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List of Roman Catholic Heresies

 

List of Heresies, And human inventions adopted and perpetuated by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in the course of 1600 years (Compiled by Rev. Stephen L. Testa)

In some cases these dates are approximate.  Many heresies had been current in the church years before, but they were not binding on Catholics until they were officially adopted by a council and proclaimed by the pope as dogma of faith.  During the Reformation (16th century) these heresies were branded and repudiated as having no part in Christianity as the New Testament teaches.

1.  Of all the human inventions taught and practiced by the Roman Catholics, which are contrary to the Bible, the most ancient are the prayers for the dead and the sign of the cross. Both began 300 years after Christ. 310 A.D.

2.  Wax candles introduced about tampering with the Law of God (Exodus 20:3-17)  321 A.D.

3.  Veneration of angels and dead saints 375 A.D.

4.  The mass was adopted as a daily celebration  394 A.D.

5.  The worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus and applying the term “Mother of God,” to her, originated in the Council of Ephesus 431 A.D.

6.  Priests began to dress differently from the laity 500 A.D.

7.  The doctrine of purgatory was first established by Gregory the Great 593 A.D.

8.  The Latin language imposed as the language of prayer and worship in services by Pope Gregory 600 A.D.

9.  The Bible teaches that we pray to God alone.  In the primitive church, prayers were never directed to Mary or to dead saints.  (Matt 11:28; Luke 1:46; Acts 10:25,26; 14:14-18  600 A.D.

10.  The Papacy is of pagan origin.  Title of pope or universal bishop, was first given to the bishop of Rome by the wicked emperor Phocas.  He did this to spite Bishop Ciriacus of Constantinople who had justly excommunicated him for having caused the assassination of his predecessor, Emperor Mauritius.  Gregory I, then bishop of Rome, refused the title, but his successor, Boniface III, first assumed title “pope.”  Jesus did not appoint Peter to the headship of the apostles and forbade any such notion. (Luke 22:24,26; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 1 Cor 3:11)  Note:  Nor is there any mention in Scripture, nor in history, that Peter was ever in Rome, much less that he was pope there for 25 years; Clement, 3rd bishop of Rome, remarks that there is no real 1st century evidence that Peter ever was in Rome. 610 A.D.

11.  The kissing of the pope’s feet.  It had been a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors.  The Word of God forbids such practices (Acts 10:25,26; Rev 19:10; 22:9) 709 A.D.

12.  The temporal power of the popes.  Called by Pope Stephen II, Pepin, usurper of the throne of France, descended into Italy warring against the Italian Longobards.  After defeating them he gave the city of Rome and surrounding territory to the pope.  Jesus forbade such worldly kingships (Matt 4:8,9; 20:25,26; John 18:38) 750 A.D.

13.  Worship of the cross, of images and relics.  This was ordered by Dowager Empress Irene of Constantinople, who first caused to be plucked the eyes of her own son, Constantine VI and then called a church council at the request of Roman Pope Hadrian I.  Such practices are severely condemned as idolatry.  (Exodus 20:4; Deut 27:15; Psalm 115)  788 A.D.

14.  Holy water, mixed with a pinch of salt and blessing by the priest was authorized.  850 A.D.

15.  Veneration of St. Joseph.  890 A.D.

16.  Baptism of bells instituted by Pope John XIV 965 A.D.

17.  Canonization of dead saints, by Pope John XV.  Every believer and follower of Christ is called a saint in the Bible (Romans 1:7; I Corinthians 1:2) 995 A.D.

18.  Fasting on Fridays and during Lent was imposed by popes said to be interested in the fish commerce.  This is against the plain teaching of the gospel (Matt 15:11; I Cor 10:25; I Timothy 4:1-8) 700 A.D.

19.  The mass gradually developed into a sacrifice; attendance was made obligatory in the 11th century.  The Bible says the sacrifice of Christ was offered once for all.  It was never to be repeated, but commemorated in the Lord’s supper observance.  (Hebrews 7:27; 9:26-28; 10:10-14)

20. Celibacy of the priesthood was decreed by Pope Hildebrand, Boniface VII. Jesus imposed no such rule, nor did any of the apostles.  On the contrary, Peter was a married man, and Paul says that bishops were to have wives and children (I Tim 3:2-5;12; Matt 8:14-15). 1079 A.D.

21. The rosary, or prayer beads, was introduced by Peter, the Hermit.  Copied from the Mohammadans and the Hindus.  1090 A.D.

22. The inquisition of heretics was instituted by the Council of VI.  Jesus never used force.   1184 A.D.

23. The sale of indulgences, was a purchase of forgiveness and a permit to indulge in sin.  Protest against this unscriptural practice triggered the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. 1190 A.D.

24. Dogma of transubstantiation was decreed by Pope Innocent III.  By this the priest pretends to perform a daily miracle by changing a wafer into the body of Christ.  He then pretends to eat Him alive in the presence of his people during mass.  The gospel condemns such absurdities; the Lord’s Supper is a simple memorial to remember the sacrifice of Christ. (Luke 22:19,20; John 6:35; I Corinthians 11:26). 1215 A.D.

25. Confession of sins to the priest at least once a year was instituted by Pope Innocent III in the Lateran Council.  The gospel commands us to confess our sins to God (Psalm 1:10; Luke 7:48; 15:21; I John 1:8-9).  1215 A.D.

26. The adoration of the wafer (host) was decreed by Pope Honorius.  This means that Catholics worship and idolize a god made by human hands (John 4:24). 1220 A.D.

27. Bible was forbidden to laymen by the Council of Valencia. Jesus commanded that scriptures should be read by all (John 5:39; II Timothy 3:15-17). 1229 A.D.

28.  The scapular, introduced by Simon Stock, is a piece of brown cloth containing a picture of the virgin.  It supposedly has supernatural power to protect anyone who wears it on the bare skin from all dangers. This is fetishism and common to heathenism.  1287 A.D.

29. The hierarchy forbade the cup to the laity by instituting the communion of one kind in the Council of Constance.  1414 A.D.

30. The doctrine of purgatory was proclaimed as a dogma of faith by Council of Florence.  Not one word in the Bible teaches such a thing as purgatory.  The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins (I John 1:7-9; 2:1,2; 5:24; Romans 8:1).  1439 A.D.

31. The doctrine of 7 sacraments affirmed.  Christ instituted only two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s supper. (Matthew 28:19,20; 26:26-28). 1439 A.D.

32. Use of part of the Ave Maria, It was completed 50 years later and was finally approved by Pope Sixtus V, at the end of the 16th century.  1508 A.D.

33. The Council of Trent declared that tradition has  equal authority with the Bible.  Tradition is human teachings.  The Pharisees believed this way and Jesus bitterly condemned then.  By human tradition they nullified the commandments of God (Mark 7:7-13; Colossians 2:8; Revelation 22:18).  1545 A.D.

34. The Council of Trent added the apocryphal books to the Bible which were never recognized as canonical by the Jewish church (Revelation 22:8,9).  1546 A.D.

35. The creed of Pope Pius IV was imposed as the official creed instead of scriptures. 1650 A.D.

36. The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX.  All men, except Christ are sinners. Mary also needed a Savior (Romans 3:23; 5:12; Psalms 51:5).  1854 A.D.

37. Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of papal infallibility.  This is a blasphemy and the sign of the apostasy and of the antichrist predicted by Paul.(2 Thess 2:2-12; Rev 17:9; 13:5-8,18)  Many Bible students see the number of the beast (Rev 13:18), 666 in the Roman letters of the pope’s title.  1870 A.D.

38. Pope Pius X condemned all discoveries of modern science not approved by the church.  Pius IX had done the same thing in Syllabus of 1864.  1907 A.D.

39. Pius XI condemned the public schools.  1950 A.D.

40. Pius XI reaffirmed the doctrine that Mary is the “Mother of God.”  This lie was first invented by the Council of Ephesus in 431.  This is a heresy, contrary to Mary’s own words (Luke 1:46-49; John 2:1-5).  1951  A.D.

41. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary was pro-claimed by Pope Pius XII, another Roman Catholic invention.  They say it never changes; yet, it has continually invented new doctrines contrary to the Bible and has practiced rites and ceremonies taken bodily from paganism.  Scholars report that 75% of the rites and ceremonies of the Catholics are of pagan origin.

Note:  Cardinal Newman in “The Development of the Christian Religion,” admits that “…temples, incense, oil lamps, votive offerings, holy water, holidays and season of devotions, processions, blessings of fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure (of priest, monks and nuns), images…are all of pagan origin…”  1960 A.D.

The above chronological list of human inventions disproves the claim of the Roman priests that their religion was taught by Christ, and that the popes have been faithful custodians of that religion.  2

“Come out of her, My people, that you may not take part in her   sins, nor receive a share in her plagues…”  (Revelation 18:4)

The following is an excerpt from “Roman Catholicism, Booklet #20″ by Pastor Win Worley. Copyright © 1983 by Win Worley, Reprinted/Revised 1991. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including storage and retrieval system, without securing permission in writing from the publisher, WRW Publications, PO Box 852626, Mesquite, TX 75185.

If you’d like to obtain your own copy of not only this, but other materials authored by Win Worley, please contact WRW Publications at www.wrwpublications.com

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