From Protestant Betrayal to Pope Bashing

The Papal state visit has provided a perfect platform for The Free Presbyterian Church to reunite and to refocus; it is time to roll out the cannons for a bit of Pope bashing. Rev Ian Paisley is heading up a Free Presbyterian delegation which will travel to Scotland and protest against the Papal visit; the presbytery has released a statement exposing the errors of Roman Catholicism; a pamphlet has also been published, which examines Roman Catholicism in the light of scripture. There can be no mistaking, the battle lines have been drawn; but why all the fuss now?

Could it be that this platform of convenience is just what is needed to stitch up the deep divisions that have appeared in Free Presbyterianism since the political and religious sell-out that brought the terrorist inclusive government into existence? Could this be the physiological moment to plaster up the gaping cracks in Paisley’s church? Remember it was Rev Ian Paisley that sat down with unrepentant terrorists in government; it was this once man of God that negotiated with a Prime Minister that has confessed to having stretched the truth to breaking point. Could it be that there is an attempt to cover over past blunders with a bit of Pope bashing.

Evangelical Protestants have been betrayed, they have been deceived by their own leadership; people that prayed and fasted for the preservation of God fearing and God honouring government, have been led down badly by the very people that they once prayed for and supported. The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster can rant against Roman Catholicism when it suits, but they have not condemned the unscriptural and immoral terrorist inclusive government that their own ministers helped implement and subsequently supported. No amount of Pope bashing can ever cover over these deep scars; what is the point of turning from betraying one section of society to set about beating another.

While the errors of Roman Catholicism must be exposed by the faithful preaching of the gospel of Christ; this does not mean that evangelical Protestants can be treated like an old rag doll, cast down one day and lifted up another.

Rev Mervyn Cotton