The Pope to Visit Scotland Again
Next June sees the 1400th anniversary of the death of Columba of Iona. Doubtless with their eyes on the favourable publicity which would be generated, the Roman Catholic hierarchy in Scotland are negotiating with the Vatican for a visit by the Pope to Iona to mark the occasion.
It is typical of Rome to attempt to associate with herself someone who has become a prominent figure in ecclesiastical history, although throughout his long life Columba never accepted the authority of the Bishop of Rome. Indeed Rome’s influence in Britain only began with the mission of Augustine of Canterbury in 597, the year of Columba’s death.
There has been no Roman Catholic presence on Iona since the Reformation,
but at the present time a Roman Catholic prayer house is being built only 400 yards from the world-famous abbey. It is reported that the mother of the Princess of Wales, Mrs Shand Kydd, who perverted to Rome two years ago, helped to raise the initial target of £100,000 for this project.
There are two things which may make the visit unlikely. One is the Pope’s health, which has led to him cancelling some of his engagements in December. The other is logistical – the problems associated with bringing the Pope, his entourage and all the accompanying visitors to an island which can only be served by a small ferry.
The prospect of another visit to Scotland by the Pope is most unwelcome to true Protestants – those who, in line with the Westminster Confession of Faith, recognize him as “that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God”. He has, however, cultivated an aura of holiness and humanity that has made him the object of uncritical adulation by unthinking multitudes although, in contrast with the spirit of the age, he is more reactionary than a number of his immediate predecessors.
May the Lord in His providence prevent the visit. May He also hasten the time when the cry will be heard, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen!” K.D.M.
The Pope lays down the law to Carey
IT is to be feared that we are becoming inured to the occurrence of meetings between the Primate of the Church of England and the Pope of Rome. In the past, the “courtesy” visit of Dr Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1960, and the historic, official visit of his successor, Dr Ramsey, in 1966, when Anglican-Catholic dialogue began, gave rise to many protests. The recent visit of Archbishop Carey should arouse us for several reasons.
First, there are the renewed and determined commitment of the Vatican and the Church of England to eventual union, despite what the Pope called, “new areas of disagreement” which “loom large on the way to reconciliation”.
Secondly, the Pope has made it abundantly clear that union must be on Rome’s terms. After he rebuked Carey for the Church of England’s ordaining of women priests, he bluntly told the Archbishop that only he, “as the successor to St. Peter” had the authority to lay down doctrine.
Let us beware. The arrogance of the Pope is but the continuing of the centuries-old, proud arrogance and pretensions of the papacy. It should convince us, if we need convincing, that if Rome regains the dominion which she lost at the Reformation, she will not hesitate to impose her tyrannical authority upon those who reject her heretical dogmas and who persist in teaching and preaching the doctrines of the Reformed faith. □