Problems Of The Papacy

During the visit of Pope John Paul II to the United States, he was described by a young American priest as "a flesh and blood Pope... truly a gift of God in this troubled era". Another commentator referred to his "charismatic magic" and his ability to project the Catholic religion as a "happy faith". The immense response when he visited different countries leaves no doubt about the strength of his personality appeal.

Many believers will nevertheless discern from Scripture the unchanged basic principles on which the Roman Catholic faith still rests. The projection of a favourable image to those of other persuasions, and appeals for peace and reconciliation, do nothing to alter the unscriptural foundations of the Papacy and the Catholic Church. That many Catholics are children of God through faith in Christ is not in question. Nor is there doubt that many of them give sacrificial service. But this should not be allowed to disguise the doctrinal errors and false claims which pervade the whole organization.

For example, Pope John Paul II is still regarded as "Christ's vicar", the visible head of the Church on earth. When he speaks ex cathedra on matters of faith and morals he is regarded as infallible. The masses which were celebrated in such spectacular settings during his overseas visits still purported to change the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. Enormous sums of money still flow into the treasuries of the Church of Rome under the pretext of promoting forgiveness of sins, or to ensure more limited punishment in a non-existent purgatory. There is continuing need for clear witness to all Bible truth which has been made void by religious tradition.

One purpose of Pope John Paul II's wide-ranging personal appearances has been to rally and inspire Catholic adherents whose loyalties have been under severe strain. On one hand there was the strain of State interference and repression in Eastern Europe: on the other hand the strain of growing dissidence in free societies such as the United States. As one religious correspondent put it: "The issues that divide American Catholics no longer follow the old fault lines between liberals and conservatives; instead they radiate in all directions, like cracks in a shattered windshield".

A cause of unrest has been the Papacy's inflexible opposition to contraception. Several years ago, when Pope Paul VI issued an encyclical banning contraception, several theologians at the Catholic University of America in Washington publicly dissented. On this subject it has been said that a "guerilla type warfare" has been going on inside the Catholic Church. Polls of Catholic opinion apparently suggest that the "guerillas" have already won this battle. The rights or wrongs of the subject are not here under discussion, but attention is drawn to the challenge to papal authority.

Another source of dissatisfaction springs from a form of women's liberation movement among American Catholic women. They resented the Vatican's decision that only priests would be allowed to distribute communion at, the Pope's masses when he was in the United States. In some quarters there is a demand for the ordination of women as priests. In favour of this one younger American Catholic theologian is reported as saying:

"Most scholars see no theological or scriptural barrier to the ordination of women ... I hope the Pope will prove sensitive to this issue, however strange it may seem against his background in the Polish church". In this connexion it is relevant that trainees for the Catholic priesthood in the United States during 1978 numbered less than a quarter of those who were training in 1965!

A quite different feature illustrates still further the great changes of attitude within the Catholic Church. For there has developed widespread interest in the so-called charismatic gifts, such as speaking in tongues and prophesying. In North America it is estimated that about half a million Catholics have engaged in Pentecostal-type prayer groups, involving charismatic experiences. Perhaps by this means many find a supplement to the formalism and ritual which must be so unsatisfying.

Do these trends have any significance in the light of Scripture? It would at least seem that the Papacy is having to re-think its traditional policies and adjust to some degree of flexibility. On his visit to Turkey (Nov.1979), the Pope not only sought some basis of accommodation with the Eastern Orthodox Church, but also hinted at dialogue with Islam as well. May all this be a pointer towards a great world religious system as symbolized in the great harlot that sitteth on many waters" (Rev. 17:1)? It is held by many that the harlot represents such an organization at the time of the end, supported at first by the authority of the Beast (the Antichrist) and his associates. The Beast will presumably come to power in alliance with the religious organization, but once established he will destroy it. This will doubtless be necessary to attain his objective of exalting himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped (2 Thess. 2:4).

If, as we believe, the last days of the present age of grace are upon us, it seems significant that pressures from without and within the Roman Church are influencing the Papacy to adopt the role of unifier of religion on a worldwide scale. The Lord's coming to the air will remove from the world all true believers who are members of the Church which is His Body. Secularized religious organizations will then even more rapidly find common ground for world-wide unity. Meantime Christians loyal to their Master's word will feel the force and relevance of His challenging command:

"Come forth, My people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with

her sins" (Rev. 18:4).

unknown | Apr 1980
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