This is Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. Still to come, answers to your questions in Contending for the Faith, and in Understanding the Scriptures, Dave and Tom will resume their conversation on God’s salvation. In addition to this radio program we publish a monthly Newsletter which we make available free of charge. We also produce and distribute a wide variety of teaching materials including books in print, e-book and audio book formats, CD’s, DVD’s and other items to encourage the serious study of God’s Word. For a complete list of materials, or to get a copy of today’s broadcast write to us POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708. Call our toll free order number, 877-882-4253, that’s 877-88Bible, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org. If you would like a copy of this broadcast ask for Program #4206, and be sure to mention the call letters of this station. We’ll repeat this information at the end of the program.
RELIGION IN THE NEWS
Now, Religion in the News, a report and comment on religious trends and events being covered by the media. This week’s item is from Zenit.org July 30,2006, with a headline: Wales and England Adjust Holy Dates, the following are excerpts: The bishops of England and Wales have made changes to the holy days of obligation to facilitate Catholics observance of important feasts. We have responded to requests from diocesans councils of priests and many others deeply concerned at the diminishing observance of these days, said Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, in a recent statement. In order to foster the celebration of the rhythm of the liturgical year, and to celebrate more profoundly the mysteries of the life and mission of the Lord, the bishops have decided to transfer to Sunday those holy days of obligation which are solemnities of the Lord other than Christmas Day, he said. This means that the Epiphany, the Ascension of the Lord, and Corpus Christi, will now be celebrated on Sunday, he added. According to the statement the precedence commend this as an opportunity for Catholics to deepen through catechism and celebration of their faith, and understanding of these mysteries of the life of Christ. Cardinal Murphy O’Connor specified that other holy days of obligation, Christmas, the feasts of St. Peter and Paul, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Feast of All Saints will continue to be celebrated as at present. With the exception of Christmas Day, the discipline in England and Wales is that when these days fall on a Saturday or Monday, they are transferred to Sunday.
Tom:
Dave, you know, some have referred to Roman Catholicism as the Galatian heresy. The reason for that is that these Judiazers wanted the Galatians to add circumcision and living under the law of Moses to the gospel for their salvation. Now, one of the ways that, you know that a religion has some input by men is that how complicated it can be. Now, for those Roman Catholics who are listening, not to worry or be more confused, this is taking place in England, and its already been in place in the United States, that is, moving the two feast days really, Corpus Christi and the Epiphany to Sunday. So, that’s the way it has been in this country, but---
Dave:
Why would they do that, Tom? Make it a little bit easier for them?
Tom:
Well, he just said, We have responded to the request from the diocese council priest and many others deeply concerned at the diminishing observance of these days. Dave, it’s so complex. Now, around the world there are ten holy days of obligation. And for those who don’t understand what we are talking about here, for a Roman Catholic Sunday is a day of obligation. They are obligated under the pain of mortal sin they must attend mass and take the Eucharist. Okay. Some say, Well, you don’t have to take the Eucharist, you have to attend mass, and that’s the purpose of mass is to receive the Eucharist. So, in addition to attending mass Sunday, every Sunday, there are ten other holy days of obligation that don’t usually fall on Sunday, sometimes they do depending on the calendar. So it gets kind of confusing unless you have a diocesan calendar to know whether All Saints Day, what day that’s on, or other than feast days there are actually six.
Dave:
Let me ask you a question.
Tom:
Sure.
Dave:
So, if they don’t have this calendar and they don’t realize that this is a holy day of obligation and they fail to take mass, they don’t get to church and take mass on that day, that’s a mortal sin, isn’t it?
Tom:
No, it’s not.
Dave:
It’s not?
Tom:
No, Dave, the problem with that is a mortal is a grievous sin, you have to know. In other words, if you are in bed and you are thinking, All right, this is All Saints Day, you know, I’ve got to go to mass, forget it. And then you just go back to sleep. That is a grievous, a grave sin, and it’s a mortal sin, and if you die with that sin on your soul without having confessed it and having it been absolved by a priest you go straight to hell.
Dave:
But Tom, if you’ve got a calendar, every Catholic should know what these days are. I don’t see how they can plead ignorance. But anyway, you know, you’re driving down the street---I’ll tell you I got a ticket here in Bend, the only ticket I think I’ve gotten in many, many years, fifty years maybe, I don’t remember. How did I get this ticket? They had just changed what used to be a 35-mile zone---you know where that is, over there---they changed it to a 25-mile zone---I didn’t realize it, the sign was there but I’m seeing 35 when it says 25, because I was not aware that they had changed it. I got a ticket! Ignorance is no excuse!
Tom:
That’s what the officer said probably.
Dave:
Oh yes, right.
Tom:
But Dave, my point here with this is we know that men have made this up. Where in the Scriptures, where in reason do you find somebody going directly to hell because of a church law? You know, the Roman Catholic church has a Code of Cannon Law, 1752 rules and regulations, many which affect your eternal destiny. This is man-made stuff, there isn’t any doubt about it.
Dave:
Well of course they don’t even get to go to Purgatory, which is again not a biblical concept.
Tom:
We’re going to talk about that later when we get into the Apocrypha.
Dave: But Tom, they don’t even know when the ascension of the Lord took place. Corpus Christi, Tom, that was an abomination. You can explain it better than I can, but you’ve got the monstrous.
Tom:
Well, Corpus Christi is the body of Christ. It has to do with the presence of Christ in this piece of bread.
Dave:
In this wafer, and they’ve got it on display. And they have parades, Tom, I’ve seen them in Catholic countries.
Tom:
Processions, Dave.
Dave:
Right, processions, sorry. And they are parading the body of Christ. This is Jesus Christ that they are holding up here! And they say, We take it literally. But wait a minute! How many millions of other wafers are being held up and they are the body of Christ. I was just in Rome, Tom, and you’ve been there in the Vatican, here these people, perpetual adoration, in front of this wafer which, supposedly, is the body of Christ, personality, divinity, and so forth. Not only is it man made, it’s not even rational, but it certainly brings you under the law.
