CATHOLIC CHURCH GLOATS WHEN WE USE HER BIBLES

Photo from Craig Seraphim First

The Roman Catholic Church, as can be seen here by reading between the lines in a document from Vatican 2, is pleased as punch that so many Protestants hold Catholic Bible versions in their hands and find them in their pews! (Probably even more so now than in the 1960's when the document was written!) Here's an excerpt from "Dei Verbum," a Vatican 2 document on "divine revelation":

"22. Easy access to Sacred Scripture should be provided for all the Christian faithful. That is why the Church from the very beginning accepted as her own that very ancient Greek translation; of the Old Testament which is called the septuagint; and she has always given a place of honor to other Eastern translations and Latin ones especially the Latin translation known as the vulgate. But since the word of God should be accessible at all times, the Church by her authority and with maternal concern sees to it that suitable and correct translations are made into different languages, especially from the original texts of the sacred books. And should the opportunity arise and the Church authorities approve, if these translations are produced in cooperation with the separated brethren as well, all Christians will be able to use them."

The entire document is available for your perusal at: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/dogmatic-constitution-on-divine-revelation-1539.The truth is, Christian friend, that the New Testament portions of ALL modern English Bible versions - other than that of the King James Authorized Version - are translated from Greek texts made from manuscripts deliberately corrupted in Constantine's time to reflect doctrines that would later comprise those of the Roman Catholic system. The New King James Version's New Testament is translated from the same text as the King James Authorized Version but is heavily-influenced by Catholic manuscripts.
 
I strongly encourage you, do some research of your own on the crucially important subject of Bible translations!

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.