MANY CHURCH LEADERS and politicians are unified on the
hotly debated issue of legislating Sunday as a day of rest. Today, great
efforts are being made to gain influence in the executive and legislative circles of the
United States federal government in order to enact laws for the
observance of Sunday as a national day of rest. The thrust is not
overtly religious but is couched in a concern for the welfare of the American family. This activity is being
duplicated in other parts of the world as well under the same pretense.
It is ironic to see this kind of legislation being promoted when you
consider what has been said by the leaders of the Christian
churches at different times in history. Considering this, it is also
ironic to see
what was the practice of Christians throughout history.
In even stronger
words, Pope John Paul II has asked for more
strident measures be taken to insure a day of rest is observed, and to inflict
punishment on those who would transgress. Of course, the day that he
wants kept is Sunday, regardless of your persuasion.
"In Europe, the Sunday Law issue is expected to be
contentious as Pope John Paul II continues to press for mandatory Sunday
closing laws" (Church & State, May, 1992).
 As recently as July, 1998, the Pope, in his Apostolic
Letter, Dies Domini, was quoted as saying that a violator should be
"punished as a heretic" (Detroit News, July 7, 1998).
Currently, the Vatican is asking the “civil
authorities” to cooperate with the Church in legislation of Sunday as
the nation’s day of rest.
“The civil authorities should be urged to
cooperate with the church in maintaining and strengthening this public
worship of God, and to support with their own authority the regulations
set down by the church’s pastors. For it is only in this way that the
faithful will understand why it is Sunday and not the Sabbath day that we
now keep holy” (Roman Catechism, 1985, emphasis supplied).
Someone Admits to Changing
God's Law
In a recent Catholic church newsletter, it stated, “Perhaps the most
revolutionary change the Church ever did, happened in the first century
[actually in happened in the fourth century]. The holy day, the Sabbath,
was changed from Saturday to Sunday. ‘The Day of the Lord’ [Dies
Domini] was chosen, not from any direction noted in the Scriptures, but
from the Church’s sense of its own power.…People who think that the
Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become
[Seventh-day] Adventists, and keep Saturday holy.” Saint Catherine
Catholic Church Sentinel, Algonac, Michigan, May 21, 1995.
No Scriptural Support
Sunday is a Catholic institution and its claim to observance can be
defended only on Catholic principles.…From beginning to end of
Scripture there is not a single passage that warrants the transfer of
weekly public worship from the last day of the week to the first.”—Catholic
Press, Sydney, Australia, 1900.
Mark of Authority
“Sunday is our mark of authority.…The church is above the Bible,
and this transference of sabbath observance is proof of that fact.” The
Catholic Record, London, Ontario, September 1, 1923.
A Catechism
“Question: Which day is the Sabbath?”
“Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath.”
Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?”
“Answer: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because
the Catholic Church in the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 336) transferred the
solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.” The Convert’s Catechism of
Catholic Doctrine, by Peter Geiermann, 50.
What Do You Think?
Do you need to be forced to keep Sunday in a way contrary
to what you believe? Should you be punished for your conscientious regard
or disregard for that day? Is this something the Federal government should
legislate?
All of this was foreseen many years ago by the men who
wrote the Bible. For an exposé of the powers behind the scenes, click HERE!
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