Africans Leave Catholicism for Bible

South African Village
African Hut

The following news item was of interest:

Some bishops tell synod reverence for Bible is not seen as priority

CNS – Oct 9, 2008

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In its rules for celebrating Mass and in the postgraduate training it gives some of its scholars, the Catholic Church sometimes gives an impression that reverence for the word of God is not one of its top priorities, several members told the world Synod of Bishops…

Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Ottawa focused his Oct. 8 remarks on the difficulty many Catholics experience in reading the Old Testament and on the reluctance of many priests and deacons to refer to the Old Testament readings in their homilies.

“Many are reluctant to take up passages of the Old Testament which appear incomprehensible, leaving them to be arbitrarily selected or never read at all,” he said. “Rarely does the homilist explain the meaning of the text itself. Priests and deacons … do not know what it means to break open the bread of the word.”

He also asked the synod to try to find ways to address “the loss of confidence among Catholics that Scripture truly communicates God’s revelation,” looking at the possible connection between such doubt and modern biblical scholarship that focuses so much on dissecting the text that it sets aside the spiritual message the text communicates.

Tanzanian Cardinal Polycarp Pengo of Dar es Salaam raised a similar concern about biblical scholarship when he spoke to the synod Oct. 9.

“In some cases,” he said, “modern exegesis (interpretation) seems to be neutral, almost suspicious of the given truth of the sacred texts. Not rare are the cases where the more an exegete contradicts the truth of the sacred texts, the more he is regarded as an objective exegete.”

Cardinal Pengo said treating “the sacred text just like an ordinary piece of literature” is one thing that “frightens many ordinary Catholics out of the church,” which is creating “an appalling phenomenon covering a great part of the African continent.”

Many African Catholics, he said, are turning to fundamentalist sects because they believe that is where they find true reverence for the word of God. http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0805139.htm.

People, African or otherwise, should always heed the Bible over traditions of men (see also Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings). While the Roman Catholic Church used to have leaders who held many doctrines of the Living Church of God, over time those associated with the Church of Rome made many doctrinal changes from those associated with the Church of God. This is clearly documented in the article Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God?

Hopefully, those in Africa and elsewhere will put more emphasis on the Bible than traditions of men. Those in Protestant groups need to realize that they also have many traditions that violate the concept of sola Scriptura (see also Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible?).

People all over the world need to repent and actually do what God tells them to do in the Bible.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?
Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. ArmstrongThis article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the Living Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Orthodox Church and the Living Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
The Bible: Fact or Fiction? This is a booklet written by Douglas Winnail that answers if the Bible is just a collection of myths and legends or the inspired word of God.
Read the Bible Christians should read the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading.
What is the Appropriate Form of Biblical Interpretation? Should the Bible be literally understood? What do the writings of the Bible, Origen, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Augustine show?
Bible and Historical Resources on the Internet Electronic bibles, Two Babylons, early Christian literature, photos, and even links to old Herbert W. Armstrong materials.