Facts of Faith

A Sad Change

We wish we could close the picture here, and leave its unmarred beauty lingering in our minds; but, sad to say, there is another chapter to it that must be read. The prophet continues: “He spake as a dragon.” Revelation 13:11. A nation speaks through its laws. This prophetic statement, therefore, reveals that a great change in policy is to come over our beloved country. The “dragon” is a symbol of pagan Rome, that persecuted the early Christians during the first three centuries. (Revelation 12:1-5, 11) And a similar persecution will be inaugurated against the “remnant” church, for we read: “The dragon was wroth with the woman [church], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17. And he has “great wrath, because he knows that he hath but a short time.” Verse 12. Here we see what is meant by speaking “as a dragon,” and we also see upon whom this persecution will come; namely, upon commandment-keepers. FAFA 239.1

This prophecy also reveals what influence will be brought to bear upon our law makers and people to produce this sad change. We have already seen that “the first beast” of Revelation 13:1-10 represents the Papacy, and by reading the eleventh and twelfth verses we see that the effort of the lamblike beast will be to cause “the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound wag healed.” That is: The whole trend is Romeward, therefore it must be Rome that is working in disguise to bring about such a trend. And now as to the facts in the case. We quote the following from Roman Catholic sources: FAFA 239.2

At the Centennial Conference of American Catholics, held in Baltimore, November, 1890, Archbishop Ireland said: FAFA 239.3

“Catholics of the United States are called ... to make America Catholic.... The church triumphant in America, Catholic truth will travel on the wings of American influence, and with it encircle the universe.” — “The Pope and the New Era,” pp. 222, 223. London: W. T. Stead, 1890. FAFA 239.4

A letter from Rome, dated October 14, 1894, says: FAFA 240.1

“The United States of America, it can be said without exaggeration, are the chief thought of Leo XIII.... A few days ago, on receiving an eminent American, Leo XIII said to him: ‘But the United States are the future; we think of them incessantly.’ ... That is why Leo X111 turns all his soul, full of ideality, to what is improperly called his American policy. It should be called his Catholic universal policy.” — “Catholic Standard and Times” (Philadelphia), November 3, 1894; quoted in “Protestant Magazine,” October, 1913, p. 441.

The report of “the third Washington conference” says: FAFA 240.2

“Our purpose is to make America dominantly Catholic.” — “The Mission Movement in America,” issued from the Catholic University, Washington, D. C., June, 1909.

“It seems to me that the main support of Protestantism comes from the United States and England.... If we put an end to this effort in England and the United States by making these nations predominantly Catholic, we will have removed the chief obstacle to the conversion of the world to the true faith.... A vigorous effort in the United States at this time will reduce the opposition to an insignificant condition.... In the course of another century, the [Protestant] sects will be a study for the historian and antiquarian along with Arianism.” — Extract from a letter in “The Missionary ” (Roman Catholic), Washington, D. C.: May, 1910; quoted in “Protestant Magazine,” Vol. II, p. 22. FAFA 240.3

This Catholic movement has already made such progress in England, that, with a little careful manipulation, its leaders anticipate very little opposition in the future. (See ” History of the Rome-Ward Movement in the Church of England,” London: 1900, and “The Secret History of the Oxford Movement”. London: 1899, both by Walter Walsh; and “The Oxford Movement in America,” by Rev. C. E. Walworth, New York: 1895; also “The Jesuits and the British Press,” by Michael J. F. McCarthy). FAFA 240.4

Now the “Catholic Action” is focused on America, not in an antagonistic way, but quietly, in wisely planned, systematically organized, and well directed efforts along numerous lines, so as to gain favor among Protestants, and not to be suspected as propaganda. And, remarkable as it may sound, Protestant leaders and people are totally asleep on the Catholic question, even more so than the Huguenots were in France before the St. Bartholomew’s Massacre. FAFA 241.1

Dr. E. Boyd Barrett, for many years a Jesuit, and still a Roman Catholic, as far as the author knows, has the following to say about the plans of his church: FAFA 241.2

“In theory, Catholic Action is the work and service of lay Catholics in the cause of religion, under the guidance of the bishops. In practice it is the Catholic group fighting their way to control America.” — “Rome Stoops to Conquer,” p. 15. New York: 1935. FAFA 241.3

“The effort, the fight, may be drawn out. It may last for five or ten years. Even if it last for twenty - what is twenty years in the life of Rome? The fight must be fought to a finish - opposition must be worn down if it cannot be swept away. Rome’s immortal destiny hangs on the outcome. That destiny overshadows the land. FAFA 241.4

“And in the fight, as she has ever fought when battles were most desperate in the past, Rome will use steel, and gold, and silvery lies. Rome will stoop to conquer.” Id., pp. 266, 267. FAFA 241.5

In a communication from Vatican City, published in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, November 4, 1936, we read: FAFA 241.6

“Pope Pius feels that the United States is the ideal base for Catholicism’s great drive.... FAFA 241.7

“The Catholic Movement, Rome’s militant organization numbering millions all over the world, will be marshalled direct from Rome by Monsignor Pizzardo - next to Pacelli the Holy See’s shrewdest diplomat and politician-instead of by the local bishops as before. The priest’s education is to be thoroughly revised and modernized with special attention to modern propaganda methods. In addition there will be established in each country a central bureau, responsible only to Rome, to combat red agitation with every political weapon available.... The church must fight, and at once. FAFA 241.8

“Coughlin has shown us the way of getting at the modern man. He has embarrassed us by showing and using the political power of the church so openly.... We know how to tackle America today, and that is our most important problem at the moment. FAFA 242.1

“Pacelli is contacting the American cardinals and leading Catholic personalities .... to explain the Vatican’s plan for the new crusade .... The Catholic political organizations in the large cities, like Tammany Hall, will give the church a good lever. Those contacts are also being carefully inspected by the pope’s minister. FAFA 242.2

“The Vatican itself resembles a general staff headquarters preparing plans and arms for a big offensive. Since the time of the Counter Reformation, churchmen say, no such extensive reorganisation of personnel and propaganda methods has been undertaken. The whole worldwide net of Catholic organizations and sub-organizations is being contacted directly from Rome and cleared for action. The church is to be adjusted to modern political, social, and cultural conditions.” — p. 10, col. 3, 4, used by permission. FAFA 242.3

This article speaks of Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, then papal secretary of state, coming from the Vatican to effect the above mentioned reorganisation. He toured the United States “in a chartered aeroplane.” Christian Science Monitor says: “The visit of a high Roman prelate to the United States on the eve of an election is as unprecedented as it is delicate.” — Oct. 2, 1926. FAFA 242.4

This Catholic plan of conquest was well understood years ago. An illustration in Harper’s Weekly of October 1, 1870, pictured the pope pointing to America as “The Promised Land.” FAFA 242.5