The Doctrine of the Means of Grace

Tradition in the Church of Rome has also tenaciously clung to other beliefs and practices. These beliefs, you will note, are also rooted in reason but were gradually evolved over a course of time. Some of these false beliefs are such as the Assumption:

Some problems abound in the above segment. One is, how does one explain about Elijah and Enoch, who were physically taken into heaven (cf. Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:1-18)? It would seem that Rome misplaced the Old Testament. Another is the fact that this wasn't made a formal teaching of the church until 48 years ago! Obviously a traditional belief dictates what becomes official dogma.

Other non-Scriptural beliefs in Rome are the Immaculate Conception (that Mary was born without sin), Semper Virginis (Mary never had sexual union or bore other children, even though this would seem to fly against the Jewish tradition of proudly bearing children), and the worship of saints: Do we pray to religious statues and pictures? We do not pray to the religious statues and pictures themselves. Instead, we pray to the person in heaven whom the statue or picture represents.6

And, as with the 1950 dogma, we see that the Office of the Papacy has superceded the Scriptures: Why is the Pope so important to the Church? The Pope is so important to the Church because he is the chief teacher and leader. He is Christ's Vicar. In other words, he holds the place of Jesus in the Church. The Catholic Church will always have a Pope because this is what Jesus wanted. Why is it important to follow the Pope? It is important to follow the Pope because the Holy Spirit guides him in teaching us what to believe and do in order to be saved.7

The Vatican Council of 1870 defined: (1) that St. Peter was appointed by Christ visible Head of the Church. (2) that he received from Christ a Primacy, not only of honor, but of jurisdiction, i.e. that he received from Christ supreme authority to teach and govern the whole Church.