by Greg Durel

POLYTHEISTIC is a very harsh label to place on any professing Christian religion. One who is polytheistic is one who believes that there are many "gods." For example, "Jehovah’s witnesses" believe that Jesus is a mighty god and Jehovah is the almighty God. Any way you slice that it still comes out two gods. Virtually all cults are polytheistic. So one who is in a religion that is polytheistic is in a cult. Now, at this point the "good" catholic is screaming that I am catholic bashing or I am "anti-catholic," but that could not be further from the truth. If what I am saying is true, then every "good" catholic who loves the Lord should run for the hills with their Bible in their hands. If I am mistaken, it should be very easy to prove. THE EVIDENCE—God is God because of His attributes, He is everywhere (Omnipresent). He is all knowing (Omniscience). He is all powerful (Omnipotent). These are attributes that only "a god" can have. The Bible and history clearly reveal that there is only ONE with these attributes: hence there is only one God. When a person or a religion ascribes these attributes to someone or something other than the God of creation, they become POLYTHEISTIC. This is true of many people and religions, but none can come close to the leader of the pack: Roman Catholicism. Romanism has over seven thousand "gods" that are prayed to, venerated, etc.

You say that’s absurd! Prove it! Test case # one:

In the Catholic Church Mary is very clearly deified. The good Catholic prays to Mary ten times to one every time he says a Rosary. Who is preeminent: Mary or God the Father? He believes that Mary can hear his prayer and at the same time hear the prayer of another Catholic a thousand miles away. If that is true, then Mary is omnipresent! He believes that Mary can discern the intent/need behind the repetitious prayer he recites. If that is true, then Mary is omniscient! He further believes that Mary has power to answer prayer as well as perform supernatural miracles. If this is true, then Mary is omnipotent! Now then, Mary is OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENCE, and OMNIPRESENT just like the Creator. Mary then, according to Roman Catholic teaching, is A GOD! Lest you think I am just spouting off, let’s look at a few quotes from official Catholic sources.

"God has entrusted the keys and treasures of heaven to Mary." Thomas Aquinas

"Holy Scripture was written to Mary, about Mary, and on account of Mary." St. Bernard

"Who can worthily thank thee and adequately praise thee, oh Blessed Virgin, who by thy fiat has saved a lost world." St. Augustine

"The foundation of all our confidence is found in the Blessed Virgin Mary. God has committed to her the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation. For this is His will: That we obtain everything through Mary." Pope Pius IX

"Sinners receive pardon by the intercession of Mary alone." St. John Chrysostom

"No one ever finds Christ but with and through Mary. Whoever seeks Christ apart from Mary seeks Him in vain." St. Bonaventure

"All those who seek Mary’s protection will be saved for all eternity." Pope Benedict XV

"What will it cost you, oh Mary, to hear our prayer? What will it cost you to save us? Has not Jesus placed in your hands all the treasures of His grace and mercy? You sit crowned Queen at the right hand of your son: your dominion reaches as far as the heavens and to you are subject the earth and all creatures dwelling thereon. Your dominion reaches even down into the abyss of hell, and you alone, oh Mary, save us from the hands of Satan." Pope Pius Xl

"Mary, not one of thy devout servants has ever perished: may I, too, Be saved!" Pope Benedict XV

It seems clear to any rational person that Mary has indeed been elevated to a position of divinity by the Roman Catholic Church. Thc Church of Romanism has over seven thousand "saints". If we applied our attribute test to each one of them the results would be the same. They would be "gods" by Rome’s beliefs. Without a doubt Paganism is by and large polytheistic. So then Roman Catholicism is Pagan because it is polytheistic. Biblical Christianity on the other hand is monotheistic. The Bible says there is only one God and one Mediator between God and Man, the man Christ Jesus. Things that are different are not the same! Catholicism is not the same as Biblical Christianity; therefore, Catholicism is neither Biblical nor Christian. Catholicism is the same as Paganism, therefore, Catholicism is pagan. The Roman Catholic Church is polytheistic and therefore should be rejected. But for some it will be: "I was born polytheistic and I will die polytheistic!" What will you do?

-- David Ortiz (cyberpunk1986@hotmail.com), October 26, 2003

Answers

Careful study and the understanding of "intercession" and "mediator" will give you a better understanding of Mary's role in the Catholic doctrine. I wouldnt' take that writers word for it. I would do the research myself and come up with my own conlusions. Besides, the adoration is one thing, but it isn't the basis of Catholicism. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between us and God.

rod..

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-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), October 26, 2003.

So, Greg Durel is a man who can be followed as having the correct interpretation? But, the men of the Church cannot be followed because they are only men who make doctrine? Someone explain the difference between the one man interpretation and the many men interpretation. There seems to be a bias going on here, yes? The Catholic Church is criticized for depending on men, but the Protestants can use their men? Or, the Holy Spirit indwells only in the Protestant? This has to be ironed out much better.

rod..

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-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), October 26, 2003.

MARY IS THE MOTHER OF THE CHURCH!

NO, CATHOLICS DO NOT WORSHIP MARY !!!

"To understand why Catholics are so affectionate and attached to Mary, one must look at the most primal of all emotions. The bond between a mother and her child is the strongest and most penetrating. Nine months in the womb is just one part of it. To consider Mary as just a baby factory is an insult to her, to motherhood, and to all women.

Motherhood is biological and emotional and intellectual. The flesh, the heart, and the mind are the center of human feelings and thoughts. A mother is more and gives more than her DNA and nine months in her womb. She's intimately bonded and connected with her child. (Mary's child is Jesus and The Church.)

And Catholic devotion to Mary is nothing more than a logical extension of a child's personal affection for his own mother." ~ says Father Trigilio

CATHOLICS GREATLY HONOR MARY ~ MORE THAN SIMPLE HONOR ~ BUT DEFINITELY NOT WORSHIP!

CATHOLICS ONLY WORSHIP THE THREE PERSONS OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY WHO IS ONE GOD!

-- james (elgreco1541@hotmail.com), October 27, 2003.

"In the Catholic Church Mary is very clearly deified"

A: Hogwash! The deification of any person other than the One True God is absolutely opposed to Catholic teaching, and has been from the beginning. Catholics worship God alone, and Him alone do they serve. But they do give appropriate honor and recognition to people who have played a major role in God's plan of salvation. Bringing the Savior of mankind into the world is a pretty significant role. A lot more significant than anything George Washington did. Yet we honor him, and rightly so.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), November 07, 2003.