Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 9
October 24, 1957
NUMBER 25, PAGE 10-11

A "Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde" Organization

Luther W. Martin, St. James, Missouri

The Roman Catholic Church is both a political and a religious movement. When circumstances are such that it is expedient for a purely religious 'face' to be exposed to the world, the Vatican sees to it that such a pose is displayed. However, in countries or in generations where a different set of circumstances prevail, then Catholicism becomes a tyrannical mistress, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication. (Rev. 17:1-2.)

That the Roman Catholic Church contains many honest and sincere members, we readily admit. To them, we offer sympathy and pity. To them, we extend an invitation, based upon the love of God and American freedom, to become willing to read and listen to material other than that which has been strained through the censorship of the Roman Catholic movement.

All quotations used in this treatise are copied directly from Roman Catholic authors, whose works have the Imprimatur, "let it be printed", of the Catholic Hierarchy. Therefore, by quoting only approved Catholic writers, we believe that we will be dealing justly with the subject under consideration.

The Pope's Views Toward America's Four Freedoms

"NO UNCONDITIONAL LIBERTY — From what has been said, it follows that it is quite unlawful to demand, to defend, or to grant unconditional freedom of thought, of speech, or writing, or of worship, as if these were so many rights given by nature to man . . ." (Emphasis mine. LWM.) (Page 80, The Church Speaks to the Modern World; From Pope Leo XIII's Encyclical on Human Liberty.)

This denial of freedom is not some medieval papal expression, but was initially penned by Leo in 1888, and this book that now accords it additional circulation was published in 1954.

"Freedom" As Defined By The Roman Catholic Church

"The inalienable right of all men to worship God according to the teaching of the Catholic Church. No state can justifiably prevent the exercise of this right; and indeed it has a duty to foster this true worship, and Christ established one form and content of public worship in establishing the only Church ,to which all are commanded to submit . . ." (Emphasis mine. LWM.) (Taken from the article entitled 'Freedom of Worship', Page 201, Catholic Dictionary, by Attwater.)

This leaves no question as to the extremely 'narrow' definition espoused by the Roman Catholic Church as to "Freedom of Worship." This 'inalienable right of all men' is applied to their worship according to Catholic teaching! Even more outspoken is the assertion that the state, thus the United States Government, indeed has the duty of fostering this 'true' worship . . as defined by the Roman Church.

Any investigation made today in Italy, Spain and some of the South American nations, will give factual proof of her interpretation of 'Freedom of Worship' Non-Catholics in those countries are prohibited from exercising actual Freedom of Worship.

Catholicism's "Right" To Use Material And Temporal Means

"The Church, as a perfect society, sovereign and independent, has supreme spiritual authority over her members, legislative, judicial and executive, by divine law. Her authority is independent of the civil authority of the State, and is of a higher order. Though instituted for a spiritual end, the Church has the right to use material and temporal means to secure that end, and in the use of such means as are necessary she has exclusive authority." (Emphasis mine. LWM.) (Page 41, Catholic Dictionary, by Attwater.)

In the above statement it is admitted that the Roman Catholic Church does not confine her activities to purely spiritual matters. She claims the "right to use material and temporal means" in securing "supreme spiritual authority" over her subjects. She further asserts that she has exclusive authority in the use of such material and temporal means. Thus, according to her, she is not answerable to the State in her actions.

Catholicism's View on Liberty To Change The Government

"LIBERTY TO CHANGE GOVERNMENT — Whenever there exists, or there is reason to fear, an unjust oppression of the people on the one hand, or a deprivation of the liberty of the Church on the other, it is lawful to seek for such a change of government as will bring about due liberty of action." (Emphasis mine. LWM.) (Page 80, Church Speaks to the Modern World.)

In the above, two reasons are given for 'lawfully' changing the government. The second reason, i. e., "depriving the Catholic Church of her liberty", would be determined by the Vatican as its definition of "What constitutes the restriction of her liberty?" When a Government decides to cease subsidizing Roman Catholic schools, or when a Nation refuses to make grants in aid to parochial schools . . . is this a restriction on her liberty? If so, how much will it take for her to decide to exercise her 'lawful right' to call for a change of government?

Catholicism's Design In "Remaking The World"

During World War II, when no one with any certainty knew whether the Axis Powers or the Allies would emerge victorious, the Paulist Press, New York City, published a pamphlet entitled, "God In Society."

From page 32 of this publication, we copy as follows:

"All men of good will must enter the battle for LASTING PEACE. It is the NEW CRUSADE to rescue the spirit of man from error, doubt and sin. It is a world-wide battle for truth, justice and love.

"There are five stages in this battle. We must restore to the human person his dignity family to their God-given place in Society; the and rights; we must restore matrimony and the dignity and rights of Labor must be respected; our JURIDICIAL ORDER must be rebuilt; THE CORRECT IDEA of the State must be brought back to the modern world." (Emphasis from the pamphlet, not mine, LWM.)

Are we to conclude that the 'modern world' is NOT as CORRECT as the world of the dark ages? Just what does the Roman Catholic Church think it will require to 'Correct the state' . . . the government of the United States? Another statement in this pamphlet (God In Society), says:

"The Papal Peace is radical. It goes back to roots. The roots of Christian (Roman Catholic. LWM.) Tradition. For 400 years men have tried to follow other traditions. Their failure is written in a welter of blood. The Papal Peace aims at remaking, rebuilding the world on the Christian (Roman Catholic. LWM.) Tradition." (Page 31.)

Now it comes to light! Roman Catholicism wants to take the world back some 400 years . . . to a time prior to Martin Luther's public exposure and unmasking of the tyranny of the Roman Church. It was the year 1517 when Luther's opposition to the immorality of the Hierarchy and its false teachings, caused Papal Rome to tremble. However, for fear that someone may question our conclusion as to what this Catholic author referred to, 400 years ago, let's copy another statement from page 18, of this pamphlet:

"In the past 400 years the Christian (Roman Catholic. LWM.) Tradition became the lost horizon. It was first dimmed out by Protestantism. The dimout grew darker and darker until Rationalism, Naturalism, Liberalism, Unbridled Capitalism turned the dimout into a blackout . . ."

In the above paragraph, the Catholic author admits that the 'protest' against the Roman Church was the first 'dimming' . . . but he finally comes down to the present and takes a swing at what he calls "Unbridled Capitalism." Would Catholicism further 'bridle' Capitalism .. which, by the way, has been one of the main-stays of the American free-enterprise system of business and government?

Should our readers think that we are quoting from some isolated radical Catholic author, let us go again to the Catholic Dictionary, page 73, under the heading, "Capitalism:"

". . . Modern large-scale business could not be developed or continued without the system of capitalism; but it is the destroyer of all small industries and of independent individual responsibility and control. The capitalist system is not in itself unlawful, but easily becomes the cause of abuses which the Church unequivocally condemns." (Emphasis mine. LWM.)

May we remind our readers that we are citing current, Catholic Church-approved publications, in demonstrating that the aims and purposes of Roman Catholicism are not coordinate with the aims and welfare of the United State Government!

The Deadly Parallel Between Communism And Roman Catholicism

"The theory that the political, economic and personal freedom proper to man without distinction of class or race can only be maintained when property in the means of production is widely distributed. Distributionists hold that large concentrations of wealth and property are bad, and they seek to promote the revival of ownership of land, workshops, etc., by individuals and are generally opposed to monopolies and amalgamations. They hold that the 'smaller-holder,' small shop-keeper, the peasant and the artist-craftsman are the normal men and that Capitalism (the rule of the money lender) and Industrialism (the rule of the machine) can be deliberately undermined and gradually abolished. Distributism has no religious affiliation but its theory is claimed to be in special harmony with Catholic teaching as to the nature of man and his needs." (Emphasis mine. LWM.) (Page 152, Catholic Dictionary, under the heading, 'Distributism'.)

Please note that the above given definition and description of 'Distributism' is claimed to be "In Special harmony with Catholic teaching" . . . which includes the thought that "Capitalism and industrialism can be deliberately undermined and gradually abolished!" Certainly the Roman Catholic Church is interested in the temporal and material realm!

Question: Is not the goal of Communism that of "deliberate undermining and abolishment of Capitalism and Industrialism?" We assume that Communism would not undermine it as gradually as Roman Catholicism is willing to do. Nor do we charge the Catholic political philosophy with being entirely in harmony with the Communistic philosophy. However, the two systems are amazingly similar in several respects.

Further Comparisons Between Catholicism and Communism

(1) Both are un-democratic in structure.

(2) Both oppose the separation of church and state.

(3) Both tend to deify their respective leaders.

(4) Both oppose free public schools.

(5) Both suppress FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, SPEECH AND WORSHIP.

(6) Followers of either ideology must pay homage to a foreign temporal ruler; i. e., the Kremlin in Moscow, or the Vatican at Rome.

(7) Both use violence in the achievement of their goals.

Conclusion

If the Roman Catholic Church were to become solely a spiritual organization, as are the other religious sectarian groups in the United States, then she should be accorded equal rights and freedom under the Constitution of the United States. However, so long as her communicants must give homage to a foreign sovereign, who is a political and temporal ruler; thus being forced to divide their allegiances, she should be treated as a foreign organization . . . one whose goals are detrimental to the welfare of the United States of America!