NI does not need the Pope of Rome to set foot in our country

The main reason why we don’t need Pope Francis in the Province of Ulster is because of the claims of the papacy which are unscriptural and blasphemous. Pope Leo 13th in his encyclical, (the reunion of Christendom,) declared that the pope holds, “upon this earth the place of God Almighty.” Therefore the Roman Catholic Church holds that the pope, as the vicar of Christ on earth, is ruler of the world, supreme not only over the Roman Church but over all kings, presidents and civil rulers. Rome’s aim is domination of the world with the pope ruling supreme.

The New York Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on earth... By divine right the pope has supreme and full power in faith and morals over each and every pastor and his flock. He is the true Vicar of Christ, the head of the entire Church, the father and teacher of all Christians. He is the infallible ruler, the founder of dogmas....the universal ruler of truth...the supreme judge of heaven and earth, the judge of all, being judged by no one, God himself on earth.” The Holy Spirit is Christ’s Vicar or Christ’s representative on earth - and he alone.

Cardinal Manning when speaking for the pope said, “In Christ’s right I am a sovereign. I acknowledge no civil superior, I am the subject of no prince, and I claim more than this - I claim to be the supreme judge on earth, the director of the consciences of men...”

Pope Pius ix said of himself, “...Alone I am the successor of the apostles, the Vicar of Jesus Christ, I am the way the truth and the life.” Such a man with such claims can only bring Judgment to any nation that welcomes him. I say no pope here.

I am not surprised that the main so-called Protestant churches in Ireland have welcomed this proposed visit of the Roman Anti-Christ to our Provence. For years now the Church of Ireland, the Irish Presbyterian church and the Methodist church have been courting the Church of Rome, treating her as a Christian church. In the world council of churches and in the Irish and British council of churches these denominations have been seeking unity with the Church of Rome. It is sad that they have forgotten what their forefathers believed and more importantly what the Bible teaches.

I was very interested to read what John Wesley the founder of the Methodist Church said concerning the pope of Rome. John Wesley’s comments on the term “man of sin” in 2Thess.2v3 said, “...in many respects, the pope has an indisputable claim to those titles. He is, in an emphatical sense the man of sin as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled the son of perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes both of his opposers and followers, destroyed innumerable souls and will himself perish everlastingly.....”

I wonder do the Methodist still believe what Wesley taught and declared?

(Rev) John Gray, Free Presbyterian Church, Enniskillen