Evil Popes
The Roman Catholic Church is a false religion and a false church. One thing the Roman Catholic Church does not talk about very much is the history of some of the genuinely evil and wicked popes that have existed throughout their history.
What they will say is — yeah, there have been some bad ones, but 99% or more of them have actually been good. Well, there have been fewer than 300 popes. So when you are admitting there have been at least 10 that were awful, out of fewer than 300, that is far less than 99% being good — even by their own estimation. Here are just three examples of some of the evil things various popes have done.
Pope John XII took part in murdering, invoking demons, and even having sexual relations with his own sisters. That is perversion. That is wickedness. That is disgusting. And he was eventually killed after committing adultery with another man's wife — that man beat him to death. That is not just being a bad pope. That is utterly disgraceful. And this is supposed to be the leader of the true church on earth?
Another example is Sergius III, who used his seat of authority to father a child with his 15-year-old prostitute mistress — and then arranged for that son, Pope John XI, to become the next pope 20 years later. Sleeping with a 15-year-old prostitute and using your position of religious authority to install your illegitimate son as your successor — that is perverted and wicked on every level.
One last example is Leo X, who convinced believers that in order to buy their way to heaven they had to purchase indulgences — payments that would supposedly reduce their sins. He had people literally buying their way into heaven with money, taking advantage of ordinary people by telling them just give us money and we can get your sins forgiven.
These are just three examples from fewer than 300 popes — and they were completely evil and wicked men. Even more recent popes, while perhaps not reaching this known level of depravity, have had serious scandals of their own. Now with the internet they cannot hide this information as easily, so there is more pressure to keep up appearances. But the question must be asked: if you are the true church and the true organisation of God on earth, how have you had such wicked and evil men running it?
Now what the Roman Catholic Church will say in their defence is this: the fact that we have had such evil people lead it and we have still lasted is actually proof that God's hand must be behind us. You can make your own decision about that defence. But I would say that if you have had leaders this evil and this wicked throughout your history, it is not proof that you are the true church — it is proof that you have never been the true church. You are simply an evil and horrible organisation.
And therefore, the Roman Catholic Church is a false religion and a false church.
Pastor Matthew Stucky
