The Roman Catholic Church is one of the major sects of Christianity. Its adherents believe that they are "the one true Church" founded by Jesus Christ who built it upon "the rock" mentioned in Matthew 16:18, which is interpreted by them as Peter the apostle, whom by their traditional belief was made the first pope.
Left Behind series
In the Left Behind series, the Roman Catholic Church is folded over into Enigma Babylon One World Faith along with all other major religions except for Judaism and biblical Christianity, following the rapture of the pope John XXIV who preceded Peter Mathews, who became Enigma Babylon's spiritual leader.
There were true believers within the Roman Catholic Church who were taken in the Rapture, whom Peter Matthews believes were "the chaff" taken out by God, including the previous pope whose beliefs were more along the lines of Martin Luther, one of the founding fathers of Protestantism.
Doctrines of Catholicism
Its particular doctrines include:
- The Pope is the ultimate authority and head of the Church
- Mary, the mother of Jesus, was born sinless, was a perpetual virgin, and was assumed into heaven to become the Queen of Heaven
- The bread and wine of holy communion are changed into the body and blood of Christ through transubstantiation
- Prayers to "deceased" saints
- The existence of purgatory to cleanse the deceased before they can enter into heaven
- Salvation is through grace through faith and through works such as the Seven Sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the sick, Marriage, Holy orders)
- Catholic church traditions have an authority, although smaller in regards to Scripture, which includes the Deuterocanonical books (Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Baruch, 1st and 2nd Maccabees, and the additions to Esther and Daniel).
Worship
The most common form of worship among the Catholics is the weekly Mass service, where its participants are given holy communion in the form of a wafer.
Known Catholics in the series
- Mrs. Fortunato -- the mother of Leon Fortunato
- John XXIV -- previous pope before Peter Mathews, who was taken in the Rapture
- Peter Mathews -- former archbishop of Cincinnati, later Pontifex Maximus of Enigma Babylon
Trivia
- Although condemned by Tim LeHaye, many criticize the series for having Anti-Catholicism Bias, one which has been predominant when taking in consideration that the book takes inspiration from Alexander Hislop's book The Two Babylons. Among the accusations :
- The Pope, John XXIV, was raptured because of his heresical beliefs aligning with Lutheranism.
- Peter II is a greedy power hungry villain which misinterprets the Bible and wages war against "True Christians."[1]
- In non LB content, LeHayes critically attacks the Catholic Church, calling her "The Whore of Babylon."[2]
- Most of the raptured weren't catholics, but protestants.
- Non LB content also distorts Catholic doctrine. From accusing the Church of Idolatry, to claiming it killed 1/3 of Europe, a number that, if true, would leave Europe desertified with barely any populational growth.