What the Word of God teaches:

Judges士師記

2:10 那世代的人也都歸了自己的列祖. 後來有別的世代興起, 不知道耶和華, 也不知道耶和華為以色列人所行的事.

And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

2:11 以色列人行耶和華眼中看為惡的事, 去事奉諸巴力,

The Scriptures tells us that this happened in history. Records in the book of Judges demonstrated that people did evil and angered God just one generation from the judges who brought Israel to worship God and forsake other gods and idols.

Eg: Judges士師記 5v31-6v1:

5:31 耶和華阿, 願你的仇敵都這樣滅亡. 願愛你的人如日頭出現, 光輝烈烈.

So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

6:1 以色列人又行耶和華眼中看為惡的事, 耶和華就把他們交在米甸人手裡七年.

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

Human physical succession does not equate spiritual succession. The first thing we need even to compare the two is when there is Divine Decree, especially in the Word of God. Yet, it is easy to see there is no Apostolic Succession, no bishop of Rome, no Papa bishop to rule the world, no vicar of Christ, no exclusive priesthood within the church(for all the saints/believers are a Royal Priesthood � wrote Peter/Cephas/Petros/pebble, not Petra/Rock).

Posted by Fr. Richard Cowles on July 19, 2003, 4:47 pm, in reply to "About the Sabbath"

If you go to www.earlychristianwritings.com you will see that the early leaders of the Church held their service on Sunday. Gee, to think that men like Ignatius of Antioch (A.D. 100) and other men who either taught by the Apostles, or only one generation of Christians removed from them had it all wrong! Not to mention those fools like Augustine of Hippo, Francis of Assisi, and Thomas Aquinas.

Thank goodness that after all these years (nearly 2,000 of them) you finally came along and clued us all into the truth.

Roman Catholics, Catholics such as Old Catholics & Eastern Catholics, Anglicans, Orthodox like to boast of their lineage, and often claim that teachings and practices are from one generation away from the apostles; hinting that they are directly descended from the apostles/pillars of truth, hinting that they have always been that way, hinting that they have unweavered Divine heritage and approval.

This is not so by the teachings and records of Scriptures.

Is Mary mother of God?

Is Mary most blessed?

These people who like forbidden heritage and inheritance also worship idols, such as their Virgin Mary � Madonna; praying and claiming that she is Most High as mother of God and in the "Hail Mary" prayer they declare that she is blessed amongst women.

Scriptures praise another woman more:

Judges士師記 5v24:

5:24 願基尼人希百的妻雅億比眾婦人多得福氣, 比住帳棚的婦人更蒙福祉.

Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

You imagine that human beings do not live in earthly tents?

You imagine Mary was more blessed because she lived in houses?

You imagine that Mary having physical contact with God - created/made God, and is the Mother of God?

Would that not make King David the Ancestor of God? Would that not make Abraham greater than the Son of Man? What non-sense! What wickedness demanding acceptance!

These people also created/imagined apostolic succession, though they themselves are no apostles.

Catholics erect statues of their saints and teach their followers to worship with them, kneeling before them, praying to them. Some Mary statues are heavily ornated/adorned with real jewels.

Yet you demand understanding, acceptance, reverence, and homage?

Repent from your wicked ways and be forgiven.

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The last pope to resign willingly was Celestine V, who stepped down in 1294.

A pope can resign by himself. Not a Divine appointment for whole life-time.

In 1415 when there was more than one pope reigning at the same time.

Misconception that there has always been one pope at a time respected by all.

If a pope is temporarily incapacitated, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican secretary of state and No. 2 in the church hierarchy(2003), could take over day-to-day business. But he would not have the power to approve major documents or to appoint bishops.

A pope is not always in full power and control all Roman Catholic issues. He could be a figure head. Biblical leaders are not figure heads.

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Apr. 20, 2005. 08:18 AM �T.S.

VATICAN CITY � Pope Benedict XVI pledged today to work to unify all Christians, reach out to other religions and continue implementing the Second Vatican Council as he outlined his goals and made clear his pontificate would follow closely the trajectory of his predecessor, Pope John Paul.

'After the great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me -- a simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord," said Pope Benedict XVI from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica.

Apr. 20, 2005. 07:54 AM � T.S.

Catholics who have run afoul of the pope formerly known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger have at least two things in common. They won't soon forget the experience � and they seldom choose to relive it. Oakland Ross profiles the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.

Pope Benedict XVI pledged Wednesday to work to unify all Christians and reach out to other religions as he outlined his goals and made clear his pontificate would follow closely the trajectory of his predecessor, Pope John Paul.

Pope Benedict XVI :

I address everybody, even those who follow other religions or who simply look for an answer to life's fundamental questions and still haven't found it. To all, I turn with simplicity and affection, to ensure that the Church wants to continue weaving an open and sincere dialogue with them, in the quest for the real good for man and society.

. . .

I declare the willingness of all Catholics to co-operate to achieve authentic social development which respects the dignity of every human being. � BBC News

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CDN) on every member of the church and informed them that they must renounce

that this intervention will happen and that these believers will be free to

worship in peace. Pray for the continued outreach of this church in

Cuateceometl, the only non-Catholic congregation in the region.

When Alberto Iturbe died at the age of thirty-eight, his family began plans

for his burial which, by law, had to take place within twenty-four hours.

However the family encountered one barrier after another as every authority

refused them the right to bury their loved one because he was not a member

of the traditional Catholic Church.

According to a June 15 report from Compass Direct, the Iturbe family lives

in a mostly indigenous colony in the city of Puebla, the capital of Puebla

state. Burials have been under the control of the secular Mexican

government since 1859, but recent changes have given indigenous communities

the right to invoke "use and custom" over regular civil laws. The Iturbe

family appealed to the municipal president, the local Catholic priest and

finally to the local district attorney. Everyone turned down their request

for burial. They were finally forced to use cremation.

Although Mexico has freedom of conscience and religion, local authorities

have frequently imposed upon the freedoms of evangelicals. As a result of

this situation, evangelical leaders in the state are pressing for a change