Pirating in a Works Gospel and Other Falsehoods from Roman Catholicism

The Manhattan Declaration propagates the lie that preachers of a false gospel (such as Roman Catholic priests and bishops and the pope) are to be embraced as fellow Christians, and that the Roman Catholic system is part of Christ's true Church.

This will lead, inevitably, to the readers concluding that there is broad agreement between the signers for the false gospel of works-salvation which most of the false church proclaims.

The Declaration also contains a white-wash concerning freedom of conscience and religious liberty, for the Roman Catholic system has long opposed those views with fire and the sword. Our political religious liberty is the fruit of true Christians who overthrew the false teaching of the Roman system which compelled belief by the sword.

Then there is the use of Roman Catholic catch-terms such as "justice" and "common good," which promote its liberal "social gospel" economic teachings. The Roman system has long advocated use of the state to impose liberal and socialistic welfare schemes on society.

But worst is the false gospel which is the basis for the document. Indeed, the document declares that advocacy of its political goals ARE the Gospel. It proclaims a "Gospel of costly grace" that slides over into a works Gospel. It confuses proclaiming God's law with the true Gospel.

Progress toward true political justice - respect for innocent life and freedom of conscience - was not the result of a "top down" imposition by any so-called "church" in olden times. Rather, such progress necessarily flowed from a society saturated in a true Gospel that saves. We cannot recapture those "glory days" without first proclaiming the true Gospel!