#14 Have you ever asked why?

...Catholicism teaches that god is subject to Mary?

St. Louis Mary de Montfort said that god is subjected to Mary, mother of our lord Jesus Christ , and that he receives her request as commands:

“When the saints tell us that all thing in heaven and on earth, including god himself, are subjected to the bless Virgin, they mean that the authority god gave her is so great that she appears to have the same power as the trinity, and that her prayers and request have such an effect upon god that he receives them as commands.”(True devotion to Mary . p. 9)

BUT THE BIBLE doesn’t say so. It was Mary who subjected herself to god, and not the other way around. No one can be greater than God, for He is above all:

“But the angel said to her,’Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with god. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.’…
“’I am the lord’s servant’, Mary Answered.’may it be to me as you have said’. Then the angel left her.”(Lk. 1:30-31,38., New International Version)

“One God and Father of all—who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”Eph.4:6, New King James Version)

#13 Have you ever asked why?

...the Pope and priest are said to be vicars of Christ?

Catholic teaching states that as vicars Christ the pope and the priests take the place of our Lord Jesus Christ:

“The official title of the pope is:’ His Holiness the pope, bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth, Successor of peter the prince of the apostles, Supreme pontiff of the universal church, Patriarch of the west, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and metropolitan of the roman church province, and sovereign of the temporal dominion of the holy roman Church’.”(Skydsgaard,K.E.,et.al. The Church as the Body of Christ, vol.1.p.7)

“Vicar of Christ: the pope as visible head of the church , acting in place of Christ …”(Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Catechism for Filipino Catholics, p. 676)

“the priest is another Christ . …”(Hire, Richard P. Our Chistian Faith. P. 154)

BUT ACCORDING TO the bible, no one can take the place of our lord Jesus Christ, for he has a permanent priesthood. He is the same yesterday, Today, Forever:

“But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to god though him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”(Heb. 7:24-25, New International Version)

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”(Heb. 13:8,Ibid)

#12 Have you ever asked why?

...Catholic Church leaders take money from gambling proceeds?

When faced with keen attacks following media reports that the catholic hierarchy in the Philippines had been accepting millions of gambling money from the country’s prime gaming agency ,manila archbishop Jaime cardinal sin retorted by saying that the would not hesitate to take money even from Satan for the sake of charity:

“Cardinal Sin said, quoting st. John Bosco:’ If Satan would appear to me and give me money, I will accept the money and spend it all for the poor ‘.”(“Sin Defends Use of Pagcor Money,” Manila Bulletin, October 26, 2000)

BUT THIS IS the exact opposite of the conviction of our lord Jesus Christ. When the devil tempted Jesus by offering him all the riches in the world, he did not accept them so that he may have something to give for the poor. Instead, Jesus strongly resisted the devil’s temptation and held on to what the Scriptures teaches:

“Then the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their greatness.’ All this I will give you’, the devil said,’ if you kneel down and worship me’.

“The Jesus answered,’ Go away, Satan! The scripture says,” Worship the lord your God and serve only him!””(Mt. 4:8-10, Today’s English Version)

#11 Have you ever asked why?

...Catholics offer Mass and perform rituals for the dead?

Catholic are taught that they can help in relieving the sufferings of the departed who souls are in the so-called purgatory by offering mass and performing rituals for them:

“2. The faithful on earth, through the communion saints, can relieve the sufferings of the souls in purgatory by prayer, fasting, and other good works, by indulgences , and by having masses offered for them.”(Louis La Ravoire Marrow, D.D. My Catholic Faith. P. 243)

HOWEVER, EVEN CATHOLIC priest admit that the bible does not mention of a realm such as purgatory. Offering prayers and other sacrifices for the dead is against the teachings of the bible, for the dead have no share in anything that the living do:

“ Now here in the scriptures does the word ‘purgatory’ occur…”(Josseph Kenny, C.S.S.R. Purgatory: A Doctrine of comfort and Hope. p .2)

“For the living know that they will die;but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward , for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred , and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun.”(Eccl. 9:5-6,NKJV)

#10 Have you ever asked why?

...Catholic worship images which they keep in their homes and churches?

Catholic catechism requires that members should have for themselves idols or image to worship:

“15. Ought to worship holy image? “ We should have , particularly in our church , images of our lord , as also of the blessed Virgin and the saints , and we should pay them due honor and veneration .” (Cat echism of Christian doctrine . p.87)

BUT THE BIBLE teaches otherwise. God prohibits his people from having other gods besides him or from worshiping idols or images. those who defy this commandment will be punished:

“you shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image-any likeness of anything that is in heaven above , or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I , the LORD your God , am a jealous God , visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me.” (Exo. 20:3-5, New King James Version)

“… those who worship idols , and all liars-the place for them is the lake burning with fire and sulfur , which is the second death.”(Rev.21:8, Today’s English Version)

#9 Have you ever asked why?

...Catholic practices are of pagan origin?

Catholic priest john F. Sullivan argues that the catholic church has adopted pagan practices and implemented them as part of “Christian “ doctrine because such practices are the “ best from paganism”:

“it is interesting to note how often our church has availed herself of practices which were in common use among pagans …thus it is true, in a certain sense, that some catholic rites and ceremonies are a reproduction of those of pagans creeds; but they are the taking of what was best from paganism, the keeping of symbolic practices which express the religious instin ct that is common F. Sullivan, D.D. the externals of the catholic church. P.226)

BUT THE TRUE Christian neither subscribes to pagan ways nor go beyond the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. The apostles instructed:

“Here then is my word to you, and I urge it on you in the Lord’s namewoor your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written’. Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.”(I Cor: 4:6, New International Version)

#8 Have you ever asked why?

...the "Latter-day saints" believe that god is man?

The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints' Lexicon of doctrines cites Doctrines and Covenants as teaching that the Father in heaven is a man with a body of flesh and bones and who became God by reaching glory and perfection:

"God the Father is a glorified and perfected Man, a Persanage of flesh and bone[D. & C. 130:22], in which tangible body and eternal spirit is housed." (Bruce R. McConkie. Mormon Doctrine. P.30)

But, this directly opposes the teaching of the Bible that the true God is not man in nature but a spirit having no flesh and bones:

"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent." (Num. 23:19 , NKjv)

"God is Spirit." (Jn. 4:24,lbid., emphasis ours)

"Behold My hands and my feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." (Lk.24:39,lbid)

#7 Have you ever asked why?

... the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints(commonly known as Mormon Church) bases its teaching on three more books besides the Bible?

The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognizes three more books, in addition to the Bible, as bases for judging the belief and the conduct of men:

"the Latter-day Saint accept four volumes as the standards works of the Church. These are the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the pearl of Great Price. By unanimous vote of a General conference, these four have been declaredto be the established rule or test, by which the belief, the teaching, and the conduct of men must be judged." (Hyrum M. Smith and Janne M. Sjodahl. Doctrine and Covenants Commentary. P.xi)

ON THE OTHER hand, the apostles taught that man will be judged according to the gospel or Gods words written in the Bible, and anyone who goes beyond or adds to what is written in the gospel will be punished:

"In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel." (Rom. 2:16, New king James Version)

"Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and apollos for your benifit, so that youmay learn from us the meaning of the saying, 'Do not go beyondwhat is written'. " (I Cor.4:6, New International version)

"For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone addsto these things, God will add to him the plagues that are writen in the book."(Rev. 22:18, NKjv)

#6 Have you ever asked why?

... Every Prostestant believes that he can understand the bible by himself?

The Prostestantprinciple of the right of private judgement states that every protestant believer has the right to interpret the Bible for himself since he has the Holy Spirit to guide him:

"Protestant Principle
"4. The right of private judgement. Every Christian has the right to interpret the Bible for himself through the guidance of the Holy Spirit," (20 Centuries of Christianity. P. 32)

BUT THE APOSTLES teach that the Bible is not a matter of one's own interpretation. One receives the Holy Spirit when he listens to and believes in the gospel or God's word preach, and not simplywhen he studies the Bible by himself:

"First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation."(II Pt. 1:20, Revised Standard Version)

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." (Eph. 1:13, NKJV)

"And how shall they preach unless they are sent?... So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."(Rom. 10:15,17,lbid.)

#5 Have you ever asked why?

...Protestants hold that the Church of Christ is made up of people who believe in Christ but are scattered in different denomination?

In Claiming that man can find salvation in any of the Protestant churches or denomination that allegedly make up Christ's Church, Protestant lecturer Loraine Boettner, in a way, contends that the body or Church of Christ is divided into these seperate groups whose names, beliefs, and practices differ from one onother

"The great proportio of Protestant denominationdo not claim to be the only true church, but readily and gladly acknowledge that salvationis to be found in any church where the Gospel is faithfully preached.... Whether called Baptist, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, or what not, they all belong to one body, the church of Christ,..."(Loraine Boettner. roman Catholicism.pp.37-38)

BUT ACCORDING TO the Bible, the true Church of Christ is not divided into independent churches of denomination with differing names and beliefs. Rather, it is a single body or organization having one spirit, and one baptism:

"So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other." (I Cor. 12:25, New International version)

"Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually." I Cor. 12:27, NKJV)

"Thereis one bodyand one Spirit, just as you were called in onehope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, anoe baptism."(Eph. 4:45,lbid.)

#4 Have you ever asked why?

...Protestants claim that man can be Saved by faith alone?

Protestantism teaches that all a person needs in order to be saved is to have faith in christ; he does not have to do good works:

"...Protestantism rests firmly upon the belief that God deals directly with man as a person, so that salvation is gained by 'faith alone',"(Leslie J. Dunstan, ed. Protestantism. p.ix)

"Protestant Principles
"1. Justification by faith in Christ. Man can be saved only by faith in Christ. Man can be saved only by faith in Christ, not by good works. Good works are the outgrowth of faith in Christ."(Marvin L. Galbreath. 20 Centuries of Christianility. p.2)

BUT THE BIBLE teaches that man cannot be justified and be saved by faith alone. Faith in Christ should go hand in hand with good works or obedience to God's will for a person to be justified and to inherit the kingdomof heaven:

"What does it profit, my brethen, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

"Thus also faith b itself, if itdoes not have works, is dead.

"You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (js. 2:14,7,24,New King james version)

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord',sahll enter the kingdom of heaven, buthe who does the will of my Father in heaven, but he who does the will of MY Father in heaven." (Mt. 7:21,lbid.)

#3 Have you ever asked why?

... the Pope is regarded as Head of the Catholic Church?

The Catholic Church teaches that the Bishop of Rome or the Pope is the Vicar of Christ on earth, that is, he takes the place of Christ as the visible Head of the Church:

"Christ did not intend that the special power of the chief teacher and ruler of the entire Church should be exercised by Saint Peter alone, but intended that this power should be passed down to his successor, the Bishop of Rome, who is the Vicar of Christ on Earth, and visible Head of the Church.

"2. He enjoys the exclusive titles of: Pope, Sovereign Pontiff, Roman Pontiff, Holy Father, His Holiness, Vicar of Christ, ..." (My Catholic Faith. pp. 200, 202)

BUT THE BIBLE clearly states that our Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the Church and does not in any way mention that He can be replaced as such:

"He is the head of the body, the church." (Col. 1:18, Today's English Version)

"For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the savior of the church, his body." (Eph. 5:23, Ibid.)

#2 Have you ever asked why?

... Catholics believe in purgatory?

Catholic priest Louis LaRovoire Morrow teaches that there are three kinds of destiny awaiting each person on the day of God's judgment: heaven, hell, and purgatory:

"The rewards or punishments appointed for men after the particular judgment are heaven, purgatory, or hell. ...

"1. He who dies in his baptismal innocence, or after having fully satisfied for all the sins he committed, will be sent at once to heaven. ...

"2. He who dies in the state of grace, but is in venial sin, or has not fully atoned for the temporal punishment due his forgiven sins, will be sent for a time to purgatory. ...

"3. He who dies in mortal sin, even if only with one single mortal sin, will be sent at once to hell. " (Most Rev. Louis L.R. Morrow, D.D. My Catholic Faith. p. 157)

BUT ACCORDING TO the Bible, each person shall receive God's final judgment on the Second Advent of Christ. And on that day, each soul will be sent to either the heavenly kingdom or the everlasting fire. There is no such realm as purgatory:

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

"All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shephered divides his sheep from the goats.

"And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

"Then, the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world'. ...

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels'. " (Mt. 25:31-34, 41, NKJV)

#1 Have you ever asked why ...

... Catholics pray the rosary?

Catechism requires Catholics to memorize and say the rosary, the Angelus, and other prayers, which are recited repeatedly:

"... the Catholic should know and say memorized prayers. 'So it is important that some of the Church's great prayers be understood, memorized, and said frequently. Among those are the Sign of the Cross, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Apostles' Creed, an Act of Contrition, and the Rosary'."

"But vocal prayer is usually the recitation of a fixed formula -- such as the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be; or a Psalm or hymn; or a repetitive prayer such as a litany, the Angelus, or the rosary." (Ronald Lawler, O.F.M. Cap., Donald W. Wuerl, and Thomas C. Lawler, eds. The Teachings of Christ: A Catholic Catechism for Adults. p. 393)

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, however, forbade the pagan practice of using vain repetitions in our prayers to God:

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words."

"Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." (Mt. 6:7-8, New King James Version)