How sad that the "born-again" leader of the free world should give a royal welcome to the leader of a religion which holds one billion people in spiritual bondage.
A flurry of publicity during the pope`s visit this year attempted to position the George Bush White House as "the first truly [Roman] Catholic presidency."
Evidence presented cited the two new U.S. Supreme Court justices, John Roberts and Samuel Alito appointed by Bush bringing to five the number of Roman Catholics on the bench.
We are told that he is also surrounded with RC advisors, cabinet members and speechwriters. His royal welcome for Pope Benedict further reinforces the idea that the president has introduced a new era of Vatican influence.
There is no doubt that the pope stands for some good things. Catholic activists have been helpful in focusing our attention on the evils of abortion and homosexuality. However, sugar-coated poison is still poison. Satan`s lies are always mixed with an element of truth.
The history of nations that have embraced Vatican teachings is not pretty. In the Latin American countries, Catholic idolatrous rituals have bred poverty, corruption and political turmoil while the U.S. prospered under the widespread preaching of biblical righteousness.
Both began as virgin territories with rich resources of forests, minerals and oil but religious freedom in one and spiritual bondage in the other achieved very different results. There would be no immigration woes today had righteousness reigned on both continents. Truly, "Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).
For a thousand years, known as the "dark ages," the Vatican held the Western World in spiritual darkness. Ignorance and superstition gripped the people. Corrupt popes terrorized kings and plowmen alike. Any who objected had to flee to the caves to avoid being burned as heretics.
Rome`s bonds were broken when God released the printing press technology so the Bible could be published for the common man. Satan had to come up with a new strategy for his prostitute "church." Ecumenism was born. The lie that all religions essentially worship the same god began to spread. The Vatican held an "Ecumenical Council" known as "Vatican II." Plans were drafted to bring together the Protestants, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, etc. to pray together for world "peace and justice."
On the political front, the Jesuits have worked for centuries to infiltrate high levels of government to control the levers of power from behind the scenes. Their machinations have gotten them thrown out of several dozen countries in the past. The new strategy fit their method of operation well.
We see it in operation now with the infiltration around President Bush. He does not go along with all their agenda, but in many ways he is duped. In a recent speech he repeated the pope`s position on Islam, that Muslims and Christians both worship the same God. In an interview with ETWN, the reporter asked what he saw when he looked into the eyes of Pope Benedict. "God," President Bush replied.
It is also significant that Benedict chose to speak to the UN while in the U.S. His ecumenical vision includes more than the spiritual. He spoke of the "international community" as a family that needed to work together for the good of each member. But we know from the Bible that any attempt by man to create an "international community" will only result in the introduction of the anti-Christ. Had any of the Fathers of the Reformation been asked what they saw in the eyes of the pope, they would no doubt have said "Anti-Christ!"
Evil will continue to rise in the world until the nations will, in desperation, welcome a world leader who will promise a solution. But that solution will turn out to be world slavery to an even greater evil.
We must pray for our leaders that we may continue to have the peace and freedom to share the gospel. But the Bible assures us that persecution will come and that we need to work "while it is day."