First, I do not look at the individual characteristics of any Pope as a source of rebuke of the RCC. Nor would I say any man is capable of personal Godly perfection while we walk in the flesh so to speak.
However, the rumors of Calvin are far overblown. The only personal controversy with regard to Calvin was the execution of Servetus.
First, Servetus was a man who was tried in absentia by the Catholic French inquisition and sentenced to death (April 1554). He was branded a heretic for denying the Trinity. He also denied the eternal existence of Christ.
He wrote Calvin a series of letters, to which Calvin responded:
Calvin wrote to Servetus, “I neither hate you nor despise you; nor do I wish to persecute you; but I would be as hard as iron when I behold you insulting sound doctrine with so great audacity.”
Finally Calvin ended their correspondence and refused to grant Servetus the promise of safe passage in Geneva (indeed Calvin openly stated if Servetus entered Geneva he would find the same end as the Catholics had prepared for him). Sadly, for Servetus, he came to Geneva anyway.
The city counsel of Geneva tried and convicted Servetus of heresy and sentenced him to burn at the stake. Ironically Calvin’s final plea was for leniency – or for at least for a less harsh execution. However, Calvin’s calls went unheeded and Servetus burned (Calvin held no political power). So to say Calvin was a “horrible man” is just not true.
Calvin had honest disagreements with many over doctrine, especially in the area of soteriology. However, Servitus was such a heretic that anywhere he went in Europe either the protestants or Catholics were going to kill him. Frankly it’s more reflective on that period in Christian history more than anything. The Catholics were burning people at the stake in mass back then. So I don’t think Servetus is a very fair critique of Calvin?
That being said – St. Francis was definitely a nicer guy … LOL!
I heard this story on a seminar CD last night. It was given by
Ken Hensley, a Protestant minister who converted to Catholicism.
Servetus was burned at the stake by order of the city council, Calvin tried to intervene and requested a beheading (it was consider more humane in those days).
Ken also used references from ‘atheist’ authors. who Ken said, made many
unfounded accusations against Calvin.
The talk on Calvin appeared to be honest to show Catholics how Calvinists are truly a ‘separated’ brethren to the Catholic Church. By that I mean, it was not derogatory against Calvin so much as it explained the history and politics that caused Calvin to support and become a part of the reformation. It did provide a lot of information on the history of Calvin himself.
At the end it primarily addressed the mindset behind sola scriptura so Catholics could understand how Protestants approach this teaching, in hopes Catholics could be charitable in their discussions with Calvinists. It also provided the explanation why sola scriptura was flawed in the eyes of the Church as Catholics view the subject.
I think it would be worth anyone’s time to listen to this 3 CD set,
John Calvin - Inside the Protestant Mind. I’ve already listened to his CDs,
Luther - The Rest of the Story, but that’s been awhile ago so they’re on the list of my listening material during my drives.
I’m attending night classes about 65 miles away from where I live, so I’m listening to as much as I can get my hands on for the drives. Between a friend of mine and myself, I have LOTS to listen too.
