Rome Saith, But What Saith the Scripture?
On October 11th 1992, Pope John Paul II affixed his signature to "The Catechism of the Catholic Church" -- http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/ccc.html -- for the express purpose that we may be enlightened to "what the Catholic Church believes" (from the Papal introduction). "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matthew 12:37). The following is an attempt to compile quotations from "The Catechism of the Catholic Church" (initial Latin version: 1992; English translation: 1994), which will be appended by the word "Catechism" and its paragraph number, both enclosed in parentheses, e.g., "Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence" (Catechism, 82). All other comments will be mine, as I attempt to expound the appropriate Scriptures. "My tongue is the pen of a ready writer" (Psalm 45:1).
Rome Saith: Tradition Equal to Scripture
"Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence" (Catechism, 82).
Tradition is a fine thing-- unless it negates or contradicts the Word of God. The LORD Jesus Christ made strong objection to the religious Pharisees of His day for setting aside God's plain commands through their traditions, i.e., "Making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye" (Mark 7:13). But, some may object-- the Apostle Paul enjoined the Thessalonians to withdraw from those who walked disorderly "and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2Thessalonians 3:6).
This is true, but it would only be proper to note that the same Apostle illuminated his readers in the same epistle that those traditions came from the Word of God that the Holy Spirit had delivered to him. "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle" (2Thessalonians 2:15). And unmistakingly, that inspired writer of Holy Writ realized that his writings were not simply on the level of the writings of mere clerics and ecclesiastics, but they were the very Word of God. "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in Truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (1Thessalonians 2:13).
Rome Saith: Interpretation of the Word of God Belongs Solely to the Pope
"The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him" (Catechism, 100).
The Magisterium of the Church of Rome-- the Pope and the bishops-- cannot substitute for the Spirit of the Living God, Whose function is to interpret and teach the Word of God to the individual Believer. "20 But ye have an Unction [Greek, chrisma; literally, Anointing, i.e., the Holy Spirit] from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 27 But the Anointing [literally, Unction, i.e., the Holy Spirit] which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things, and is Truth, and is no lie, and even as It hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him" (1John 2:20,27). Even a very good human instructor should not nor cannot replace the Teaching Majesty of the Blessed Comforter.
Did not the Saviour, Who is The Only Way, The Only Truth, and The Only Life (John 14:6), give in Covenant His Paraklete to teach, support, and abide in every Believer? "16 And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter [Greek, parakletos], that He may abide with you for ever; 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My Name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:16,26). Beware of any who substitute another teacher for the Blessed Spirit-- they will teach you another Gospel. "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:9).