SDA to RCC quotes

The Seventh-day Adventist Church asks the following question:

"What Can Adventists Learn from the Catholics?" (Pacific Union Recorder, December 5, 1988, back page)

What, if anything, has the Seventh-day Adventist Church learned from the Roman Catholic Church? Is there any connection between the two? Many believe that since the Seventh-day Adventist Church began as one of the more outspoken "protesters" against Catholic belief and organization from the mid 1800's through the mid 1900's, that there can be no similarity between these two churches today. But does this belief hold true?

"Although it is true that there was a period in the life of the Seventh-day Adventist Church when the denomination took a distinctly anti-Roman Catholic viewpoint...that attitude on the church's part was nothing more than a manifestation of widespread anti-popery among conservative Protestant denominations in the early part of this century and the latter part of the last, and which has now been consigned to the historical trash heap so far as the Seventh-day Adventist Church is concerned." (Neal C. Wilson, past president of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference, Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Reply Brief for Defendants, p 4, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, presided over by Judge Charles B. Renfrew, U.S. District Court, San Francisco, California, 1974-1975.)

As all aversion towards Roman Catholicism has been removed, what has the modern Seventh-day Adventist Church learned from the Roman Catholic Church in belief and organization? Let us compare the two churches.

#1. Organizational Structure.

Section A. Church operates under a hierarchy.

Roman Catholic Church

"The Church is both visible and spiritual, a hierarchical society and the Mystical Body of Christ." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Article 9, Paragraph 1, Section III, #779. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/church1.html#MYSTERY).

"'The state of life which is constituted by the profession of the evangelical counsels, while not entering into the hierarchical structure of the Church, belongs undeniably to her life and holiness.'" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Article 9, Paragraph 4, Section III, #914. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/church4.html#CONSECRATED).

"THE HIERARCHICAL CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Article 9, Paragraph 4, Section I. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/church4.html#CONSTITUTION).

Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church also operate under a hierarchy?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"The plain and undeniable fact is that the Seventh-day Adventist church is most assuredly not a ‘congregational’ one (although it contains elements of congregationalism) but is clearly of the...‘hierarchical’ variety." (Neal C. Wilson, Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Reply Brief for Defendants, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, parentheses in original).

"...the church governs by a method of organization...which embraces exactly, from a legal standpoint, the same kind of organization (in opposition to ‘congregationalism’) as is embraced by the term ‘hierarchical’." (Neal C. Wilson, Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Reply Brief for Defendants, Civil Case #74-2025, p 29, parenthesis in original).

"The Seventh-day Adventist Church is essentially a hierarchical system..." (Bruce Manners, Associate Editor of the Record (the Official Paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, South Pacific Division), in the Record, June 23, 1990, p 2).

"The session [55th General Conference Session in 1990] has demonstrated the hierarchial nature of the church's administrative structure." (Gary Krause, Associate Editor of the Record, in the Record, August 4, 1990, p 2).

"...the official hierarchy of the (SDA) church..." (Walter Douglas, chair of the SDA Church History Department at the Andrews University Theological Seminary, in Adventist Review (the Official General Paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church), Special Edition, October, 1994, p 51).

"...the structure of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is essentially hierarchical...The pyramid of church organization maintains equilibrium and sustains growth..." (Walter Scragg, President of the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in the Record, June 23, 1990, p 4-5).

"The Seventh-day Adventist Church...maintains...a hierarchical structure of church authority." (Neal C. Wilson, in the Court Transcript of the United States Secretary of Labor vs Pacific Union Conference and General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church, Case CV 75-3032-R, presided over by Judge Manuel L. Real, February 6, 1976).

#2. Organizational Arrangement Between Clergy and Laity.

Section A. Separates clergy from laity.

Roman Catholic Church

"‘The ministerial or hierarchical priesthood of bishops and priests, and the common priesthood [laity] of all the faithful participate, 'each in its own proper way, in the one priesthood of Christ.' While being 'ordered one to another,' they differ essentially.’[LG 10 # 2.]...the sacrament of Holy Orders." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Chapter Three, The Sacraments at the Service of Communion, Article 6, Section II, # 1547. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/orders.html#SACRAMENT).

"The very differences which the Lord has willed to put between the members of his body serve its unity and mission. For "in the Church there is diversity of ministry but unity of mission. To the apostles and their successors Christ has entrusted the office of teaching, sanctifying and governing in his name and by his power. But the laity...have therefore, in the Church and in the world, their own assignment in the mission of the whole People of God." Finally, "from both groups [hierarchy and laity] there exist Christian faithful who are consecrated to God in their own special manner and serve the salvific mission of the Church through the profession of the evangelical counsels." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Paragraph 4, #873 (http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/church4.html#Faithful).

"The term 'laity' is here understood to mean all the faithful except those in Holy Orders and those who belong to a religious state approved by the Church." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Paragraph 4, Section II, # 897. (http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/church4.html#LAY).

Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church also separate the clergy from the laity in their Organizational Arrangement?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"The Seventh-day Adventist Church follows a model of organizational order in the church which is modified from the orders of Roman Catholicism, but it retains the same notions of clerical order which separates the members of the Church into two classes--clergy and laity." (Douglas Devnich, president of the Canadian Union of Seventh-day Adventists, in the Messenger (Official Journal of the Canadian Union Conference), December, 1993, p 2).

#3. Organizational Administration.

Section A. Highest church leader is termed supreme (first) pastor (minister).

Roman Catholic Church

"'The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops...supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful...’" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Paragraph 4, Section I, #891. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/church4.html#CONSTITUTION).

Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church also exalt their highest church leader to be their "supreme pastor" of their church in their Organizational Administration?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Elder Robert H. Pierson is the President of [the] General Conference and, as such the first (or supreme) minister (or pastor) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church." (Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Opening Brief for the Defendants, Civil Case #74-2025, p 45, December 4, 1974, parentheses added to show meaning).

"...the leadership of the church, including myself as its first minister for the time being..." (Affidavit of General Conference President Robert H. Pierson, Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, November 30, 1974).

Section B. The pope is termed the leader, shepherd, guardian, guide and captain of the entire church.

Roman Catholic Church

"I promise and swear that I will always be not only your helper and supporter, but your chief and leader." (Pope Pius VII, in Diu Satis (On A Return to Gospel Principles), Encyclical promulgated on May 15, 1800, #10. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Pius07/p7diusat.htm).

"...this power of jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff, which is truly episcopal, is immediate....once the unity of communion and the profession of the same Faith has been preserved with the Roman Pontiff, there is one flock of the Church of Christ under one supreme shepherd." (Pope Pius XII, Ad Apostolorum Principis (On Communism And The Church In China), Encyclical Promulgated on June 29, 1958, #46. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Pius12/P12APOST.HTM).

"... the supreme pontiffs....the supreme pastors and teachers of the Church of God, the guardians and interpreters of the patrimony of the faith..." Pope Paul VI, in Sacerdotalis Caelibatus (The Celibacy of the Priest), Encyclical promulgated on June 24, 1967, #36. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Paul06/p6sacerd.htm).

"Two months have already passed, months of anxiety and toil, since God conferred on Us, despite Our weakness, the burden of this high office of guiding the entire Church." (Pope Pius VII, in Diu Satis (On A Return to Gospel Principles), Encyclical promulgated on May 15, 1800. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Pius07/p7diusat.htm).

"...a characteristic of all true followers of Christ, lettered or unlettered, is to suffer themselves to be guided and led in all things that touch upon faith or morals by the Holy Church of God through its Supreme Pastor the Roman Pontiff, who is himself guided by Jesus Christ Our Lord." (Pope Pius XI, in Casti Connubii (On Christian Marriage), Encyclical promulgated on December 31, 1930, #104. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Pius11/P11CASTI.HTM).

"Catholics hold that the Church, which is a visible society, must have a visible head. Christ before His ascension into heaven, appointed St. Peter to act as his representative...hence to the Bishop of Rome, as head of the Church..." (Our Sunday Visitor, (Catholic Weekly) Bureau of Information, Ind., April 18,1915).

"...'the Roman Pontiff...is the Successor of Blessed Peter the Prince of the Apostles and... the head of the whole Church..." (Pope Pius IX, in Amantissimus (On The Care Of The Churches), Encyclical promulgated on April 8, 1862, # 3. http://www.ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/P9AMANT2.HTM).

Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church also exalt their highest church leader to be their "leader", "shepherd", "guardian", "guide" and "head" of their church in their Organizational Administration?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Many church members would say that the power in the Seventh-day Adventist Church resides with the president...He has authority to decide and act....he does have considerable power....

"He's the spiritual leader of the community of faith....He's shepherd, guardian, guide and captain (or head)." (Walter Scragg, President of the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in the Record, June 23, 1990, p 4, parentheses added to show meaning).

Section C. Has nuns.

Roman Catholic Church

"By force of their vocation, which sets them at the heart of the [Catholic] Church, nuns undertake in a special way to have ‘the mind of the Church (sentire cum Ecclesia)’, with sincere adherence to the Magisterium and unreserved obedience to the Pope." (Verbi Sponsa (Instruction on the Contemplative Life and on the Enclosure of Nuns), Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life, Pope John Paul II approved, and released by the Vatican on May 13, 1999. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_doc_13051999_verbi-sponsa_en.html).

Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church also have what they consider to be nuns, who are subordinate to church leadership, working within their Organizational Administration?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Those who work for the Seventh-day Adventist Church respond to a religious vocation in exactly the same sense as does a cloistered nun." (Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Opening Brief for the Defendants, Civil Case #74-2025, p 90, December 4, 1974).

Section D. Has cardinals subordinate to the Pope.

Roman Catholic Church

"’The college or body of bishops (or cardinals) has no authority unless united with the Roman Pontiff, Peter's successor, as its head.’ As such, this college has ‘supreme and full authority over the universal Church; but this power cannot be exercised without the agreement of the Roman Pontiff.’" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Section Two, Paragraph 4, Section I, #883. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/church4.html#CONSTITUTION).

Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church also have what they consider to be "cardinals", who are subordinate to a single higher leader, working within their Organizational Administration?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Division and General Conference officers form a critical area of church leadership around the world. Vice presidents (and you understand that division presidents are first vice presidents of the General Conference) report to the General Conference president. According to the Bylaws, while they serve a division they are vice presidents of the General Conference...

"If you compare vice presidents to ‘cardinals,’ we already have a ‘cardinal’ from Africa, and before this [1985 General Conference] session ends, I predict we will have two African ‘cardinals’ among our 15 vice-presidents...there is no ‘cardinal’ from all the countries of the Far East, while there will probably be two ‘cardinals’ from Africa." (General Conference President Neal C. Wilson, in Adventist Review, July 3, 1985, p 11).

Please note: since all division presidents are only vice presidents of the General Conference, and as these vice presidents are likened to "cardinals", then that makes the General Conference president the one supreme leader of the entire Seventh-day Adventist Church–or the pope of Adventism!

#4. Organizational Election.

Section A. Laity are not involved in election of most Church leaders.

Roman Catholic Church

"The Church [hierarchy] confers the sacrament of Holy Orders [church position by election] only on baptized men (viri), whose suitability for the exercise of the ministry has been duly recognized. Church authority alone has the responsibility and right to call someone to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Chapter Three, Article 6, Section VII, #1598, brackets supplied for clarity. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/orders.html#DEGREES).

Does the election of the majority of leadership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church hierarchy also occur without the involvement of the laity?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"At the local conference level the Seventh-day Adventist church has a representative form of government, above that level the polity of the Seventh-day Adventist is hierarchical: authority flows downward and members in local congregations have virtually no voice....the Seventh-day Adventist church is a closed, self-operating, and self-perpetuating system, similar to the Roman Catholic church, in which those in authority are not responsible to lower echelons. Above the local conference level, those in authority are not elected by, representative of, or administratively accountable to, local congregations or the membership at large." (Raymond F. Cottrell, former Associate Editor of the Adventist Review and the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, in Spectrum (Journal of Association of Adventist Forums), vol 14, #4, March, 1984, p 42).

#5. Organizational Authority.

Section A. Pope and priests as mediators between God and man.

Roman Catholic Church

"The liturgy of the Church, however, sees in the priesthood of Aaron and the service of the Levites, as in the institution of the seventy elders, a prefiguring of the ordained ministry of the New Covenant....

"In the ecclesial service of the ordained minister, it is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock, high priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth. This is what the Church means by saying that the priest, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, acts in persona Christi Capitis:...Christ is the source of all priesthood: the priest of the old law was a figure of Christ, and the priest of the new law acts in the person of Christ." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Chapter Three, Article 6, Section II, # 1541 & 1548. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/orders.html#SACRAMENT).

"Only to the apostles, and thenceforth to those on whom their successors have imposed hands, is granted the power of the priesthood, in virtue of which they represent the person of Jesus Christ before their people, acting at the same time as representatives of their people before God....

"The priest is the same, Jesus Christ, whose sacred Person His minister represents. Now the minister, by reason of the sacerdotal consecration which he has received, is made like to the High Priest and possesses the power of performing actions in virtue of Christ's very person....

"The people, on the other hand, since they in no sense represent the divine Redeemer and are not mediator between themselves and God, can in no way possess the sacerdotal power."

(Pope Pius XII, in Mediator Dei (on the Sacred Liturgy), Encyclical promulgated on November 20, 1947, #40, 69 & 84. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Pius12/P12MEDIA.HTM).

"Finally, the priest, in another way, follows the example of Christ. Of Him it is written that He "passed the whole night in the prayer of God" and "ever lives to make intercession for us"; and like Him, the priest, is public and official intercessor (mediator) of humanity before God..." (Pope Pius XI, in Ad Catholici Sacerdotii (On the Catholic Priesthood), encyclical promulgated on December 20, 1935, #28. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius11/P11CATHO.HTM.)

Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church also liken their ministerial leadership to Aaron and view them as being mediators between God and man?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"We see here that his (Aaron’s) principle responsibility was to act as a mediator, as a link between the holy and profane, between God and man....In like manner the minister of the gospel today is the high priest....Today we (SDA ministers) are the high priests....God desires that we who are His high priests today learn the same lesson....What a tremendous responsibility to act as mediators between God and man!" (Ministry Magazine (official journal of the Ministerial Association of the Seventh-day Adventist Church), December, 1961).

Section B. Church has supreme and full authority over the entire membership.

Roman Catholic Church

"'The college or body of bishops has no authority unless united with the Roman Pontiff, Peter's successor, as its head.' As such, this college has 'supreme and full authority over the universal Church...’" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Paragraph 4, Section I, #883. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/church4.html#CONSTITUTION).

Does the highest ruling body in the Seventh-day Adventist Church also has supreme and full authority over the entire Church?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Church documents that prescribe the church's structure and governance confirm that all parts of the church are parts of a single entity. Next to the Roman Catholic church, the Adventist church is the most centralized of all the major Christian denominations in this country. The General Conference, as the world wide governing body of the Adventist denomination, is the church's highest legislative, judicial and ecclesiastical authority." (Legal Decision of Judge William T. Hart of the U.S. District Court, North District of Illinois, East Division, Court Transcript of Derrick Proctor vs the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Case #81 C 4938, Findings of Fact, Section B, Church Objective and Structures, p 22, October 29, 1986).

"People expect the General Conference to have the last word and to speak for the Church with ultimate [or supreme] authority....The General Conference is the highest [or fullest] authority and the sum of all the parts, not only philosophically, but also (1) organizationally, (2) legislatively, (3) administratively, (4) judicially, (5) in terms of policy and (6) Church standards." (General Conference President Neal C. Wilson, Commission Report on Role and Function of Denominational Organizations, 140-85GN, p 22-23, April 30, 1985, brackets added to show meaning).

Section C. The clergy rule over the membership.

Roman Catholic Church

"In defining the limits of the obedience owed to the pastors of souls, but most of all to the authority of the Roman Pontiff...the duties of Christians, [is] that they allow themselves to be ruled and directed by the authority and leadership of bishops, and, above all, of the apostolic see." (Pope Leo XIII, in Sapientiae Christianae (On Christians as Citizens), Encyclical promulgated on January 10, 1890, #24. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Leo13/l13sapie.htm).

Is it also the duty of all Seventh-day Adventist Church members to follow and obey their church leadership–even if they disagree with their decisions?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Seventh-day Adventist Church leadership is a function of the church’s organizational structure....

"A twofold task faces the church: (1) train and inspire good leadership, and (2) train and inspire good followership....Leadership will lead in love and understanding, and followership will support the church leadership unfailingly, even though necessarily critical of some decisions of leadership." (Walter R. Beach, past vice-president of the General Conference, in Adventist Review, October 25, 1979, p 13-14).

Section D. The membership must obey the clergy.

Roman Catholic Church

"Wherefore, let the faithful also be on their guard against the overrated independence of private judgment and that false autonomy of human reason. For it is quite foreign to everyone bearing the name of a Christian to trust his own mental powers with such pride as to agree only with those things which he can examine from their inner nature, and to imagine that the Church, sent by God to teach and guide all nations, is not conversant with present affairs and circumstances; or even that they must obey only in those matters which she has decreed by solemn definition as though her other decisions might be presumed to be false or putting forward insufficient motive for truth and honesty. Quite to the contrary, a characteristic of all true followers of Christ, lettered or unlettered, is to suffer themselves to be guided and led in all things that touch upon faith or morals by the Holy Church of God through its Supreme Pastor the Roman Pontiff, who is himself guided by Jesus Christ Our Lord." (Pope Pius XI, in Casti Connubii (On Christian Marriage), Encyclical promulgated on December 31, 1930, #104. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Pius11/P11CASTI.HTM).

Is it also the teaching of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that its membership must submit their understanding of truth to their church leaders in all things and then suffer themselves to abide by these decisions?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"It is our responsibility to study the Scriptures for ourselves, to ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to submit our understandings to those in the church who are able to judge our findings, and then to abide to the decisions of the church..." (Seventh-day Adventist Church Adult Sabbath School Quarterly, Lesson 13, March 28, 1987, p 92, or p 153 in the Teacher’s Edition).

Section E. The spiritual or religious allegiance of the membership is to the Church.

Roman Catholic Church

"And in this special context, when We recall that every imaginable artifice was employed, that all the power and vexatious tactics of our adversaries had but one purpose, to alienate both the clergy and people from their allegiance to the hierarchy and to this Apostolic See..." (Pope Pius XI, in Iniquis Afflictisque (On the Persecution of the Church in Mexico), Encyclical promulgated on November 18, 1926, #22. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Pius11/P11INIQU.HTM).

"There seems ground for fear that in the near future still greater hardships will befall those who refuse to betray their sacred religious allegiance [to the Catholic Church]. For that reason we even now exhort you in the Lord, beloved sons, to be terrified by no menaces or injuries, to be moved by no danger of exile or risk even of life ever to abjure your faith and your fidelity to Mother Church." (Pope Pius XII, in Orientales Omnes Ecclesias, Encyclical promulgated on December 23, 1945, #62. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Pius12/P12OMNES.HTM).

Does the religious or spiritual allegiance of all Seventh-day Adventist members also belong to the Seventh-day Adventist Church?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"The General Conference, then is the Seventh-day Adventist church....the embodiment of the Remnant Church as a Christian denomination, in a unified worldwide organization, to which all baptized Seventh-day Adventists owe spiritual [or religious] allegiance..." (Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Opening Brief for Defendants, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, p 17, brackets added to show meaning).

#6. Organizational Power.

Section A. Organizational Church leadership and structure represents the Church.

Roman Catholic Church

"Since the beginning, the ordained ministry has been conferred and exercised in three degrees: that of bishops, that of presbyters, and that of deacons. The ministries conferred by ordination are irreplaceable for the organic structure of the Church: without the bishop, presbyters, and deacons, one cannot speak of the Church (cf. St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Trall. 3,1)." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Chapter Three, Article 6, Section VII, #1593, brackets supplied for clarity. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/orders.html#DEGREES).

Does the term "Seventh-day Adventist Church" also refer solely to the Organizational leadership and Church Structure and not to the individual believers?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"...so the Seventh-day Adventist church came into being [in 1863], as the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists....the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, which is the Seventh-day Adventist church..." (Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Opening Brief for the Church, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, p 15).

"In the Seventh-day Adventist denomination the term ‘church' has a very comprehensive and broad meaning. It is used to apply to the general organization and headquarters for Seventh-day Adventists under the name of General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists." (Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Affidavit of Neal C. Wilson, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, November 27, 1974, p 4).

Section B. Church leadership speaks for the entire Church.

Roman Catholic Church

"...we, the Fathers (Catholic Church leaders) of the 21st ecumenical council of the Catholic Church...On this solemn day when she closes the deliberations of her 21st ecumenical council, the Church offers you through our voice her friendship, her services, her spiritual and moral forces....Today, as yesterday, the Church needs you and turns to you. She tells you through our voice: Do not allow an alliance as fruitful as this to be broken....The Church is grateful to you for this and thanks you through our voice." (Pope Paul VI, Second Vatican Council II Closing Speech, December 8, 1965. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Paul06/p6closin.htm).

Does the church leadership of the SDA church also speak for the entire church?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"People expect the General Conference to have the last word and to speak for the Church with ultimate authority." (General Conference President Neal C. Wilson, Commission Report on Role and Function of Denominational Organizations, 140-85GN, p 22-23, April 30, 1985).

Section C. Only Church leadership can safely interpret the Bible.

Roman Catholic Church

"’The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ.’ This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part One, Section One, # III, Article 2, Sub-section III, #85. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/profess3.html#INTERPRETATION).

Does the SDA church also believe that they are the only ones who can interpret the Bible?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Only a committee appointed by the General Conference can interpret prophecy." (Adventist Review, June 5, 1986, p 2).

Section D. Only Church leadership can modify divine doctrine.

Roman Catholic Church

"The Roman Pontiff and the bishops, as authentic teachers, preach to the People of God the faith which is to be believed and applied in moral life. It is also encumbent on them to pronounce on moral questions that fall within the natural law and reason.

"The infallibility of the Magisterium of the Pastors extends to all the elements of doctrine, including moral doctrine, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, expounded, or observed. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Article 3, Section III, #2050 & 2051. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/holy.html#MISSIONARY).

Does the SDA church also believe that only its leadership can modify divine doctrine?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"...the General Conference of the Church (in session), the only body having authority to alter the structure of the church either in doctrine or organization." (Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Opening Brief for the Church, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, December 4, 1974, p 17).

Section E. People must submit to teachings of Church leaders.

Roman Catholic Church

"When the Church through its supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine 'for belief as being divinely revealed,' and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions 'must be adhered to with the obedience of faith.'...when, without arriving at an infallible definition and without pronouncing in a ‘definitive manner,’ they propose in the exercise of the ordinary Magisterium a teaching that leads to better understanding of Revelation in matters of faith and morals. To this ordinary teaching the faithful ‘are to adhere to it with religious assent’ which, though distinct from the assent of faith, is nonetheless an extension of it." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Paragraph 4, Section I, #891 & 892. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/church4.html#CONSTITUTION).

"Still another recommendation, we feel, is in place here: that, in undertaking and advancing in the spiritual life, you do not trust too much to yourselves, but with docile simplicity seek and accept the help of someone [the Catholic priest] who, with wise moderation, can guide your soul, point out to you the dangers, suggest suitable remedies, and in every internal and external difficulty can guide you in the right way towards an ever greater perfection, according to the example of the saints and the teachings of Christian asceticism. Without these prudent guides for one's conscience, it is often very difficult to be duly responsive to the impulses of the Holy Spirit and of the grace of God." (Pope Pius XII, in Menti Nostrae (On the Development of Holiness in Priestly Life), Encyclical promulgated on September 23, 1960, #63. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Pius12/P12CLERG.HTM).

Does the SDA church also believe that only their membership must submit to the teachings of its leadership?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

Section F. Those who disagree with the Church, are disfellowshipped and declared heretics, schismatics, or dissidents, as well as all who fellowship outside of her establishment.

Roman Catholic Church

"The Church, founded on these principles and mindful of her office, has done nothing with greater zeal and endeavour than she has displayed in guarding the integrity of the faith. Hence she regarded as rebels and expelled from the ranks of her children all who held beliefs on any point of doctrine different from her own....they were declared heretics [schismatics or dissidents] and banished from the bosom of the Church..." (Pope Leo XIII, in Satis Cognitum (On the Unity of the Church), encyclical promulgated on June 29, 1896, #9, brackets added. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Leo13/l13satis.htm).

"For the tabernacle of the Lord is the Holy Church spread throughout the whole world. Heretics [schismatics or dissidents] , separating themselves from the Church's tabernacles, have set up tabernacles for themselves....a tent outside the Church, wherein God will not delight." St. Augustine, in St. Augustine on the Psalms, Psalm CXLVII, #15, found in Early Church Fathers, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series I, Vol. VIII, brackets added. http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF1_08/npnf1_08_154.htm).

Does the SDA church also believe that those who disagree with the church are disfellowshipped and declared heretics or dissidents, as well as all who fellowship outside of the established church?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Q.: What about the 1,400 Hungarians who were disfellowshipped for protesting the Church’s membership in the Council of Free Churches?...

"Wilson: A good question...The members of this group do not recognize any world authority in the Church....We have advised the dissident group to recognize the world Church organization to place their churches in the world Church." (General Conference president Neal C. Wilson, in Pacific Union Recorder (official paper of the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists), February 18, 1985, p 4).

"The local church where I was speaking – and others as well – are being scandalized by dissident ‘ministries’ whose leaders claim that ‘mainstream’ Adventism is in apostasy....several dissident ‘splinter groups’ that now plague the church..." (Douglas Devnich, president of the Canadian Union Conference of SDAs, in Visitor, March 15, 1992, p 5).

Section G. Those who separate from the church are declared heretics, schismatics, or dissidents.

Roman Catholic Church

"For the tabernacle of the Lord is the Holy (Catholic) Church spread throughout the whole world. Heretics [schismatics or dissidents], separating themselves from the Church's tabernacles, have set up tabernacles for themselves....a tent outside the Church, wherein God will not delight." St. Augustine, in St. Augustine on the Psalms, Psalm CXLVII, #15, found in Early Church Fathers, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series I, Vol. VIII, brackets added. http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF1_08/npnf1_08_154.htm).

Does the SDA church also call those who separate from the church heretics, schismatics, or dissidents?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"The local (SDA) church where I was speaking – and others as well – are being scandalized by dissident ‘ministries’ whose leaders claim that ‘mainstream’ Adventism is in apostasy....several dissident ‘splinter groups’ that now plague the church..." (Douglas Devnich, president of the Canadian Union Conference of SDAs, in Visitor, March 15, 1992, p 5).

#7. Organizational Practices.

Section A. Church leaders obstruct truth from being examined by laity.

Roman Catholic Church

"In order for you to more easily obtain that salutary and desired peace, We impose, with this letter, perpetual and absolute silence on past questions and controversies, and We totally forbid every disapproval and any speech which can disturb the peace among the...faithful. We also expressly and severely prohibit the heretics or schismatics from consuming those in grace and communion with this Apostolic See. If some people who act incorrectly or arouse suspicions suddenly appear -- and We trust that would never happen -- it will be provided for with due cause. The matter will first of all be clarified by this Apostolic See with the appropriate canonical documents; therefore, after Our declaration and warnings, every disturber regardless of class and order will be guilty of serious fault in the future. They will not in any way be able to excuse themselves and avoid due severity." (Pope Pius IX, in Neminem Vestrum (On the Persecution of Armenians), Encyclical promulgated on February 2, 1854, #16. http://www.geocities.com/papalencyclicals/Pius09/p9nemini.htm).

Does the SDA church leadership also try to obstruct truth from being examined by their laity?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Included in such discussions have been related theological concepts such as the nature of Christ, the nature of man, the nature of sin, perfection, and the question as to whether it is possible for a Christian to live a sinless life. In our judgment these complex theological and Biblical issues need not be settled...We are requesting that we refrain from involving ourselves in public presentations of the...theology of righteousness by faith....We should all seek to diminish the flood of cassettes, brochures, books, and miscellaneous documents...Consequently, the General Conference will appoint a representative group...to survey and study difficult theological issues and to share with the church at large...This ended the discussion because the voice of the highest authority had spoken." (General Conference president Neal C. Wilson, in Adventist Review, May 24, 1979, p 4-5).

Section B. The Church avoids close investigation of her practices, evades disclosure of truth, and reveals fearful corruption within.

Roman Catholic Church

"Papacy Avoids Close Investigation"; "Shifts and Evasions" (used to avoid the disclosure of truth)", and "The Fearful Corruption at Rome". Subject matter dealt with in 3 sermons by Martin Luther. (W 30 III, 285 – E 25, 15 – SL 16, 1635 given in the year 1531; W 33, 488 f – E 48, 248 – SL 8, 121 given on September 9, 1531; and W 54, 219 f – E 26, 147 – SL 17, 1036 given in 1545).

Does the SDA leadership also seeks to avoid close investigation of church practices, evades disclosure of truth, and reveals fearful corruption within?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"I was greatly distressed to read the report of president Neal Wilson in the March 24, 1983 Review notifying the church of the decision of the General Conference leadership not to publish the names of those involved with Davenport disclosing their acts of malfeasance while in office...As one who specializes in the prosecution of official corruption cases, I am shocked that our church leaders would so minimize the wrongful conduct of their fellow officers as to shield their conduct from the Adventist public....they are not informed how their public trust has been compromised and betrayed..." (Letter from Glenn E. Coe, Esquire--Chief Trial Attorney for the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, State of Connecticut, , to editor of the Adventist Review, April 11, 1983).

"...the IRS, SEC, FBI, and Justice Department have all initiated investigations (into the Seventh-day Adventist organizational activities) and some Seventh-day Adventist conference administrators may even face trial for fraud." (Walter Martin, in The Kingdom of the Cults, p 410).

"Finally, the situation of the Seventh Day Adventists must be mentioned. Their leadership, hand-picked by the (Hungarian) state authorities...In their case...the methods of intimidation [against those who refused to obey] were often more blatant than those applied against larger groups...They are always selected in such a way as to make documentation difficult if not impossible. Reminiscent of the intimidation known in the U.S. to those who are familiar with the ways of organized crime...In the case of the Seventh Day Adventists, some of the state ‘appointed’ leaders were so dissolute and morally reprehensible that they eventually had to give up their positions." (Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, Ninety-eighth Congress, Second Session, June 12, 1984, "The Situation of the Churches in Hungary", p 264-265).

Section C. The Church persecutes those who expose, differ, or protest against her.

Roman Catholic Church

"How many millions of martyrs have been put to death in the name of Christianity, by that most unchristian and antichristian power, the papacy, will never be known until the dead, small and great, stand before God." (E.J. Waggoner, in Prophetic Lights, Chapter – The Papacy, p 92).

"For professing faith contrary to the teachings of the Church of Rome, history records the martyrdom of more then one hundred million people." (Brief Bible Readings, p. 16).

Does the SDA leadership also persecutes those who expose, differ, or protest against the church?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

M.L. Andreasen had his church retirement pension revoked for openly protesting the book, Questions on Doctrines which denies many of the original SDA doctrines.

1400 faithful Hungarians were disfellowshipped in 1983 for openly protesting the church's membership in the World Council of Free Churches.

"In Dec 21, 1985 Br. Nikola was physically attacked by the Seventh day Adventists and their preachers in the church in Zagreb (Yugoslavia) and beat him so that he is now in the hospital....preachers Jovica Posavec, Kuburic... Markov...and others struck him pushing him out of the church and threatening to kill him....Just think what sort of a church this is that would do such a thing....the leaders and preachers were angry because Nikola does not acknowledge their doctrine....I am sending you the doctors report...he was attacked in the Adventist church near Prilaz 77 in Zagreb. Nikola is in the hospital several days now." (Letter from Brother Ivan, from Yugoslavia, 1985).

Section D. The Church uses secular or civil power to punish those who expose or protest against her.

Roman Catholic Church

"The question has been raised whether it be lawful for the Church, not merely to sentence a delinquent to physical penalties, but itself to inflict these penalties. As to this, it is sufficient to note that the right of the Church to invoke the aid of the civil power to execute her sentences is expressly asserted by Boniface VIII in the Bull ‘Unam Sanctam’" (The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol 12, p 266, article "Pope". http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm).

Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church also use secular or civil power to punish those who expose or protest against the church?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Five Seventh Day Adventists were arrested on the pedestrian ramp leading from the Superdome to the Hyatt Regency Hotel Thursday night while protesting statements made by Russian delegates at a religious convention....The protesters all were attending the Seventh Day Adventists General Conference session in New Orleans...(and) sought a forum at the convention to express their opposition to the Russian delegate's statement but have been denied by Neal Wilson, of Washington., D.C., president of the General Conference of Seventh Day Adventists." (The Times-Picayune Newspaper, July 5, 1985 p A-25).

"Late in June 1986, Elder Neal C. Wilson, president of the General Conference, again went to Budapest Hungary....Meetings were held...with the Hungarian Union leadership and with the Hungarian Government....

"The Monday following Elder Wilson's departure from Budapest, Oszkar Egervari (leader of the 1400 disfellowshipped SDA’s) was asked to come to the State Office of Religion...and told four things:

"1 – They must stop all gatherings. No more religious meetings could be held. 2 – They must no longer receive offerings and carry on their religious duties. 3 – No more campmeetings or youth camps could be held. 4 – Certain people would be held responsible if these points were not followed....

"It is clear that the Hungarian Union leadership is determined to stop all separate gatherings by Seventh-day Adventists who remain loyal to the teachings of historic Adventism. They will even use the arm of the State and threatened imprisonment to carry out their objective....Over one thousand Seventh-day Adventists can no longer worship God together as a result of Elder Wilson's visit to Budapest." (Independent Report of Neal C. Wilson’s trip to Budapest Hungary, Pilgrims' Rest Tract, WM-140, July, 1986).

"Over 1000 Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church believers (were asked to and then) assembled at their headquarters in Nyanchwa in Kisii and called on the authorities to probe two dissident church groups which are involved in heretical teachings, the executive director of the SDA church’s South Kenya Conference, Pastor Nathan Ogeto, said yesterday...

"He said the believers condemned and castigated whoever were the leaders of such a group.

"The SDA believers in Kisii he said wish to express their unswerving and total loyalty to President Moi, the government and the ruling party Kanu.

"He said the assembly paid special tribute to the Kisii DC, the OCPD, District Officers, chiefs and their assistants for their able leadership ‘in containing and salvaging the situation.’" (The Kenya Times, Monday, November 24, 1986, p 20).

#8. Organizational Beliefs–Regarding the Church Itself.

Section A. The Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

Roman Catholic Church

"Urged by faith, we are obliged to believe and to maintain that the Church is one [in unity], holy, catholic, and also apostolic." (Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam, Bull promulgated on November 18, 1302. http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/B7UNAM.HTM).

Does the SDA church also believe that their church is one in unity, holy, Catholic or universal, and apostolic?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"The four classical marks of the Biblical church apply to Seventh-day Adventists: its holiness (in Jesus Christ), its catholicity (universality), its apostolicity (in harmony with the witness of the apostles/founders), its unity (one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism)." (North American Division Officers, in Adventist Review, October 1, 1992, p 27, parentheses and italic in original).

Section B. The Church is like the ark of God.

Roman Catholic Church

"There had been at the time of the deluge only one ark of Noah, prefiguring the one Church...and we read that, outside of this ark, all that subsisted on the earth was destroyed." (Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam, Bull promulgated on November 18, 1302. http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/B7UNAM.HTM).

"The Church is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation. The Church is "the world reconciled." She is that bark which "in the full sail of the Lord's cross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely in this world." According to another image dear to the Church Fathers, she is prefigured by Noah's ark, which alone saves from the flood." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Section Two, Paragraph 3, Article III, # 845. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/church3.html#CATHOLIC).

Does the SDA church also believe that they are like the ark of God?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Many times pastors have compared the church to an ark of safety, and I believe it is....The church is a place to preserve our lives..." (Jim Cress, Mid-America Union Ministerial Secretary of the SDA church, in Adventist Review, August 7, 1986, p 23).

"The church is like Noah’s ark....it will help save God's people..." (Floyd Bresee, Associate Secretary of the General Conference Ministerial and Stewardship Association, in Adventist Review, August 9, 1984, p 18).

Section C. The Gates of hell will not prevail against the Church.

Roman Catholic Church

"...all Christian churches everywhere have held and hold the great Church that is here [at Rome] to be their only basis and foundation since, according to the Savior's promise, the gates of hell have never prevailed against her." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Section Two, Paragraph 3, Article III, # 834. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/church3.html#CATHOLIC).

"The Church well knows that the gates of hell will not prevail against her." (Pope Pius X, in Ilfermo Proposito (On Catholic Action in Italy, Encyclical promulgated on June 11, 1905, #6. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius10/p10fermo.htm

"‘And although He seems to delay, we are certain that the Lord will not leave the scepter of sinners over the heritage of the just, that He will never abandon His heritage and that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it‘ (In libro ii. Epist. S. Anselmi, ep. 33)." (Pope Pius X, in Communium Rerum (On St. Anselm of Aosta, Encyclical promulgated on April 21, 1909, #36. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius10/p10ans.htm).

Does the SDA church also believe that the gates of hell cannot prevail against their church?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"...the case with the [SDA] Laodicean Church, as a church, is different. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The last church will not be spewed out; it will not be rejected; it will go through triumphantly." (M.L. Andreasen, in Review and Herald, November 9, 1939, p 7).

Section D. The Ship is going through with Christ’s hand on the wheel.

Roman Catholic Church

"The Church which, from the day of Pentecost, has been destined here below to a never-ending life, which went forth from the upper chamber into the world endowed with the gifts and inspirations of the Holy Spirit, what has been her mission during the last twenty centuries and in every country of the world if not, after the example of her Divine Founder, "to go about doing good"? (Acts x, 38)...At times the bark of Peter, favored by the winds, goes happily forward; at other times it appears to be swallowed up by the waves and on the point of being lost. Has not this ship always aboard the Divine Pilot who knows when to calm the angry waves and the winds?" (Pope Pius XI, in Iniquis Afflictisque (On the Persecution of the Church in Mexico, Encyclical promulgated on November 18, 1926, #29. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius11/P11INIQU.HTM).

Does the SDA church also believe that the ship is going through with Christ’s hand on the wheel?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Christ's statement is ‘that the gates of hell shall not prevail against' the church...Let us stay with the ship. The church...is going through and will surely drop anchor on the ‘sea of glass' because a ‘Divine hand is on the wheel’ – the hand of Christ." (Theodore Carcich, former vice-president of the General Conference, in Adventist Review, July 28, 1983, p 5).

Section E. The Church can never fall.

Roman Catholic Church

"Now you know well that the most deadly foes of the Catholic religion have always waged a fierce war, but without success, against this Chair; they are by no means ignorant of the fact that religion itself can never totter and fall while this Chair remains intact, the Chair which rests on the rock which the proud gates of hell cannot overthrow[5] and in which there is the whole and perfect solidity of the Christian religion." (Pope Pius IX, in Inter Multiplices (Pleading for Unity of Spirit), Encyclical promulgated on March 21, 1853, #7. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius09/p9interm.htm).

"From this text it is clear that by the will and command of God the Church rests upon St. Peter...It is consequently the office of St. Peter to support the Church, and to guard it in all its strength and indestructible unity. How could he fulfil this office without the power of commanding, forbidding, and judging, which is properly called jurisdiction?...The words - and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it proclaim and establish the authority of which we speak. ‘What is the it?’ (writes Origen). ‘Is it the rock upon which Christ builds the Church or the Church? The expression indeed is ambiguous, as if the rock and the Church were one and the same. I indeed think that this is so, and that neither against the rock upon which Christ builds His Church nor against the Church shall the gates of Hell prevail’ (Origenes, Comment. in Matt., tom. xii., n. ii). The meaning of this divine utterance is, that, notwithstanding the wiles and intrigues which they bring to bear against the Church, it can never be that the church committed to the care of Peter shall succumb or in any wise fail. ‘For the Church, as the edifice of Christ who has wisely built 'His house upon a rock,' cannot be conquered by the gates of Hell, which may prevail over any man who shall be off the rock and outside the Church, but shall be powerless against it’ (Ibid.). Therefore God confided His Church to Peter so that he might safely guard it with his unconquerable power. He invested him, therefore, with the needful authority; since the right to rule is absolutely required by him who has to guard human society really and effectively. This, furthermore, Christ gave: ‘To thee will I give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven.’ And He is clearly still speaking of the Church, which a short time before He had called His own, and which He declared He wished to build on Peter as a foundation. The Church is typified not only as an edifice but as a Kingdom, and every one knows that the keys constitute the usual sign of governing authority. Wherefore when Christ promised to give to Peter the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, he promised to give him power and authority over the Church. ‘The Son committed to Peter the office of spreading the knowledge of His Father and Himself over the whole world. He who increased the Church in all the earth, and proclaimed it to be stronger than the heavens, gave to a mortal man all power in Heaven when He handed him the Keys’ (Johannes Chrysostomus, Hom. Liv., in Matt. v., 2)....

"And since all Christians must be closely united in the communion of one immutable faith, Christ the Lord, in virtue of His prayers, obtained for Peter that in the fulfilment of his office he should never fall away from the faith." (Pope Leo XIII, in Satis Cognitum (On the Unity of the Church), Encyclical promulgated on June 29, 1896, #12. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Leo13/l13satis.htm).

Does the SDA church also believe that their church can never fall?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"The prophetic scenario assures us of the (SDA) church's survival....[It will] go through until the very end....it does not fall..." (Charles E. Bradford, president of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, in Adventist Review, May 4, 1989, p 9).

"...because the church is under God's grace it ‘may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall...'" (William G. Johnson, editor of the Adventist Review, in Adventist Review, September 22, 1983, p 14).

{Please note: the church which appears to fall but does not is God’s true church of obedient individuals, not a denominational structure! For the Bible proof, please go to: http://www.TrueChurchofGod.info}

Section F. The Church can never fully be contaminated or apostatize from God.

Roman Catholic Church

"To the one true Church of Christ, we say, which is visible to all, and which is to remain, according to the will of its Author, exactly the same as He instituted it. During the lapse of centuries, the mystical Spouse of Christ has never been contaminated, nor can she ever in the future be contaminated, as Cyprian bears witness: ‘The Bride of Christ cannot be made false to her Spouse: she is incorrupt and modest. She knows but one dwelling, she guards the sanctity of the nuptial chamber chastely and modestly.’" (Pope Pius XI, in Mortalium Animos (On Religious Unity), Encyclical promulgated on January, 1928, #10. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius11/P11MORTA.HTM).

"It is eminently befitting the nature and necessity of the case, that Christ Jesus has been and shall continue to be ready to safeguard the Church, which His provident care established for the salvation of the human race. This certainty is warranted by the promise of her Divine Founder, which we read in the Gospel; and it must be clear to evidence from the annals of that Church, on which error has never set a stain, which no falling away however widespread of her sons has made to waver, which regains her youthful vigor and ceaselessly renews her strength despite the assaults of impious men, even when carried to the most shocking extremes....

"We mean the precepts of Christ Jesus, who has provided and strengthened His Church with a superb, an immortal constitution which so many vicissitudes of time and fortune, so many tribulations during the twenty centuries that have passed have been unable to shake, and will never cause to totter even to the day of doom." (Pope Pius XI, Ad Salutem (On St. Augustine, Encyclical promulgated on April 30, 1930, #1 & 29. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius11/P11SALUT.HTM).

Does the SDA church also believe that their church can never fully apostatize from God?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"I told her [Miss Lyda Scott]...that God would not permit this denomination to so fully apostatize that there would be the coming out of another church." (Willie C. White, in the Willie C. White Correspondence file, May 23, 1915).

Section G. The Church will go on to complete victory.

Roman Catholic Church

"Though our ancestors' institutions failed, public affairs are in tumult, and everything human is confused, the Catholic Church alone never vacilates, but instead looks confidently to the future. She alone is born for immortality, trusting in the words addressed to Blessed Peter: ‘Upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against her.’" (Pope Benedict XV, in Principi Apostolorum Petro (On St. Ephrem the Syrian), Encyclical promulgated on October 5, 1920, #15. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Ben15/b15prapp.htm).

"Our unshaken hope in this complete victory of God and of the Church receives daily confirmation (such is the infinite mercy of God!) from the noble ardor of innumerable souls whom we see turning themselves to God, in every country and in all classes of society." (Pope Pius XI, in Caritate Christi Compulsi (On the Sacred Heart), Encyclical promulgated on May 3, 1932, #10. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius11/P11CARIT.HTM).

Does the SDA church also believe that their church will go on to complete victory and triumph?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"The Seventh-day Adventist Church will triumph gloriously and will go through triumphantly, as a corporate body, to the sea of glass." (Gordon W. Collier, Sr. in The Early and Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit, p 183).

"I want you to remember one thing, that the Laodicean (SDA) Church is the translation church...this is the very church that will be translated into the Kingdom of God." (J.L. McElhany, president of the General Conference, in Review and Herald, November 30, 1939, p 4).

"This church to which we belong will emerge a victorious company to stand some day on the sea of glass....Adventism is destined to triumph gloriously....They [God's people] will patiently watch and pray until God in His own time and in His own way purifies His church...The church will fulfill its prophetic role and will triumph. Let us stay with the church so that we can share in that victory." (E.R. Bacchus, president of the Ontario Conference of SDA, Canada, in Messenger, October, 1994, p 2 & 11).

Section H. There is no salvation outside of the Church.

Roman Catholic Church

"Outside the Church there is no salvation"....

"Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation...Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part One, Section Two, Chapter Three, Article 9, Paragraph 3, Section III, #846 (1992 edition, p 244). http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p3.htm).

"For 'there is one universal (Catholic) Church outside of which no one at all is saved...'" (Pope Pius IX, Ubi Primum (On Discipline For Religious), Encyclical Promulgated on June 17, 1847, #10. http://www.ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/P9UBIPR1.HTM).

Does the SDA church also teach that there is no salvation outside their church?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"Regardless of the pretext, or how righteous the cause may appear, separation from the visible remnant [the SDA church] is apostasy from the body of Christ." (E.R. Bacchus, president of the Ontario Conference of SDA, Canada, in Messenger, October, 1994, p 2).

"The local [SDA] church becomes the ‘port of entry’ to the kingdom of God." (North American Division Officers, in Adventist Review, October 1, 1992, p 23).

"Therefore it is in the church...that He (Christ) invites all people who accept salvation....Church – who needs it? You do, and so do I – and all others who choose to love Christ...He invites us there, and still adds to it daily such as should be saved. Let us then treat church membership as the privilege it really is..." (Brian Jones, Bible instructor in the Washington Conference of SDA, in Adventist Review, March 7, 1991, p 10).

"There is some relationship between salvation and church membership." (Floyd Bresee, Associate Secretary of the General Conference Ministerial and Stewardship Association, in Adventist Review, August 9, 1984, p 18).

#9. Organizational Beliefs–in Doctrine.

Section A. The Doctrine of Original Sin.

Roman Catholic Church

"...the Church has always taught that the overwhelming misery which oppresses men and their inclination towards evil and death cannot be understood apart from their connection with Adam's sin and the fact that he has transmitted to us a sin with which we are all born afflicted, a sin which is the "death of the soul".[291] Because of this certainty of faith, the Church baptizes for the remission of sins even tiny infants who have not committed personal sin....

"‘We therefore hold, with the Council of Trent, that original sin is transmitted with human nature, ‘by propagation, not by imitation’ and that it is. . . 'proper to each'" (Paul VI, CPG # 16)." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Section Two, Article III & IV, #403 & 419. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/visible4.html#DEATH).

Does the SDA church also teach the doctrine of Original Sin?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"The spiritual disease that has infected all of us is sin...we are all in a sinful state because of the decision of Adam, the corporate head of the human race...by man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and as a result, all men sinned. That is, because of Adam's sin, all men became sinners." (General Conference president Neal C. Wilson, in Adventist Review, June 28, 1990, p 8).

"We are all sinners, whether we have ever done anything ‘wrong’ or not. It is not sinning that makes us sinners. It is getting born that makes us sinners....We are born sinners, and we sin because we are sinners. We are not sinners because we sin!...Since we are sinners by nature, we of ourselves are never going to be able to produce any obedience." (Morris L. Venden, well-known SDA pastor and author, in Faith That Works, p 161-65).

"Man sins because he is sinful. He is not sinful because he sins...You don't have to sin to be sinful; all you have to do is get yourself born!" (Morris L. Venden, in To Know God: A Five Day Plan, p 23).

"We are born sinful and subject to death--prior to lawbreaking...Clearly Adam's sin affected the race--constituted them sinners." (Issues: The Seventh-day Adventist Church and Certain Private Ministries, sponsored and authorized for publication by the North American Division Officers and Union Presidents of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, p 118).

"We are born sinners..." Adult Sabbath School Lessons Quarterly, First Quarter, Lesson #5, January 23, 1983, p 35.

Section B. The immortality of the soul with perfection necessary for heaven being gained after death.

Roman Catholic Church

"Every man receives his eternal recompense in his immortal soul from the moment of his death in a particular judgment by Christ, the judge of the living and the dead....

"Those who die in God's grace and friendship imperfectly purified, although they are assured of their eternal salvation, undergo a purification after death, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of God. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Section Two, Article 12, Section VI, #1051 & 1054. http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/art12.html#HOPE).

Does the SDA church also teach the immortality of the soul with perfection necessary for heaven being gained after death?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

The Bible states that "the soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20), not live forever. But the SDA church teaches that no one can overcome all sin in this life before Christ comes. Yet God will not destroy you but will make you perfect and take you to heaven, giving you eternal life anyway. That is teaching the doctrine on the immortality of the soul, and of perfection being granted after death even though you were not ready for heaven!

"...I will always fall short of my potential....for those who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness...[are] striving after an elusive goal..." (Alden Thompson, professor of religion at Walla Walla SDA College, in Adventist Review, December 6, 1984, p 6).

"...if we die to sin at conversion, are we going to sin anymore?...We will continue to sin as Christians--not because we want to, but because we're human." (H.M.S. Richards, Jr., in Voice of Prophecy News, May, 1985, p 2).

"We will never reach sinless perfection in this life..." (R.S. Watts, Vice-President of the General Conference, in Review and Herald, May 19, 1966, p 4).

"We should remember that only when Jesus comes can we be made perfect." (Taylor G. Bunch, Retired SDA minister, in Ministry Magazine, December, 1965, p 9).

Section C. The Bible is imperfect.

Roman Catholic Church

"...your Romish doctors strain every nerve to persuade us that Scripture is imperfect..." (Chr. Wordsworth, D.D., in Letters to M. Gordon, p 81, cited in Source Book for Bible Students, p 87-88).

"It is true, no doubt, that copyists have made mistakes in the text of the Bible; this question, when it arises, should be carefully considered on its merits, and the fact not too easily admitted, but only in those passages where the proof is clear." (Pope Leo XIII, in Providentissimus Deus (On the Study of Holy Scripture), Encyclical promulgated on November 18, 1893, #20. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Leo13/l13provi.htm).

"VATICAN CITY, Italy - The Vatican criticized a literal interpretation of the Bible and said the fundamentalist approach to scripture was a kind of intellectual suicide. A Vatican document said fundamentalism refuses to admit that the inspired Word of God has been expressed in human language... by human authors possessed of limited capacities and resources.

"The 125-page document, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, was written by the Pontifical Biblical Commission, a group of scholars who assist the Pope in the study of scripture. It noted that a fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible had been gaining strength. The Vatican is increasingly concerned about the number of Catholics, especially in Latin America, who have abandoned the church for fast-growing fundamentalist sects. The fundamentalist approach is dangerous, for it is attractive to people who look to the Bible for ready answers to the problems of life, the document said. Fundamentalism actually invites people to a kind of intellectual suicide. A fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible began during the Reformation, when Protestants showed an increasing concern for fidelity to the literal meaning of scripture.

"The document said fundamentalism refused to admit that there was a human element in the transmission of the Word of God. One member of the commission, Jesuit Father Joseph Fitzmeyer, said fundamentalists failed to recognize that several years elapsed between the time Jesus spoke and the time when the gospels were written. There was no stenographer, no one with a tape recorder on that time, said Fitzmeyer." (The Star, Manila, Philippines, 1994, cited in Presents of God Ministry Website, see also Chicago Tribune, March 20, 1994, p 27. The Document "The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church", was written by the Pontifical Biblical Commission, on April 23, 1993, http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/pcb_documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19930415_interpretazione_it.html).

Does the SDA church also believe that the Bible is imperfect?

Seventh-day Adventist Church

"In our study and presentation (of the Bible), we also must reject the idea of Biblical inerrancy and verbal inspiration, but we dare not treat the Scriptures as just another human document." (General Conference president Neal C. Wilson, in Adventist Review, December 17, 1981, p 5).

Section D. Claims infallibility – or whatever the Church does or teaches is correct and needs no repentance.

Roman Catholic Church

"...not least among the blessings which have resulted from the public and legitimate honor paid to the Blessed Virgin and the saints is the perfect and perpetual immunity of the Church from error and heresy. We may well admire in this the admirable wisdom of the Providence of God, who, ever bringing good out of evil, has from time to time suffered the faith and piety of men to grow weak, and allowed Catholic truth to be attacked by false doctrines, but always with the result that truth has afterwards shone out with greater splendor, and that men's faith, aroused from its lethargy, has shown itself more vigorous than before." (Pope Pius XI, in Quas Primas (on the Feast of Christ the King), Encyclical promulgated on, December 11, 1925, #22. http://www.newadvent.org/docs/pi11qp.htm).

"In order to preserve the Church in the purity of the faith handed on by the apostles, Christ who is the Truth willed to confer on her a share in his own infallibility. By a "supernatural sense of faith" the People of God, under the guidance of the Church's living Magisterium, "unfailingly adheres to this faith."

"The mission of the Magisterium is linked to the definitive nature of the covenant established by God with his people in Christ. It is this Magisterium's task to preserve God's people from deviations and defections and to guarantee them the objective possibility of professing the true faith without error. Thus, the pastoral duty of the Magisterium is aimed at seeing to it that the People of God abides in the truth that liberates. To fulfill this service, Christ endowed the Church's shepherds with the charism of infall