Catholics to begin "commemorating" HERESIES- God forgive us this blasphemy!

   My personal opposition to “From Conflict to Communion: Lutheran-Catholic Commemoration of the Reformation” will read like a rant to many.  Hopefully a few others out there will agree and perhaps some Catholic clergy out there can correct me if they feel I’ve gotten something wrong here.  I welcome the comments of all, whether we agree, I would still really like to hear other opinions.  

   Now I know my non-Catholic friends (yes, I do have them) are going to hate what I have to say, but I am speaking as the Catholic I am about my faith and views on how my Catholic faith is operating in today’s world.  So if you don’t like it, don’t read it. I have no intentions of shutting my mouth for fear of offending anyone with my Catholic faith.

    This “commemoration” is to take place in 2017 for the 500^th anniversary since Luther divided Christ’s Holy Catholic Church and ripped people away from the True Faith and Sacraments – AKA “The Reformation”.  (If you haven’t seen this story, read it first here:  http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/after-five-centuries-of-division-catholics-and-lutherans-consider-their-com/  - I’ll wait.)  

OK, ready for my rant?

    The Reformation is a great day of celebration (yes it is a CELEBRATION, not merely a “commemoration” in the Lutheran denomination – the Bishops can play word games all they want, they are not fooling anyone, certainly not God) for many protestant denominations- especially the Lutheran’s who view Luther as the savior of Christianity (not Christians- there is a difference) from the evils of the Catholic Church and Her popes.   Luther HATED the Catholic Church AND her teachings and the Sacraments.  This is clear from his own writings…

Martin Luther’s letter to Pope Leo X (in part)

Luther writes: “Your see, however, which is called the Court of Rome, and which neither you nor any man can deny to be more corrupt than any Babylon or Sodom, and quite, as I believe, of a lost, desperate, and hopeless impiety, this I have verily abominated, and have felt indignant that the people of Christ should be cheated under your name and the pretext of the Church of Rome; and so I have resisted, and will resist, as long as the spirit of faith shall live in me. Not that I am striving after impossibilities, or hoping that by my labours alone, against the furious opposition of so many flatterers, any good can be done in that most disordered Babylon; but that I feel myself a debtor to my brethren, and am bound to take thought for them, that fewer of them may be ruined, or that their ruin may be less complete, by the plagues of Rome. For many years now, nothing else has overflowed from Rome into the world--as you are not ignorant--than the laying waste of goods, of bodies, and of souls, and the worst examples of all the worst things. These things are clearer than the light to all men; and the Church of Rome, formerly the most holy of all Churches, has become the most lawless den of thieves, the most shameless of all brothels, the very kingdom of sin, death, and hell; so that not even antichrist, if he were to come, could devise any addition to its wickedness.” [Wittenberg, 6th September, 1520] –

Link: http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/web/cclib-1.html

How does the Lutheran denomination TODAY view the Reformation?  Let’s see…

Rev. Dr. Richard P. Bucher (from- http://www.orlutheran.com/html/whatwas.html ) explains the Lutheran view of the Reformation:  

“God's Reformation of His Church through Martin Luther began as a rediscovery of the main teaching of Christianity, that we are declared righteous (justified) by faith in the cross of Jesus Christ. It is not our righteousness (created by our works, efforts, and obeying God's laws) that saves us; Christ's righteousness saves us. And His righteousness is credited to our account when we believe that He died for us.
Put very simply, Luther's Reformation was a matter of taking this rediscovered Gospel, showing that it was Scriptural, and then reforming the Church by it. Whatever in the Church was found to contradict this Gospel of salvation by grace through faith was to be reformed. Anything else (if it edified) could be retained.Luther's Reformation was concerned with essentials, with the very heart of Christianity. It is for this reason that it swept through Europe and had such amazing results. Without this Reformation, there would have been no salvation, for the Gospel would have remained largely hidden. When we celebrate the Reformation, we are celebrating this rediscovered Gospel that we believe in; and we are celebrating our salvation through Jesus Christ.” [End quote]

(About the author Rev.Dr. Richard P. Bucher: http://www.orlutheran.com/ourpastor.html)

Really?  The Catholic Church was HIDING the Gospel and it was all up to Luther to bring salvation to the world??  That’s what Lutheran’s are taught and believe.  This is why “Reformation Day” is a HUGE celebration in this denomination.  Luther brought back salvation to them? *not!* But that is their belief. So the Catholic Bishops can play with words saying "its not a celebration", but it IS a celebration, it has been for nearly 500 years!  WAKE UP CATHOLICS!  You're being deceived!

Now how does (or did until now) the Catholic Church view the Protestant Reformation?  As a HERESY.

Quote:  “Protestant groups display a wide variety of different doctrines. However, virtually all claim to believe in the teachings of sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone"—the idea that we must use only the Bible when forming our theology) and sola fide ("by faith alone"— the idea that we are justified by faith only). The great diversity of Protestant doctrines stems from the doctrine of private judgment, which denies the infallible authority of the Church and claims that each individual is to interpret Scripture for himself. This idea is rejected in 2 Peter 1:20, where we are told the first rule of Bible interpretation: "First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation." A significant feature of this heresy is the attempt to pit the Church "against" the Bible, denying that the magisterium has any infallible authority to teach and interpret Scripture. The doctrine of private judgment has resulted in an enormous number of different denominations. According to The Christian Sourcebook, there are approximately 20-30,000 denominations, with 270 new ones being formed each year. Virtually all of these are Protestant.” [End quote]
Source:  http://www.catholic.com/tracts/the-great-heresies

According to Catholic Church teaching & documents the Protestant Reformation is a HERESY! 

Martin Luther burning Pope Leo X's Papal Bull

Now WHY should ANY Catholic want to “commemorate” a HERESY?  

Do Catholics commemorate Gnosticism?  

How about Arianism? NO!  

We do not, for good reason!  Our Church council’s sorted this all out long, long ago but sadly it seems TODAY’s Catholic clergy are either IGNORANT of these facts or flat out ignoring them to the detriment of Christ’s Holy Catholic Church.

HOW can a Catholic bishop ignore what the Church says about ANYONE who denies the Sacraments or rejects any of the Teachings of the Church?

“LET HIM BE ANATHEMA!” cries the Church!

Do the bishops know what “anathema” means? Or WHO the Church calls “anathema”?

From:

THE COUNCIL OF TRENT

Session VII - Celebrated on the third day of March 1547, under Pope Paul III

(Online version: http://www.ewtn.com/library/councils/trent7.htm)

Canon 1. If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law were not all instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ, or that there are more or less than seven, namely, baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, extreme unction, order and matrimony,[1] or that any one of these seven is not truly and intrinsically a sacrament, let him be anathema. 

Canon 2. If anyone says that these sacraments of the New Law do not differ from the sacraments of the Old Law, except that the ceremonies are different and the external rites are different, let him be anathema. 

Canon 3. If anyone says that these seven sacraments are so equal to each other that one is not for any reason more excellent than the other, let him be anathema. 

Canon 4. If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary for salvation but are superfluous, and that without them or without the desire of them men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of justification,[2] though all are not necessary for each one, let him be anathema. 

Canon 5. If anyone says that these sacraments have been instituted for the nourishment of faith alone, let him be anathema. 

Canon 6. If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law do not contain the grace which they signify, or that they do not confer that grace on those who place no obstacles in its way,[3] as though they were only outward signs of grace or justice received through faith and certain marks of Christian profession, whereby among men believers are distinguished from unbelievers, let him be anathema. 

Canon 7. If anyone says that grace, so far as God's part is concerned, is not impaired through the sacraments always and to all men even if they receive them rightly, but only sometimes and to some persons, let him be anathema. 

Canon 8. If anyone says that by the sacraments of the New Law grace is not conferred ex opere operato, but that faith alone in the divine promise is sufficient to obtain grace, let him be anathema. 

Canon 9. If anyone says that in three sacraments, namely, baptism, confirmation and order, there is not imprinted on the soul a character, that is, a certain spiritual and indelible mark, by reason of which they cannot be repeated,[4] let him be anathema. 

Canon 10. If anyone says that all Christians have the power to administer the word and all the sacraments,[5] let him be anathema. 

Canon 11. If anyone says that in ministers, when they effect and confer the sacraments, there is not required at least the intention of doing what the Church does,[6] let him be anathema. 

Canon 12. If anyone says that a minister who is in mortal sin, though he observes all the essentials that pertain to the effecting or conferring of a sacrament,[7] neither effects nor confers a sacrament, let him be anathema. 

Canon 13. If anyone says that the received and approved rites of the Catholic Church, accustomed to be used in the administration of the sacraments, may be despised or omitted by the ministers without sin and at their pleasure, or may be changed by any pastor of the churches to other new ones, let him be anathema.

Catholic Encyclopedia: “Anathema” (means -major excommunication) http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01455e.htm

HOW can a Catholic bishop ignore what the Church says about ANYONE who denies the Sacraments or rejects any of the Teachings of the Church?

I’m not a Catholic clergy, but I know what “anathema” means and what the Council of Trent says, so why don’t the Catholic Bishops and Cardinals know this too?  

My opinion is they DO know it, they just REJECT it.  Unfortunately, I see many (not all) in the Catholic Church today as more concerned with the WORLD, than with the mission Christ left His Church and the work Jesus left for His priesthood.  Preaching the Gospel message and bringing salvation to the lost with the Sacraments through Christ’s Holy Catholic Church.  THAT should be FIRST and foremost ALWAYS.

Dictionary: “Anathema”anathema [əˈnæθəmə]n pl -mas 1. a detested person or thing he is anathema to me2. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) a formal ecclesiastical curse of excommunication or a formal denunciation of a doctrine3. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) the person or thing so cursed4. a strong curse; imprecation
[via Church Latin from Greek: something accursed, dedicated (to evil), from anatithenai to dedicate, from ana- + tithenai to set]

Link: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/anathema

Does the Church simply toss out what previous Council’s have to say on such matters?  How about Papal Bulls?  Do Papal Bulls expire from one generation to the next?  

Is Luther and those who follow Luther’s teachings no longer viewed as “anathema” by the Church?  Was there a new Papal Bull for this that I missed?  Was it in the fine print of Vatican II?  How about Pope Leo X’s Papal Bull against Martin Luther AND all those who followed Luther?  Is that history now too?

Pope Leo X’s Papal Bull against Martin Luther – in part – (please read the FULL Bull to fully understand the Church’s position AGAINST the evils of Martin Luther- link: http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/l10exdom.htm)

Quote, in part, Pope Leo X states:  

“With the advice and consent of these our venerable brothers, with mature deliberation on each and every one of the above theses, and by the authority of almighty God, the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and our own authority, we condemn, reprobate, and reject completely each of these theses or errors as either heretical, scandalous, false, offensive to pious ears or seductive of simple minds, and against Catholic truth. By listing them, we decree and declare that all the faithful of both sexes must regard them as condemned, reprobated, and rejected….We restrain all in the virtue of holy obedience and under the penalty of an automatic major excommunication....
Moreover, because the preceding errors and many others are contained in the books or writings of Martin Luther, we likewise condemn, reprobate, and reject completely the books and all the writings and sermons of the said Martin, whether in Latin or any other language, containing the said errors or any one of them; and we wish them to be regarded as utterly condemned, reprobated, and rejected. We forbid each and every one of the faithful of either sex, in virtue of holy obedience and under the above penalties to be incurred automatically, to read, assert, preach, praise, print, publish, or defend them. They will incur these penalties if they presume to uphold them in any way, personally or through another or others, directly or indirectly, tacitly or explicitly, publicly or occultly, either in their own homes or in other public or private places.
Indeed immediately after the publication of this letter these works, wherever they may be, shall be sought out carefully by the ordinaries and others [ecclesiastics and regulars], and under each and every one of the above penalties shall be burned publicly and solemnly in the presence of the clerics and people.As far as Martin himself is concerned, O good God, what have we overlooked or not done? What fatherly charity have we omitted that we might call him back from such errors? For after we had cited him, wishing to deal more kindly with him, we urged him through various conferences with our legate and through our personal letters to abandon these errors. We have even offered him safe conduct and the money necessary for the journey urging him to come without fear or any misgivings, which perfect charity should cast out, and to talk not secretly but openly and face to face after the example of our Savior and the Apostle Paul. If he had done this, we are certain he would have changed in heart, and he would have recognized his errors. He would not have found all these errors in the Roman Curia which he attacks so viciously, ascribing to it more than he should because of the empty rumors of wicked men. We would have shown him clearer than the light of day that the Roman pontiffs, our predecessors, whom he injuriously attacks beyond all decency, never erred in their canons or constitutions which he tries to assail. For, according to the prophet, neither is healing oil nor the doctor lacking in Galaad.
But he always refused to listen and, despising the previous citation and each and every one of the above overtures, disdained to come. To the present day he has been contumacious. With a hardened spirit he has continued under censure over a year.
What is worse, adding evil to evil, and on learning of the citation, he broke forth in a rash appeal to a future council. This to be sure was contrary to the constitution of Pius II and Julius II our predecessors that all appealing in this way are to be punished with the penalties of heretics. In vain does he implore the help of a council, since he openly admits that he does not believe in a council.
Therefore we can, without any further citation or delay, proceed against him to his condemnation and damnation as one whose faith is notoriously suspect and in fact a true heretic with the full severity of each and all of the above penalties and censures.
Yet, with the advice of our brothers, imitating the mercy of almighty God who does not wish the death of a sinner but rather that he be converted and live, and forgetting all the injuries inflicted on us and the Apostolic See, we have decided to use all the compassion we are capable of. It is our hope, so far as in us lies, that he will experience a change of heart by taking the road of mildness we have proposed, return, and turn away from his errors. We will receive him kindly as the prodigal son returning to the embrace of the Church.Therefore let Martin himself and all those adhering to him, and those who shelter and support him, through the merciful heart of our God and the sprinkling of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ by which and through whom the redemption of the human race and the upbuilding of holy mother Church was accomplished, know that from our heart we exhort and beseech that he cease to disturb the peace, unity, and truth of the Church for which the Savior prayed so earnestly to the Father. Let him abstain from his pernicious errors that he may come back to us. If they really will obey, and certify to us by legal documents that they have obeyed, they will find in us the affection of a father's love, the opening of the font of the effects of paternal charity, and opening of the font of mercy and clemency.
We enjoin, however, on Martin that in the meantime he cease from all preaching or the office of preacher..."  [end Papal Bull June 15, 1520 by Pope Leo X]

Did you see that part about “under the penalty of an automatic excommunication” for those who accept ANYTHING Luther wrote, taught or said?

Martin Luther was a heretic, who founded a heresy that divided Christ’s Holy Catholic Church and caused unknown numbers of people to be LOST and fall into damnation.

Why would ANYONE, especially a Catholic want to “commemorate” a heretic and his heresy?

Does “commemorating” heresies bring about salvation when the heresy denies Jesus Christ’s Church and Jesus Christ’s Sacraments?  NO!

Catholic Catechism: 

1400    Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, “have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the sacrament of Holy Orders.”²³⁹ It is for this reason that, for the Catholic Church, Eucharistic intercommunion with these communities is not possible. However these ecclesial communities, “when they commemorate the Lord’s death and resurrection in the Holy Supper... profess that it signifies life in communion with Christ and await his coming in glory.”²⁴⁰ (1536)

 406      The Church’s teaching on the transmission of original sin was articulated more precisely in the fifth century, especially under the impulse of St. Augustine’s reflections against Pelagianism, and in the sixteenth century, in opposition to the Protestant Reformation. Pelagius held that man could, by the natural power of free will and without the necessary help of God’s grace, lead a morally good life; he thus reduced the influence of Adam’s fault to bad example. The first Protestant reformers, on the contrary, taught that original sin has radically perverted man and destroyed his freedom; they identified the sin inherited by each man with the tendency to evil (concupiscentia), which would be insurmountable. The Church pronounced on the meaning of the data of Revelation on original sin especially at the second Council of Orange (529)²⁹⁶ and at the Council of Trent (1546).²⁹⁷

What this “commemoration” will do, is what so many ecumenical gatherings have done for decades… water’s down the True Faith (so as to not offend anyone), causes confusion (among Catholics more than anyone because they think these gathers put a “stamp” of Catholic approval on another belief system) and is a stumbling block for many who MIGHT be looking to the Church for guidance only to be led away by “commemorating” heresies as if they were something good.  

Heresy is NOT good- HERESY IS EVIL.  We should NEVER commemorate or celebrate evil.

This “From Conflict to Communion” is nothing but a holiday for the devil himself.

This is why (in my opinion) we NEED, DESPERATLY NEED a Vatican III to put a STOP to these things once and for all!

Anyone agree or disagree with what was printed here?  Let me hear it.

In Christ,
Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

God bless and forgive us all...