Mary Ann Collins' story is so very painfully stated by her! I don't think Roman Catholics quite understand how very difficult it is for an ex-Catholic to expose the truth!
Indeed. The bondage is tremendous. Charles Chiniquy was revolted by several things he was asked to do even early on, as a priest (particularly auricular confession), yet it took him 25 years to overcome that bondage.
That is the best I've read by x-clergy so far. Free online too.
http://brotherpete.com/index.php?topic=426.0I was a Catholic, and, although not a good Catholic, for I could never subscribe to so many of the things that were so very revolting to me, even as a young girl. I never had, nor could ever stand to have the "worship" for Mary, nor statues around. I called myself a "smorgasbord Catholic," as I know many to be although, "steadfastly," remaining in it!!
It wasn't UNTIL I actually read the New Testament, in its entirety, that my eyebrows were raised. I, in truth, couldn't quite assimilate it the first time I read it, and did so, again, for so many were the contradictions with what I had "known" through the Catholic Church's teachings!
This happened to me to a lesser extent when I started writing about futurist doctrine. I indoctrinated myself into futurist doctrine for about 10 or 12 years through Jack Van Impe tapes and books, though I didn't become a Christian until toward the end of that period. Just as I determined to memorize his Revelation series, the Lord led me out of Darby's mid-19th century, 7-year tribulation / pre-trib rapture doctrine that Van Impe holds along with most of the 80 million evangelicals in the U.S. alone.
The more time I spent exploring it in hindsight, in Christian chat forums and such, the more I realized the easiest way to see through it, is through the "temple of God":
http://brotherpete.com/index.php?topic=103.0The church is in a stunning position when it comes to eschatology:
http://brotherpete.com/index.php?topic=446.0I can see your eyes are open. I believe this may be a special blessing for those of us that have overcome a doctrine. The best place to learn about the Roman Church is X-Catholics/Clergy, Islam, X-Muslims/Imams, X-Mormons, X-Jehova's etc. I don't doubt about Scientology, from X-scientologists. There is a good reason that these are the most vilified, by those that remain in bondage.
I guess that is what all the "
overcommeth"ing is about in the 2nd and 3rd chapters of Revelation. Overcoming Satan
and unsound doctrine, as he is the author of it.
Nicolaitionism (victory over the people/laity) being practiced acutely in the Roman Church. One of a few things God expresses a personal
hatred for.
At this very time, it happened I watched a documentary on the life of Martin Luther. One statement stayed with me from which I understood that NEVER had he read the Bible!! It was only when he was ordered to teach some course, he thought he should know about what he was speaking,... and actually read the Bible!
I was dumbfounded!! HOW COULD IT BE?? Did not the Holy Book sit atop the altar from which the priests read here and there?!!!!
The vast majority of Muslims are saved by simply reading - often just a little - scripture.
For Muslims that may be lurking here, an intro to the Gospel from the same version that Deedat used can be accessed here:
http://www.islamandthetruth.com/gospel_of_john.htmIt was then that I was sure, neither had the pope, at the time, John Paul II, ever read the Bible! ONE COULD NOT POSSIBLY DO SO,... AND REMAIN IN SUCH A COVEN OF DEMONS!!
The anger I felt for having been deceived for so long has not as yet subsided, although it has been almost 10 years! BUT, WHOM COULD I BLAME BUT JUST ME, FOR NEVER EVER EVEN CONSIDERING READING THE WORD OF GOD?!!
My heart breaks for the many, I know, such as family and friends, who are in it, innocently, just for believing the devil in disguise which is the Roman Catholic Church AND THE LIES IT DISSEMINATES!!
Sadly, my wife still suffers the bondage, even though she only attends a pseudo-Roman church now (Angilcan Catholic). The parts she likes are #1 the
Eucharist, the robes, incense, etc.
We can't even talk about Jesus, or Islam, or anything spiritual. Her fear is so great, and insecurity in the Lord so pronounced, that her eyes just glaze over when I try. This comes from believing that God is assigned to us by men, as men usurp the role of Jesus Christ, not only in the Roman Church, but in the protestant church as well.
A great read on this subject is "Pagan Christianity" by 100 year old Frank Viola.
Archaeological evidence suggests that in the first century the ecclesia was an every member function. meeting in homes. Communion was a shared meal.
It wasn't about the Greek sophist styled pulpit-pew relationship, introduced into the "church", by Constantine. It wasn't about having some doctrine pounded into believers, but about what you and I are doing here.
Mat 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 
