The Scriptures vs. Catholicism

Religious Leaders

by David Lasseter

1. Qualifications for religious leaders.  One reason we started our series of lessons was my friend’s disgust with the pedophilia among the Catholic clergy that came to light a couple of years ago.  One of the first things we did was to review the qualifications of bishops (also known as elders or overseers in the NT).  These qualifications are found in the following verses  (I’ve highlighted in red the qualifications that the Catholic clergy fails to meet):

   1. 1 Timothy 3:1-7:  “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

   2. Titus 1:5-9:  “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:  If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

   3. If the Catholic clergy were permitted to marry and have children, it’s likely (in my opinion) that many of the problems they’ve experienced recently would never have materialized.  However, even if there was never a case of child abuse among the Catholic clergy, they still would not meet the qualifications for a bishop as Paul outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.