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ROMAN CATHOLICISM ARTICLE INDEX

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Apocrypha
HTML	PDF	The Roman Catholic Bible
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James The Roman Catholic Bible is about 20 % larger than non-Catholic Bibles. The additions, over 4,000 verses, come from a group of fifteen writings know since antiquity as the Apocrypha, meaning hidden or hard to understand. Do they rightly belong in God’s Word? Jim McCarthy’s article this month provides an answer.
Apostasy
HTML	PDF	Roman Catholicism - Apostolic or Apostate?
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike The Roman Catholic Church declares that the apostles appointed bishops to replace them as their successors. This was to insure the mission of the apostles would be continued after their death through a continuous line of succession until the end of time. However, as we investigate the history of the Catholic Church, we see it has developed a tradition of its own and has drifted away from the truth and authority of the New Testament. In doing so it has developed the characteristics of an apostate church. Mike Gendron, a former Roman Catholic of over 30 years, takes a close look at the evidence.
Assurance
HTML	PDF	The Assurance of Eternal Life - Why Do So Many Reject It?
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike Can Christians who sin lose their salvation? Opponents of assurance focus on man’s failures rather than on God’s divine power. Such misunderstandings can be overcome by discarding human reason and accepting divine revelation. Faith should not rest on the wisdom of man but on the power of God.
Authority
HTML	PDF	Roman Catholic Authority
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James Roman Catholicism This article by Jim McCarthy shows how the authority structure of the Roman Catholic Church parallels that of first century Judaism. Does that mean that Jesus’ scathing criticism of the former can be applied to the latter? Judge for yourself.
Bible
HTML	PDF	Catholic Bible Studies
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James Catholics have access to the Scriptures as never before. Parish Bible studies are now common. But has the place of the Bible in the Catholic Church really changed? Jim McCarthy addresses this question in this month’s article on Roman Catholicism.
Bible
HTML	PDF	Is Sola Scripture Found in The Bible?
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike Are the Scriptures alone sufficient and authoritative for the Christian life? The Word of God says “yes!” The Roman Catholic Church says an emphatic “no.” Mike Gendron explores the Scriptural evidence in this article.
Bible
HTML	PDF	Sola Scriptura
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James Today, even as in the time of the Reformation, thousands of Catholics worldwide are leaving Roman Catholicism for biblical Christianity. And once again, the rallying cry of the sixteenth century, Sola Scriptura, Scripture Alone, is being heard. Roman Catholic defenders have responded to this challenge by going on the offensive. In this month’s article, Jim McCarthy answers those who say that the Scriptures are an insufficient guide to the Christian faith.
Bible
HTML	PDF	Who Gave Us the Bible?
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James Some defenders of the Roman Catholic Church argue that the Roman Catholic Magisterium is the rightful interpreter and authoritative teacher of Scripture, because the Church gave Christianity the Bible. If it were not for the Church, they argue, no one could know with certainly even which books belong in the Bible. In this month’s article, Jim McCarthy reveals the faulty assumptions on which this argument is based.
Brennan Manning
HTML	PDF	Beware of Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike Brennan Manning, an inactive Roman Catholic priest, has become a popular author and speaker within the evangelical church. Mike Gendron has been an eyewitness to his masquerade and provides this report to warn Christians of his deceptive message.
Catholicism
HTML	PDF	Is A Catholic Christian An Oxymoron?
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike Is a “Catholic Christian” an oxymoron? Is it possible for a Catholic to adhere to the teachings of his church and at the same time believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Mike Gendron, a former Catholic of 37 years answers these important questions by contrasting the new Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Word of God.
Christian Beliefs
HTML	PDF	Examine Yourself! Are You in the Faith?
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike How do we know if we have been saved? With so many false teachers perverting and adding to the Word of God, how can we be sure that we have not been deceived? Mike Gendron looks to the Scriptures to find answers to these critical questions.
Confession
HTML	PDF	Ritualized Confession of Sin
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James The Roman Catholic Church has misled its people with regard to the seriousness of their sins. It has done this in many ways, one being by turning confession into a ritual. Priest and parishioners go through a well-rehearsed exchange of prayers and responses. The sinner expresses remorse, repentance, and a resolve to do better. Often, however, such rites leave a person deluded about the true gravity and consequences of his sin.
Cultic Teachings
HTML	PDF	Signs of a Cult
AUTHORS: Durel, Greg What is a cult? Rev. Durel presents a definition, and then illustrates his point by presenting quotations from leading Roman Catholic authorities.
Doctrines
HTML	PDF	Roman Catholics, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike When we study the doctrines of Roman Catholics, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, we discover that they have more in common with each other than with the Bible. Mike Gendron examines eight of the common characteristics.
ECT
HTML	PDF	Evangelicals and Catholics Together: An Evaluation - Part 1
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John A growing movement exists in America today hoping that Roman Catholics and Evangelicals will join forces on the basis of the things they hold in common—but is ambiguous language (which masks some major differences) really a good basis for unity?
ECT
HTML	PDF	Evangelicals and Catholics Together: An Evaluation - Part 2
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Drs. Ankerberg and Weldon continue to evaluate the ECT1 statement released in 1994. What did it say? Were those statements true?
ECT
HTML	PDF	Evangelicals and Catholics Together: An Evaluation - Part 3
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Are Catholics and Evangelicals “brothers and sisters in Christ”? What does the Bible say about how someone gets “in Christ”? Are Catholics taught the same thing, or is Catholic understanding of salvation different? The authors comment.
ECT
HTML	PDF	Evangelicals and Catholics Together: An Evaluation - Part 4
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Are all people who accept Jesus as “savior” and “Lord” brothers and sisters in Christ? Do Protestants and Catholics agree on what constitutes Scripture? Are Protestants and Catholics united in one common mission? The authors critique these statements.
ECT
HTML	PDF	Evangelicals and Catholics Together: An Evaluation - Part 5
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Can we disagree on important doctrinal points and yet still be united? Have the important issues that sparked the Reformation been resolved?
ECT
HTML	PDF	Evangelicals and Catholics Together: An Evaluation - Part 6
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Are we saved “once for all” or is it a continuing process? Are there different ways of being a Christian?
ECT
HTML	PDF	Evangelicals and Catholics Together: An Evaluation - Part 7
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Does truth matter, or is each person free to choose their own path to God? Four reasons Ankerberg and Weldon believe evangelicals should not have signed the ECT1 document.
Ecumenism
HTML	PDF	What About Evangelical Catholics? – Part 1
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John There are many voices attempting to bring Evangelicals and Catholics together as common brethren of a common faith. Thousands of Evangelicals see Catholics as regener¬ated Christians. And many Catholics who call themselves Evan¬gelical are seeking to bring these Christians into the Catholic fold. In this article, the authors focus on one of the more prominent examples of this: Keith Fournier’s Evangelical Catholics.
Ecumenism
HTML	PDF	What About Evangelical Catholics? – Part 2
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Can Christians remain in the Catholic Church without compromising their faith and/or their spiritual growth? We certainly cannot say that God would never allow Christians to remain in the Catholic Church in order to lead others to personal faith in Christ. But in order to do so, they should be thoroughly informed on the issues, weigh them carefully, and resolve not to partake in practices or to accept doctrines that are not biblical.
Ecumenism
HTML	PDF	What About Evangelical Catholics? – Part 3
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John What reasons do Evangelicals give for converting to Roman Catholicism? The authors reveal the reasons given by Thomas Howard, Paul Vitz, Peter Kreeft and Scott Hahn.
Eucharist
HTML	PDF	Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike Roman Catholics teach the doctrine of transubstantiation—that the bread and wine are miraculously turned into the actual flesh and blood of Jesus. Mike Gendron explains why this is simply not a biblically correct doctrine.
Eucharist
HTML	PDF	Eucharist Adoration: Worship or Idolatry?
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike Eucharist adoration has increased dramatically in Roman Catholic Churches. There is a “shrine” to the Eucharist in Toledo, Spain. Or you can go on the Internet where you can worship the Eucharist via web-cam. All this to worship what Catholics call “the greatest miracle of all”—God himself, transformed into a lifeless, inanimate wafer.
Global Religion
HTML	PDF	The Pope’s Push for a One-World Religion
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike Many evangelicals are unaware of the Vatican’s determined effort to unite all religions of the world under the power and influence of the papacy. How effective has the Roman Catholic Church’s strategy been in accomplishing its goal? Is this call for unity a part of the great apostasy that will occur before the return of Christ to the earth?
God
HTML	PDF	The Vail Menders
AUTHORS: Durel, Greg Picture the Jewish priests sitting in the temple frantically trying to sew up the veil in the temple after it was torn (following Jesus’ death on the cross). Why would they want to do that, and why is that a picture of what the Roman Catholic Church is doing today?
Indulgences
HTML	PDF	Christ Has Done His 99%
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James Was Christ’s work of redemption really finished at the cross? Or is there more that we must add to it by our own efforts?
Indulgences
HTML	PDF	Roman Catholic Beliefs About Indulgences
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Indulgences are various acts of piety, offered by the Church, which the Church claims offer remission of temporal punishment due to forgiven sins in virtue of the merit of Christ and His Church. Catholic theologian Karl Keating informs Catholics that they are in error if they think the Church has “dropped its old belief in indulgences”. Further, he suggests, “Many Catholics simply don’t know what indulgences are.”
Indulgences
HTML	PDF	Sin’s Forgiveness Now Available for Those Who Quit Smoking
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike Pope John Paul II has declared forgiveness for those who quit smoking or give up drinking for a time. But what authority does the Pope have to take away punishment for sins? Mike Gendron explains the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on indulgences.
Jesus
HTML	PDF	The Forsaking of Jesus Christ
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike During the last three years Pope John Paul II has stated: 1) knowledge of Jesus Christ or His church is not necessary for salvation; 2) the Roman Catholic Church is necessary for salvation; 3) members of other religions can be saved even if Jesus Christ is not recognized as savior. Not only do those statements contradict each other, they clearly contradict Scripture. Mike Gendron explains.
Justification
HTML	PDF	What Does the Bible Teach About the Doctrine of Justification?
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John No doctrine is more important or more misunderstood than the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone. The authors give a brief explanation of this most important doctrine.
Justification
HTML	PDF	What Does the Roman Catholic Church Teach About the Doctrine of Justification? - Part 1
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John When we consider the differences that exist between the Catholic and Protestant view of justification by faith, there are six key terms on each side that represent the different positions. This month, a look at those terms to help you understand the arguments each side raises.
Justification
HTML	PDF	What Does the Roman Catholic Church Teach About the Doctrine of Justification? - Part 2
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John The Roman Catholic Church maintains that they teach the true biblical doctrine of justification. However, while Rome may have officially condemned salvation by works alone, it has officially endorsed salvation by grace PLUS works. Drs. Ankerberg and Weldon help sort through the confusion this causes.
Justification
HTML	PDF	What Does the Roman Catholic Church Teach About the Doctrine of Justification? - Part 3
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Many Catholics and Protestants today would have us believe that there are only minor differences between the doctrine of justification as taught by the Reformers and that taught by the Council of Trent and modern Catholics. But that just isn’t so, as the authors point out in this article.
Justification
HTML	PDF	What Does the Roman Catholic Church Teach About the Doctrine of Justification? - Part 4
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John The authors suggest that the Council of Trent established one of the most subtle forms of justification by works ever devised. It is so subtle, in fact, that Catholics encourage Protestants to read the decrees of Trent to “prove” that Catholicism does not teach salvation by works.
Knights of Columbus
HTML	PDF	The Evangelical Knights of Columbus
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James Particularly in countries with large numbers of evangelical Christians, it is not unusual for the Roman Catholic Church to adopt the very wording of its former critics. Take, for example, an advertisement being run by the Knights of Columbus in several newspapers. One would think that the Knights, a conservative Catholic fraternal order, had become evangelical Christians! Has something changed?
Last Rights
HTML	PDF	“Give Me the Works, Father”
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James A dying Catholic’s last request is for the sacraments. But why? Why do Catholics consider these rituals so powerful? Can a priest really help a person get into heaven simply by performing them?
Mary
HTML	PDF	Catholic and Occult View of Mary
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John This article looks at what the Roman Catholic Church teaches about Mary, and compares that with what the Bible tells us. The authors also examine the messages in the “Marian apparitions”—appearances of “Mary” to various people throughout the world.
Mary
HTML	PDF	Do You Know Mary?
AUTHORS: Knott, Carlos Tomas As a special treat this month Carlos Knott, who usually submits in Spanish, has translated one of his articles for us. The Rosary, an important part of Roman Catholic ritual, gives some interesting titles to Mary. What are those titles, and are they supported by the biblical evidence?
Mary
HTML	PDF	Hail Mary?
AUTHORS: Durel, Greg Greg Durel examines the “Hail, Mary” prayer line by line to show why the Catholic understanding of Mary and her place in their lives and redemption is wrong.
Mary
HTML	PDF	What About Marian Apparitions?
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Mary herself is believed to appear regularly to souls in purgatory to console their suffering and pro¬vide relief, particularly for those who have been especially devoted to her. What else does “Mary” teach Catholics through visions?
Mary
HTML	PDF	What Is the Unique Role of Mary in Roman Catholicism and Is It Biblical? - Part 1
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Roman Catholicism teaches that Mary is the Mother of God. Catholicism claims Mary is full of grace, therefore free of original sin and kept from all actual sin; that Mary is perpetually a virgin; and that Mary was bodily assumed into heaven where she now reigns with Christ. She has been given the titles “Mediatrix of all graces” and “co-Redemptrix” with Jesus. What is the Protestant position on these and other ideas about Mary?
Mary
HTML	PDF	What is the Unique Role of Mary in Roman Catholicism and Is It Biblical? - Part 2
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Does Mary have a unique and vital role in salvation? Does she, in fact, work hand-in-hand with her Son to insure salvation? Can anyone be saved without her assistance?
Mary
HTML	PDF	What is the Unique Role of Mary in Roman Catholicism and Is It Biblical? - Part 3
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John Although Catholic theology attempts to draw a fine line be¬tween the worship offered to God and that offered to Mary, in practice, these frequently become indistinguishable
Mary
HTML	PDF	What is the Unique Role of Mary in Roman Catholicism and Is It Biblical? - Part 4
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John The Mary of Catholic teaching has nothing whatever to do with the Mary of the New Testament. Given Mary’s supreme impor¬tance in the Catholic Church, one is amazed at the complete absence of even the mention of her name in the New Testament epistles.
Mass
HTML	PDF	Christ’s Work of Redemption is Finished, Not Continuing
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James The Mass is at the center of Roman Catholic doctrine and devotion. According to the Church, the Mass is the ongoing sacrifice of Christ on the cross. How does this Catholic practice measure up beside God’s standard of truth, the Bible?
Mass
HTML	PDF	Is the Mass the Real Sacrifice of Christ?
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James Is the Mass a real sacrifice? This is the question that most Catholics seldom discuss, but one that is nonetheless central to their faith. In this month’s article, Jim McCarthy examines the Church’s answer and how Pope John Paul II defends it from Scripture.
Mass
HTML	PDF	The Mass - Miracle or Mendacity?
AUTHORS: Durel, Greg The Mass is an important part of Roman Catholic worship. Greg Durel explains what the Mass involves, and how it compares to biblical teaching.
Mass
HTML	PDF	The Sacrifice of the Mass - Blessing or Bondage?
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike Many former Catholics have described their experience of going to weekly Mass as a prison sentence, something they had to do in order to avoid the penalty of a serious sin. Mike Gendron explains why participation is so compulsory for Catholics.
Merit
HTML	PDF	Merit and the General Judgment
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Catholics in a state of grace can and must merit eternal life. In this article Jim McCarthy explains how this Catholic doctrine contradicts the Bible.
Papal authority
HTML	PDF	Catholicism and Lordship Salvation
AUTHORS: Durel, Greg Does the Roman Catholic church have a different understanding of what “lordship salvation” means? Read quotes from Roman Catholic sources that show the role of the Pope in the Catholic position in salvation.
Papal authority
HTML	PDF	The Eternal Consequences of Papal Infallibility
AUTHORS: Gendron, Mike One of the most critical questions we face in this life is whom to trust for information about eternal life. Most Catholics trust the Pope and his teachings over Christ and his Word. Mike Gendron explains why this decision can lead to eternal death rather than eternal life.
Papal authority
HTML	PDF	Upon This Rock
AUTHORS: McCarthy, James Though the Roman Catholic Church agrees that Christ is the head of the Church, it holds that the Pope is the “visible head of the whole church.” The First Vatican Council stated that, “…the Roman pontiff is the successor of blessed Peter, the prince of the apostles, true vicar of Christ, head of the whole church and father and teacher of all Christian people. To him, in blessed Peter, full power has been given by our lord Jesus Christ to tend, rule and govern the universal church.” This belief is based upon the Church’s interpretation of 12 words found in Matthew 16:18. They are the focus of this month’s article by Jim McCarthy.
Papal Infallibility
HTML	PDF	Is the Pope Infallible in Matters of Doctrine and Morals? - Part 1
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John What are Catholics taught about the infallibility of the Pope? Where did this teaching begin? How does a Catholic determine when a Pope is or is now speaking infallibly?
Papal Infallibility
HTML	PDF	Is the Pope Infallible in Matters of Doctrine and Morals? - Part 2
AUTHORS: