THERE'S NO SUCH

THING AS A
CATHOLIC
CHRISTIAN!
Allow me to preface my argument that there's no such thing
as a "Catholic" Christian by stating that there most certainly
are Christians sitting in the pews of Roman Catholic
churches. But, according to the official doctrines declared by
the Roman Catholic Church herself, these Christians are not
Catholics!

The Roman Catholic Council of Trent, convened in 1544 and

closed in 1563, pronounced "anathema" (cursed by God) on
all who reject the major doctrines of the Catholic faith. See
this or any of the numerous references to the council's
pronouncements available on the web. These anathemas have
never been rescinded by Rome, and those Catholics who, by
rejecting one or more major Catholic doctrine, bring these
anathemas upon themselves are automatically ex-
communicated from the Roman Catholic Church.

A true Christian understands that he is now justified by

placing faith alone in the person of Jesus Christ who paid the
full penalty for the world's sins at Calvary. Paul's letter to the
Romans amply declares this, as in Romans 4:4-5: "Now to
him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of
debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

By contrast, the Council of Trent declared: CANON 9: "If

any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in
such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-
operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and
that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and
disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be
anathema."

A saved Christian believes that the Lord Jesus Christ paid the
world's sin debt in its entirety and that no more sacrifice
remains for sin. 2 Corinthians 5:19 states, "To wit, that God
was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not
imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto
us the word of reconciliation." Therefore, the very idea of
someone who has trusted the shed blood of Christ in payment
for their sin being required to pay a price themselves by
suffering in "purgatory," is a grievous insult to our Saviour!

On the subject of purgatory, the Council of Trent declared:

Canon 30: "If any one saith, that, after the grace of
Justification has been received, to every penitent sinner the
guilt is remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted
out in such wise, that there remains not any debt of temporal
punishment to be discharged either in this world, or in the
next in Purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of
heaven can be opened (to him); let him be anathema."
Therefore, we must conclude that there can be no such thing
as a "Catholic Christian" because the Catholic Church herself
has declared that no real Christian can be a Catholic!

I pray that Christians who still find themselves tied to the

apron strings of "Holy Mother Church," will allow the Holy
Spirit who dwells within them to gently guide them out of her
abject darkness and into pure light.