Proposed Papal Visit
The religion and Morals Committee have protested to the Secretary of State for Scotland in the following terms: —
3 September 1980
The Rt. Hon. George Younger PC MP
Secretary of State for Scotland
Sir
PAPAL VISIT TO SCOTLAND
The Religion and Morals Committee of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland learned with shock and profound dismay of the proposed visit to Scotland of the Pope of Rome. We wish to express our strongest opposition to it and urge that such a courtesy be not extended to him.
Scotland, in our view, occupies a unique place among the nations of the world in that it was on its soil that the battle for Christ’s Headship over the Church was fought and won. The 1707 Act of Security clearly recognises this fact. We are not unmindful of the noble army of martyrs whose blood was shed in this cause, nor of the National Covenant which a great multitude subscribed under the eye of Heaven and in which, among other things, they declared: “But, in special, we detest and refuse the usurped authority of that Roman Antichrist upon the Scriptures of God, upon the Kirk, the civil magistrates, and consciences of men: his erroneous doctrine against the sufficiency of the written Word, . . . his five bastard Sacraments, with all his rites, ceremonies, and false doctrine, added to the ministration of the true Sacraments without the Word of God; . . . his blasphemous opinion of transubstantiation, or real presence of Christ’s Body in the elements, and receiving of the same by the wicked, or bodies of men; . . . his devilish Mass, his blasphemous priesthood, his profane sacrifice for the sins of the dead and the quick; his canonisation of men; calling upon angels or saints departed, worshipping of imagery, relics, and crosses; . . . his purgatory, prayers for the dead; praying or speaking in a strange language, with his processions, and blasphemous litany, and multitude of advocates or mediators; his manifold orders, auricular confession, . . .”
In view of the foregoing, which is founded upon the Word of God, and the fact that the Church of Rome still claims the motto “Semper Eadem” as its own, we solemnly, emphatically protest against any official recognition being given to the Roman Pontiff who is, in our view, as he was in the view of our faithful and patriotic Presbyterian forebears, not the Vicar of Christ on earth but a usurper of His prerogatives — “that Antichrist, that man of sin, that son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God.”
We, respectfully, appeal to you, Sir, to give your earnest consideration to this matter in regard to which we, and very many others throughout Scotland, have very strong feelings, and do all within your power to prevent the Papal visit taking place.
On behalf of the Committee
I remain
Yours faithfully
(Rev) John Macleod, Clerk.