"But I know several born-again Catholics." How often have you heard this reply when you tried to help someone see that they need to witness to Roman Catholics? Usually it is said with an air of finality — discussion over! Rarely do they allow you to explain that, to them "born-again" is baptism at infancy and "receiving Jesus" is the wafer-god placed on their tongues at Mass.

For those who are willing to hear more, it gets a bit complicated from here. The "Mass" is full of what Catholicism calls "mysteries." Often it is called the "Sacrifice" of the Mass. This usually goes right past the Bible believer who has been taught that Jesus was the final and complete sacrifice. But if we do ask what this "sacrifice" means, we open up a whole can of unbiblical worms.

Alphonsus Ligouri, a revered Roman Catholic "saint" and "Doctor of the Church" makes this very revealing statement in his book, The Dignity and Duties of the Priest: "Jesus has died to institute the priesthood. It was not necessary for the Redeemer to die in order to save the world; a drop of His Blood, a single tear, or prayer, was sufficient to procure salvation for all... But to institute the priesthood, the death of Jesus Christ has been necessary. Had he not died, where should we find the victim that the priests of the New Law now offer? a victim altogether holy and immaculate, capable of giving to God an honor worthy of God."

For the Bible believer, there are all kinds of red flags here. So, Jesus didn't die for the world? And, how did the priesthood get into this? And what is this "victim" business? Now you know why the Pope tries to keep the Mass a "mystery."

Ligouri boldly denies the "finished work of Christ" that the Apostle Paul so carefully teaches in all his epistles. Instead of Jesus being the final Sacrifice for our sins, fulfilling the Old Testament sacrificial system, Rome teaches that He died to "institute the priesthood" so that He could become the wafer-god (victim) that the priest re-sacrifices at every "celebration" of the Mass.

Chapter 7 of Hebrews clearly explains that Jesus died as the final sacrifice for sin and became the only Priest that we need interceding for us. Roman Catholicism ignores this teaching. Instead they have cobbled together a priestcraft system using parts of the Old Testament sacrifices and whatever useful pagan rituals they could pick up along the way.

These include the wafer-god consecrated and eaten by the Egyptians; the female being (Virgin Mary) who is worshipped as a goddess in almost every false religion; confession of sins to a priest who has the power to forgive (absolve) them; punishment for your own sins in purgatory; salvation by works and no assurance of heaven.

So, this "born-again Catholic" is a strange creature if he continues to participate in this "Mass." No way can he subject his "freedom in Christ" to this kind of unbiblical ritual unless he chooses to accept, without question, these pagan "mysteries" that God calls "abominations."

Another line that we often hear is that Roman Catholics are really Christians; they just have a different "worship tradition." How can that "tradition" be of God when it requires bowing down to statues of goddesses and wafer-god idols? (See also Matthew 15:6.)

For more books and other literature to help your "born-again Catholic" friends, visit www.chick.com or call (909) 987-0771 for a free catalog.