The World's Need of Rome

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 2, 1908

The World's Need of Rome

THE Roman Church is ever desirous of causing the world to see its need of her, that thus she may become its leader. She has long held millions in bondage through her pretended control over purgatory and heaven, her pretended authority to grant eternal life or to consign to eternal torment. With such a hold upon the members of her church, her priests have been able to check mobs—when it was to the interest of the church to have them checked. This exhibition of her power is to-day causing professed Protestants to look to her as a protector against the growing threat and menace of an organization that shows a disposition to disregard law and order. Concerning this The Outlook says:—

America stands in peculiar need of that contribution which the Roman Catholic Church is peculiarly fitted to furnish. For the chief peril to America is from disorganizing forces and a lawless spirit; not from excessive organization. One of the lessons Americans need to learn is reverence for constituted authority and willing obedience to law. This lesson the Roman Catholic Church is peculiarly fitted to teach. And within the reach of its influence are those who most need to be taught. That church is a vast spiritual police force, a protection of society from the reckless apostles of self-will. But it is far more. Wherever it goes it teaches submission to control; and that is the first step toward that habit of self-control in the individual which is an indispensable condition of self-government in the community. Standing as it does on the authority of the individual conscience and the direct relation of every man with God, which is the essence of Protestantism, The Outlook congratulates America upon the evidences of spiritual prosperity in the Roman Catholic Church in this country, and it gratefully appreciates the service which that church is rendering to the community by inculcating the spirit of reverence for law and lawful authority which is the foundation of civil and religious liberty.

Since when did Rome pose as a champion of religious liberty, or profess to be able to establish a foundation upon which the structure of religious liberty could be erected? Against that she has waged uncompromising warfare from the days of Constantius, burned Bibles and those who read them, and inveighed against religious liberty with all the power of anathema and major excommunication. Rome is able to lead—but whither?—Only to her own fold. She inculcates respect for law—but whose?—Her own, and none other; and that, too, when it is in direct opposition to the law of God. Surely, it is not such an exemplar of reverence for law that America needs. And the evidence of spiritual prosperity in the Roman Catholic Church in America is likewise an evidence to the decay of true Protestantism. Such expressions as the above from The Outlook are further evidence to the same effect, and indicate the approach of that time when Rome will, for a time, be leader of the world again, and all the world will wonder after her.