50 Years in the Church of Rome

[truthman]

Currently, I'm in Chapter 4 of "Fifty Years in the Church of Rome" by Father Chiniquy. It's the 1888 printing, and it's 830 pages long.

The author starts right at the beginning detailing the abuses of the Catholic church from his early childhood. From what I understand, he continues this way much throughout the book, until he finally joins the Priesthood and see more abuses firsthand. Finally, from what I've heard, his ultimate claim will be that the Catholic church was the true assassinator of President Lincoln.

While the abuses experienced at the hand of the church make sense to me, I'm not so sure about this theory regarding Lincoln's assassination. We'll see.

Have you read this book?

truthman

[elysian]

No, I've not read this book but it sounds oddly similar to the Jack Chick comic, The Godfathers in which the writer implicates the RCC in not just the Crusades and the Inquisition, but also the assassination of Lincoln (??? that's WAY out there) and insists that the RCC was behind both the Communists and the Nazis (which doesn't make much sense because Communism and Fascism are opposite sides of the political spectrum.)

I was raised in the RCC though for conscience sake I am not RC, because I cannot reconcile all their teachings and doctrines. However I don't believe the RCC is the prophetic Babylon or all of that jive. I do regard Catholics as fellow Christians.

[truthman]

Yes, you're correct. Chick did fashion one of his comics after this book with Chiniquy as the main character in the comic. The person who loaned me this book also loaned me that comic. I want to read the book first.

Secondly, on a side note. I don't regard Catholics as fellow Christians, nor do I Baptists, Presbyterians, or Lutherans or any other denomination. I only regard fellow Christians as those who repent of sin and profess Christ risen from dead as their only hope of salvation and their Lord.

I don't necessarily want this to turn into an anti-Catholic thread, especially since this is not a non-debate thread, I just want to discuss the book.

Thanks for your response!

truthman

[elysian]

Secondly, on a side note. I don't regard Catholics as fellow Christians, nor do I Baptists, Presbyterians, or Lutherans or any other denomination. I only regard fellow Christians as those who repent of sin and profess Christ risen from dead as their only hope of salvation and their Lord.

truthman

Good point, as it is very possible to take up pew space in a church every Sunday, but occupying a pew (or claiming a certain denominational preference) does not make one a Christian any more than sitting in the garage will make one into a car.

I should have been more clear: there are true Christians in the Roman Catholic church, and there are "pew-warmers" or those who cannot be called true believers because they don't know Who they believe in, which is true of all denominations and churches. Jesus said you will know a tree by its fruit but also that He will separate the wheat from the tares. Only He knows a person's heart. I'm simply saying that it is possible to believe Jesus, to repent and to find salvation in Christ, and be RC.

I know some Protestant groups consider RC's as most Christians would look at cult groups such as Mormons or JW's- as being "outside the circle of salvation." I simply don't agree with that view.

[truthman]

Wow, 6 years later and I haven't read any more in the book. Maybe I ought to finish it some day. Anybody else read it?

[lao tzu]

Nah, can't say I have, Adam. I don't know many christians who think Chick tracts are good for much more than gales of laughter, though. I guess it's interesting, in some sense, to see where his info comes from. What do you think of him?

At one time, I had a whole collection of trade-sized anti-catholic comics. They were a real hoot. But Chick tracts, dang, those are gold.

[truthman]

lao tzu, I'm no fan of Chick tracts either, but this thread is not about them. It's about the book entitled "50 Years in the Church of Rome" by Chiniquy. It's a massive book that I will someday get through.

[lao tzu]

Well then, it might be useful to mention that I've found it online.

Fifty Years in the Church of Rome

As ever, Jesse

[One Bad Pig]

I may have to browse through that. Someday.

I bet Lonny"Ruffeon" would get a kick out of it.

Good to see you around, truthman.

[Dracula Girl]

Currently, I'm in Chapter 4 of "Fifty Years in the Church of Rome" by Father Chiniquy. It's the 1888 printing, and it's 830 pages long.

The author starts right at the beginning detailing the abuses of the Catholic church from his early childhood. From what I understand, he continues this way much throughout the book, until he finally joins the Priesthood and see more abuses firsthand. Finally, from what I've heard, his ultimate claim will be that the Catholic church was the true assassinator of President Lincoln.

While the abuses experienced at the hand of the church make sense to me, I'm not so sure about this theory regarding Lincoln's assassination. We'll see.

Have you read this book?

truthman

Are these abuses like the sex scandals that came up recently?

[Petersean]

Chiniquy's book sounds like a great book to read if the purpose is to reinforce often-told anti-Catholic tropes.