patrick j miron -- confession of sin

One must know that it is a Mortal sin 

BEFORE committing it,

: Why Confession if Communion takes away sins?

---

Quote:

=Zundra -I've never been to confession (yet), can you please tell me what heppens? I might add that of course I am coming from a methodist church, so, formerly we don't believe that a "Priest" can forgive your sins......

Hi Zandra,

Lets began with your last statement first.

From your background we know that you believe in the bible, so that is where we will start.

First of all, in a fully correct and in a technical sense it is God, not the priest who forgives sins. The role of the priest is to 1. Hear your Confession, determine if you are sincerely repentant and then grant Absolution. [Which I shall explain shortly.]

1. Son: 1 Jn. 1: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." 


All of us are sinners to varying degrees depending on the amount of grace offered, accepted and properly applied by each of us.

2 1 Jn.5:16 "If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God * will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal." [Thus there is sin that is Mortal!]

Here we are introduced to the very logical concept of "two levels of sin." Less serious that we term "Venial" sins, and VERY serious sins that we call "Mortal" sins. Whilw all sins hurt our relationship with God, hurt ourselves and the community, "Mortal " sin as the name implies are so serious as to completely sever ones relationship with Christ. One remains seperated from God until one Confesses, Repents, receives Absolution and completes the Pennance given. [I'll explain this also shortly.]

3 Jn.20:21-13 "Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." 22* And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23* If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained"

Add to the Mt. 16:19 [Jesus speaking to Peter,who represents the Church, popes, bishops and priest] " 19 I will give you [singular for His Church] the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." [Singular for His Popes, Bishops and priest.]

So clearly there is clear and binding authority for the Sacrament of Confession.

The steps for Confession are:
1 A full and complete personal examination of Conscience, trying to recall all of the sins committed. NOTE: ONLY all of f the Mortal sins need to be confessed, giving the description of each and number of times committed. NOTE: Under the penalty of both spiritual and physical death Confessors are sworn to a vow of complete Secrecy. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES, can a confessor share, discuss, reveal anything heard in the Confessional. PERIOD! Whaqt you confess remains between you and God.

2 The role of the Priest[Confessor] is to hear your Confession, determine if you are really and truly repentant, give some advice on how you might "avoid the near temptation of sin in the furture," Grant Absolution, [with the words of Absolution: "I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit [to which you reply "Amen"] which means "I believe." "Go now YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!" No guessing, 100% certainty that Christ has forgiven you! WOW! 

NOTE, that is the Holy Spirit, not the priest who Forgives you your sins! The Confessor is acting in, through and on behalf of Jesus. Thus the words "I ABSOLVE" not "I forgive" are used.

The Confessor will assign some sort of "Penance" [evidence and offering back to God as a sign of your sorrow and gratitude.] This Penance MUST BE completed before the effects of absolution take effect.

The format is either "always" * "person to Confessor" either behind a veil or at your option "face to face." One should be mindful that it is common to be uncomfortable, and that is part of God's intent. The fact that we MUST!!!!!! Confess our sins, hopefully will be a deterrent to furture sins. Having said this it is important that one Confess all Mortal sins and the number of times committed. The Confessor may ask a few questions in order to determine the degree of "cupability." which effects the seriousness of the sins.

In order for a sin to be "Mortal" in must be 1. Serious matter 2.
One must know that it is a Mortal sin BEFORE committing it, and 3. Still desire to commit the sin anyway.

Some examples of Mortal sins are sex outside marriage, use of Contraceptive sex, abortion, ruining the reputation of another, excessive greed and many other things. [Really a seperate topic].

The format is enter the Confessinal, "make the sign of the cross" "Bless me Father for I have sinned, it has been [time period...my first Confession, two weeks ect.] since my last Confession. I have sinnes in the following ways. [full and complete disclosure]. Fatehr may ask clarifying questions? Reply honestly. The Absolution is granted, "pennace" is given, Father will bless you and tell you to "Go in PEACE!"

A final NOTE: Mortal sins are so serious that unconfessed they will send one to Hell for eternity.

One may not receive Catholic Holy Communion unless they are "in the state of grace" [w/o
Mortal sin on ones soul. 1 Cor. 11:27-29.

Wolf -, patrick j miron living in a fish bowl- delusion commentary #3428

one step

 at a time with patrick j miron

 

 

God says it is Christ who saves [we Catholics are in COMPLETE agreement with this statement]. Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked either by people who think they can be saved by works [alone assumed here?] 

 

 

 or by the Catholic Churches claim that they dispense salvation. [Jesus Himself in Person Gave the “key to Heavenly access to ONLY Peter and through Peter, to the CC… Matt. 16]

 

  The Church says the sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation…

 

 

[EXCUSE Me Thomas; but my friend, its Christ HIMSELF [John 20:19-23]  who is Commanding it; the CC is just following God’s DIRECT - Order] …

 

 

 

 Patrick j miron delusion commentary #3428

 

 

 

 There in no offense, NO SIN, no matter how serious that Catholic Priest who ARE ACTING With, Through, In AND for CHRIST cannot forgive…

 

 

  Except for Denial of God Himself. It remains Christ who forgives the sins with the priest permission.

 

 

 

 

 -miss understanding basic scripture

 

ed-note 

 

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

  ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off —for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
 

How Would You Like To Suck My Balls, Mr Garrison? training with Patrick j Miron

how Remember all knowledge of god has been given to the catholic church (Singluar)

I will share all of the key points and teachings of our friend Thomas, but only respond [and then briefly], to but a few of his thoughts. 

 

 Then I will share what the Catholic Church [and therefore God Himself] teaches is absolutely necessary for ones personal salvation;

 

 fully supported by the bible, because this is what Christ Himself demands. 

 

 

 It really is a “take it or leave it proposition.”  

 

 

 

God says it is Christ who saves [we Catholics are in COMPLETE agreement with this statement]. Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked either by people who think they can be saved by works [alone assumed here?] or by the Catholic Churches claim that they dispense salvation.

 

 [Jesus Himself in Person Gave the “key to Heavenly access to ONLY Peter and through Peter, to the CC… Matt. 16] 

 

 

 The Church says the sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation…

 

[EXCUSE Me Thomas; but my friend, its Christ HIMSELF [John 20:19-23]  who is Commanding it; the CC is just following God’s DIRECT - Order] 

 

 DELusion err of patrick j miron #1,234

… There in no offense, NO SIN, no matter how serious that Catholic Priest who ARE ACTING With, Through, In AND for CHRIST cannot forgive…  Except for Denial of God Himself. It remains Christ who forgives the sins with the priest permission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[See above John 20:20-23, and this:  Matt. 16: 18-19] “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 

 

 I [Jesus] will give you {Peter} [SINGULAR]  the keys of the kingdom of heaven,

 

 and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  

 

 

And passed to other Apostles and therefore the CC in Matt. 18:18 “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 

 

 ACTS 10

 

³⁹ “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”



⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues^[b] and praising God.
Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” ⁴⁸

 

My Boy patrick j miron-- Catholic church has "all " the keys

yes patrick j miron is convinced that the catholic church has all the keys to the kingdom--

it dosen't matter with the scripture says--

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—
  ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.  


³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 

  ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 

  ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

  ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—

³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 




⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.  


⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 

  ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues^[b] and praising God.

 (ED-s note patrick j miron dosen't speak in tongues while praising God) but he does believe it is equal to going to daily mass)




Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”


  ⁴⁸ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Patrick j miron commentary--FROM--The Inquisition-- to The Council of Trent-- leading to “What is the meaning of ‘accursed’ (anathema)

 Patrick j miron

TRENT An In depth Study part 3

[Need to make a correction to last weeks mail out. Part 2: I … claimed the church of England started about 200 years before Luther…NOPE; it started in the same general time frame as the Protestant revolt L So Sorry!] [Thanks J.B.]

 

 The council of Trent was just a follow on to the inquisition-- after murdering countless believers in Jesus as the Christ-- 

 

then THE rOMAN CATHOLIC GANG-- OF SATAN--concluded with speaking curses over the remainder of the living believers in Jesus that the ROMAN CATHOLIC MANAGEMENT TEAM DISS AGREED WITH..

 ED-note----------------------------------

Ephesians 2:8-9

Amplified Bible (AMP) 8For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; 9Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]

The Inquisition

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The Inquisition was a Roman Catholic tribunal for discovery and punishment of heresy, which was marked by the severity of questioning and punishment and lack of rights afforded to the accused.

While many people associate the Inquisition with Spain and Portugal, it was actually instituted by Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) in Rome. A later pope, Pope Gregory IX established the Inquisition, in 1233, to combat the heresy of the Abilgenses, a religious sect in France. By 1255, the Inquisition was in full gear throughout Central and Western Europe; although it was never instituted in England or Scandinavia.

Initially a tribunal would open at a location and an edict of grace would be published calling upon those who are conscious of heresy to confess; after a period of grace, the tribunal officers could make accusations. Those accused of heresy were sentenced at an auto de fe, Act of Faith. Clergyman would sit at the proceedings and would deliver the punishments. Punishments included confinement to dungeons, physical abuse and torture. Those who reconciled with the church were still punished and many had their property confiscated, as well as were banished from public life. Those who never confessed were burned at the stake without strangulation; those who did confess were strangled first. During the 16^th and 17^th centuries, attendance at auto de fe reached as high as the attendance at bullfights.

In the beginning, the Inquisition dealt only with Christian heretics and did not interfere with the affairs of Jews. However, disputes about Maimonides’ books (which addressed the synthesis of Judaism and other cultures) provided a pretext for harassing Jews and, in 1242, the Inquisition condemned the Talmud and burned thousands of volumes. In 1288, the first mass burning of Jews on the stake took place in France.

In 1481 the Inquisition started in Spain and ultimately surpassed the medieval Inquisition, in both scope and intensity. Conversos (Secret Jews) and New Christians were targeted because of their close relations to the Jewish community, many of whom were Jews in all but their name. Fear of Jewish influence led Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to write a petition to the Pope asking permission to start an Inquisition in Spain. In 1483 Tomas de Torquemada became the inquisitor-general for most of Spain, he set tribunals in many cities. Also heading the Inquisition in Spain were two Dominican monks, Miguel de Morillo and Juan de San Martin.

The Council had been called to examine doctrine and reform. Charles V had wanted abuses looked at first in an attempt to please the Protestants and hopefully tempt them back to the church. Once they were back they could look at doctrine. Paul III did not want this as reforms could financially damage him and concessions could diminish his authority. The result was that two separate sections dealt with reform and doctrine simultaneously. 

 ed note-- continue with patrick j miron

Conflicting Interests

In 1537, Paul III called for a council, but political squabbles postponed its opening for eight years. The council finally began, in the northern Italian city of Trent, in 1545. The council held a number of meetings, with the three main sessions occurring in 1545–7, 1551–2, and 1562–3. The drawn-out sessions, and long delays between them, meant that representatives changed over the course of the council. And attendance was small; the opening session attracted only 34 leaders, and the largest meeting of the third session had only 255.

The council brought together a variety of competing agendas. Some churchmen, particularly members of the papal curia, resisted any reforms that would hinder their lifestyles. Bishops from Spain and France wanted a stronger, independent role. The Jesuits, on the other hand, stood firmly for papal supremacy. Some council delegates, like Emperor Charles V (who faced a Protestant challenge in his realm, the vast Holy Roman Empire), wanted Protestants and Catholics to reach a compromise. (Under his pressure, the council allowed Protestants to attend the second session, and informal talks were held. But when Protestant demands were not put on the agenda, the Protestants left, in 1552.) In a few instances, the delegates came to blows.

Resolutions

Reform was high on the agenda. On the issue that had sparked the Reformation—the selling of indulgences—the council abolished indulgence sellers and halted some of the worst abuses. In addition, the council passed numerous measures to halt clerical corruption. 

Acknowledging that Luther’s revolt had been prompted by the “ambition, avarice, and cupidity” of clergy, it called for leaders to avoid “even the smallest faults.” Many abuses were condemned, such as holding several cathedral churches, offering favors to relatives, and having mistresses. [Never forget dear friends that we MUST ALWAYS separate “the Church” {Mother Church ‘ the Bride of Christ} from Her members.

INTERESTING  COMMENTARY DELUSION FOLLOWING OF PATRICK J MIRON

#8756

" WE CAN SIN; the CHURCH CANNOT! “One Holy” -Catholic Church is the reality and the foundation of our faith-beliefs."

The council dealt extensively not only with morality, but also with doctrine. It reaffirmed the traditional medieval understanding—and rejected contemporary Protestant teaching—on nearly every subject.

The council held that there are seven sacraments, not two as the Protestants claimed, and that these are necessary for salvation. All the Protestant interpretations of Communion were condemned, and transubstantiation (the belief that the bread and wine become in substance the body and blood of Christ) was re-affirmed. Protestants were worshiping in their own languages, but the council upheld the Latin Mass, and it defined more precisely the sacrificial understanding of the Mass.

On the critical issue of justification, the council could not support the Reformation understanding of salvation by faith alone. It affirmed that no person can know for certain he or she is justified, and that good works do contribute to a right standing with God.

On the issues of Scripture and authority, the Catholic church moved further from Protestants. Reformers such as Luther had been translating the Bible into the common language of the people. The council held instead that the only official version of the Bible was the Latin Vulgate, and that no private interpretations of Scripture could depart from the church’s teachings. It also rejected the Protestant view of “Scripture alone” and declared that along with the Scriptures, tradition as preserved by the church was a source of authority.

Results

The Council of Trent helped to bring much-needed reform to the Catholic church. It also refined the church’s structure and marshaled its forces for the years ahead.

On matters of doctrine, however, the council made the gulf between Catholics and Protestants deep and lasting. Any remaining hopes of reunion were dashed.

The Council of Trent defined what the church would be for four centuries. Not until Vatican II, in the 1960s, did a major reexamination take place.” END part 3

OH MY GOD! THEY KILLED KENNY! patrick j miron roman catholic education and training THE TRUE FACE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC INQUISITION

yes you

 can get trained by patrick j miron

Title:  THE TRUE FACE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC INQUISITION -- ROTTEN SPIRITUAL FRUIT FROM THE ABYSS OF HELL

Resources to aid your Understanding

Understanding The Horrific Sex Abuse by Priests "Catholicism: The Church On Haunted Hill" New DVD by Bill Schnoebelen How Demonic Forces Have Shaped Catholicism

Subtitle: In NEWS1675, we revealed that one of the psychological devices priests used to get their female penitents to have sex with them was the threat to lie to the "Holy" Inquisition, so the woman would be torturously murdered. Since history books have been largely rewritten, few people know specific details of this murderous campaign that lasted over 1,200 years, killing 75 million people. But, once you understand the unprecedented horrors of theInquisition, you will never look at Roman Catholicism the same way again.

The New World Order is coming! Are you ready? Once you understand what this New World Order really is, and how it is being gradually implemented, you will be able to see it progressing in your daily news!!

Learn how to protect yourself, your loved ones!
Stand by for insights so startling you will never look at the news the same way again.

YOU ARE NOW ON
THE CUTTING EDGE

The Roman Catholic Inquisition was one of the greatest disasters ever to befall mankind. In the name of Jesus Christ, Catholic priests mounted an enormous effort to kill all "heretics" in Europe and Britain. Heretics is defined whichever way Rome wanted it defined; it ranged from people who disagreed with official policy, to Hermetic Philosophers [Black Magick Practitioners], to Jews, to Witches, and to the Protestant reformers.

Slaughtering one's enemies is clearly rotten spiritual fruit. During the early part of His ministry, Jesus was approached by two of His disciples -- James and John -- who had just returned from preaching the Gospel message throughout parts of Israel. These two disciples were upset, for some entire towns had refused to even hear their message; they asked the Lord:

"Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?" [Luke 9:54]

Jesus was horrified. He replied:

"You do not know of what sort of spirit you are, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them from the penalty of eternal death." [Luke 9:55-56; Parallel KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]

Let us repeat that most pertinent phrase: "the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives".

Nowhere in Holy Scripture did Jesus ever slaughter anyone who disagreed with him, nor did He ever advocate any of his followers doing so. Neither does any Apostle give this command to the Church later in the New Testament.

In another passage, Jesus reveals the kind of sweet spirit He is introducing to the world. Listen:

"Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease, refreshment, recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good -- not harsh, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant) and My burden is light and easy to be borne." [Matthew 11:29-30; Parallel KJV/Amplified Bible Commentary]

THE ANATHEMAS OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT CANNOT BE REVOKED-----THE ANATHEMAS OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT CANNOT BE REVOKED------THE ANATHEMAS OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT CANNOT BE REVOKED-------the official statements of the Council of Trent are considered to be infallible.

ECUMENISM AND THE COUNCIL OF TRENT

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on Sep 7, 2008 in Roman Catholicism

by Mary Ann Collins
(A Former Catholic Nun)
www.CatholicConcerns.com
December 2001
Revised November 2002



There is a hidden agenda behind the ecumenical movement. Official Catholic documents from the Second Vatican Council show that the purpose behind ecumenism is to bring Protestants back into the Catholic Church.


The Council of Trent anathematized every Christian who disagrees with any detail of Catholic doctrine. These anathemas have never been canceled. An anathema means that the Catholic Church has placed someone under a solemn ecclesiastical curse. (Anathemas will be explained more fully later in this paper.)
V
ATICAN II AND ECUMENISM



The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) wrote 16 official documents. It also gave some groups of experts the task of working out the details of how to apply the principles and directives of the Council. These groups of men wrote official “post conciliar” documents to more fully elaborate what had been written by the Council. The conciliar and post conciliar documents are published together in a two-volume work.
The Council’s “Decree on Ecumenism” states that ecumenical activity cannot result in changing any aspect of the Catholic faith. [Note 1] This foundational principle is reflected in the post conciliar documents dealing with ecumenism.
For example, Post Conciliar Document No. 42 says that the purpose of ecumenism is to transform the thinking and behavior of non-Catholics so that eventually all Christians will be united in one Church. It states that unity means being “in the Catholic Church.” [Note 2]
In other words, as far as Rome is concerned, “unity” means that all Christians will become Roman Catholics.



THE COUNCIL OF TRENT


Reaching out in a friendly, respectful way to “separated brethren” seems inconsistent with the Council of Trent.

The Council of Trent (1545-1564) was the Roman Catholic Church’s response to the Protestant Reformation. It denounced every single doctrine which was proposed by the Protestant Reformers. It declared that any person who believes even one of these doctrines is “anathema” (officially and ritually cursed by the Catholic Church). (The documents produced by the Council of Trent were published as a book. It is available online.) [ Note 3]



It also defined Catholic doctrines, detail by detail, and declared that anybody who denies even one of these details is anathema. These include the authority of the Pope, the practice of indulgences, veneration of Mary and the saints, and the use of statues.


So the Council of Trent anathematizes all Protestants.


ANATHEMAS


According to the 1913 edition of the “Catholic Encyclopedia,” when the Catholic Church anathematizes someone, the Pope ritually puts curses on them. There is a solemn written ritual for doing this. The “Catholic Encyclopedia” article describes the ritual in detail, including extensive quotations from it. (You can read this article online.) [Note 4]
In pronouncing the anathema, the Pope wears special vestments. He is assisted by twelve priests holding lighted candles. Calling on the name of God, the Pope pronounces a solemn ecclesiastical curse. He ends by pronouncing sentence and declaring that the anathematized person is condemned to hell with Satan. The priests reply, “Fiat!” (Let it be done!) and throw down their candles.
As we will see, the Catholic Church considers heresy (disagreement with Catholic doctrine) to be a crime. The Council of Trent, and other Church councils, declare that any person who disagrees with even one of their doctrinal statements is thereby anathematized.



When the Pope pronounces an anathema, he is said to be passing sentence on a criminal


. The “Catholic Encyclopedia” says that the anathema ritual is deliberately calculated to terrify the “criminal” and cause him to repent (in other words, to unconditionally submit to the Catholic Church).
For those whose crime is heresy, repentance means renouncing everything that they have said or done which conflicts with Catholic doctrine. In other words, they have to renounce their own conscience and discernment, and the conclusions which they reached in their best efforts to understand Biblical principles. And they have to submit their minds and wills unconditionally to every official doctrinal declaration of the Catholic Church. As we will see, Canon Law says that this unquestioning submission of the mind and will is required.

OFFICIAL MODERN ENDORSEMENT OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT



The declarations and anathemas of the Council of Trent have never been revoked. On the contrary, the decrees of the Council of Trent are confirmed by both the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the official “Catechism of the Catholic Church” (1992).
The documents of the Second Vatican Council cite the Council of Trent as an authority for doctrinal statements, both in the text and in the notes. The “Dogmatic Constitution on the Church” states that the Second Vatican Council “proposes again the decrees of” three previous councils, one of which is the Council of Trent. [Note 5] The “Decree on the Training of Priests” says that the Second Vatican Council continued the work of the Council of Trent. [Note 6]
The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” was written for the purpose of summarizing the essential and basic teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. It was approved by Pope John Paul II in 1992 and the English translation was released in 1994. It has numbered paragraphs, and has been published in many languages.
The Council of Trent is mentioned in seventy-five paragraphs of the “Catechism”. It is always mentioned in a positive, authoritative way. Some paragraphs mention it two or three times. Paragraph 9 of the “Catechism” says that the Council of Trent was the origin of Catholic Catechisms. The other 74 paragraphs in the “Catechism” which mention it cite the Council of Trent as an authoritative source which supports their doctrinal statements. [Note 7]
RELATED ISSUES


According to the “Catholic Encyclopedia,” a person’s religious belief is “outside the realm of free private judgment”. This is consistent with the spirit behind the anathemas of the Council of Trent. (You can read this article online.) [Note 8]



In his opening speech to the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII said that the Catholic Church has always opposed “errors” (disagreement with Roman Catholic doctrine). He said that the Catholic Church has often “condemned” them with great severity, but now it “prefers” to use mercy rather than severity. The Pope said that the Catholic Church is presently dealing with “errors” by doctrinal debate rather than by “condemnations”. [Note 9 has a link to this speech.]




The Catholic Church has never renounced its past practice of killing people that it considers to be heretics. On the contrary, the Office of the Inquisition still exists. It is part of the Roman Curia (the group of men who govern the Catholic Church). In 1965, its name was changed to “The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith”. It is headed by Cardinal Ratzinger. [Note 10]



Pope John Paul II issued a new edition of Roman Catholic Canon Law in 1983.


 According to Canon 752, whenever the Pope or the college of bishops makes a declaration concerning faith or morals, “the Christian faithful” are required to submit their mind and will to it. Furthermore, they must avoid anything which disagrees with it. (You can read this law online.) [Note 11]



According to Canon 1311,


The Catholic Church has the right to coerce members of “the Christian faithful” who fail to comply with Canon Law. Canon 1312 says that offenses can be punished by depriving people of spiritual goods (such as the sacraments) and temporal goods (such as property, freedom, and other things relating to life in this world). [Note 12]
On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. After defining the dogma, the Pope said that if any person dares to disagree with his declaration then that person is cut off from the Catholic Church and is “condemned”. The Pope went on to say that if any person says, or writes, or in any other way outwardly expresses his or her “errors” then they become subject to punishment. (This encyclical is online.) [Note 13]
The Pope’s reference to punishment is significant because a man had been executed for heresy 28 years before this papal bull was issued. In 1826, a Spanish schoolmaster was hanged because he substituted the phrase “Praise be to God” in place of “Ave Maria” (“Hail Mary”) during school prayers. [Note 14]
On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII issued a papal bull defining the dogma of the Assumption of Mary. He ended by saying that it is forbidden for any person to oppose his declaration. He also said that any person who attempts to oppose the dogma will incur the wrath of God and the wrath of the Apostles Peter and Paul. (This encyclical is online.) [Note 15]
Although this papal bull doesn’t openly threaten punishment, it still implies the possibility of some form of punishment. The difference in tone may be a result of the fact that in 1854, a man had recently been executed for “heresy”. In 1950, the Catholic Church had less power.
Spiritual intimidation is not confined to doctrinal issues. For centuries, Popes used excommunication and interdicts in order to pressure secular rulers into submitting to them. Forty years ago, the Archbishop of Malta (a small island near Sicily) used spiritual intimidation to prevent Catholics from voting for the Labour Party candidate during Malta’s 1962 election. For documented information about this, please see my paper entitled “Spiritual Coercion”.

THE ANATHEMAS OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT CANNOT BE REVOKED

According to the “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” the Catholic doctrine of infallibility applies not only to the Pope, but also to Church Councils (including the Council of Trent). 

[Note 16]


As a result, the official statements of the Council of Trent are considered to be infallible. 


This means that they cannot be changed. Therefore, the anathemas of the Council of Trent cannot be revoked.




The Catholic Church may find it expedient not to call people’s attention to these anathemas, but it cannot revoke them.



The present preference for a gentler approach to people who disagree with Catholic doctrine may explain the apparent discrepancy between the Council of Trent and the ecumenical movement.
The Catholic Church is engaging in ecumenical dialog with Protestants, calling them “separated brethren,” and speaking as if it respects their beliefs. But at the same time, behind the scenes, it still officially declares that they are damned to hell because of their beliefs.
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