LIST OF CATHOLIC HERESIES And HUMAN TRADITIONS
ADOPTED and PERPETUATED by the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE COURSE OF 1600 YEARS
(Compiled by Rev. Stephen L. Testa)
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." —Jesus in John 8:32
Notice:--These dates are in many cases approximate. Many of these heresies had been current in the Church years before, but only when they were officially adopted by a Church council and proclaimed by the pope as dogma of faith, did they become binding on Catholics.
And doctrine to be true must conform to the Word of God. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20)
At the Reformation in the 16th Century these heresies were repudiated as having no part in the Religion of Jesus as taught in the New Testament.
Heresy Date
OF ALL THE HUMAN TRADITIONS taught and practiced by the Roman Catholic
Church, which are contrary to the Bible, the most ancient are the prayers for
the dead and the sign of the Cross. Both began 300 years after Christ. 310
Wax Candles introduced in church. about 320
Veneration of angels and dead saints. 375
The Mass, as a daily celebration, adopted. 394
The worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the use of the term, "Mother of
God", as applied to her, originated in the Council of Ephesus 431
Priests began to dress differently from the laity 500
Extreme Unction 526
The doctrine of Purgatory was first established by Gregory the Great 593
The Latin language, as the language of prayer and worship in churches, was also imposed by Pope Gregory I. 600 years after Christ The Word of God forbids praying and teaching in an unknown tongue. (1st Corinthians 14:9). 600
The Bible teaches that we pray to God alone. In the primitive church never
were prayers directed to Mary, or to dead saints. This practice began in the
Roman Church
(Matthew 11:28; Luke 1:46; Acts 10:25-26; 14:14-18) 600
The Papacy is of pagan origin. The title of pope or universal bishop, was first
given to the bishop of Rome by the wicked emperor Phocas
This he did to spite Bishop Ciriacus of Constantinople, who had justly
excommunicated him for his having caused the assassination of his predecessor
emperor Mauritius. Gregory 1, then bishop of Rome, refused the title, but his
successor, Boniface III, first assumed title "pope."
Jesus did not appoint Peter to the headship of the apostles and forbade any
such notion. (Luke 22:24-26; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 1st Corinthians
3:11).
Note: Nor is there any mention in Scripture, nor in history, that Peter ever was
in Rome, much less that he was pope there for 25 years; Clement, 3rd bishop of
Rome, remarks that "there is no real 1st century evidence that Peter ever was
in Rome." 610
The kissing of the Pope's feet
It had been a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors. The Word of God
forbids such practices. (Read Acts 10:25-26; Revelation 19:10; 22:9). 709
The Temporal power of the Popes
When Pepin, the usurper of the throne of France, descended into Italy, called
by Pope Stephen II, to war against the Italian Lombards, he defeated them and
gave the city of Rome and surrounding territory to the pope. Jesus expressly
forbade such a thing, and He himself refused worldly kingship. (Read Matthew
4:8-9; 20:25-26; John 18:38). 750
Worship of the cross, images and relics was authorized
This was by order of Dowager Empress Irene of Constantinople, who first caused
to pluck the eyes of her own son, Constantine VI, and then called a church
council at the request of Hadrian I, pope of Rome at that time. 788
Such practice is called simply IDOLATRY in the Bible, and is severely condemned. (Read Exodus 20:4; 3:17; Deuteronomy 27:15; Psalm 115).
Holy Water, mixed with a pinch of salt and blessed by the priest, was
authorized 850
The veneration of St. Joseph began 890
The baptism of bells was instituted by Pope John XIV 965
Canonization of dead saints, first by Pope John XV
Every believer and follower of Christ is called saint in the Bible. (Read Romans
1:7; 1st Colossians 1:2). 995
Fasting on Fridays and during Lent were imposed
Imposed by popes said to be interested in the commerce of fish. (Bull, or
permit to eat meat), some authorities say, began in the year 700. This is
against the plain teaching of the Bible. (Read Matthew 15:10; 1st Corinthians
10:25; 1st Timothy 4:1-3). 998
The Mass was developed gradually as a sacrifice; attendance made obligatory in
the 11th century.
The Bible teaches that the sacrifice of Christ was offered once and for all, and
is not to be repeated, but only commemorated in the Lord's Supper. (Read
Hebrews 7:27; 9:26-28; 10:10-14).
ADOPTED and PERPETUATED by the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE COURSE OF 1600 YEARS
(Compiled by Rev. Stephen L. Testa)
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." —Jesus in John 8:32
Notice:--These dates are in many cases approximate. Many of these heresies had been current in the Church years before, but only when they were officially adopted by a Church council and proclaimed by the pope as dogma of faith, did they become binding on Catholics.
And doctrine to be true must conform to the Word of God. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20)
At the Reformation in the 16th Century these heresies were repudiated as having no part in the Religion of Jesus as taught in the New Testament.
Heresy Date
OF ALL THE HUMAN TRADITIONS taught and practiced by the Roman Catholic
Church, which are contrary to the Bible, the most ancient are the prayers for
the dead and the sign of the Cross. Both began 300 years after Christ. 310
Wax Candles introduced in church. about 320
Veneration of angels and dead saints. 375
The Mass, as a daily celebration, adopted. 394
The worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the use of the term, "Mother of
God", as applied to her, originated in the Council of Ephesus 431
Priests began to dress differently from the laity 500
Extreme Unction 526
The doctrine of Purgatory was first established by Gregory the Great 593
The Latin language, as the language of prayer and worship in churches, was also imposed by Pope Gregory I. 600 years after Christ The Word of God forbids praying and teaching in an unknown tongue. (1st Corinthians 14:9). 600
The Bible teaches that we pray to God alone. In the primitive church never
were prayers directed to Mary, or to dead saints. This practice began in the
Roman Church
(Matthew 11:28; Luke 1:46; Acts 10:25-26; 14:14-18) 600
The Papacy is of pagan origin. The title of pope or universal bishop, was first
given to the bishop of Rome by the wicked emperor Phocas
This he did to spite Bishop Ciriacus of Constantinople, who had justly
excommunicated him for his having caused the assassination of his predecessor
emperor Mauritius. Gregory 1, then bishop of Rome, refused the title, but his
successor, Boniface III, first assumed title "pope."
Jesus did not appoint Peter to the headship of the apostles and forbade any
such notion. (Luke 22:24-26; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 1st Corinthians
3:11).
Note: Nor is there any mention in Scripture, nor in history, that Peter ever was
in Rome, much less that he was pope there for 25 years; Clement, 3rd bishop of
Rome, remarks that "there is no real 1st century evidence that Peter ever was
in Rome." 610
The kissing of the Pope's feet
It had been a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors. The Word of God
forbids such practices. (Read Acts 10:25-26; Revelation 19:10; 22:9). 709
The Temporal power of the Popes
When Pepin, the usurper of the throne of France, descended into Italy, called
by Pope Stephen II, to war against the Italian Lombards, he defeated them and
gave the city of Rome and surrounding territory to the pope. Jesus expressly
forbade such a thing, and He himself refused worldly kingship. (Read Matthew
4:8-9; 20:25-26; John 18:38). 750
Worship of the cross, images and relics was authorized
This was by order of Dowager Empress Irene of Constantinople, who first caused
to pluck the eyes of her own son, Constantine VI, and then called a church
council at the request of Hadrian I, pope of Rome at that time. 788
Such practice is called simply IDOLATRY in the Bible, and is severely condemned. (Read Exodus 20:4; 3:17; Deuteronomy 27:15; Psalm 115).
Holy Water, mixed with a pinch of salt and blessed by the priest, was
authorized 850
The veneration of St. Joseph began 890
The baptism of bells was instituted by Pope John XIV 965
Canonization of dead saints, first by Pope John XV
Every believer and follower of Christ is called saint in the Bible. (Read Romans
1:7; 1st Colossians 1:2). 995
Fasting on Fridays and during Lent were imposed
Imposed by popes said to be interested in the commerce of fish. (Bull, or
permit to eat meat), some authorities say, began in the year 700. This is
against the plain teaching of the Bible. (Read Matthew 15:10; 1st Corinthians
10:25; 1st Timothy 4:1-3). 998
The Mass was developed gradually as a sacrifice; attendance made obligatory in
the 11th century.
The Bible teaches that the sacrifice of Christ was offered once and for all, and
is not to be repeated, but only commemorated in the Lord's Supper. (Read
Hebrews 7:27; 9:26-28; 10:10-14).