Project Description

2015/01

Has the Roman Catholic Church Really Changed?

Protestant stalwart Bishop JC Ryle famously stated: “Let us have no peace with Rome until Rome adjures her errors, and is at peace with Christ.” At first glance, this maxim presupposes two things: That Protestants recognize it is possible for the Roman Catholic Church to adjure her errors and be reconciled with Christ; and that only if such truly takes place, can Protestants be at peace with Rome.
The present incumbent of the papacy became Pope in March 2013. In keeping with his adopted name (in honour of Francis of Assisi), he has gained a reputation for humility and concern for the poor. In his short time in the Papal office, he has spoken out against child sex abuse perpetrated by those serving within the Roman Catholic Church, pledging no protection for the guilty. He has expressed interest in dialogue with those from other faiths.
Less than two years in, it is obviously far too early to comment on the papacy of Francis. Rome does not move fast, thinking in terms of centuries, while Protestants think only of their own lifetime. We can only say that there is no evidence of any great doctrinal changes on the horizon. Consider the following:

1. Francis is a Jesuit Pope. By the Jesuit’s own declared morality, lying or cheating is permissible if it furthers the ends of the Roman Catholic Church. To the Jesuit, the end always justifies the means. We may be properly suspicious of any ‘rock-the-boat’ type statements from Francis until they are backed up with unequivocal and undeniable actions.

2. Despite her claim of “Semper Eadem” (always the same), we observe how Rome has constantly changed over the centuries. So much so, that if her ancient adherents could return to earth, they would hardly recognize her. The problem is that Rome has changed for the worse. In his classic book “Roman Catholicism”, Lorraine Boettner carefully catalogues when Rome’s heresies took root and her apostasy from God began to grow – from prayers for the dead (300) right up to Mary being proclaimed as the ‘Mother of the Church’ (1965). Rome’s involvement in inter-faith relations does not augur well for any hope of her returning to the Biblical fold again.

3. Overall, Rome does not do positive changes too well.  We must give credit where it is due, and welcome her practice of encouraging people to read the Bible for themselves. This may well come with restrictions, but God’s word cannot be bound. It is no coincidence that Roman Catholics have been saved in greater numbers and have separated from that church since this practice begun. However, other efforts to change have been hampered. The gallant efforts of the sixteenth century Reformers and those who follow their footsteps were met with various anathemas and the murderous horrors of the Inquisition. In more recent times, mystery surrounds the sudden death of Pope John Paul I who occupied the Papal throne for only thirty three days. In his book “In God’s Name”, highly regarded investigative journalist David Yallop produces evidence pointing towards the likelihood that the Pope was murdered. If so, we might never know the reason why, although there was speculation that he intended to set aside some of the more dubious practices within the Vatican.

4. Many major changes are needed before it can be said that Rome has made her peace with God. Doctrinally, she would need to repent of every heresy, abandoning the denial of the basic Bible doctrine of justification by faith alone, her Mariolatry, her elevation of tradition to equal status with the Scriptures, and so on. The ecumenists tell us that the Second Vatican Council (1965) brought in sweeping changes. When asked why his church needed a Vatican Council, Pope John replied: “I want to throw open the windows of the Church so that we can see out and the people can see in.”  Yet what do we see when we look in? Studying the not so fine print in the documents of Vatican II, we discover “the Fathers of this sacred Synod, furthering the work begun by the Council of Trent.” What was the work begun by the Council of Trent? The Catholic Encyclopedia declares that Trent’s main object was to “answer the heresies of Protestants”.

5. Positive changes towards all that is pure and pleasing to God would certainly ‘buck the trend’ in these last days. The secular world hurries to embrace every anti-God stance. The religious world is marked by an alarming slide towards compromising sound doctrine and godly practices, even by those still within the pale. Coupled with this thought is the position of Rome in prophecy. In the “if” of argument, if the Pope is indeed “that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts himself, in the Church, against Christ and all that is called God” (Westminster Confession of Faith, 25:6), then we can hardly expect this or any other Pope to bring his flock back into fellowship with God. The fruit of the man of sin is apostasy from God, not reconciliation to Him (2 Thessalonians 2:3). The Pope’s ongoing dialogue with those of other faiths, both within and without Christendom, is with the view of drawing converts to himself. Even the two words “separated brethren”, referring to Protestants in John XXIII’s Vatican II Council, contain both the bait and the hook.

We ought not, therefore, to read too much into Bishop Ryle’s suggestion concerning the Church of Rome. There is no evidence that he himself was prepared to sit back and wait for the grand day of enlightenment to come to the Papacy. Instead, he went vigorously after individual Roman Catholics in gospel evangelism (as, indeed, he did regarding all the unsaved, regardless of their creed). Ryle preached to them regularly in his own services in Liverpool. He was a prolific writer and did not shy away from the controversial. His large tract “Why were our Reformers burned?” pulled no punches and was circulated in its thousands. He sought to arrest – albeit unsuccessfully – the alarming slide of his own Church of England towards Rome, warning of the ecumenical threat. He was a friend of all Evangelical Protestant causes.

Individual Roman Catholics have changed attitudes towards their church. Many will listen now to the gospel when only a few years ago, their ears were closed. If we cannot change Rome institutionally, may God help us to be the sanctified means which He uses to change the hearts of individual Roman Catholics!

Mr Colin Maxwell.