Spotlight on the Vatican

The Pope takes his status in an alleged apostolic line directly from Saint Peter, who is described as the first Pope, though this is unlikely. Sts. Peter and Paul are thought to have been martyred in Rome. But Peter was not the only contender for the description of head of the Christian Church. James the Less, probably a close relative of Jesus, maybe even his brother, was head of the Jerusalem Church which had an extremely high status, as did Antioch and Alexandria. In the second century, the Bishop of Lyon in Gaul decided Rome was the dominant centre of Christianity. Emperor Constantine sealed the situation and the Council of Nicaea was oppressive of other Christian religious groups. Many Popes were extremely corrupt as were the Cardinals and priests. 

The Roman Catholic Church has archives in the Vatican that are said to date back to the Eighth Century. There would be alternative gospels, heretical manuscripts, and a history of oppression, corruption and cover ups, most currently conveniently denied or ignored. We know, in the New Testament, that Mary Magdalene and several other women, such as Joanna, paid from her own purse for Jesus and his disciples to conduct their ministry, so the long years of treating women as second class citizens has been both cruel and demeaning to more than fifty per cent of the Roman Catholic congregation. 


There were many inquisitions where dreadful tortures took place, such as the Cathars, Templars, and other atrocities towards innocent people with a different belief, and unjust behaviour towards Moslems and Jews especially during the Crusades. There is also an involvement in the slave trade and the 1994 Rwandan genocide. During the Holocaust of the Second World War, the silence of the Roman Catholic Church caused the suffering of Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. Of course, these priests take a vow of celibacy, yet we know of the sexual abuse of children, and the shaming of women used as slave labour in the Magdalene Laundries. Many women have been made pregnant by Catholic priests, and left to bring up a child alone. Children that nuns were paid to care for have been found in mass graves and babies found buried in septic tanks. Before homosexuality was permitted under law, Catholic priests were frequently homosexuals, safely practising because the confessional box held that secret. We know also of the Vatican Bank that has been linked to dealings with the Mafia and other secret organisations. There is the sadistic culture that people can, by suffering needlessly, and silently, have a reduced period in purgatory, for themselves and their family which is promoted by nuns especially, such as by Mother Teresa, who was involved in several exploitative and corrupt financial ventures. The Pope has now said there is no hell - a convenience for the many priests who have pretended for over a thousand years that they are celibate! So what can the Church apologise for when looking back over their history? Many apologies and compensations are in order!

Priests have an exceptionally good life, such as the best house in the village, little responsibility, for instance, wedding and christening celebrations, funeral wakes, and although they take vows of poverty, many smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, gamble and take expensive holidays abroad. Most concerning is the secrecy of the confessional. This is open to exploitation, corruption and blackmail! If anyone has committed a criminal act, they must be instructed to go to the police, not a priest!

Article by Wendy Stokes. https://wendystokes.co.uk