The Gospel of Rome
Part 2: What Roman Catholics Are Supposed To Believe:

It can be very confusing to pin down what Catholics are supposed to believe because there is great diversity in what one priest teaches versus another. It is not uncommon for one priest to consider an act a "mortal sin," for instance, while another priest considers the very same act to be merely a "venial sin." So it is understandable that rank-and-file Catholics are sometimes confused as to what they are supposed to believe.

Despite differences in what individual priests may teach, the Church has been very clear throughout its history on the official doctrines that are to be believed by every Roman Catholic. As we will see, the Church has meticulously affirmed the official teachings in many councils, creeds, and proclamations.

The following doctrines are official teachings of the Roman Catholic Church as taught by official Catholic sources, and are required beliefs for Roman Catholics:

• Papal Proclamations, as well as Church Councils, are infallible, and equal to Scripture
• Salvation by Works
• Baptismal Regeneration ("Salvation by Baptism")
• Substitution of "Penance" for "Repentance"
• We must confess to a priest
• We must be cleansed in Purgatory
• The Church can lessen Purgatory through indulgences
• Indulgences are possible because of Christ, Mary, and other saints
• The Pope is Christ's representative on earth and is infallible in proclamations
• The bread and wine of communion are literally and miraculously Christ's body and blood
• Christ's sacrifice is repeated literally in every Mass over and over again
• Mary was sinless
• Mary's body was brought to heaven
• Mary intermediates to Christ on behalf of man
• The Church encourages the worship of idols and dead saints
• Church tradition is equal to the Bible
• The Church has added an additional 7 books to the Bible called the "Apocrypha" or "Deuterocanonical" books
• The Roman Catholic Church is the only true church, and is infallible
• Condemns to hell anyone who disagrees with baptismal regeneration, salvation by works, the Pope, etc.

Next: Not "Bashing," but "Testing"

Table of Contents

This document written to the glory of God.
© 2006, Mark Edward Sohmer. Please feel free to quote from it in context, and distribute it in its entirety without profit.
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