Vatican’s New Defense on Child Molestation Charges: Finger-pointing

http://forward.com/articles/116201/

“Attorney Irwin Zalkin said he was unsurprised by the Vatican representative’s remarks. Zalkin has represented hundreds of victims of sexual abuse in lawsuits against the Catholic Church.

“They just don’t get it. There’s still a complete failure to take responsibility,” Zalkin said. For centuries, he said, Catholic leaders have tried to sweep under the carpet the problem of child sexual abuse. “The sin of scandal far outweighs, in their institutional response, any concern for the safety of children. That has been the problem.”

John Calvin spoke of this fraud, and many others, in his day in his 'Treatise on Relics'
http://www.godrules.net/library/calvin/176calvin4.htm

John Yurich USA wrote:
If the RCC is not covering up and sheltering fruit cake priests anymore from criminal prosecution then why would the Catholic Diocese in Bridgeport, Connectuicuit want to block the release of documents generated by lawsuits against priests in Connecticuit for child abuse?

Though publicly they call for "transperancy", behind the scenes their lawyers are tirelessly working on appeals to delay court proceedings and/or suppress the release of church documents, which if BROUGHT TO LIGHT, will further indict them of these "unspeakable crimes", and confirm the true spirit at work in their "church", by exposing once again the collective guilt of their hierarchy, in the systematic cover up of these despicable acts.

The Word of the Lord . . John 3:20

"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."

The Word of the Lord . . Galatians 6:7

“This statement brings up a curiosity, June. What was the objective of the Reformers? Surely they had in mind something that needed reforming.”

I believe Richard Bennett, former R.C.priest, answers that question for you in his article entitled 'Identifying the Early Church'
The early Christian church . . the apostolic church, which is representative of the true church of Christ bears no resemblance to the R.C. “church, and indeed add'tl passages in Scripture identify her as the “Whore of Babylon”, contrasted with His Bride, those joined to Him by His Spirit upon conversion, who are faithful to Christ and His doctrines.

'Identifying the Early Church'
Link: http://www.bereanbeacon.org/articles/Identifying_the_Early_Church.pdf

Excerpt:
“The stark reality of the facts of history of the true church permeated with the Gospel of God’s grace in doctrine and practice utterly voids the papal assertion of an historical continuity between the early believers and the papal church via their dogma of apostolic succession. Rather the Roman Catholic Church is the proven schismatic from the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

May the Lord be pleased to add you to His Church!

"And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47)

"How is it possible that those sacred historians, who carefully related all the miracles that took place at Christ’s death, should have omitted to mention one so remarkable as the likeness of the body of our Lord remaining on its wrapping sheet? This fact undoubtedly deserved to be recorded. St John, in his Gospel, relates even how St Peter, having entered the sepulcher, saw the linen clothes lying on one side, and the napkin that was about his head on the other; . . .

I shall conclude with a convincing proof of the audacity of the Papism Wherever the holy sudary is exhibited, they show a large sheet with the full-length likeness of a human body on it. Now, St John’s Gospel, chapter 19, says that Christ was buried according to the manner of the Jews;

This may be known by their present custom . . . which describe the ancient ceremony of interment, which was to wrap the body in a sheet, to the shoulders, and to cover the head with a separate cloth. This is precisely how the evangelist described it . . .

May the Lord be pleased to bless OUR WITNESS for Christ and be pleased as well to use the ministry of Shaun Willcock to the welfare of Bert's eternal soul, for His praise & glory alone!

In His Cause,

It is my sincere desire that you would be both blessed & profited spiritually by his teaching ministry.

Doctrinal Basis of Bible Based Ministries - Excerpt:

"In brief, however, we believe in, & earnestly contend for, defend, & proclaim: the divine inspiration & preservation of the Holy Scriptures, and we use only the King James Version in English; the Holy Trinity; the doctrines of sovereign grace; justification by Christ’s imputed righteousness; the creation of all things in six literal days; believers’ baptism; separation from the world and from false churches; the independence of the local church; & the Papacy being the prophesied Antichrist."

I strongly disagree and stand by my assertion that "the Mass" is Christ-dishonouring, Christ-insulting & at bottom blasphemous!

Roman Catholicism and Christianity are diametrically opposed, and "the Mass" is but one irreconcilable difference.

Because the RCC is irreformable, there is no hope.

On the other hand, there is hope for you, and those of us who are Christians hope and pray that you too will hear the voice of the Lord and "come out from among her", for she is the Whore of Babylon spoken of in Rev. 17.

Rev. 18:4
"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

The “R.C. Mass” is not in view here . . the Lord's Table is!
Bert, there is a vast difference between “coming together to break bread” and the "Bloodless Sacrifice" represented by the “R.C. Mass”. When the Lord instructed His people to “do this in remembrance of me”; he did not instruct them to perform a “bloodless sacrifice”. The early Christian church . . . the apostolic era church, which is in view here, came together to “break bread” and this they did by way of a memorial service, as Christ instructed them to do:

Luke: 22:19-20

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

To suggest that Christ's “perfect sacrifice” is in any way deficient and presume to add to what Christ has perfected forever by the sacrifice He made when He offered Himself up for the sins of His people once for all is Christ-dishonouring, Christ-insulting and at bottom blasphemous.

Heb. 10:14
“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

Then we are NOT IN AGREEMENT.

Is this the verse in question? ? ?
Acts 20:7

Christ is neither a piece of bread, nor a table, but rather both typify the communion . . the fellowship we have been brought into with Him upon conversion.

ALL sacrifices are done away with by the PERFECT sacrifice Christ made, eliminating the need of any add'tl sacrifice, and that most certainly includes the R.C. Mass. Just as we are to look to no other priest but Christ, neither are we to trust in any sacrifice but that which Christ made, so you see, he is both priest and sacrifice.

Believers are referred to as “a royal priesthood” in 1 Peter 2:9-10, & we offer our praise, worship and thanksgiving to Christ for what He has done for us. Our love is demonstrated by keeping his commandments which are revealed in God's Word. That means we must spend time reading and meditating upon His Word and praying that the Holy Spirit will lead us into truth. When we learn His ways, & our wills are conformed to His, then we worship God in “spirit and in truth” (John 4:23. These new desires to do God's will follow the new birth.(John 3:3-8; 1 Pet. 1:23) True & vital worship flows from a restored relationship w/God thru Christ. Then we grow in grace!

"ALL Christians who post here need to pray in earnest for our very religious Roman Catholic friend -- DisplacedMaritimer(Bert)."

Amen . . and that I have just done and will continue to do.

"For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." Romans 10:2
********

djc49, As a former benighted Roman Catholic, I must say, there but by the grace of God go I!
I thank God each day for answering my prayer as I read His Word to give me discernment. In addition to that, God has graciously placed in my path 'pastors, according to his heart to feed me with knowledge and understanding.' (Jer.3:15)

Yet I know it is the Holy Spirit that has revealed these precious gospel truths found in Hebrews and elsewhere to me, else I too would yet be in spiritual darkness and in bondage to my sins and the idolatry of Rome.

The whole discourse of Hebrews is replete with references to the ceremonial law that were to be observed by Israel until Christ came, for again, He came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill the law. (Matt. 5:17)
The altar is here represented figuratively, not literally. The verse is to be understood spiritually then, so by faith we have Christ in view, as our sin offering.(See Lev. 4 & Is.53:10; II Cor.5:21)
The expression “we have an altar” was employed by way of allusion to Christ, who is contrasted with the Jewish altars upon which the sacrifices were offered. (the altar of burnt offering / brazen altar Ex. 38:1-7; Lev.1:1-17)
In the same way, the figure of the “candlestick” (Ex. 25:31-40; Lev. 24:4) typifies Christ, the Light of the world, who by the gospel illuminates our souls (II Cor. 4:6; Eph. 5:14) & the “table of showbread” (Ex. 25:23-30) typifies Christ, the Bread of Life, who by His life we derive our spiritual life, being indwelt by His Spirit upon conversion /the “new birth” (John 3:3- 8 ; 1 Cor. 3:16:; Gal. 2:20)

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:5)

I believe the Holy Spirit would have us understand “altar” in this text spiritually.

I share with you Matthew Henry's Commentary on Heb. 13:10:

I have already indicated how we are to understand the passages in Scripture I cited in my prior post.

The Roman Catholic priesthood has no basis for existence as shown by these texts and is unscriptural.

The ceremonial law observed under Mosaic law, namely the daily sacrifices offered up by the Levitical priests has been fulfilled in the one sacrifice Christ has made of Himself on behalf of the sins of His people. (Heb. 7:21-28; 10:10-18)

There is really nothing more I can add without being redundant. The best counsel I can give you now would be to once again read and meditate upon these passages and pray God for wisdom. (James 1:5)

May God graciously grant you discernment to see by faith, as I do, Christ as YOUR great high priest, and the only priest whom God has ordained to make sacrifice for sin and grant forgiveness to poor and needy sinners as we all are.

I might add the only 'priesthood' mentioned in the N.T. is that of believers. (1 Pet. 2:5-9)

In Christian love,

Of HIS OWN WILL begat HE us with the WORD of TRUTH, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of HIS creature." (James 1:17-18) (emphasis mine)

"Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable GIFT." (II Cor. 9:15)(emphasis mine)

June, a former R.C. . .made a "new creature in Christ" by His grace alone.
(Eph. 2:8; II Cor. 5:17)

You have asked me to show you what teachings of the Catholic Church that I believe are "commandments of men" and that violate Sacred Scripture?

My answer: The Roman Catholic priesthood is altogether unscriptural.

I have endeavored to show you this by citing the passages in God's Word below that militate against any other priesthood but that of Christ's alone, our great high priest. (Heb. 4:14-16)

Have you prayerfully read the book of Leviticus and chapters 3 through 10 in the book of Hebrews?

The Levitical priesthood established under the Mosaic Law was but a shadow, looking forward to Christ's eternal priesthood. (Heb. 7) Remember Christ came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it. (Matt. 5:17)

There is no higher appeal than God's Word, nor a more reliable source. If you reject the clear teaching of God's revealed Word, then I can only conclude your authority is your "church" while mine is God's Word.

May God be pleased to reveal these glorious Gospel truths to you by His Spirit.

In Christian love,

Excerpt: 'The Priesthood' by R. Bennett,former priest
http://www.bereanbeacon.org/articles/sorted/01_On_Catholicism/The_priesthood.pdf

The R.C.C.'s priesthood is altogether unscriptural.

The only priesthood recognized by God is that of Christ's. He alone has been ordained of God to make sacrifice for sin.

The Levitical priesthood established under the Mosaic Law was but a shadow, looking forward to Christ's eternal priesthood. (Heb. 7) Remember Christ came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it. (Matt. 5:17)

Suggest you prayerfully read the entire book of Leviticus and then Hebrews, chapters 3 thru 10. May God be pleased to open your eyes to these beautiful gospel truths!

Hebrews 9:24-28
"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

I would add:

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after CHRIST."
God's Word . . Colossians 2:8

"But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
God's Word . . Matthew 15:9