The Controversial Pope Francis by Mike Gendron: Refuted

[Church_Militant]

This edition of Gendron’s anti-Catholic propaganda is loaded with especially virulent polemics. What I hope you will all see from this thread is clear evidence that Gendron and PTG misstate facts in ways that should actually show that they cannot be trusted as a source for information about the Catholic faith, it’s teachings, and it’s leaders.

Pope Francis is turning out to be one of the most controversial popes in modern history since his election to the papacy on March 13. During the four months he has been on the papal throne, he has made numerous statements that not only suppress the truth of God’s Word, but also oppose the doctrines of the Catholic Church.

As is his habit, here Gendron offers no evidence of any effort to “suppress the truth of God’s Word”. I have shown in other refutation articles that that allegation is actually more accurately applied to Mr. Gendron’s own preaching and teaching.

• See: Response to Hard Questions to Ask Good Catholics (By Mike Gendron)
• Refuting anti-Catholic tract: “Rome vs The Bible” by Mike Gendron
• Refuting Mike Gendron’s tract “Are You Being Deceived?”

The day he was elected pope he said he would pray to Mary for the protection of Rome. Later he appeared to contradict himself by saying, “He who doesn’t pray to the Lord, prays to the devil.” Is the pope saying that Catholics who pray to Mary and the saints are praying to the devil?

This “appearance” is only there to someone who wishes to see one and who has an agenda to do so. Every knowledgeable Catholic knows that we have a very scriptural basis for our Marian devotion and intercessory role. (See Why and how is the Old Testament figure of the Queen Mother a type or model of Our Lady?)

Then he totally botches his accusation against His Holiness. Here is the actual text of MISSA PRO ECCLESIA" WITH THE CARDINAL ELECTORS [*Thursday, 14 March 2013 * (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/f...a-francesco_20130314_omelia-cardinali_en.html)and what follows is a quote of the relevant part of the homily.

Thirdly, professing. We can walk as much as we want, we can build many things, but if we do not profess Jesus Christ, things go wrong. We may become a charitable NGO, but not the Church, the Bride of the Lord. When we are not walking, we stop moving. When we are not building on the stones, what happens? The same thing that happens to children on the beach when they build sandcastles: everything is swept away, there is no solidity. When we do not profess Jesus Christ, the saying of Léon Bloy comes to mind: “Anyone who does not pray to the Lord prays to the devil.” When we do not profess Jesus Christ, we profess the worldliness of the devil, a demonic worldliness.

Now, it’s a minor but very relevant point that Pope Francis quoted Leon Bloy His Holiness did not originate the statement, so Gendron, again failed to use due diligence in his propaganda. Seems to be becoming a common failing at PTG. However, in reading the context above and knowing the context of who Pope Francis was speaking to, is there anything that conflicts with either Biblical or Catholic? Nope.

(Cont’d)

 

[Church_Militant]

In May, the pope said everyone, even atheists, are redeemed with the Blood of Christ.

But is that what he actually said? Look here at this report from Vatican Radio.

"The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics**.**** Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists****.**** Everyone! And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all! And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace. If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.”**

Now, how is that contrary to either the New Testament or Catholic teaching? Fact is…it’s not. Even a fairly cursory reading of the New Testament will show many cases where Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ conveys this message to unbelievers and sinners. I’m thinking especially of this passage Luke 7:36-50

Gendron’s remarks seem much more like those of of the Pharisee in verse 39.

The pope followed this heresy with another placating statement, saying, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”

As we’ve seen above, Gendron’s charge of heresy is specious, but what about this stuff about gays?

As always, context is the best refutation. Here’s the actual statement and a link to the report.

Speaking of other problems within the administration of the Holy See, including rumours of a ‘gay lobby’ within the Vatican, Pope Francis said there are many saintly people working in the Curia but also those who are not so saintly and cause scandals which harm the Church. Quoting from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he said that people with homosexual tendencies must not be excluded but should be integrated into society. “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?” he asked.

Link

Possibly his most controversial decision was to make the reporting of sex crimes against children ***illegal. ***

As usual, this is specious commentary because (though I cannot find it right now) I read the news report and this is not at all what Pope Francis was doing. Gendron willfully ignores that the Vatican state now has made sex abuse of children a more serious crime carrying much more severe penalties.

The criminalized leaks are those such as what occurred in the Vatileaks scandal, and those penalties have also been increased as well. The leaking of confidential documents was not illegal before and if one checks the reports, one will find that those responsible were convicted of theft and not leaking the documents themselves.

Notice here what Pope Francis said back in June.

 

[Church_Militant]

The Vatican also jumped on the heretical bandwagon last month by offering indulgences, to reduce time in purgatory, to those who follow Pope Francis on Twitter during World Youth Day.

Heretical? One of CA’s priest apologists answers this far better than I could. Did the Pope apply absolution on Twitter?

As foolish as this sounds to intelligent people, we must wonder if Catholics will ever wake up and realize their religion teaches a false and fatal gospel that leads them on the broad road to destruction?

So far, Mr Gendron, the only foolishness and false remarks we’ve seen so far are from you. The fact of the matter is that one might better ask Who REALLY Preaches “A Different Gospel”?

How many more blatantly false teachings must come out of the Vatican before Catholics realize they have been deceived about life’s most critical issue, the salvation of their soul?

Notice that he does not enumerate these allegations. But that’s okay because I have already refuted his false allegations against the Catholic faith, especially such as this in my blog articles …
Refuting Mike Gendron’s tract “Are You Being Deceived?”
Refuting anti-Catholic tract: “Rome vs The Bible” by Mike Gendron

Catholics, who believe a purifying fire will purge away their sins, are deluded victims of a fatal fabrication. The diabolical invention of a place for the purification of sins called Purgatory is not only a flagrant denial of the sufficiency of Jesus Christ, but also a blasphemous rejection of His precious blood as the only purification for sin (1 John 1:7).

Here is a prize winning example of the specious nature of PTG propaganda. This man (as well as his protege Jason Hauser) asserts that he was once a faithful Catholic, and yet he totally misstates the information on Purgatory

CA’s Apologists have excellent material that will show that either he is badly ignorant of authentic Catholic teaching, or he actually has chosen to outright lie about it. Either way, it proves that he is actually the one deceiving people that follow his “ministry”.

Please see…

• Purgatory
• The Roots of Purgatory

Notice the errors that he offers.

The concept of Purgatory became a Catholic doctrine around 600 A.D. due to the fanaticism of Pope Gregory the Great.

This is refuted in the 2nd link above.

There is a good deal more in his newsletter but most of it is just polemics and propaganda that I’ve already dealt with so far.

I have asked a couple of others to weigh in on this refutation and hopefully they’ll join in now.

My question at this point is… Do any of you get the impression that this individual and his organization is even remotely qualified to make statements about what we Catholics believe? Is their information accurate?

 

[Church_Militant]

I almost forgot to add this great stuff from John Martignoni where he specifically deals with Mike Gendron’s Purgatory propaganda.
** Apologetics for the Masses - Issue #141
Mike Gendron & Purgatory

                                                                                                                                                                [***Apologetics for the Masses***](http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/newsletter/detail/191) - Issue #142
                                                                                                                        Gendron and Purgatory cont'd                                 
                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                [***Apologetics for the Masses***](http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/newsletter/detail/192) - Issue #143
                                                                                                                        Gendron and Purgatory cont'd                                 
                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                [***Apologetics for the Masses***](http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/newsletter/detail/195) - Issue #144
                                                                                                                        Gendron & Purgatory cont'd                                 
                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                [***Apologetics for the Masses***](http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/newsletter/detail/194) - Issue #145
                                                                                                                        Gendron & Purgatory cont'd

**

 

[ahs]

Wow Church Militant! You got very detailed in that response and really did your homework! I am putting together my “amature” version as well of this latest Gendron newsletter and will post it here if you don’t mind. I STILL have not gone back to cite the pertinent Scripture passages…maybe I’ll just leave it as-is and get it posted, and then cite it as I go…

Is it just me, or has Mr. Gendron gone a bit further here with trying to blur truth with false representations? For some reason, this one seemed a lot more purposefully twisted than others I have read by him. I wonder if perhaps Pope Francis’ popularity amongst other Christians has got him upset?

Mr Gendron (or anyone who supports him or follows him to some extent and would be willing to speak up), if you happen to be reading this, I am genuinely interested in hearing your explanation of why you chose to only report tiny bits of fact and then mix it with generous amounts of speculation, unsupported assertion, and logical fallacies.

For example, the very first claim is that Pope Francis suppreses the Truth of God’s Word. But doesn’t this beg the question (even if not in the formal sense)…who is interpreting the Truth of God’s Word, and under what Authority. Doesn’t one need to establish that he or she has some authority to interpret God’s Word before accusing someone else of suppressing It?

Secondly, please cite, in its full context from an actual Catholic source, ANY Catholic Doctrine which the Pope has opposed or contradited…and provide the full context of the alleged contradiction/opposition. I believe you will find that this assertion is completely false and unfounded.

 

[CarolNoel]

Thanks Church Militant. Long post, but worth the read.

 

[Church_Militant]

Wow Church Militant! You got very detailed in that response and really did your homework! I am putting together my “amateur” version as well of this latest Gendron newsletter and will post it here if you don’t mind. I STILL have not gone back to cite the pertinent Scripture passages…maybe I’ll just leave it as-is and get it posted, and then cite it as I go…

Is it just me, or has Mr. Gendron gone a bit further here with trying to blur truth with false representations? For some reason, this one seemed a lot more purposefully twisted than others I have read by him. I wonder if perhaps Pope Francis’ popularity amongst other Christians has got him upset?

Mr Gendron (or anyone who supports him or follows him to some extent and would be willing to speak up), if you happen to be reading this, I am genuinely interested in hearing your explanation of why you chose to only report tiny bits of fact and then mix it with generous amounts of speculation, unsupported assertion, and logical fallacies.

For example, the very first claim is that Pope Francis suppresses the Truth of God’s Word. But doesn’t this beg the question (even if not in the formal sense)…who is interpreting the Truth of God’s Word, and under what Authority. Doesn’t one need to establish that he or she has some authority to interpret God’s Word before accusing someone else of suppressing It?

Secondly, please cite, in its full context from an actual Catholic source, ANY Catholic Doctrine which the Pope has opposed or contradicted…and provide the full context of the alleged contradiction/opposition. I believe you will find that this assertion is completely false and unfounded.

Very good thus far Dave, and I look forward to your contributions to come. I agree that there is almost a febrile or manic quality to this edition of the PTG newsletter, almost as if he feels he has to hit home whether his info is accurate or not. How can that serve people though? Bad info is just that… bad info and it makes PTG that much less credible to any " intelligent people" (to borrow directly from Gendron’s own remarks) who look carefully into this stuff.

Thanks Church Militant. Long post, but worth the read.

Yeah, I know. But Gendron is generally long winded while short on accurate information and adherence to what the Bible actually says.

Unfortunately what I have quoted so far is only about half of his newsletter article, but the rest is just a rehash of his bash on Purgatory, which is why I included the links to John Martignoni’s newsletters where he refutes that so very well. He also has a couple of other newsletters where he takes Gendron’s material apart on other teachings as well. John is extraordinarily good at his apologetics.

Oh, and please forgive my lack of a link to Gendron’s site with the current newsletter. For some reason he no longer provides those links until they archive the newsletters and so far that hasn’t happened with his latest ones, so I had to pull it all out of his email.:compcoff:

 

[Zooey]

Great work, Michael!!

Question: Is there any possible way for me to say, “Mike Gendron is NUTS”, without being chided for a lack of charity??

(I’m :blush:assuming that “Mike Gendron has finally dropped off a nuttiness cliff that even Tom Cruise has thus far avoided” is completely beyond the pale???..)

 

[Church_Militant]

Well Zooey, I’m not really qualified to assess Mr. Gendron’s mental health, just to point out as I did that this particular newsletter’s tone seems very odd, even compared to his other a-C tracts and newsletters. I am not sure why, but it is noteworthy.

One thought…is it possible that there is some envy of Pope Francis? This just occurred to me. Pope Francis is very unassuming and simple in his dealings with people and his very down-to-earth compassion and message to all of us is quite touching. I find it drawing me to love and appreciate him more each time, while challenging me to live more like Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ. His Marian devotion and style reminds me very much of Our Lady’s words in John 2:5, “Do whatever he tells you.”

 

[Zooey]

Well Zooey, I’m not really qualified to assess Mr. Gendron’s mental health, just to point out as I did that this particular newsletter’s tone seems very odd, even compared to his other a-C tracts and newsletters. I am not sure why, but it is noteworthy.

One thought…is it possible that there is some envy of Pope Francis? This just occurred to me. Pope Francis is very unassuming and simple in his dealings with people and his very down-to-earth compassion and message to all of us is quite touching. I find it drawing me to love and appreciate him more each time, while challenging me to live more like Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ. His Marian devotion and style reminds me very much of Our Lady’s words in John 2:5, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Yeah…Gendron sounds so :shrug:wildly emotional:shrug:.
And you know, Pope Francis is drawing admiration from any number of non-Catholic folks. He’s just so straightforward & yet gentle. In a way that any number of people I know are admiring of.

 

[ahs]

I will get back and post some more tonight hopefully (except everytime I tell someone a specific time, something ALWAYS comes up ).

I have not read the Martignoni links yet, but I’ve been listening to his CD “Apologetics for the Scripturally challenged” and attacks on Purgatory are easy to refute from Scripture, I am starting to realize.

First, Gendron, and those who think or have been taught to believe as he does, should be asked what THEY believe about Purgatory. That will help show you and them whether they understand the Church’s teaching or not.

Then, once you both finally agree that the Church’s position on Purgatory is [the Church’s teaching on Purgatory], you can point out the following:

1. There is NOTHING in Scripture that is contrary to Purgatory, and nothing about Purgatory contrary to Scripture.
2. We know from Scripture that we can be punishd AFTER we have been forgiven (2Sam 12:13-18).
3. We know from Scripture that nothing unclean can enter into Heaven (Rev 21:27).
4. We know from Scripture that there is a process through which the SPIRITS of just men are made perfect (Heb 12:22-23).
5. We know from Scripture that there is a place or a process where a man, after he dies and who is SAVED, can suffer loss as through fire (1Cor 3:13-15).

Then you can ask the million dollar question: “Where is this place where a man, after he dies and is SAVED, will suffer loss as through fire? Is it Heaven?? Do we suffer loss in Heaven as through fire? NO!
Or is it hell…do we get out of hell after suffering some loss only to be saved??” NO!

This temporary place, or process, which is described in the Sciptures, is what the Catholic Church calls “Purgatory”.

 

[ahs]

Here is my response to Mr. Gendron…to his first 5 sentences. Once I am finished with the whole thing , I plan on sending it to him and posting on my blog (will still be a time) :

“Pope Francis is turning out to be one of the most controversial popes in modern history since his election to the papacy on March 13. During the four months he has been on the papal throne, he has made numerous statements that not only suppress the truth of God’s Word, but also oppose the doctrines of the Catholic Church.”

I believe people can find controversy wherever they want. So far I have yet to see anything more controversial from this Pope than any other Pope in modern history. I disagree, wholeheartedly with the assertions here, but still…let’s see what you offer as evidence to support your assertions, Mr. Gendron.

“The day he was elected pope he said he would pray to Mary for the protection of Rome.”

**How does that suppress the Word of God or oppose Catholic teaching? Doesn’t the Word of God says that we ARE to pray for one another (Rom15:30, Eph 6:18-19) and show several times where Christians are praying for, and requesting prayer from, one another (2Thess 1:11, 2Thess 3:1)? Does Scripture say that when we pass on from this life that we are dead, or that we are alive…that our God is God of the living (Mk 9:4, Mk 12:26-27)? Does going to be with God make us ineligible to pray for our brethren on earth? (Chapter and verse please, Mr. Gendron.) **

"Later he appeared to contradict himself by saying, “He who doesn’t pray to the Lord, prays to the devil.” Is the pope saying that Catholics who pray to Mary and the saints are praying to the devil? "

First of all, how is it a contradiction to ask Mary for intercession, and also to pray to God? Are we not allowed to ask for intercessions? (Chapter and verse please.) Second, I’m not sure if you’re “begging the question”, or committing a fallacy of a “non sequitur”, but no, the Pope is not saying Catholics pray to the devil when we pray to the Saints in Heaven. Praying to the Saints in Heaven does not preclude praying to God, does it? It sure doesn’t seem to be an issue to the Angels and Saints in Heaven who are offering our prayers to God in Revelation 5:8. Are those Angels cooperating in sin, Mike? It also didn’t seem to be an issue when Mary communicated with the Angel, instead of talking directly to God, in Lk chapter 1. And it didn’t seem to be an issue when David spoke to Nathan instead of going straight to God in 2 Sammuel. And it didn’t seem to be an issue for the Israelites to go through the prophets…ad nauseum… Mr. Gendron, what is the hang-up about asking the Saints in Heaven to pray for us? Is there some Scriptural prohibition against it that you can show us?

 

[ahs]

"In May, the pope said everyone, even atheists, are redeemed with the Blood of Christ. The pope followed this heresy with another placating statement, saying, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” "

**Mr. Gendron, who did Christ die for? Did He die for the sins of just a few? Or did He die so that ALL could be saved? And are you saying that it is a heresy to believe what Christ Himself told the Pharisees about coming to heal the sick? Did Christ die for ALL those who need Him, or only for those who are already saved? (Chapter and verse please.)

Mr. Gendron, can athiests never come to believe? If not, then what’s the point of spreading the Gospel? Why did Christ command the spreading of the Gospel to the unbelievers, the Gentiles, the Pagans, all nations, if they will never believe and if Christ did not die for them? Did Christ send His Apostles out only to the believers? But if they can come to believe and be saved, then how is it wrong to say they have been redeemed? Maybe you have a different definition of “redeemed”?

And what is the problem with not judging a person who is gay…who has a same-sex attraction? Did Christ not tell us not to judge a person? You seem to be implying that the Pope is okay with the ACT of homosexual sex. But that’s not true, is it Mr. Gendron? In fact, didn’t the Pope, in that very same conversation that you snipped from, clarify that his whole point is to love the sinner, but hate the sin? That’s the exact message I got from the Pope’s comments, and it’s been the consistent teaching of the Church for 2,000 years now, and is the message in the Gospels. The Pope neither suppressed the Word of God, nor did he oppose Catholic doctrine.**

 

[ahs]

“Possibly his most controversial decision was to make the reporting of sex crimes against children illegal.” sic]

**WHAT?! Mr. Gendron, instead of inventing blatant misrepresentations of half-truths, if there is even that in your claim, how about you simply provide the facts for your readers. The facts are, that no other institution in the world, religious or otherwise, has done more to protect children from abuse and make it easier for clergy, the laity, and children and parents to recognize signs of abuse. The facts are that the Church has established a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to abuse, handing over to authorities any Priest who is legitimately accused of such behavior, and has even gone so far as to change its Canon Law to make it easier to punish accused Priests…even if there is not enough evidence for a civil prosecution. The facts are that the Church has taken aggressive proactive steps to ensure that it is the safest place for children. Mr. Gendron, what has your church done to be proactive in this area? Has your church volunteered itself to be put under the scrutiny of outside investigative studies, such as the John Jay Report? Has you church instructed millions of children and adults in how to recognize abuse? Has you church installed Victim Assistance Coordinators to ensure that every victim is heard? Has you church educated its members to know that the majority of abuse of this nature takes place at home, by married men, and that children are 100 times more likely to be abused at their public schools than by a Catholic Priest? Mr. Gendron, why hasn’t EVERY institution, religious or otherwise, taken such aggressive and proactive measures to protect our children? **(Source: themediareport.com/fast-facts/ )

 

[ahs]

“The Vatican also jumped on the heretical bandwagon last month by offering indulgences, to reduce time in purgatory, to those who follow Pope Francis on Twitter during World Youth Day. As foolish as this sounds to intelligent people, we must wonder if Catholics will ever wake up and realize their religion teaches a false and fatal gospel that leads them on the broad road to destruction? How many more blatantly false teachings must come out of the Vatican before Catholics realize they have been deceived about life’s most critical issue, the salvation of their soul?
Catholics, who believe a purifying fire will purge away their sins, are deluded victims of a fatal fabrication. The diabolical invention of a place for the purification of sins called Purgatory is not only a flagrant denial of the sufficiency of Jesus Christ, but also a blasphemous rejection of His precious blood as the only purification for sin (1 John 1:7).”

**Wait, so teaching something [Purgatory] that is not only in the Scriptures, but also rooted deeply in ancient Christianity, and in fact mentioned as in passing…as though it were just common knowledge, and has never been challenged up until the 16th century is heretical? Scripture, the Word of God, completely fabricated a place where a man, after he has died, and is saved, can suffer loss as through fire (1Cor 3:13-15)? God was just fabricating facts when He inspired the authors to explain how David was punished for his sin, AFTER he had been forgiven (2Sam 12:13-18)? The Apostle John simply fabricated the fact that nothing unclean shall enter into Heaven, and Jesus was just making things up when He said to be “perfect” (Rev 21:27)? Was Paul just kidding around, making up heretical ideas, when he said there is a place or a process whereby the SPIRITS of just men are made perfect (Heb 12:22-23)?

Mr. Gendron, you are misrepresenting the facts again. It almost seems like you do this in purpose, as though you want to make the Church look bad, even if you have to twist Truth into untruth to do so. Is that what you are doing Mr. Gendron, or did you honestly just not take the time to carefully read and check your sources? I know that you have been provided the correct explanation of Purgatory, which you misrepresented some time ago, by a Mr. John Martignoni. Did you not read his letters? He clearly spelled out the Scriptural and historical basis, and the actual Catholic Doctrine on Purgatory…which you still misrepresent to this day. Can you please, for the sake of your readers, provide them the ENTIRE quotes from the Catholic Encyclopedia or Catechism so that tey can see it in proper context, with their own eyes, and read it for themselves. Why do you only want to show them the cherry-picked word or two that you snatched out of half a sentence and then twisted around to say something that it doesn’t really say in context…and then apply your own personal interpretation onto that misrepresentation? Do you not trust your readers with the Truth?**

 

[ahs]

“The concept of Purgatory became a Catholic doctrine around 600 A.D. due to the fanaticism of Pope Gregory the Great. He developed the doctrine through visions of a purifying fire. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Pope Gregory said Catholics “will expiate their faults by purgatorial flames,” and “the pain is more intolerable than any one can suffer in this life.” Centuries later, at the Council of Florence in 1431, Purgatory was pronounced an infallible dogma.”

Actually, Mike, the concept of Purgatory dates back to the Jews, is found in Scripture, and can be found as early as the 2nd century mentioned casually, as in passing. I’ll spare you my own long-winded response, and just provide you 2 of several links. The contents should sound familiar because Mr. Martignoni and other well-meaning Catholics have provided you with the same information in the past…which you obviously ignored.
catholic.com/tracts/the-roots-of-purgatory
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=813417 (See especially post #4)

 

[ahs]

"Over the centuries, billions of dollars have been paid to Roman Catholic priests to obtain relief from sufferings in Purgatory’s fire. The Catholic clergy has taught that purchasing indulgences, novenas and Mass cards can shorten the period of suffering in Purgatory. When a Catholic dies, money is extracted from mourning loved ones to shorten the deceased’s punishment in Purgatory. We have heard of Catholics who have willed their entire estates to their religion so that perpetual masses could be offered for them after they die. It is no wonder that the Catholic religion has become the richest institution in the world. The buying and selling of God’s forgiveness has been a very lucrative business for the Vatican.

Another motivation for Rome to fabricate the heretical doctrine of Purgatory is its powerful effect on controlling people. Ultimately, the enslavement and subjugation of people is the goal of every false religion, and Purgatory does exactly that. The concept of a terrifying prison with a purging fire, governed by religious leaders, is a most brilliant invention. It holds people captive, not only in this life but also in the next life. Catholic clergy will not say how many years people have to suffer for their sins or how many Masses must be purchased before they can be released from the flames. This dreadful fear and uncertainty is the most ruthless form of religious bondage and deception! Only the truth of God’s Word will set Catholics free from the bondage of deception. May all Christians lovingly confront them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Click here to see our latest broadcast on the pope’s statements."

**Again, Mr. Gendron, both of these paragraphs were addressed directly and thoroughly by Mr. Martignoni here:
biblechristiansociety.com/newsletter/detail/195 so there’s no reason for you to have to listen to me explain it again.

You make a lot of spurious claims with no source to back it up, and try to make the Church look sinister for doing exactly what the Scriptures model for us. Tell me Mr. Gendron, do you accept money for your services? Or do you work for free? Would you or your pastor reject a stipend from family members who want to give you something for performing a funeral service? And can you do your readers a favor and trace all these “billions of dollars” that have gone to Roman Catholic Priests and show us, with actual source data, how much money we are really talking about per Priest, per year, and how that money is spent (such as, helping the poor and infirm, paying the electricity bills for the building used during the ceremony, etc…)?

Mr. Gendron, whether you are doing it intentionally or not, you are misrepresenting the Catholic Church…bearing false witness against Catholics. In other words, you are helping, whether intentionally or not, to propagate lies. You are not doing anyone any favors by doing that, except the “father of lies”. Please be more careful that you correctly represent Catholic Doctrine, and allow your readers to make well informed decisions, based on actual Catholic Doctrine from actual Catholic sources in their full context. **

In Christ,
Dave

 

[Church_Militant]

It never ends, does it Dave? He offers something outrageous with his agenda to indict the Catholic faith, and we counter with facts that show that he has misstated Catholic teaching, mistakenly taught that the Bible teaches something that it doesn’t, or both. It would be comic if he wasn’t so desperate to push his anti-Catholic agenda instead of doing what PTG supposedly stands for and simply Proclaiming the Gospel.

 

[Bonjovie]

“The Vatican also jumped on the heretical bandwagon last month by offering indulgences, to reduce time in purgatory, to those who follow Pope Francis on Twitter during World Youth Day. As foolish as this sounds to intelligent people, we must wonder if Catholics will ever wake up and realize their religion teaches a false and fatal gospel that leads them on the broad road to destruction? How many more blatantly false teachings must come out of the Vatican before Catholics realize they have been deceived about life’s most critical issue, the salvation of their soul?
Catholics, who believe a purifying fire will purge away their sins, are deluded victims of a fatal fabrication. The diabolical invention of a place for the purification of sins called Purgatory is not only a flagrant denial of the sufficiency of Jesus Christ, but also a blasphemous rejection of His precious blood as the only purification for sin (1 John 1:7).”

Ask him!

**Wait, so teaching something [Purgatory] that is not only in the Scriptures, but also rooted deeply in ancient Christianity, and in fact mentioned as in passing…as though it were just common knowledge, and has never been challenged up until the 16th century is heretical? Scripture, the Word of God, completely fabricated a place where a man, after he has died, and is saved, can suffer loss as through fire (1Cor 3:13-15)? God was just fabricating facts when He inspired the authors to explain how David was punished for his sin, AFTER he had been forgiven (2Sam 12:13-18)? The Apostle John simply fabricated the fact that nothing unclean shall enter into Heaven, and Jesus was just making things up when He said to be “perfect” (Rev 21:27)? Was Paul just kidding around, making up heretical ideas, when he said there is a place or a process whereby the SPIRITS of just men are made perfect (Heb 12:22-23)?

Mr. Gendron, you are misrepresenting the facts again. It almost seems like you do this in purpose, as though you want to make the Church look bad, even if you have to twist Truth into untruth to do so. Is that what you are doing Mr. Gendron, or did you honestly just not take the time to carefully read and check your sources? I know that you have been provided the correct explanation of Purgatory, which you misrepresented some time ago, by a Mr. John Martignoni. Did you not read his letters? He clearly spelled out the Scriptural and historical basis, and the actual Catholic Doctrine on Purgatory…which you still misrepresent to this day. Can you please, for the sake of your readers, provide them the ENTIRE quotes from the Catholic Encyclopedia or Catechism so that tey can see it in proper context, with their own eyes, and read it for themselves. Why do you only want to show them the cherry-picked word or two that you snatched out of half a sentence and then twisted around to say something that it doesn’t really say in context…and then apply your own personal interpretation onto that misrepresentation? Do you not trust your readers with the Truth?**

Please ask him well. I don’t understand his motives either or the source of his unbridled discomfort with the Church

 

[melekali]

Controversial? I don’t think so. Spurring the Church on to action? Most definately. A Jesuit, the first Jesuit Pope takes Francis as his name. Franciscans and Jesuits are known to not always get along, so he marries them up in his person as Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth. Cool, way cool.