This whole business is completely contrary to the Bible. The Scripture clearly teaches that true saints are those who have repented of their sins and trust in Christ alone for salvation. Hence, the Apostle Paul when addressing the people in the various churches addresses them as saints.

Nowhere in Scripture are people exhorted to pray to the departed. To do so is nothing short of necromancy, which is strictly forbidden by God. Is it not strange that Evangelicals can get very concerned about spiritism and Free Masonry, and rightly so, but fraternise with papists without a qualm.

However, to get back to John Paul II and his supposed saintliness: two Polish nuns who looked after his domestic needs have spoken of the fact that they often heard him whipping himself, especially before performing the hocus pocus of the mass. There is a belief among Romanists that inflicting bodily pain can mortify the flesh. In the Middle Ages there was a widespread movement which practised group flagellation. They were condemned by the Pope, not for flogging themselves but because they had, according to Rome, heretical beliefs.

Flogging oneself, for that is what it is, may not be as common as it once was, but many Romanists wear hair shirts next to their skin and tie sharp pointed metal objects around various parts of their bodies. Members of the sinister Opus Dei movement are said to adhere to such practices.

Public processions of flagellants still take place in Italy and the Philippines, where some go so far as to have themselves nailed to crosses. Oh how dark is the religion of Rome! Muslims also whip themselves, especially Shiites, as they mourn the death of Ali whom they regard as the true Caliph. It was also practised by ancient pagan idolaters.

Many of Rome's religious beliefs have their origin in paganism. I would encourage the readers of this article to get hold of a copy of a book entitled "The Two Babylons". It clearly reveals the link between Roman Catholic beliefs and ancient Babylon, the fountainhead of all idolatry. In reading this it will become obvious as to what system the Apostle John is referring to in Revelation chapter 17.