Protestant View

THE Roman Church in Ireland is expressing its concern about the shortage of entrants to its priesthood. The News Letter (Belfast) reports that since 1970 the number of priests has dropped from 8,000 to almost half of that figure, and that the entrance rate to their seminaries is down to single figures at best, with some institutions reporting no new recruits at all.

This is good news indeed, for not only are young priests themselves under a grave and soul destroying delusion about the way of salvation but they diligently promote and propagate the blasphemous errors of Rome. They are Rome's well-trained advance troops in its march onwards.

Why is there a decline? The large number of cases of sex-abuse by priests coming to light has not only loosened the loyalty of many families in Ireland to the Church, with a consequent drop in attendance at masses nationwide, but also has caused families to cease what was once common: encouraging a son or daughter to offer themselves for service in the church when they reach near adulthood. In any case, young people themselves are having their eyes opened to the evils arising from the enforced celibacy of priests and nuns.

It is our duty to continue praying for the destruction of the Papal system and all its pollution, and for the opening of the eyes of its deceived devotees, including priests. It is to be noted that many Romish priests, once opposed to the Protestant movement, were brought into light and liberty at the Reformation, just as many of the Jewish priests, once the bitter enemies of Christ, were brought to be "obedient to the faith" after Pentecost (Acts 6:7).

A WOMAN in Northamptonshire, Adrianna Alsworth, has revealed to the press the fact of her five-year adulterous relationship with a Roman priest, "Father Dermott" to name. Although it has resulted in the birth of two daughters and much distress for herself, she has no shame or regrets about the relationship. She is in regular contact with many other women who have children fatrhered by priests, for the organising of mutual support among themselves.

In speaking about the situation of such women, she referred to the uncovering of several cases in Ireland recently of priests conducting relationships with their housekeepers. "What we will never know," she said, "is the number of babies who are aborted as a result of these secret unions."

These are yet other examples of the evil consequences of Rome's "forbidding to marry". It seems that the voices being raised against this unnatural imposition are becoming more numerous. One of the latest is that of the retiring Roman bishop of Innsbruck, who accused the Pope of "violating God's law" by requiring celibacy for the priesthood and by "refusing to forgive" those priests who have married.

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