Testimonies from ex-Roman Catholic Priests

CARM ^ | 1997 | Richard Bennet

[Gamecock]

The following quotes are taken from the book by Richard Bennet, Far from Rome, Near to God: Testimonies of 50 Converted Roman Catholic Priests, Carlisle, PN: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1997.  They are quite interesting and valuable since they give an insight to Catholicism from those who were priests in the Catholic Church and then left it to find salvation in Jesus.

Following are excerpts from only a few of the fifty testimonies in the book:

1. Henry Gregory Adams.  Born in Saskatchewan, Canada. He entered the Basilian Order of monks and adopted the monastic name of "Saint Hilarion the Great."  He was ordained as a priest and served five parishes in the Lemont, Alberta area. 
   1. Sacraments.  "The monastic life and the sacraments prescribed by the Roman Catholic Church did not help me to come to know Christ personally and find salvation...I realized that the man-made sacraments of my church and my good works were in vain for salvation.  They lead to a false security." (p. 3)
2. Joseph Tremblay.  Born in Quebec, Canada, 1924.  He was ordained a priest in Rome, Italy and was sent to Bolivia, Chile where he served for 13 years "as a missionary in the congregation of the Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate."
   1. Salvation by works.  "My theology has taught me that salvation is by works and sacrifices....my theology gives me no assurance of salvation; the Bible offers me that assurance....I had been trying to save myself on my works...I was stifled in a setting in which I was pushed to do good works to merit my salvation." (pp. 9, 11-12)
3. Bartholomew F. Brewer.  He applied to the Discalced Carmelites, a strict monastic order.  He received training of "four years of high school seminary, two years in the novitiate, three years of philosophy, and four years of theology (the last after ordination)."  He was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary in Washington, D.C.  He eventually served as a diocesan priest in San Diego, California and entered the Navy as a Roman Catholic chaplain. 
   1. Upon questioning Rome's Beliefs, "At first I did not understand, but gradually I observed a wonderful change in mother.  Her influence helped me realize the importance of the Bible in determining what we believe.  We often discussed subjects such as the primacy of Peter, papal infallibility, the priesthood, infant baptism, confession, the mass, purgatory, the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and the bodily assumption of Mary into heaven.  In time I realized that not only are these beliefs not in the Bible, they are actually contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture." (pp. 21-22)
   2. Relying on works.  He left the Roman Catholic Church, got married and through conversations with his wife and other Christians, "I finally understood that I had been relying on my own righteousness and religious efforts and not upon the completed and sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  The Roman Catholic religion had never taught me that our own righteousness is fleshly and not acceptable to God, nor that we need to trust in his righteousness alone...during all those years of monastic life I had relied on the sacraments of Rome to give me grace, to save me." (p. 25)
4. Hugh Farrell.  Born in Denver, Colorado.  Entered the Order of our Lady of Mount Carmel, commonly called the Discalced Carmelite Fathers.  Ordained as a priest.
   1. Priestly power to change elements:  "The priest, according to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, has the power to take ordinary bread and wine, and, by pronouncing the words of the consecration prayer in the sacrifice of the Mass, to change it into the actual body and blood and soul and divinity of Jesus Christ.  Hence, since one cannot separate the human nature of Christ from his divinity, the bread and wine, after being changed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ, are entitled to the worship of adoration." (pp. 28)
   2. Temporal punishment due to sins. "I knew from the teachings of the priests and nuns that I could not hope to go directly to heaven after my death.  My Roman Catholic catechism taught me that after death I had to pay for the temporal punishment due to my sins.  The Roman Catholic Church teaches that 'the souls of the just which, in a moment of death, are burdened with venial sins or temporal punishment due to sin, enter purgatory.'" (p. 29)
   3. Penance.  Regarding life in the monastery and doing penance.  "These penances consist of standing with the arms outstretched to form a cross, kissing the sandaled feet of the monks, receiving a blow upon the face from the monks, and, at the end of the meal, lying prostrate before the entrance to the refectory so that the departing monks must step over one's body.  These, and other penances, are supposed to gain one merit in heaven and increase one's 'spiritual bank account.'" (p. 36)
   4. The Mass and sorcery.  "According to the teaching of the Roman Church the priest, no matter how unworthy he may personally be, even if he has just made a pact with the devil for his soul, has the power to change the elements of bread and wine into the actual body and blood, soul and divinity, of Jesus Christ.  Provided he pronounces the words of consecration properly and has the intention of consecrating, God must come down on the altar and enter and take over the elements." (p. 39)
5. Alexander Carson.  Baptized into the Roman Catholic Church as an infant.  His priesthood studies were at St. John's seminary, Brighton, Massachusetts.  He was ordained by Bishop Lawrence Shehan of Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1955 and was a priest in Alexandria, Louisiana.  Also, he was pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Rayville, Louisiana.
   1. Bible or Tradition.  "...the Holy Spirit led me to judge Roman Catholic theology by the standard of the Bible.  Previously, I had always judged the Bible by Roman Catholic doctrine and theology." (p. 53)
   2. Mass contrary to scripture.  "In my letter of resignation from the Roman Catholic Church and Ministry, I stated to the bishop that I was leaving the priesthood because I could no longer offer the Mass, as it was contrary to the Word of God and to my conscience." (pp. 54-55)
6. Charles Berry.   He entered the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine and became a priest after 17 years.  He was given orders to continue studying until he achieved a Ph.D. in chemistry and was then "transferred to the headquarters of the Augustinian order in the United States."
   1. Superstition.  "In the United States the Roman Catholic Church is on its best behavior, putting its best foot forward because of its critics and opponents.  In a Roman Catholic country, where it has few opponents or critics, it is a very different matter.  Ignorance and superstition and idolatry are everywhere, and little effort, if any, is made to change the situation.  Instead of following the Christianity taught in the Bible the people concentrate on the worship of statues and their local patron saints." (p. 59)
   2. Idols and Statues.  "When I met in Cuba a genuine pagan who worshiped idols (a religion transplanted from Africa by his ancestors), I asked how he could believe that a plaster idol could help him.  He replied that the idol was not expected to help him; it only represented the power in heaven which could.  What horrified me about his reply was that it was almost word for word the explanation Roman Catholics give for rendering honor to the statues of the saints." (p. 59)
7. Bob Bush.  He went to a Jesuit Seminary and studied for 13 years before being ordained in 1966.  He entered a post graduate program in Rome.
   1. Works:  "When I entered the order, the first thing that happened was that I was told I had to keep all the rules and regulations, that to do so would be pleasing to God, and that this was what he wanted for me.  We were taught the motto, 'Keep the rule and the rule will keep you.'" (p. 66).
   2. Salvation is by faith:  "It took me many years to realize that I was compromising by staying in the Roman Catholic Church.  Throughout all those years I continued to stress that salvation is only in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and not in the infant baptism; that there is only one source of authority which is the Bible, the word of God; and that there is no purgatory but rather that when we die to either go to heaven or hell."  (p. 69)
   3. Salvation by works:  "The Roman Catholic Church then goes on to say that in order to be saved you must keep its laws, rules and regulations.  And in these laws are violated (for example, laws concerning birth control or fasting or attendance at Mass every Sunday), then you have committed a sin....'individual and integral confession and absolution constitute the only ordinary way by which the faithful person who was aware of serious sin can be reconciled with God, and with the church' (Canon 9609)." (p. 75)
   4. Works: "The Roman Catholic Church adds works, and that you have to do these specific things [keeping its laws, rule and regulations] ]in order to be saved, whereas the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9 that it is by grace that we are saved, not by works." (pp. 75-76)

As you can see, even Roman Catholic Priests can discover the truth found in God's word and escape the error of the Roman Catholic system of works righteousness.  To God be the glory.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast," (Eph. 2:8-9).

[Luircin]

Ooh! Ooh! 19: Insulting comments instead of rebuttals! *Takes a shot!*

[Salvation]

You will always be a Catholic because the mark of your Baptism will always be on your soul.

Coming Home Network

[af_vet_1981]

By “apostolic succession” I mean that the twelve Jewish apostles, as well as the Jewish disciples who had the qualifications to be an apostle (Acts 1:21-22) appointed bishops, elders, etc. throughout the known Roman world, and perhaps beyond, discipling them in sound doctrine and order in the churches so that these disciples could pass on to generation after generation of new disciples in new churches. The apostles, appointed and eligible, had doctrinal unity and fellowship. They had the keys after Jesus ascended and they did the duty.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Whoa!

Out of the whole slew of words used to try to prop up something unbiblical, only one passage of Scripture was even referenced... and it teaches discipleship, not Apostolic Succession...

As you would post, “Yawn”.

[Salvation]

**Over 1000 ordained Protestant pastors have become Catholic in the last decade.**

Pretty good odds to me.

[Salvation]

Well, hate to break your bubble, but the Catholics on FR read the Bible and teach Bible study classes!

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Hundreds of millions? Are you off your meds again.”

EASILY. Tens of millions in Brazil alone, as I referenced.

When someone leaves, if they come to know Christ, I rejoice with the angels.

Protestantism isn’t the largest threat to the Roman Church. Hundreds of millions are leaving Roman faith completely. Look at Belgium, where 90% of the Romans never darken a door to a church...

[af_vet_1981]

not thousands

Your comment seems as odds with Acts 2:14-47.

[Dutchboy88]

"Now you’re making sense!"

Sorry for the lag time...I'll try harder next time.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

More than 1,000 Mexicans left the Catholic Church every day over the last decade,

...adding up to some 4 million fallen-away Catholics between 2000 and 2010, sociologist and historian Roberto Blancarte told Efe. 1,000*365*10=3.65 million former Mexican Catholics - the second most Catholic Country in the world. Multiply this world wide and you have a leak in the bottom of your bucket...

[imardmd1]

Here are your questions:

Post 48: Hokay, so what church is the true church founded by Jesus and as discipled by the Jewish apostles ? Where would one find it today ?

Post 50: For which church did you leave the Catholic church ?

Post 53: Is your church the true apostolic church ? If you say yes, please identify it by denomination or sub denomination.

Post 62: If someone opens the Bible whenever they want, should they join a church, and if you say one should, which denomination or subdenomination ?

If they are answered Scripturally according to the determinate will of The God, are you willing to understand and believe, or are you only posing a question to unload your preconceptions to create a debate?

[Luircin]

I know the bit about Apostles. I don’t get this succession business. Do you have Scripture for that, or is it only in the traditions? Because to my mind, there’s a big difference between passing along the pure teachings that came from Jesus, and declaring someone to be divinely appointed as a leader of a congregation.

And even if I were to concede that point, this means that the Roman church is the only true church... why? All you’ve said is that they claim to have succession, not that they actually DO have it. Why should I believe them?

[Luircin]

GOOD! And that’s without the /sarc tag. I’m just telling the story of what I experienced. It’s good to hear that it’s not worldwide.

But, I must take a shot anyways because of the assumption that I was happy that these Catholics don’t read the Bible.

*Chug*

[af_vet_1981]

That apostolic discipleship would be passed down from the genuine apostles, or those with the same qualifications listed in Acts 1:21-22, in doctrinal unity to disciples who maintained that unity to each successive generation in an unbroken chain of truth. Anything else is something else. If not the Catholics, and not the Eastern Orthodox, then who ?

[Salvation]

APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION

The method by which the episcopacy has been derived from the Apostles to the present day. Succession means successive consecration by the laying on of hands, performing the functions of the Apostles, receiving their commission in a lineal sequence from the Apostles, succession in episcopal sees traced back to the Apostles, and successive communion with the apostolic See, i.e., the Bishop of Rome. The Eastern Orthodox and others share in the apostolic succession in having valid episcopal orders, although they are not in collegial union with the Roman Catholic hierarchy.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon’s Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

[Salvation]

Because Christ said so.

[Luircin]

43: Declaring that Catholic/Protestant doctrines are binding on everyone else without offering an argument in favor of it and just assuming that it’s true. *Takes a shot*

[Steelfish]

Foolish response. We are NOT talking about individual sin, we are speaking here of ONE truth and ONE Church that Christ commissioned Peter and His apostles to teach, not the myriad nonsense from Billy Grahams to Schullers to Osteens to David Koreshs who crack open a Bible and tell their low-IQ congregants what they perceive to be the one truth. Then they celebrate “Christmas” and “Good Friday” as determined by the Catholic Gregorian Calendar. Deep intellectual and theological thinking from Augustine to Aquinas to Benedict simply fly over their heads.

[Steelfish]

Scott Hahn is neither priest nor theologian.

[Luircin]

I said this before and I’ll say it again:

Two words: Citation Needed.

*Takes a shot*