p. 13 | Rome Never Changes by Walter G. Bond

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 18, 1906

Rome Never Changes

By Walter G. Bond

WALTER G. BOND

There are many people who have admired the new pope as a man profoundly religious, a reformer of the music of the church, a defender of civil marriage, and liberal in every way; but judging from his two catechisms sent out for use in all Roman Catholic provinces, his teachings are no more liberal nor evangelical than those of the Council of Trent under Pope Pius V.

The first article of the new creed runs thus: “I believe in the infallibility of the vicar of Christ (page 30); in the universal pastor; in the master of the universe, who possesses absolute and immediate authority over all pastors and

sheep, who has the fulness of the power of pardon (page 125), and is the fountain and standard of faith.” See pages 352, 396, 400.

One question is, “Do all men who are baptized pertain to the church of Jesus Christ though they do not recognize the Roman pontiff as its head? Answer.—No; all those who do not recognize the Roman pontiff as its head, do not pertain to the church of Jesus Christ.”

With reference to the Bible we find the following: “What should a Christian do if the Bible is offered to him by an emissary of the Protestants? Answer.—If it is offered him, he should refuse it with horror, inasmuch as it is prohibited by the church. If he has received it ignorantly, he should cast it into the fire at once, or deliver it to his priest. Question.—Why does the church prohibit Protestant Bibles? Answer.—The church prohibits Protestant Bibles because they are adulterated, or contain errors, or they have notes to explain difficult texts, which might injure the faith. For this reason the church also prohibits the versions which have heretofore been approved by her, because they do not contain the interpretations that she has given.

“The authority of the church, that is to say in concrete cases, that of the pope, is superior to that of God, and of his word contained in the holy books.”—Translated from the Spanish.

How true it is that Rome never changes! She demands worship.

A few days since one of our brethren was out selling tracts. After having canvassed a small country village, he was out on the sidewalk arranging his bicycle to start for the next town. The parish priest came singing down the middle of the street, bearing an image. Our brother continued his work. Upon passing him the priest stopped and asked, “Why do you not do reverence by removing your hat?” The canvasser replied, “That would be against my religion. God's Word forbids my doing so.” The priest then called upon the authorities to arrest him. So he was led away to jail. But having been an old-time friend of the chief official of the town, he was released without trial, after being charged never to be found guilty of that offense again. The week before this, my brother Frank, in company with two of our brethren, went to an adjoining province to sell tracts. Having been arrested in two towns, they appealed to the governor, who ordered them to leave the province by the first train, stating that they had the Roman Catholic religion, and wanted no other. But God has said that his “gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness,” and that in this generation. So we are sure, even though this door may seem closed at present, that the sound of this warning message will be heard in every part of this sin-darkened land, the home of the Inquisition. Pray for the work here.

Barcelona, Spain.