Pope Benedict's recent statement that has caused such dismay among the world's Protestant and Orthodox churches has been effectively proven a falsehood by a recently released book on the subject of Christianity.Formerly known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before being elected to the office of pope, Benedict XVI asserted that the Roman Catholic church was ''the one true Church of Christ.''
The document containing the statement was written by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, headed by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before his election as Pope. It states that Christ established only one Church here on Earth. It argues that other Christian denominations cannot be called Churches in the proper sense because they cannot trace their bishops back to Christ's original apostles.
In his new book ''Christ, Christianity & The Catholic Religion'' author Joseph C. Whyte provides overwhelmingly convincing historical and Biblical evidence that undermines the pope's claims.
Not only are Pope Benedict's claims proven to be false, the author presents Biblical evidence that contradicts Pope Benedict's claim that the Roman Catholic Church can trace its bishops to the original apostles of Jesus.
The author outlines the birth of the Catholic Religion which, contrary to the pope's claims, did not begin with the Apostles of Jesus, but with Emperor Constantine of Rome in the fourth century.
The book further traces the rise of the new Roman Catholic institution under its benefactor, Emperor Constantine and its deviation from the Holy Scriptures, its descent into Roman pagan religious practices, the incorporating of pagan religious festivals into its worship, and the suppression of the true Church of Jesus Christ.
"Benedict's statement is reminiscent of statements made by previous popes that have been described as ex-cathedra (literally meaning from the chair) and claimed to be divine revelations."
Pope Innocent III issued a similar statement in 1215, ''There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside of which no one at all can be saved'' (Fourth Lateran Council, 1215) and Pope Boniface made a like pronouncement in 1302, ''We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff'' (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.)
Pastor Joseph Whyte illustrates in his book that all such statements are proven falsehoods that are characteristic of the Roman Pontiffs throughout the centuries and should not be regarded with any level of seriousness.
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