From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

The real purpose is not broad-based unity on moral and social issues, but advancing the agenda of a one-world church under the headship of the Roman Catholic papacy.

"From Tradition to Truth"

Richard Bennett came to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in the 1980s after spending nearly thirty years as a Roman Catholic monk and priest. His testimony, "From Tradition to Truth," appears in the wonderful book, Far From Rome, Near to God: Testimonies of Fifty Converted Roman Catholic Priests, which he helped edit. (The book is available in our Resource Store.)

Since leaving the darkness of Rome, Richard Bennett has engaged in a two-fold evangelistic ministry, proclaiming the good news of free and full salvation in Jesus Christ apart from works to Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and warning Christians against the dangers of the growing Evangelical embrace of Rome. Richard Bennett's "former insider" perspective on the Vatican's agenda uniquely qualifies him for this role in the service of Christ.

The Agenda: Doing Away With the Supreme Authority of the Bible and the Gospel

The Trinity Foundation has just published an essay by Richard Bennett titled The Roman Catholic Agenda Embedded in the Manhattan Declaration. I believe it is a must-read for every Christian. (Click this link to view it in Adobe format.)

You will notice, first of all, the shocking, shameful list of Evangelical and Reformed leaders who signed this latest "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" document. Bennett then explains the real purpose of the Manhattan Declaration:

[T]he Manhattan Declaration is only the latest step in the downgrade into implementing Catholic social doctrine. There is yet another purpose; one primarily stated in Vatican Council II and post-Vatican Council II documents. Through the use of social issues, the Roman Catholic Church seeks to draw true Evangelical Bible-believers into itself so that there can be no opposition by them on the fundamental issues of the authority of the Bible alone and the Gospel.

In order to soften up the Evangelicals in their separation from the Catholics on Biblical doctrinal issues, particularly the authority of the Bible alone and the Gospel, the Catholic modus operandi calls for using social issues on which both Evangelicals and Catholics agree as preliminary common ground. The major social issues selected by the Manhattan Declaration are acceptable, but what gives away the underlying Catholic far left political agenda is some of the vocabulary used.

This vocabulary has a general meaning, to be sure, but in the context of Roman Catholic social doctrine, it means something quite specific. As Evangelicals are drawn together with Catholics on social issues - like the social issues mentioned in this document - the ensuing ecumenical dialogue "serves to transform modes of thought and behavior and the daily life of their [Evangelical] communities [churches]. In this way, it [ecumenical dialogue] aims at preparing the way for their unity of faith in the bosom of a Church one and visible: thus 'little by little'.all Christians will be gathered" into the Roman Catholic Church-State with its dual authority base, false gospel, and accompanying far left agenda. [The quotation is from the documents of Vatican Council II.]

The Roman Catholic Church-State's primary goal is to make enforceable its claim that it is the only true church of Jesus Christ and its pope, the claimed "Vicar of Christ," has the right to judge everybody, as he did during the Middle Ages. In order to accomplish this, the Papacy must do away with the supreme authority of the Bible and the Gospel and it must silence all who stand against it in this endeavor. This is the Roman Catholic context in which the Manhattan Declaration is set.

I hope you will take the time to read Bennett's complete essay. He is truly carrying on the work of the ministry as stated by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:28 - "Him [Christ] we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect [fully mature] in Christ Jesus."

tq0286