit for warning people about participating in this event, for the letter also says, "Artists should note that any artwork submitted by them for the exhibition at "The Many Faces of Mary" exhibit would be done at their own risk." Yes, they risk being guilty of idol worship!

God warned us of such misguided Mary worship in Romans 1:25 which says, "WHO CHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD INTO A LIE, AND WORSHIPPED AND SERVED THE CREATURE MORE THAN THE CREATOR, WHO IS BLESSED FOREVER. AMEN." I pray the Lord's Spirit convicts many Catholics of the sin of Mary worship, that they repent, leave Rome, and be born again.

Lessons From a Bishop's Golf Game

In describing the spiritual state of the people's leaders as God was bringing judgment on the Kingdom of Judah, Jeremiah 8:9 says, "THE WISE MEN ARE ASHAMED, THEY ARE DISMAYED AND TAKEN; LO, THEY HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND WHAT WISDOM IS IN THEM?"

This is a good question, and do we have any examples today of, "WHAT WISDOM IS IN THEM?"

We need not look any further than the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, Thomas Tobin. His article, "Without a Doubt," in the May 25 issue of the 'Catholic Exponent' is such an example.

Instead of using the word of God to teach his flock, 'His Excellency' uses what he's learned from his golf game! Such a spiritual meal might be filling, but it is hardly nourishing.

Discussing how golf can be a great equalizer of people he says, "I've yet to see a crozier and miter on a golf course." Yes, and we've yet to see a crozier and miter teach the truth! I don't deny a man a day on the golf course, but it's incredible what people will look to for spiritual teaching when, "THEY HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD."

Some highlights from the article:

"Golf teaches us to live in hope and look to the future with confidence," and, "Golf is an excellent teacher of patience." This is so bad, all I can say is that it's not the word of God. Bishop Tobin also writes, "Golf teaches how beneficial it is to stay on the straight and narrow...Isn't life like that, too? Live in a way that is morally straight and upright, keep the commandments, (and) follow God's law."

But how does the bible tell us to live? Galatians 3:11-12 says, "BUT THAT NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, IT IS EVIDENT; FOR, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH. AND THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH: BUT, THE MAN THAT DOETH THEM SHALL LIVE IN THEM." Chapter 5:3 says, "FOR I TESTIFY AGAIN TO EVERY MAN THAT IS CIRCUMCISED, THAT HE IS A DEBTOR TO DO THE WHOLE LAW."

The bible says a man has, 'TO DO THE WHOLE LAW," if he is going to, "keep the commandments."

Bishop Tobin deceives the people when he tells them they can live under a law they have no hope of keeping. The devil has a two-fold purpose in such Roman teaching:

1. Those who try to live under the law and realize they can't, end up working harder and feeling more guilty, thus making them more pliable in the hands of the Roman clergy, especially in the confessional.

2. The other group of Catholics think they are keeping the whole law, and therefore they must be really looking good in God's eyes. This was the attitude of the religious leaders that murdered Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:18 says, "BUT IF YE BE LED OF THE SPIRIT, YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW." We are to live by faith, in the power of the Spirit, and to, "DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY." 1 Peter 2:2.

I have a choice - to live by the golf course wisdom of Bishop Tobin, or live as the bible says, by the wisdom of, "THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD." I'll take the bible.

May Catholics who are tired of trying to keep a law they cannot keep forsake Rome. May the Lord's Spirit show them that a person cannot live by faith until they have received Christ by faith ALONE.

A Catholic Bible - All Style and No Substance

The 'National Catholic Reporter' in it's June 1 issue reported on the progress of the "St. John's Bible" project. This is a large, medieval-style, goose quill hand written, on calfskin vellum pages bible, that will be completed in 2006, and is being sponsored by the St. John's Benedictine Abbey of Minnesota.

So far, the four gospels and Acts have been completed. Jesus said in John 8:32, "AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE." He also said in Matthew 18:11, "FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COME TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST."

However, as the article reports, the Benedictines do not seem so much concerned with man's sinful nature and his need for a Saviour, but in promoting a political correctness through this endeavor that would certainly win warm applause at the United Nations.

As for this bible, they see, "in it's pages the reflections of a multicultural world and of humankind's (Ed. note - don't say 'mankind', we might offend some feminists) strides in science, space travel, and technology."

The great achievement in the bible is that the Son of God has provided atonement for man's sin. Acts 13:39 says, "AND BY HIM ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, FROM WHICH YE COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW OF MOSES." The monks are evidently more impressed with hand held calculators than the work of Christ.

Regarding the Abbey's, "commitment to religious dialogue," the monks hope that this bible helps people to, "celebrate the heritage of shared religious belief and become more aware of the uniting forces of sacred texts," and that, "the church rejoices in the truth wherever it may be found."

These monks may rejoice in the 'Koran,' 'Glories of Mary,' or the 'Book of Mormon,' but bible-believing Christians won't. It's designers say this bible's themes are, "social justice, the role of women, stewardship of the earth, and God's covenant with humankind." Are they describing the bible or Labour's platform for the British election?

'Father' Eric Hollas says of this bible, "There's something exciting about spending 10 minutes to draw a single letter." He's got to be kidding!!

I'll tell you what's exciting - 1 John 3:2 says, "BELOVED, NOW WE ARE THE SONS OF GOD." The bible says I have a Father in heaven, "NOW," not possibly, not later, not maybe, but, "NOW."

Jesus promises in John 6:37, "HIM THAT COMETH TO ME I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT." What's exciting about the bible is that its truth will turn people from death to life, from hell to heaven, and from Rome to Christ. It's exciting knowing I don't need a Roman priest to come to Jesus Christ and have my sins forgiven.

May many Catholics come directly to Christ, confess the sin of having believed in Roman priestcraft, and by faith ALONE be born again.

Roman Priest Arrested

Roman priest John Castaldo, the spiritual leader at Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford, Connecticut, has been arrested on charges of "attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor."

The priest was caught responding, "to a posting on a sexually explicit Web site from an undercover investigator posing as a 14-year-old boy." Authorities said, "During online conversations in April and May, Castaldo described in explicit detail the sex acts he wanted to engage in with the 'boy.'"

In addition, one student at the high school recounted a time when Castaldo called him into his office and asked, "What kids at the school were having sexual relations?" Evidently the vile stench of the confessional was not enough for 'Father' Castaldo! If a Catholic with "Holy Orders", having power to command a piece of bread to become Christ, and the ability to say, "I absolve thee" in the confessional can be like this, what chance does the average Catholic have to ward off lust?

Naturally, the Roman spin doctors are out. 'Father' Stephen DiGiovanni says, "It's a problem with the individual priest, not the priesthood." This is the old Roman trick of blaming the individual, and keeping the "corporation" out of it - the Pope will apologise for the church's "sons and daughters", but never for the church. Today, Firestone Tire with all it's product defects could never get away with such a line of logic, but Rome can!

'Father' Castaldo will also undergo "psychological evaluation in accordance with the diocese's sexual misconduct policy." Rome's policies won't help this man at all - because Jung, Freud, Maslow, John Paul II, Pius XII, de Ligouri, etc., never deal with man's need for repentance from sin, and his turning to faith in Christ ALONE.

Galatians 1:4 says that Christ, "GAVE HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS, THAT HE (Ed. note - HE Means HE, not the Roman church; it's quite plain) MIGHT DELIVER US FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD." John Castaldo's only hope is to confess the sin of Catholicism to the real Christ (not a Roman priest posing as an 'alter Christus') and receive the gift of eternal life by faith in Christ ALONE.

We have a choice - to believe in what Jung, Freud, Maslow, Wojtyla, Pacelli, and de Ligouri say, OR what the bible says. I'll take the bible. May God give Catholics the grace to see the fraudulent nature of the Roman priesthood, repent of the sin of Catholicism, and be born again.