The Pope and Tradition
The Pope has recently visited Canada, where his aim was to assuage public anger for the wrongs perpetrated at Roman Catholic schools upon the children of indigenous peoples. There has been a widespread outcry in Canada, not only at the extent of the abuse and suffering which was inflicted in these institutions, but also on the failure of the Roman Catholic Church to compensate victims adequately. Conditions at these schools were often appalling with widespread hunger, disease, and abuse at the hands of priests or laity taking their toll. At schools for Indian children, 1300 unmarked mass graves have been located and around 80% of these schools were run by the Roman Catholic Church.
During his Canadian trip, comment has been made about the Pope’s overall health, prompting speculation that he might be contemplating the option of retirement after the example of his predecessor Benedict XVI. Such a move would appeal to many Romanist traditionalists. Talking to journalists on his private jet, the Pope criticised his more conservative opponents as those “who call themselves traditionalists; they are not; they just go backward. That is a sin.” He added, “Tradition is the living faith of the dead; instead their attitude is the dead faith of the living”.
Roman Catholic “tradition” is an anti-Scriptural addition to the Word of God and, whatever sharp differences there are between the current Pope and his critics within the papal Church as to how to interpret and apply their traditions and dogmas, at the wider level both sides remain entirely committed to the falsehoods and superstitions of the great mystery of iniquity which is Popery. Individual popes come and go, but Rome remains ever the great enemy of Jesus Christ and His Church. The Lord’s people are to pray that the downfall of the whole evil system of Romanism would be hastened according to the sure Word of prophecy (2 Th 2:8). AWM