Is the Pope a scam artist?

Question

I mean, he got elected to his post by his fellows, and now he is head of the Vatican?

Is it all a big scam? Not Jesus, but the Papacy?

Answer 1

The Catholics claim that Peter was the first Pope, but clear study of the Bible show this to be false. (see sources below).

The Bible sets up the authority for the church of Christ. Jesus is the head of the church and the leadership of the church is by Elders and Deacons in each congregation of the church. There are no other leadership roles specified for the church in the Bible.

You do not read in the New Testament of any man, or set of men, having more authority under heaven in the church of the living God than do the elders in the church. That means that, in the matter of organization, there can be nothing larger than the local congregation with the oversight under a plurality of elders.

The "introduction" of the Pope and catholic "leadership" took place nearly 600 years after the church of Christ was established in 30-33AD.

It was thought to be a part of wisdom to bring all the districts in a state or province under one head and so the archbishop was introduced. Both name and office are unscriptural and anti-scriptural. Then in the course of time it was thought wise to bring all the states or provinces in a continent under one head, and so the cardinal was introduced. Both name and office are unscriptural and anti-scriptural. With the passing of further time in fact, in A.D. 606 old emperor Phocus, who was himself a murderer and an adulterer, appointed Boniface III as the first pope. Should anyone be inclined to call that in question, being mindful as I am that Romanism proposes a certain lineage from the time of Peter, I think this one argument is enough to settle the matter: for the first six centuries there was no ecumenical council called but what was called by an emperor never by a pope! The decisions of those councils were considered authoritative and nowhere in them was there the slightest or barest allusion to a pope. Why not? If there had been such, quite obviously there would have been acknowledgment of the same.

The pope is supposed to be the successor of Peter; and yet, is it not strange that Peter in neither of his epistles recognized the eminence of that office? Rather he referred to himself as a servant, as an apostle, as a fellow-elder. Further, is it not strange as recorded in Acts 8, when it was desired to have men sent from Jerusalem to Samaria that they might lay hands on certain ones, that Peter and John were sent? Have you ever heard of a pope being sent anywhere? Can you, in the greatest stretch of your imagination, conceive of the present pope being sent on a mission by anyone? Does then Peter, being sent to Samaria, indicate the preeminence which is ordinarily attached to the office of pope? Something more: in the council held in Jerusalem as recorded in the fifteenth chapter of Acts, was it not James, if any one at all, who presided? Was it not James who handed down the finality of the decision? Did not Paul say, "For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles." Does not Paul in the Galatian letter tell of withstanding Peter to his face, because he stood condemned? Peter associated with the Gentiles in Antioch before the coming of the Jewish brethren, but when they came, Peter withdrew himself from the Gentiles. Paul condemned Peter because he would have Gentiles live as did the Jews. Does that indicate the preeminence of Peter? You have heard it said that the Catholic Church never changes. Peter had a wife, as shown in Matthew 8:14. The Catholic Church would have you think he was the first pope. Can his successor take a wife? Peter being right, the Catholic Church is wrong. He was certainly not in harmony with it.

As you can see, the papacy is a completely man-made idea and has no basis in the Bible at all.

Answer 2

you are really helping to build up the people,aren't you. such a pleasing disposition and dress advisor are you. So thankful that your opinion matters so much TO YOU, what about the gas prices, wars,homelessness, the cost of health care. Is what the Pope wears the only thing of importance to you. What is the definition of ignorant. not calling you stupid, because stupidy would enfur that you have a clue what you are talking about, ignorance deserves teaching. Stupid is knowing and making jokes of it, ignorant, means you should be taught the reason for every piece of clothing that is on his body. What's your reason for what you wear, and have you ever been on the cover of a magazine saying you have the fashion award of the year. You know some people are so materialistic. Is this the highlight of your day? I bet you've waited a long time to be able to make fun of the Pope. Man you are on a roll now. Brownie points from the satanists to you. Get God. gain confidence in yourself so that the need to put others down doesn't take over you.It becomes a disease that infects society

Answer 3

A "scam" is when a person knowing lies and deceives a person to get money or other favors from them without planning to give anything in return.

While you may question the validity of the Catholica faith and the existence of God, but hopefully you realize that the vast majority of those involved in the church - including the current pope - are people who sincerely believe in their cause. They are not "scamming" anyone in that they are knowing taking money under false pretense.

Do people get anything back for their money? The Catholic church probably provides more food, clothing, medicine, and other vital supplies to impoverted nation then any other organization on earth. We "rich Americans" do not see much of that money because we are normally not the ones in need of it. Rather we are the ones who can supply it.

The Catholic church provides some of the best education children can get, not just in America, but around the world.

The Catholica church is involved in adoptions and the placement of orphaned/abandoned children around the world.

The Catholic church runs more orphanages then any other orgainzation on earth.

The Catholic church provides shelters for the homless and the abused.

All of this is beside their primary role of providing support for their people's faith in God. That in itself makes them a worthwhile organization.

I am not Catholic, but I can see the good that their faith has done (and sometimes also the bad, unfortunately). The world would be a far poorer place, physically, spiritually, and morally without them.

So no, the Pope is not a scam artist. He is not taking money under false pretense, but rather is provided much needed services in return for every penny they receive.

Answer 4

Are you people Christians? No, the Papacy is not just a scam. It has had it's problems, and there are things that can be improved on, but remember he is the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. If you don't respect him, than how about respecting his followers.

Answer 5

Pope is just a leader of catholic church. He is like a king of all catholic people ............. why would people think he is a holy man? He has no wife, oh sorry probably he got his sexy virgin sisters to tend to him every night lol or even masturbating.

Answer 6

Religion, god, Jesus, the pope, the bible, heaven, and hell are all part of a big scam.

Answer 7

Yes his is talked about a lot in revelations. This is a great article about the problems of the catholic system. Its not all that offensive to Catholics either.

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-r011.html

Answer 8

I'm not Catholic, so I can't really answer. But this is the way the Catholic Church operates.

Answer 9

P.T. Barnum once said "There's a Sucker born every minute."

Answer 10

He`s the head of babylon