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All Non-Catholic 'churches' Must Be Sunk in Pernicious Errors

Also See: Those Outside the Church (Topic Page)

"That all, therefore, might know which was the Catholic Church, the Fathers, guided by the Spirit of God, added to the Creed the word Apostolic. For the Holy Ghost, who presides over the Church, governs her by no other ministers than those of Apostolic succession. This Spirit, first imparted to the Apostles, has by the infinite goodness of God always continued in the Church. And just as this one Church cannot err in faith or morals, since it is guided by the Holy Ghost; so on the contrary, all other societies abrogating to themselves the name of church, must necessarily, because guided by the spirit of the devil, be sunk in the most pernicious errors, both doctrinal and moral." (Catechism of the Council of Trent)

Also See: True vs. False Church | Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | Truth / Error / Nature of Man | Truth is Unchanging | The True Church Can Be Recognized From Her Origin | The Catholic Church / Religion | Duty to Reject Strange Doctrine | False Opinions Influence / Pervert Actions | One Should Not Be Open Minded to Error | Gospel Doesn't Support False Tolerance | Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | Personal Interpretation of Scripture / Rejection of Truth | Non-Catholics (apologetics) (Reflections) | Infallibility (Vatican View) | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Truth (Topical Scripture) | Heresy / Error (Topical Scripture)

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Anglican Ordinations Declared Invalid

Also See: Those Outside the Church (Topic Page)

"Wherefore, strictly adhering, in this matter, to the decrees of the pontiffs, our predecessors, and confirming them most fully, and, as it were, renewing them by our authority, of our own initiative and certain knowledge, we pronounce and declare that ordinations carried out according to the Anglican rite have been, and are, absolutely null and utterly void." (Pope Leo XIII, "Apostolicae Curae", 1896 A.D.)

Also See: Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | Necessity of Union With the Roman Pontiff (Vatican View Reflections) | All Non-Catholic 'churches' Must Be Sunk in Pernicious Errors | Recognizing the True Religion | Those Gathered Outside the Church of Christ | The True Church Can Be Recognized From Her Origin | True vs. False Church | Truth / Error / Nature of Man | Infallibility (Vatican View) | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Priests & Vocations

Can Catholic Dogma Ever Change?

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Biblical Societies Rejected

"Indeed, you are aware that from the first ages called Christian, it has been the peculiar artifice of heretics that, repudiating the traditional Word of God, and rejecting the authority of the Catholic Church, they either falsify the Scriptures at hand, or alter the explanation of the meaning. In short, you are not ignorant of how much diligence and wisdom is needed to translate faithfully into another tongue the words of the Lord; so that, surely, nothing could happen more easily than that in the versions of these Scriptures, multiplied by the Biblical societies, very grave errors creep in from the imprudence or deceit of so many translators; further, the very multitude and variety of those versions conceal these errors for a long time to the destruction of many. However, it is of little or no interest at all to these societies whether the men likely to read these Bibles translated into the vulgar tongue [that is, the language of the people], fall into some errors rather than others, provided they grow accustomed little by little to claiming free judgment for themselves with regard to the sense of the Scriptures, and also to despising the divine tradition of the Fathers which has been guarded by the teaching of the Catholic Church, and to repudiating the teaching office itself of the Church. Toward this end those same Biblical associates do not cease to slander the Church and this Holy See of Peter, as if it were attempting for these many centuries to keep the faithful people from a knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures; although, on the other hand, there are extant many very illuminating documents of remarkable learning which the Supreme Pontiffs and other Catholic bishops under their leadership, have used in these more recent times, that Catholic peoples might be educated more exactly according to the written and traditional word of God.. Among those rules, which have been written by the Fathers chosen by the Council of Trent and approved by Pius IV...and set in the front part of the Index of prohibited books, in the general sanction of the statutes one reads that Bibles published in a vulgar tongue were not permitted to anyone, except to those to whom the reading of them was judged to be beneficial for the increase of their faith and piety. To this same rule, limited immediately by a new caution because of the persistent deceits of heretics, this declaration was at length appended by the authority of Benedict XIV, that permission is granted for reading vernacular versions which have been approved by the Apostolic See, or have been edited with annotations drawn from the Holy Fathers of the Church or from learned Catholic men... We again condemn all the above-mentioned biblical societies of which our predecessors disapproved... Therefore let it be known to all that anyone who joins one of these societies, or aids it, or favors it in any way will be guilty of a grievous crime." (Pope Gregory XVI, "Inter praecipuas", 1844 A.D.)

Also See: Private Interpretation / Twisting Scripture (Scripture Reflections) | False Opinions Influence / Pervert Actions | Personal Interpretation of Scripture / Rejection of Truth | Those Who Make Scripture Mean What They Want it to Mean | Error / Truth | Novel Teachings Are Forbidden | One Should Not Be Open Minded to Error | Protestant Bibles Rejected | Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | Non-Association with Heretics / Schismatics | Those Gathered Outside the Church of Christ | Truth is Unchanging | Scripture (Reflections) | Popes as Preservers of Tradition / Against New Doctrines (Vatican View Reflections) | Infallibility (Vatican View) | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Truth (Topical Scripture) | Heresy / Error (Topical Scripture)

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Cannot Live Without the Root

"Thus there are branches in the vine, not that they may bestow anything upon the vine, but that they may receive from it the means by which they may live; so truly the vine is in the branches, that it may furnish vital nourishment to these, not take it from them. And by this it is an advantage to the disciples, not to Christ, that each have Christ abiding in him, and that each abide in Christ. For if the branch is cut off, another can sprout forth from the living root; but that which has been cut off, cannot live without the root (John 15:5 ff.)." (St. Prosper/Council of Orange II, 529 A.D.)

Also See: Heaven Cannot Be Entered Without the Keys | Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | The Spirit of Christ Refuses to Dwell Through Sanctifying Grace in Those Severed From the Church | Those Who Reject the Church Reject Christ | Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | Truth / Error / Nature of Man | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Church (Topical Scripture)

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Character of the Faithful Distinguished from the Character of the Devil

"A character distinguishes one from another, in relation to some particular end, to which he, who receives the character is ordained: as has been stated concerning the military character by which a soldier of the king is distinguished from the enemy's soldier in relation to the battle. In like manner the character of the faithful is that by which the faithful of Christ are distinguished from the servants of the devil, either in relation to eternal life, or in relation to the worship of the Church that now is. Of these the former is the result of charity and grace, as the objection runs; while the latter results from the sacramental character. Wherefore the 'character of the beast' may be understood by opposition, to mean either the obstinate malice for which some are assigned to eternal punishment, or the profession of an unlawful form of worship." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")

Also See: Devil / Satan (Topical Scripture) | True vs. False Church

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Heresy / Heretics & Schism / Schismatics

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No Good Hope of Salvation For Those Outside the True Church

Also See: Those Outside the Church (Topic Page)

Error CONDEMNED by Pope Pius IX in the Syllabus of Errors: "We must have at least good hope concerning the eternal salvation of all those who in no wise are in the true Church of Christ." (Bl. Pope Pius IX, This proposition was condemned in the Syllabus of Errors, Dec. 8, 1864 A.D.)

Also See: Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | One Cannot Find the Way to Salvation in Just Any Religion | The Spirit of Christ Refuses to Dwell Through Sanctifying Grace in Those Severed From the Church | Those Who Reject the Church Reject Christ | Necessity of Union With the Roman Pontiff (Vatican View Reflections) | Against Religious Indifferentism | Protestantism is Not Another Equally Pleasing Form of the Same Christian Religion | Recognizing the True Religion | Church (Topical Scripture)

Can Catholic Dogma Ever Change?

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Pan- Christianity Condemned

Also See: Ecumenism (Topic Page)

"After a first and second warning, break off contact with a heretic, realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned." (St. Paul, Ti. 3:10-11)

"But some are more easily deceived by the outward appearance of good when there is question of fostering unity among all Christians. Is it not right, it is often repeated, indeed, even consonant with duty, that all who invoke the name of Christ should abstain from mutual reproaches and at long last be united in mutual charity? Who would dare to say that he loved Christ, unless he worked with all his might to carry out the desires of Him, Who asked His Father that His disciples might be 'one.' And did not the same Christ will that His disciples should be marked out and distinguished from others by this characteristic, namely that they loved one another: 'By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another'? All Christians, they add, should be as 'one': for then they would be much more powerful in driving out the pest of irreligion, which like a serpent daily creeps further and becomes more widely spread, and prepares to rob the Gospel of its strength. These things and others that class of men who are known as pan-Christians continually repeat and amplify; and these men, so far from being quite few and scattered, have increased to the dimensions of an entire class, and have grouped themselves into widely spread societies, most of which are directed by non-Catholics, although they are imbued with varying doctrines concerning the things of faith. This undertaking is so actively promoted as in many places to win for itself the adhesion of a number of citizens, and it even takes possession of the minds of very many Catholics and allures them with the hope of bringing about such a union as would be agreeable to the desires of Holy Mother Church, who has indeed nothing more at heart than to recall her erring sons and to lead them back to her bosom. But in reality beneath these enticing words and blandishments lies hid a most grave error, by which the foundations of the Catholic faith are completely destroyed. Admonished, therefore, by the consciousness of Our Apostolic office that We should not permit the flock of the Lord to be cheated by dangerous fallacies, We invoke, Venerable Brethren, your zeal in avoiding this evil" (Pope Pius XI, "Mortalium Animos", 1928 A.D.)

Also See: Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | Those Who Reject the Church Reject Christ | Against Religious Indifferentism | Duty to Reject Strange Doctrine | Error / Truth | Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | Non-Association with Heretics / Schismatics | Novel Teachings Are Forbidden | Personal Interpretation of Scripture / Rejection of Truth | True Holiness Belongs to the Catholic Church Alone | Who Really is a Christian / Truly Following & Believing in Christ | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Heresy / Error (Topical Scripture) | Church (Topical Scripture)

Can Catholic Dogma Ever Change?

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Personal Interpretation of Scripture / Rejection of Truth

"Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the Holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God." (St. Peter, 2 Pt. 1:20-21)

"The Spirit said to Philip, 'Go and join up with that chariot.' Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' He replied, 'How can I, unless someone instructs me?' So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him." (Acts 8:29-31)

"[H]eavenly doctrine was never left to the arbitrary judgment of private individuals" (Pope Leo XIII, "Satis Cognitum", 1896 A.D.)

"Everybody will believe and refuse to believe what he likes or dislikes in them" (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church)

"Tell us straight out that you do not believe in the Gospel of Christ; for you believe what you want in the Gospel and disbelieve what you want. You believe in yourself rather than in the Gospel." (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church, c. 400 A.D.) 

"If we read even in the divine Scriptures about hidden thing and things most removed from our eyes, it will be possible, saving always the faith which fills us, to formulate various opinions about these matters. Let us, then, not be too hasty in accepting any such opinions which, were the truth to be sought more carefully, might afterwards be found unsound, and lest we might be found in error by our attempting to establish what is but our own view and not that of the divine Scriptures, as if we would wish our view to be that of the Scriptures, whereas we ought to wish that the view taken by the Scriptures should become our own." (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church, c. 407 A.D.)

"Wherefore, let the faithful also be on their guard against the overrated independence of private judgment and that false autonomy of human reason. For it is quite foreign to everyone bearing the name of a Christian to trust his own mental powers with such pride as to agree only with those things which he can examine from their inner nature, and to imagine that the Church, sent by God to teach and guide all nations, is not conversant with present affairs and circumstances... Quite to the contrary, a characteristic of all true followers of Christ, lettered or unlettered, is to suffer themselves to be guided and led in all things that touch upon faith or morals by the Holy Church of God through its Supreme Pastor the Roman Pontiff, who is himself guided by Jesus Christ Our Lord." (Pope Pius XI, "Casti Connubii", 1930 A.D.)

"If then it be certain that anything is revealed by God, and this is not believed, then nothing whatever is believed by divine Faith: for what the Apostle St. James judges to be the effect of a moral delinquency, the same is to be said of an erroneous opinion in the matter of faith. 'Whosoever shall offend in one point, is become guilty of all' (Ep. James ii., 10). Nay, it applies with greater force to an erroneous opinion. For it can be said with less truth that every law is violated by one who commits a single sin, since it may be that he only virtually despises the majesty of God the Legislator. But he who dissents even in one point from divinely revealed truth absolutely rejects all faith, since he thereby refuses to honor God as the supreme truth and the formal motive of faith. 'In many things they are with me, in a few things not with me; but in those few things in which they are not with me the many things in which they are will not profit them' (S. Augustinus in Psal. liv., n. 19). And this indeed most deservedly; for they, who take from Christian doctrine what they please, lean on their own judgments, not on faith; and not 'bringing into captivity every understanding unto the obedience of Christ' (2 Cor. x., 5), they more truly obey themselves than God. 'You, who believe what you like, believe yourselves rather than the gospel' (S. Augustinus, lib. xvii., Contra Faustum Manichaeum, cap. 3)." (Pope Leo XIII, "Satis Cognitum", 1896 A.D.)

"This is inculcated by St. Jerome, and still more frequently by St. Augustine, who thus justly complains: 'If there is no branch of teaching, however humble and easy to learn, which does not require a master, what can be a greater sign of rashness and pride than to refuse to study the Books of the divine mysteries by the help of those who have interpreted them?' The other Fathers have said the same, and have confirmed it by their example, for they 'endeavored to acquire the understanding of the Holy Scriptures not by their own lights and ideas, but from the writings and authority of the ancients, who in their turn, as we know, received the rule of interpretation in direct line from the Apostles.' The Holy Fathers 'to whom, after the Apostles, the Church owes its growth - who have planted, watered, built, governed, and cherished it,' the Holy Fathers, We say, are of supreme authority, whenever they all interpret in one and the same manner any text of the Bible, as pertaining to the doctrine of faith or morals; for their unanimity clearly evinces that such interpretation has come down from the Apostles as a matter of Catholic faith. The opinion of the Fathers is also of very great weight when they treat of these matters in their capacity of doctors, unofficially; not only because they excel in their knowledge of revealed doctrine and in their acquaintance with many things which are useful in understanding the apostolic Books, but because they are men of eminent sanctity and of ardent zeal for the truth, on whom God has bestowed a more ample measure of His light. Wherefore the expositor should make it his duty to follow their footsteps with all reverence, and to use their labors with intelligent appreciation." (Pope Leo XIII, "Providentissimus Deus")

Also See: Private Interpretation / Twisting Scripture (Scripture Reflections) | Those Who Make Scripture Mean What They Want it to Mean | Error / Truth | Duty to Reject Strange Doctrine | False Opinions Influence / Pervert Actions | Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | Novel Teachings Are Forbidden | One Should Not Be Open Minded to Error | Truth is Unchanging | Popes as Preservers of Tradition / Against New Doctrines (Vatican View Reflections) | Infallibility (Vatican View) | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Truth (Topical Scripture) | Heresy / Error (Topical Scripture)

Can Catholic Dogma Ever Change?

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Protestant Bibles Rejected

Also See: Those Outside the Church (Topic Page)

"If anyone shall not accept the entire books of Sacred Scripture with all their divisions, just as the sacred Synod of Trent has enumerated them, as canonical and sacred, or denies that they have been inspired by God: let him be anathema." (Vatican Council I, 1870 A.D.) [Note: Protestant sects traditionally reject various books of the Bible. See Scripture/Parables section for more information]

Also See: Duty to Reject Strange Doctrine | Error / Truth | Biblical Societies Rejected | Those Who Reject the Church Reject Christ | Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | Non-Association with Heretics / Schismatics | One Should Not Be Open Minded to Error | Personal Interpretation of Scripture / Rejection of Truth | Protestantism is Not Another Equally Pleasing Form of the Same Christian Religion | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Scripture / Parables Section

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Protestantism Established With Much Persecution / Bloodshed

Also See: Those Outside the Church (Topic Page)

"Protestantism was established and rooted by the shedding of torrents of blood; and yet Protestants count it as a great crime that, here and there, the children of the true Church made an armed resistance against them. The heresy of the sixteenth century was the cruel and untiring persecutor of men, whose only crime was their adhesion to the old faith - the faith that had civilized the world. The so-called Reformation proclaimed liberty in matters of religion, and massacred Catholics who exercised this liberty, and prayed and believed as their ancestors had done for long ages before Luther and Calvin were born. A Catholic who gives heretics credit for sincerity when they talk about religious toleration, proves that he knows nothing of either the past or the present. There is a fatal instinct in error, which leads it to hate the Truth; and the true Church, by its unchangeableness, is a perpetual reproach to them that refuse to be her children. Heresy starts with an attempt to annihilate them that remain faithful; when it has grown tired of open persecution it vents its spleen in insults and calumnies; and when these do not produce the desired effect, hypocrisy comes in with its assurances of friendly forbearance. The history of Protestant Europe, during the last three centuries, confirms these statements; it also justifies us in honoring those courageous servants of God who, during that same period, have died for the ancient faith." (Gueranger, 19th Century A.D.)

"Luther and Calvin had called this Holy Church the harlot of Babylon; and yet she had, at that very time, such children as Teresa of Spain, and Philip Neri of Rome, to offer to the admiration of mankind. But Protestantism cared little or nothing for piety or charity; its great object was the throwing off the yoke of restraint. Under pretence of religious liberty, it persecuted them that adhered to the truth faith; it forced itself by violence where it could not enter by seduction; but it never aimed at or thought of leading men to love their God. The result was that wheresoever it imposed its errors, devotedness was at an end - we mean that devotedness which leads man to make sacrifices for God or for his neighbor." (Gueranger)

"In those days passions ran riot and knowledge of the truth was almost completely twisted and confused. A continual battle was being waged against errors. Human society, going from bad to worse, was rushing headlong into the abyss. Then those proud and rebellious men came on the scene who are 'enemies of the cross of Christ... Their god is the belly...they mind the things of earth'. These men were not concerned with correcting morals, but only with denying dogmas. Thus they increased the chaos. They dropped the reins of law, and unbridled licentiousness ran wild. They despised the authoritative guidance of the Church and pandered to the whims of the dissolute princes and people. They tried to destroy the Church's doctrine, constitution and discipline. they were similar to those sinners who were warned long ago: 'Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil'. They called this rebellious riot and perversion of faith and morals a reformation, and themselves reformers. In reality, they were corrupters." (Pope St. Pius X, "Editae Saepe" 1910 A.D.)

Also See: False Opinions Influence / Pervert Actions | Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | Those Who Reject the Church Reject Christ | Those Who Resist Lawful Authority Resist God's Ordering | Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | The True Church Can Be Recognized From Her Origin | True vs. False Church | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Why Trust Martin Luther?  

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Protestantism is Not Another Equally Pleasing Form of the Same Christian Religion

Also See: Those Outside the Church (Topic Page)

Error CONDEMNED by Pope Pius IX in the Syllabus of Errors: "Protestantism is nothing more than another form of the same true Christian religion, in which form it is given to please God equally as in the Catholic Church." (Bl. Pope Pius IX, This proposition was condemned in the Syllabus of Errors, Dec. 8, 1864 A.D.)

Also See: Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | Those Who Reject the Church Reject Christ | Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | True Holiness Belongs to the Catholic Church Alone | Against Religious Indifferentism | All Non-Catholic 'churches' Must Be Sunk in Pernicious Errors | Error / Truth | One Should Not Be Open Minded to Error | False Opinions Influence / Pervert Actions | Personal Interpretation of Scripture / Rejection of Truth | Recognizing the True Religion | What Jesus Says vs. What Protestantism Says | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Heresy / Error (Topical Scripture)

Can Catholic Dogma Ever Change?

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Solicitude For Those Outside the Church

Also See: Those Outside the Church (Topic Page)

"Our thoughts now turn to those who dissent from us in matters of Christian faith; and who shall deny that, with not a few of them, dissent is a matter rather of inheritance than of will? How solicitous We are of their salvation, with what ardor of soul We wish that they should be at length restored to the embrace of the Church, the common mother of all, Our Apostolic Epistle, 'Praeclara,' has in very recent times declared. Nor are we destitute of all hope; for He is present and hath a care whom all things obey and who laid down His life that He might 'gather in one the children of God who were dispersed.' (John xi. 52). Surely we ought not to desert them nor leave them to their fancies; but with mildness and charity draw them to us, using every means of persuasion to induce them to examine closely every part of the Catholic doctrine, and to free themselves from preconceived notions." (Pope Leo XIII, "Longinqua", 1895 A.D.)

"Therefore the whole and entire Catholic doctrine is to be presented and explained: by no means is it permitted to pass over in silence or to veil in ambiguous terms the Catholic truth regarding the nature and way of justification, the constitution of the Church, the primacy of jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff, and the only true union by the return of the dissidents to the one true Church of Christ. It should be made clear to them that, in returning to the Church, they will lose nothing of that good which by the grace of God has hitherto been implanted in them, but that it will rather be supplemented and completed by their return. However, one should not speak of this in such a way that they will imagine that in returning to the Church they are bringing to it something substantial which it has hitherto lacked. It will be necessary to say these things clearly and openly, first because it is the truth that they themselves are seeking, and moreover because outside the truth no true union can ever be attained." (Instruction of the Holy Office, "On the Ecumenical Movement", 1949 A.D.)

"Perhaps until now aiming at the greater perfection of Christian virtue, and searching more devoutly the divine Scriptures, and redoubling the fervor of their prayers, they have, nevertheless, hesitated in doubt and anxiety to follow the voice of Christ, which so long has interiorly admonished them. Now they see clearly whither He in His goodness invites them and wills them to come. In returning to His one only fold, they will obtain the blessings which they seek, and the consequent helps to salvation, of which He has made the Church the dispenser, and, as it were, the constant guardian and promoter of His redemption amongst the nations. Then, indeed, 'They shall draw waters in joy from the fountains of the Savior', His wondrous Sacraments, whereby His faithful souls have their sins truly remitted, and are restored to the friendship of God, are nourished and strengthened by the heavenly Bread, and abound with the most powerful aids for their eternal salvation." (Pope Leo XIII, "Apostolicae Curae", 1896 A.D.)

Also See: Calls to Repentance | Calls to Wandering / Lost Sheep | Continued Searching After Obstinate Sheep | Conversion | Conversion / Repentance | No Repentance is Too Late | The Church Can Forgive All Sin | Tips for the Conversion of Sinners | We Must Have Charity For All People | Zeal for Souls | Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | Our Behavior / Tips | Our Solicitude & Our Duty to Correct / Rebuke | Unlawful to Force Others to Embrace the Catholic Faith | Non-Catholics (apologetics)

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Those Gathered Outside the Church of Christ

Also See: Those Outside the Church (Topic Page)

"Do they actually think that Christ is with them in their gatherings, when they gather outside the Church of Christ?" (St. Cyprian of Carthage)

Also See: Calls to Wandering / Lost Sheep | Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | Those Who Reject the Church Reject Christ | Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | Recognizing the True Religion | Heaven Cannot Be Entered Without the Keys | One Should Not Be Open Minded to Error | Gospel Doesn't Support False Tolerance | Conversion | Solicitude For Those Outside the Church | Truth / Error / Nature of Man | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Heresy / Error (Topical Scripture) 

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Those Not Following Christ / Those Not of Christ

Also See: Those Outside the Church (Topic Page)

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt. 12:30)

"They that follow not Christ Jesus, follow Satan" (Gueranger)

"Surely whatever cuts itself off from Christ must perish!" (Pope Benedict XV, "Spiritus Paraclitus", 1920 A.D.)

"He that loseth Jesus loseth exceedingly much, and more than if he lost the whole world." (Kempis)

"...for he that is not of Christ, is of Antichrist." (St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church)

"Hence by God's eternal decree the salvation of all men, both severally and collectively, depends upon Jesus Christ. Those who abandon Him become guilty by the very fact, in their blindness and folly, of their own ruin; whilst at the same time they do all that in them lies to bring about a violent reaction of mankind in the direction of that mass of evils and miseries from which the Redeemer in His mercy had freed them. Those who go astray from the road wander far from the goal they aim at. Similarly, if the pure and true light of truth be rejected, men's minds must necessarily be darkened and their souls deceived by deplorably false ideas. What hope of salvation can they have who abandon the very principle and fountain of life? Christ alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John xiv., 6). If He be abandoned the three necessary conditions of salvation are removed." (Pope Leo XIII, "Tametsi Futura Prospicientibus", 1900 A.D.)

Also See: Calls to Repentance | Conversion | No Peace When We Wander From God | The Church Can Forgive All Sin | Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | No Repentance is Too Late | Tips for the Conversion of Sinners | Unbelievers | Tough Love in the New Testament | Tips for Apologists | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Conversion (Topical Scripture)

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Those Who Cling to the Old Observances of the Law

"It firmly believes, professes, and teaches that the matter pertaining to the law of the Old Testament, of the Mosiac law, which are divided into ceremonies, sacred rites, sacrifices, and sacraments, because they were established to signify something in the future, although they were suited to the divine worship at that time, after our Lord's coming had been signified by them, ceased, and the sacraments of the New Testament began; and that whoever, even after the Passion, placed hope in these matters of the law and submitted himself to them as necessary for salvation, as if faith in Christ could not save without them, sinned mortally. Yet it does not deny that after the passion of Christ up to the promulgation of the Gospel they could have been observed until they were believed to be in no way necessary for salvation; but after the promulgation of the Gospel it asserts that they cannot be observed without the loss of eternal salvation. All, therefore, who after that time observe circumcision and the Sabbath and the other requirements of the law, it declares alien to the Christian faith and not in the least fit to participate in eternal salvation, unless someday they recover from these errors. Therefore, it commands all who glory in the name of Christian, at whatever time, before or after baptism, to cease entirely from circumcision, since, whether or not one places hope in it, it cannot be observed at all without the loss of eternal salvation." (Council of Florence, c. 1441 A.D.)

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Those Who Say They Are Not Confided to Peter Confess That They Are Not Christ's Sheep

Also See: Those Outside the Church (Topic Page)

"We venerate this Church as one, the Lord having said by the mouth of the prophet: 'Deliver, O God, my soul from the sword and my only one from the hand of the dog.' (Ps. 21:20) He has prayed for his soul, that is for himself, heart and body; and this body, that is to say, the Church, He has called one because of the unity of the Spouse, of the faith, of the sacraments, and of the charity of the Church. This is the tunic of the Lord, the seamless tunic, which was not rent but which was cast by lot (Jn. 19:23-24). Therefore, of the one and only Church there is one body and one head, not two heads like a monster; that is, Christ and the Vicar of Christ, Peter and the successor of Peter, since the Lord speaking to Peter Himself said: 'Feed my sheep' (Jn. 21:17), meaning, My sheep in general, not these, nor those in particular, whence we understand that He entrusted all to [Peter]. Therefore, if the Greeks or others should say that they are not confided to Peter and to his successors, they must confess not being the sheep of Christ, since Our Lord says in John 'there is one sheepfold and one shepherd.'" (Pope Boniface VIII, "Unam Sanctam", 1302 A.D.)

Also See: The Chair of Peter | Necessity of Union With the Roman Pontiff (Vatican View Reflections) | Those Who Reject the Church Reject Christ | Cannot Have God For Father Without Church For Mother | Heaven Cannot Be Entered Without the Keys | Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | Protestantism is Not Another Equally Pleasing Form of the Same Christian Religion | Recognizing the True Religion | The Spirit of Christ Refuses to Dwell Through Sanctifying Grace in Those Severed From the Church | Those Gathered Outside the Church of Christ | True vs. False Church | Truth / Error / Nature of Man | Vatican View Section | Church (Topical Scripture)

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Unbelievers

Also See: Those Outside the Church (Topic Page)

"...whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mk. 16:1)

" ...whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (Jn. 3:18)

"That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Jn. 8:24)

"Alas! Poor unbeliever! He loves his darkness; he calls it light" (Gueranger)

"[U]nbelief has the character of guilt, from its resisting faith rather than from the mere absence of faith" (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")

"Let no one be deceived: even the heavenly beings and the angels in their glory, and rulers visible and invisible, - even for these there will be judgement, if they do not believe in the Blood of Christ." (St. Ignatius of Antioch, hearer of St. John the Apostle, c. 110 A.D.)

"...there are many species of unbelief, because unbelievers follow many false opinions." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")

Also See: Zeal for Souls | Calls to Repentance | Conversion | The Church Can Forgive All Sin | The Purpose of Life | The Catholic Church / Religion | Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | Duty to Profess / Defend the Faith | Recognizing the True Religion | Tips for the Conversion of Sinners | Truth / Error / Nature of Man | Tough Love in the New Testament | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Feed Your Faith Section | Unbelief (Topical Scripture) | Conversion (Topical Scripture)

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What Jesus Says vs. What Protestantism Says

Also See: Those Outside the Church (Topic Page)

"Jesus Christ says: 'Hear the Church' (Cf. Mt. 18:17). 'No,' says Protestantism, 'do not hear the Church; protest against her with all your might.' Jesus Christ says: 'If any one will not hear the Church, look upon him as a heathen and a publican' (Mt. 18:17). 'No,' says Protestantism, 'if any one does not hear the Church, look upon him as an Apostle, as an ambassador of God.' Jesus Christ says: 'The gates of hell shall not prevail against my Church' (Mt. 16:18). 'No,' says Protestantism, 'it is false; the gates of hell have prevailed against the Church for a thousand years and more.' Jesus Christ has declared St. Peter, and every successor to St. Peter - the Pope - to be his Vicar on earth (Mt. 16:18, Jn. 21:15-17). 'No,' says Protestantism, 'the pope is the Antichrist.' Jesus Christ says: 'My yoke is sweet, and my burden is light' (Mt. 11:30). 'No,' said Luther and Calvin; 'it is impossible to keep the commandments.' Jesus Christ says: 'If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.' (Mt. 19:17) 'No,' said Luther and Calvin, 'faith alone, without good works, is sufficient to enter life everlasting.' Jesus Christ says: 'Unless you do penance, you shall all likewise perish' (Lk. 13:3). 'No,' says Protestantism, 'fasting and other works of penance are not necessary in satisfaction for sin.' Jesus Christ says: 'This is my body' (Mt. 26:26, Mk. 14:22, Lk. 22:19, Jn. 6:55). 'No,' said Calvin, 'this is only the figure of Christ's body; it will become his body as soon as you receive it.' Jesus Christ says: 'I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, and shall marry another, committeth adultery, and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery' (Mt. 19:9). 'No,' says Protestantism to a married man, 'you may put away your wife, get a divorce, and marry another.' Jesus Christ says to every man: 'Thou shalt not steal' (Mt. 19:18). 'No,' said Luther to secular princes, 'I give you the right to appropriate to yourselves the property of the Roman Catholic Church.' The Holy Ghost says in Holy Scripture: 'Man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love or hatred' (Eccl. 9:1). 'Who can say, My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?' (Prov. 20:9); and, 'Work out your salvation with fear and trembling' (Philip. 2:12). 'No,' said Luther and Calvin, 'but whosoever believes in Jesus Christ is in the state of grace.' St. Paul says: 'If I should have faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing' (1 Cor. 13:2). 'No,' said Luther and Calvin, 'faith alone is sufficient to save us.' St. Peter says that in the Epistles of St. Paul there are many things 'hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as also the other Scriptures, to their own perdition' (2 Pt. 3:16). 'No,' says Protestantism, 'the Scriptures are very plain and easy to understand.' St. James says: 'Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil, in the name of the Lord' (Jms. 5:14). 'No,' says Protestantism, 'that is a vain and useless ceremony.' Being thus impious enough to make liars of Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and the Apostles, need we wonder if they continually slander Catholics, telling and believing worse absurdities about them than the heathens did?" (Muller)

Also See: Personal Interpretation of Scripture / Rejection of Truth | Those Who Make Scripture Mean What They Want it to Mean | All Non-Catholic 'churches' Must Be Sunk in Pernicious Errors | False Opinions Influence / Pervert Actions | One Should Not Be Open Minded to Error | Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | Those Who Reject the Church Reject Christ | Recognizing the True Religion | Protestantism is Not Another Equally Pleasing Form of the Same Christian Religion | Truth / Error / Nature of Man | Why Trust Martin Luther? | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Truth (Topical Scripture) | Heresy / Error (Topical Scripture) | Church (Topical Scripture)

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Why Trust Martin Luther?

Note: Also try here for "Setting The Record Straight About Luther: Important Things Catholics Should Know About The 'Reformer'" (My Catholic Source.com Article Reprints)

"Read Luther's work against 'the Mass and the Ordination of Priests' where he tells of his famous disputation with the 'Father of Lies' who accosted him at 'midnight' and spoke to him with a 'deep, powerful voice', causing 'the sweat to break forth' from his brow and his 'heart to tremble and beat.' In that celebrated conference of which he was an unexceptionable witness and about which he never entertained the slightest doubt, he says plainly and unmistakingly that 'the devil spoke against the Mass, and Mary and the Saints' and that, moreover, Satan gave him the most unqualified approval of his doctrine on 'justification by faith alone.' Who now, we ask in all sincerity, can be found, except those appallingly blind to truth, to accept such a man, approved by the enemy of souls, as a spiritual teacher and entrust to his guidance their eternal welfare?" (O'Hare)

"Luther's advocates might, if their eyes are not filmed, read with profit the following words which their master penned when he had genuine misgivings at the outset of his apostasy. 'How many times,' he writes, 'have I not asked myself with bitterness the same question which the Papists put me: Art thou alone wise? Darest thou imagine that all mankind have been in error for so long a series of years? I am not so bold as to assert that I have been guided in this affair by God. How will it be, if, after all, it is thou thyself who art wrong, and art thou involving in error so many souls who will then be eternally damned?' (Latin Works, Weim. ed., 8, p. 411 seq.)." (O'Hare)

Also See: What Jesus Says vs. What Protestantism Says | Duty to Reject Strange Doctrine | False Opinions Influence / Pervert Actions | Heaven Cannot Be Entered Without the Keys | Heresy/Heretics & Schism/Schismatics | Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation | Personal Interpretation of Scripture / Rejection of Truth | Truth / Error / Nature of Man | Protestantism Established With Much Persecution / Bloodshed | Recognizing the True Religion | Those Who Reject the Church Reject Christ | Necessity of Union With the Roman Pontiff (Vatican View Reflections) | Infallibility (Vatican View) | Non-Catholics (apologetics) | Truth (Topical Scripture) | Heresy / Error (Topical Scripture) | Church (Topical Scripture)

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Also See...

Click here for 'Necessity of Being Catholic For Salvation'

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