1917_The_Finished_Mystery_Text

is that infidelity advances with huge strides,especially in Roman Catholic countries. Theenlightenment of the age no longer permits mento believe in the priests blindly, as in the times ofignorance. Free discussion alone could show thatthe doctrines of the Roman church are not thoseof the Gospel; discussion, as it would prove theirfalsehood to a demonstration, would establishthe truth. Discussion being prevented, it followsthat, seeing clearly the falsehood and iniquity ofthe Roman doctrines, men believe them, becausethey are not discussed, to be the doctrines of theChristian religion, and abandon them, and live inindifference and infidelity."Protestantism, ecclesiasticism, has been an aptfollower of Papacy in suppression of discussion.Witness the systematic world-wide ban on anydiscussion of Present Truth as presented byGod's watchman, Pastor Russell!Ecclesiasticism, priestcraft, had for agessupplanted the workship of God with paganism,and in the Gospel Age has insidiouslytransformed the Gospel of Christ, has tried todestroy liberty and progress and has built up agigantic system of oppression and destruction ofthe friends of the Truth. The most ferocious ofthe popes are made the "saints" of Satan'schurch. And, says De Sanctis: "In canonizingsuch men, the Popes have canonized theirdoctrines;FM528hence it cannot be said that despotism,obscuration [suppression of Truth], oppression ofnations, and hatred for any kind of progress,exist through the mal-practice of any one of thepopes; they exist by the very system of thePapacy. The corruption of religion ought not tobe attributed to abuse of it by the individual, butto the system; therefore the Gospel ought toreign in its purity, and ought to be delivered fromthis great enemy; and Italy and Rome ought toconfer upon the world this great benefit ofdespoiling the popes of their unspured power."Why not reform, purge, cleanse ecclesiasticism?As well try to reform cancer. The sole safeguard