Msgr. J. D. Conway points to Apostle Peter as the rock foundation of the Church Christ established:

"Christ used Peter for the rock foundation of His Church. The Catholic Church still rests on that foundation."

(Msgr. J. D. Conway. What They Ask About The Church, p. 11, emphasis ours)

But Apostle Peter himself, as well as Apostle Paul, proclaimed that our Lord Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone or the sole foundation upon which the Church was built:

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, ...

" Let it be known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stand here before you whole.

"This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which is become the chief cornerstone"(Acts 4:8, 10-11, New King James Version, emphasis ours)

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

(I Cor. 3:11, New International Version, emphasis ours)

It is written in the Catholic Catechism that one should confess all his "mortal" sins to a priest:

"The Church teaches that it is necessary by divine law to confess to a priest each and every mortal sin-and also circumstances which make a sin a more serious kind of mortal sin-that one can remember after careful examination of conscience."

(Robert Lawler, O.F.M. Cap., Donald W. Wuerl and Thomas C. Lawler, eds. The Teaching of Christ: A Catholic Catechism for Adults. p.486, emphasis ours)

But the Bible teaches that the true servants of God should confess their sins to the Lord God Himself:

"I acknowledged my sin to you, and my iniquity have I not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgave the iniquity of my sin."

(Ps. 32:5, NKJV, emphasis ours)

James Cardinal Gibbons and Rev. Mark Lyons are one in saying that the pope and their fellow priests are "spiritual fathers":

"The Popes were not only devoted spiritual Fathers, but firm and valiant Governors." (James Cardinal Gibbons. The Faith of our Fathers. P. 13 Emphasis ours)

" We priests set aside natural fatherhood to beget Christ at Mass and in the hearts of men...Our celibacy enables us to be spiritual father to our people."

(Rev. Mark J. Lyons. Mary and the Priests (Meditations). P. 11, emphasis ours)

But according to our Lord Jesus Christ, no person should be called as such because God alone is the one spiritual Father:

"Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven."

(Mt. 23:9 NKJV, emphasis ours)

"in the case of our human fathers, they punished us and we respected them. How much more, then, should we submit to our spiritual Father and live!" (Heb. 12:9, Todays English Version, emphasis ours)

Rev. Dr. Leslie Rumble admits that there are Catholic teachings that are taken from traditions and not from the Bible.

"Catholic teaching is derived not merely from the Scriptures but also from Apostolic traditions over and above what is written in the New Testament. Those traditions have been divinely safeguarded and handed down in the Catholic Church from the earliest Christian times."

(The Rev. Dr. Leslie Rumble. That Catholic Church: A Radio Analysis. p. 74 emphasis ours)

But the Apostles instruct us to reject teachings based on tradition that go beyond what is written in the Holy Scriptures:

"Beware lest any man cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principal of the world, and not according to Christ."

(Col. 2:8, NKJV, emphasis ours)

"Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.

(I Cor. 4:6, NIV, emphasis ours)

Its not too late for you to find out what our Lord God really wants you to do. Make sure that your faith will not be worthless. Learn the true words of God in the Bible as upheld by the Church of Christ.

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