The Truth About Catholicism
POSTSCRIPT
A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO OUR CATHOLIC FRIENDS
We have presented to you, dear friends, some of the best known tenets held by your Church. We have tried to be fair in exposing the doctrinal side of the problems at hand, having in mind to show you the inconsistencies between the Word of God and the traditional dogmas of Romanism. Perhaps, sometimes, in the enthusiasm of the discussion, our pen has been too strong in condemning or tearing down doctrines built up by men in the course of the centuries. Our sincere love for the truth has put in our mouth at times satiric remarks, ironical expressions, positive statements that to you may seem unfair, dogmatic or authoritarian. We may assure you, dear friends, that this has not been done intentionally, and we are ready to apologize for any misstatement or incorrectness that we have made, for any offensive word that we have written, because we love you with the same love of Jesus Christ. All our efforts have been centered in finding the truth regardless of the different opinions of men and, consequently, we have used all means in our possession in order to reach a definite conclusion for each doctrine, according to the inspired records contained in the Bible. We have discarded by principle any authority of man and accepted as means of discrimination and criterion of truth the revealed Word of God. We cannot find in this world an authority greater than that of God, and therefore in any conflict between man's authority and God's authority we have chosen the latter and repudiated with firmness and eagerness the former even when vested in the person of the pope or of the Church. There cannot be contradiction between God and his church, if there is, it simply means that the great apostacy foretold by Paul in many of his letters has changed the church into a man-made organization, and therefore it is no more the church of the Lord.
Being sure of such a truth we invite you, dear friends, at the end of your first reading of this book, to read it again and without prejudice, in case your mind is still doubtful; and, after having given to each problem a more serious consideration, decide frankly whether Romanism or Christianity is the answer to your quest for truth. We ask you for the sake of your eternal salvation to shake from your shoulders, once and for all, the unbearable burden of papal inventions and impositions in order to become a free child of God, after having believed and confessed that Jesus Christ is your personal Savior and Mediator and after having been buried with Him in the water of regeneration.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
American Catholic Quarterly, 1893.
Albert, Magnus. Mariale, Opera Omnia, Ed. Vinces, Roma, 1670.
Altaner, Berthold. Patrologia, Casa Marietti, Torino, 1940.
Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica, Milan, 1936.
Arthur. The Pope, the Kings and the People, Belfast, 1877.
Attwater, Donald. A Catholic Dictionary, the MacMillan Company, New York. Imprimatur Cardinal Hayes.
Baltimore Catechism, Official Revised Edition.
Baronius, Cardinal. Annales Ecclesiastici, continued by Raynaldus, 42 volumes fol., 1738-56.
Battiffol, P. Catholicisme et Papaute', Paris, 1925.
Becanus, M., S. J. Manuale Controversiarum, Coloniae, 1696; Summa Theologica, Moguntiae, 1612.
Bellarminus, B. Controversiae, Lutetiae, 1620.
Belloc, Hilaire. The Contrast, Robert M. McBride and Company, 1924.
Bernard, St. Opera Omnia, Ed. Mabillon, Paris, 1758.
Billot, S. J. De Ecclesia Christi, Romae, 1903.
Bingham, Antiquities of the Christian Church, 1st Ed. 1796.
Blanshard, Paul. American Freedom and Catholic Power, The Beacon Press, 1951.
Bolgeni, P. L'Episcopato, Roma, 1789.
Bousquet, J. L'unite' de I'Eglise et le schisme grec, Paris, 1912.
Broglie, Abbe de. Essai de solution des difficultes du Protestantisms contemporain, Paris, 1890.
Brunhes, G. Christianisme et Catholicisme, Paris, 1924.
Burnett, Gilbert. The History of the Reformation, MacMillan, London, 1865.
Campara, Eunubo. Maria nel Dogma Cattolico, Marietti, Roma, 1936.
Campbell, Alexander. The Christian System, Christian Publishing Company, St. Louis, 1890.
Campbell and Bishop Purcell. A Debate on the Roman Catholic Religion, St. Louis, 1837.
Canus, Melchior. Opera Omnia, Madrid, 1792.
Casamassa, Antonio. I Padri Apostolici, Lateranum, Romae, 1938.
Catholic Almanac, 1948. St. Anthony's Guild, 1948.
Catholic Directory, 1948. P. J. Kennedy and Sons.
Catholic Encyclopedia, New York, Appleton, 1907.
Cecconi. Storia del Concilia Vaticano, Roma, 1873.
Civilta' Cattolica. Magazine edited by the Fathers Jesuits, Rome.
Conway, Bertrand. The Question Box Answers, The Paulist Press, 1924 Imprimatur Archbishop Farley.
Converted Catholic Magazine. Edited by former Roman Catholic Priests, New York.
Crapullo, George A. Roman Catholicism and Vital Issues, Flushing, N. Y., 1951.
Creighton, Canon. A History of the Papacy during the Period of Reformation, London, 1880.
Coustant. Epistolae Rom. Pontificum a S. Clemente usque ad Innoc. HI, Parisiis, 1721.
Cristiani, L. Luther et Lutheranisme, Paris, 1908.
Davis, John. The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1944.
Dechamp, Cardinal. L'infallibilite' et le Concile general, Paris, 1869.
Denzinger-Bannwart. Enchiridion Symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum, 10th. Ed., Herder, Friburgi, 1908.
Dowling, John. History of Romanism, 1934.
Duschesme, L. Histoire ancienne de I'Eglise, Paris, 1910. Encyclopedia Britannica, 9th Ed., New York, 1885.
Eusebius. Historia Ecclesiastica, Migne, P. G., vol. xx.
Friedrich, J. Documenta ad Illustrandum Concilium Vaticanum, Nordlingen, 1873.
Funk, Francesco Saverio. Storia della Chiesa, Pustet, Roma, 1904. Imprimatur Patriarca Cappelletti.
Gasparri, Cardinal. The Catholic Catechism, P. J. Kennedy and Sons, 1932.
Gatewood, Otis. You Can Do Personal Work, Lubbock, Texas, 1945.
Geffcken, H. Church and State, translated by E. F. Taylor, 2 vols., 1877.
Geste de Zeil. Purgatorium juxta doctrinam S. Bonaventurae, Tourin, 1932.
Gibbons, Cardinal. The Faith of Our Fathers, 110th Ed., Murphy, Baltimore.
Gore, Goudge and Guillaume. New Commentary on Holy Scripture, The MacMillan Company, New York, 1948.
Greenwood, Thomas. Cathedra Petri, a political history of the great Latin Patriarchate, 6 vols., 1856-65.
Harnack, Von A. L'essence du Christianisme, Paris, 1907.
Harney, John B. The Popes, Infallible Teachers.
Hatch. Organization of the Early Christian Churches, 2 Ed., 1882.
Henry, Matthew. Commentary on Holy Scripture, Flushing H. Revell Company, New York, 6 volumes.
Hopel, Hildebrando. Introductions in Sacros utriusque Testamenti Libros, Libreria Cattolica Italiana, Roma, 1934.
Hyacinthe, Father. Catholic Reform, 1874.
Jaffe' and Totthast. Regesta Pontificum Romanorum, 3 vols., 1796.
Jenney, Ray Freeman. I am a Protestant, the Bobbs-Merrill Company, New York, 1951.
Justin, Martyr. First and Second Apology for Christians, Paris, 1615.
Lietzmann. Petrus-et Paulus in Roma, 2nd Ed., 1927.
Mantey, Julius R. Was Peter a Pope*, Moody Press, Chicago, 1949.
Marucchi, P. Pietro e Paolo a Roma, 4th Ed., Torino, 1934.
Mayor, John. Facts and Documents, London, 1875.
McVann, James. The Assumption, The Paulist Press, New York, 1950.
Milman. History of Latin Christendom, London, 1860.
Migne. Patrologia Latina, Parisiis, 1844; Patrologia Grcca, 1857.
O'Brien, John A. The Faith of Millions, Our Sunday Visitor, 1938.
Palmieri, S. J. De Romano Pontifice, 3rd Ed., Roma, 1902. Paulist Calendar, 1952.
Perrone, S. J. Il Protestantesimo e la Regola di Fede, Roma, 1853.
Pomponio, Leto. Otto Mesi a Roma durante il Concilio Vaticano, Firenze, 1873.
Rowe, John F. A History of Reformatory Movements, 10th Ed., Cincinnati, 1938.
Rumble and Carty, Fathers. Radio Replies, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Schaff, David S. Our Fathers' Faith and Ours, G. P. Putmons's Sons, 1928.
Schanz, P. A. Christian Apology, New York, 1892.
Scott. The Eastern Churches and the Papacy, 1930.
Sheeben, Matthias. Mariology, Paris, 1877.
Stuber, Stanley I. Primer on Roman Catholicism for Protestants, Association Press, New York, 1953.
Tanquerey, Adolphus. Synopsis Theologiae Dogmaticae, 3 vols., 23rd Ed., Desclee et Socii, Romae. Imprimatur Cardinal Verdier.
Tanquerey, Adolphus. Synopsis Theologiae Moralis, 3 vols., 12th Ed., Benziger Brothers, Inc., New York. Imprimatur Cardinal Verdier.
Thomassin. Vetus et Nova Ecclesiae Disciplina, 1773.
Todesco, Luigi. Corso di Storia delta Chiesa, 5 vols., 2nd Ed., Marietti, Torino, 1938. Imprimatur V. Gen. Coccolo.
Tondini. The Pope of Rome and the Popes of the Oriental Orthodox Church, London. Longmans, 1871.
Wiseman, Cardinal. Lectures on the principal doctrines and practices of the Church, Dublin, 1844.
A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO OUR CATHOLIC FRIENDS
We have presented to you, dear friends, some of the best known tenets held by your Church. We have tried to be fair in exposing the doctrinal side of the problems at hand, having in mind to show you the inconsistencies between the Word of God and the traditional dogmas of Romanism. Perhaps, sometimes, in the enthusiasm of the discussion, our pen has been too strong in condemning or tearing down doctrines built up by men in the course of the centuries. Our sincere love for the truth has put in our mouth at times satiric remarks, ironical expressions, positive statements that to you may seem unfair, dogmatic or authoritarian. We may assure you, dear friends, that this has not been done intentionally, and we are ready to apologize for any misstatement or incorrectness that we have made, for any offensive word that we have written, because we love you with the same love of Jesus Christ. All our efforts have been centered in finding the truth regardless of the different opinions of men and, consequently, we have used all means in our possession in order to reach a definite conclusion for each doctrine, according to the inspired records contained in the Bible. We have discarded by principle any authority of man and accepted as means of discrimination and criterion of truth the revealed Word of God. We cannot find in this world an authority greater than that of God, and therefore in any conflict between man's authority and God's authority we have chosen the latter and repudiated with firmness and eagerness the former even when vested in the person of the pope or of the Church. There cannot be contradiction between God and his church, if there is, it simply means that the great apostacy foretold by Paul in many of his letters has changed the church into a man-made organization, and therefore it is no more the church of the Lord.
Being sure of such a truth we invite you, dear friends, at the end of your first reading of this book, to read it again and without prejudice, in case your mind is still doubtful; and, after having given to each problem a more serious consideration, decide frankly whether Romanism or Christianity is the answer to your quest for truth. We ask you for the sake of your eternal salvation to shake from your shoulders, once and for all, the unbearable burden of papal inventions and impositions in order to become a free child of God, after having believed and confessed that Jesus Christ is your personal Savior and Mediator and after having been buried with Him in the water of regeneration.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
American Catholic Quarterly, 1893.
Albert, Magnus. Mariale, Opera Omnia, Ed. Vinces, Roma, 1670.
Altaner, Berthold. Patrologia, Casa Marietti, Torino, 1940.
Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica, Milan, 1936.
Arthur. The Pope, the Kings and the People, Belfast, 1877.
Attwater, Donald. A Catholic Dictionary, the MacMillan Company, New York. Imprimatur Cardinal Hayes.
Baltimore Catechism, Official Revised Edition.
Baronius, Cardinal. Annales Ecclesiastici, continued by Raynaldus, 42 volumes fol., 1738-56.
Battiffol, P. Catholicisme et Papaute', Paris, 1925.
Becanus, M., S. J. Manuale Controversiarum, Coloniae, 1696; Summa Theologica, Moguntiae, 1612.
Bellarminus, B. Controversiae, Lutetiae, 1620.
Belloc, Hilaire. The Contrast, Robert M. McBride and Company, 1924.
Bernard, St. Opera Omnia, Ed. Mabillon, Paris, 1758.
Billot, S. J. De Ecclesia Christi, Romae, 1903.
Bingham, Antiquities of the Christian Church, 1st Ed. 1796.
Blanshard, Paul. American Freedom and Catholic Power, The Beacon Press, 1951.
Bolgeni, P. L'Episcopato, Roma, 1789.
Bousquet, J. L'unite' de I'Eglise et le schisme grec, Paris, 1912.
Broglie, Abbe de. Essai de solution des difficultes du Protestantisms contemporain, Paris, 1890.
Brunhes, G. Christianisme et Catholicisme, Paris, 1924.
Burnett, Gilbert. The History of the Reformation, MacMillan, London, 1865.
Campara, Eunubo. Maria nel Dogma Cattolico, Marietti, Roma, 1936.
Campbell, Alexander. The Christian System, Christian Publishing Company, St. Louis, 1890.
Campbell and Bishop Purcell. A Debate on the Roman Catholic Religion, St. Louis, 1837.
Canus, Melchior. Opera Omnia, Madrid, 1792.
Casamassa, Antonio. I Padri Apostolici, Lateranum, Romae, 1938.
Catholic Almanac, 1948. St. Anthony's Guild, 1948.
Catholic Directory, 1948. P. J. Kennedy and Sons.
Catholic Encyclopedia, New York, Appleton, 1907.
Cecconi. Storia del Concilia Vaticano, Roma, 1873.
Civilta' Cattolica. Magazine edited by the Fathers Jesuits, Rome.
Conway, Bertrand. The Question Box Answers, The Paulist Press, 1924 Imprimatur Archbishop Farley.
Converted Catholic Magazine. Edited by former Roman Catholic Priests, New York.
Crapullo, George A. Roman Catholicism and Vital Issues, Flushing, N. Y., 1951.
Creighton, Canon. A History of the Papacy during the Period of Reformation, London, 1880.
Coustant. Epistolae Rom. Pontificum a S. Clemente usque ad Innoc. HI, Parisiis, 1721.
Cristiani, L. Luther et Lutheranisme, Paris, 1908.
Davis, John. The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1944.
Dechamp, Cardinal. L'infallibilite' et le Concile general, Paris, 1869.
Denzinger-Bannwart. Enchiridion Symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum, 10th. Ed., Herder, Friburgi, 1908.
Dowling, John. History of Romanism, 1934.
Duschesme, L. Histoire ancienne de I'Eglise, Paris, 1910. Encyclopedia Britannica, 9th Ed., New York, 1885.
Eusebius. Historia Ecclesiastica, Migne, P. G., vol. xx.
Friedrich, J. Documenta ad Illustrandum Concilium Vaticanum, Nordlingen, 1873.
Funk, Francesco Saverio. Storia della Chiesa, Pustet, Roma, 1904. Imprimatur Patriarca Cappelletti.
Gasparri, Cardinal. The Catholic Catechism, P. J. Kennedy and Sons, 1932.
Gatewood, Otis. You Can Do Personal Work, Lubbock, Texas, 1945.
Geffcken, H. Church and State, translated by E. F. Taylor, 2 vols., 1877.
Geste de Zeil. Purgatorium juxta doctrinam S. Bonaventurae, Tourin, 1932.
Gibbons, Cardinal. The Faith of Our Fathers, 110th Ed., Murphy, Baltimore.
Gore, Goudge and Guillaume. New Commentary on Holy Scripture, The MacMillan Company, New York, 1948.
Greenwood, Thomas. Cathedra Petri, a political history of the great Latin Patriarchate, 6 vols., 1856-65.
Harnack, Von A. L'essence du Christianisme, Paris, 1907.
Harney, John B. The Popes, Infallible Teachers.
Hatch. Organization of the Early Christian Churches, 2 Ed., 1882.
Henry, Matthew. Commentary on Holy Scripture, Flushing H. Revell Company, New York, 6 volumes.
Hopel, Hildebrando. Introductions in Sacros utriusque Testamenti Libros, Libreria Cattolica Italiana, Roma, 1934.
Hyacinthe, Father. Catholic Reform, 1874.
Jaffe' and Totthast. Regesta Pontificum Romanorum, 3 vols., 1796.
Jenney, Ray Freeman. I am a Protestant, the Bobbs-Merrill Company, New York, 1951.
Justin, Martyr. First and Second Apology for Christians, Paris, 1615.
Lietzmann. Petrus-et Paulus in Roma, 2nd Ed., 1927.
Mantey, Julius R. Was Peter a Pope*, Moody Press, Chicago, 1949.
Marucchi, P. Pietro e Paolo a Roma, 4th Ed., Torino, 1934.
Mayor, John. Facts and Documents, London, 1875.
McVann, James. The Assumption, The Paulist Press, New York, 1950.
Milman. History of Latin Christendom, London, 1860.
Migne. Patrologia Latina, Parisiis, 1844; Patrologia Grcca, 1857.
O'Brien, John A. The Faith of Millions, Our Sunday Visitor, 1938.
Palmieri, S. J. De Romano Pontifice, 3rd Ed., Roma, 1902. Paulist Calendar, 1952.
Perrone, S. J. Il Protestantesimo e la Regola di Fede, Roma, 1853.
Pomponio, Leto. Otto Mesi a Roma durante il Concilio Vaticano, Firenze, 1873.
Rowe, John F. A History of Reformatory Movements, 10th Ed., Cincinnati, 1938.
Rumble and Carty, Fathers. Radio Replies, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Schaff, David S. Our Fathers' Faith and Ours, G. P. Putmons's Sons, 1928.
Schanz, P. A. Christian Apology, New York, 1892.
Scott. The Eastern Churches and the Papacy, 1930.
Sheeben, Matthias. Mariology, Paris, 1877.
Stuber, Stanley I. Primer on Roman Catholicism for Protestants, Association Press, New York, 1953.
Tanquerey, Adolphus. Synopsis Theologiae Dogmaticae, 3 vols., 23rd Ed., Desclee et Socii, Romae. Imprimatur Cardinal Verdier.
Tanquerey, Adolphus. Synopsis Theologiae Moralis, 3 vols., 12th Ed., Benziger Brothers, Inc., New York. Imprimatur Cardinal Verdier.
Thomassin. Vetus et Nova Ecclesiae Disciplina, 1773.
Todesco, Luigi. Corso di Storia delta Chiesa, 5 vols., 2nd Ed., Marietti, Torino, 1938. Imprimatur V. Gen. Coccolo.
Tondini. The Pope of Rome and the Popes of the Oriental Orthodox Church, London. Longmans, 1871.
Wiseman, Cardinal. Lectures on the principal doctrines and practices of the Church, Dublin, 1844.