Protestant View

THE following letter was sent by the Rev. Donald MacLean, minister of St Jude’s congregation, Glasgow, to The Times, but was not published.

"Sir, – Magnus Linklater’s statement that no-one has a good word to say for the Act of Settlement is only one of the inaccuracies in his article. Every well-informed and intelligent Christian in the British Isles does approve of the Act of Settlement because it was drawn up by eminent statesmen who had a regard for future generations and had experience of the sufferings of our people as a result of a papist being on the throne. The Act itself has been successful in fulfilling their desire to preserve our country over the last 300 years, apart from the tragic case of Northern Ireland. Why should it be interfered with now?

"Those of us who fought in World War II are keenly aware of the fact that the Vatican supported Hitler and Franco. To those who understand these matters this is not surprising as the Roman Catholic Church is an ecclesiastical dictatorship with a dictator at its head, whom devotees call the Pope. It is because of this that the Roman Catholic Church is an enemy to democracy. At the present time, the people of this country should be wide awake to the fact that – again supported by the Vatican – a dictatorship is arising in Europe called the European Union, issuing edicts by unelected representatives affecting the sovereignty of this nation. It is absolutely necessary, therefore, for the protection of our realm that the Protestant nature of our throne should be maintained and that no attention be paid to interfering busybodies such as Lord Forsyth and Lord Fraser.

"Yours faithfully, etc."

We now note with relief that Lord Forsyth has failed in his attempt in the House of Lords to pave the way for a debate on his proposed Succession to the Throne (Amendment) Bill, the aim of which is to repeal the prohibition against Roman Catholics ascending the throne. The House voted 65 to 14 against his motion. Nevertheless he has stated, "This is something that needs to be changed and I am not going to give up." There is much need for continuing prayer for the preservation of our Protestant constitution.

The Church of Rome and the Alpha Course

The Alpha Course claims to be a course of instruction in basic Christian doctrine, but it has very serious deficiencies. This fact was shown in the article, The Alpha Course Examined, in our March 1999 issue. That it has been highly praised by Roman Catholic Bishops, as was mentioned in the same article, and that Rome regards it as a useful tool in the ecumenical process, should arouse our suspicions.

We now hear that Cardinal Keeler of Baltimore has said that his archdiocese has found the Alpha Course very useful for leading non-Roman Catholics to their churches. "Those who complete the Alpha course are ready and eager to take part in the small communities that are forming in parishes – ready and eager to learn more about our Church and her sacraments and to evangelise others."

In England, Roman Catholic Bishop Griffiths of Hexham and Newcastle stated, "We want to evangelise, but we don’t seem to have found the right method. I think that the Alpha course offers easily the best method so far invented."

These commendations by Roman clergy underline the fact that the Alpha Course is helping Rome to spread her pernicious influence and to lure people to embrace her soul destroying errors. If the Alpha Course was scripturally sound, Rome would have nothing to do with it. Churches which claim to be Reformed and Protestant are belying their profession when they make use of it.

Corruption in his Church, claims R. C. academic

A LEADING Roman Catholic academic has attacked the Roman Catholic Church in Britain, claiming, among other things that it is corrupt. Eamon Duffy, a fellow and tutor of Magdalene College, Cambridge, is the author of Saints and Sinners, a history of the popes. Asked if he was surprised, when researching his book, to find so much corruption associated with the papacy, he said: "I’ve been a Catholic all my life. No, you should have met some of the parish priests during my childhood. I don’t think Catholics are ever surprised to find the Church is corrupt."

Another evidence of that corruption was seen in Cork, in the Republic of Ireland, when James Kelly, a 74-year old priest and a member of the Brothers of Charity order, was jailed for 36 years for indecently assaulting young boys. The judge commented that the evil which Kelly perpetrated was bottomless.

Yet another case is that of Roman Catholic 47-year-old rebel priest and self-proclaimed Bishop, Pat Buckley, who has admitted that he is a sodomite.

In the face of much evidence of this kind, it is astonishing that some professed Protestants continue to give a place of respect to the Church of Rome.

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