Don Shoemaker quotes a Catholic source in a positive light that says the following:
"Saint Charles spent his life and fortune in the service of the people of his diocese. He directed and fervently enforced the decrees of the Council of Trent, fought tirelessly for peace in the wake of the storm caused by Martin Luther..."
The black light that Don Shoemaker shines shows Martin Luther to be the bad guy and Saint Charles to be the hero "fervently enforc[ing] the decrees of the Council of Trent." Don Shoemaker turns the reformation on it's head. What were the decrees of the Council of Trent anyway? They were a list of decrees that point for point deny and condemn the truth Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was the theological law of all Catholic lands that justified the burning, beheading, and torture of Gospel preaching reformers.
The Council of Trent's Anathemas Peter and Paul Ministries
The Council of Trent, the 19th ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, was held at Trent in northern Italy between 1545 and 1563. The purpose of this council was to condemn every heretical teaching of the Protestant sects. Trent courageously defended the seven sacraments, the Most Holy Eucharist, purgatory, the necessity of the priesthood, justification by faith and works, indulgences, and the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints. Trent also hurled 125 anathemas (eternal damnation's) against anyone that denies the Catholic doctrine. These anathemas should not be looked upon in a negative light. The Church concerned with the spiritual welfare of mankind warned all against the danger of embracing error as any good guardian would do with those in trusted to their care.
The question many people ask today is were these anathemas from the Council of Trent ever revoked? The answer is No. An anathema on an infallible statement can never be changed, and is always binding; otherwise the statement is not infallible. Many people have been falsely lead to believe that Vatican II and the Code of Canon Law of 1983 did away with Trent's anathemas. First, there is not the slightest hint in the documents of Vatican II that the proclamations of the Council of Trent have been abrogated. As a matter of fact Vatican II referred to the Council of Trent dozens of times and quoted Trent's proclamations as authority. Second, prior to the 1983 Code, those who were excommunicated from the Church were divided into two categories; i.e. vitandi and tolerati. The 1983 Code of Cannon law eliminated these distinctions which has given rise to the false impression that these condemnations were repealed, but this is not the case. Catholics must remember that canon law deals primarily with internal discipline. While there is always some relation between canon law and dogmatic theology, as a rule the law does not make doctrinal pronouncements. Mr. Charles M. Wilson, an associate member of the Canon Law Society of America and president of the St. Joseph Foundation when asked if the Code of 1983 repealed the anathemas he stated, “I can find nothing in the Code now in force that explicitly or implicitly removes any anathemas of Trent.” ________________________________________ Samples Anathemas from the Council Trent
(Anathemas condemning anyone that accepts the idea of Justification by Faith Alone) “If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.” Sixth Session CANON IX
“If any one saith, that justifying faith is nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy which remits sins for Christ's sake; or, that this confidence alone is that whereby we are justified; let him be anathema.” Sixth Session CANON XII
(Anathema condemning anyone that rejects the Catholic Church is hierarchal) “If any one saith, that, in the Catholic Church there is not a hierarchy by divine ordination instituted, consisting of bishops, priests, and ministers; let him be anathema.” Twenty-Third Session CANON VI.
(Anathema condemning anyone that rejects the sacrament of confession) “If any one saith, that in the Catholic Church Penance is not truly and properly a sacrament, instituted by Christ our Lord for reconciling the faithful unto God, as often as they fall into sin after baptism; let him be anathema. “ Fourteenth Session CANON II
(Anathemas condemning anyone that rejects the seven sacraments) “If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law were not all instituted by Jesus Christ, our Lord; or, that they are more, or less, than seven, to wit, Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Order, and Matrimony; or even that any one of these seven is not truly and properly a sacrament; let him be anathema.” Seventh Session CANON I
“If any one saith, that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary unto salvation, but superfluous; and that, without them, or without the desire thereof, men obtain of God, through faith alone, the grace of justification;-though all (the sacraments) are not in deed necessary for every individual; let him be anathema.” Seventh Session CANON IV
(Anathemas condemning anyone that rejects the Most Holy Eucharist) “If any one denieth, that, in the sacrament of the most holy Eucharist, are contained truly, really, and substantially, the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ; but saith that He is only therein as in a sign, or in figure, or virtue; let him be anathema.” Thirteenth Session CANON I
“If any one saith, that, in the holy sacrament of the Eucharist, Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, is not to be adored with the worship, even external of latria; and is, consequently, neither to be venerated with a special festive solemnity, nor to be solemnly borne about in processions, according to the laudable and universal rite and custom of holy church; or, is not to be proposed publicly to the people to be adored, and that the adorers thereof are idolators; let him be anathema.” Thirteenth Session CANON VI
(Anathema condemning anyone that rejects baptism is necessary for salvation) “If any one saith, that baptism is free, that is, not necessary unto salvation; let him be anathema.” Seventh Session CANON V
(Anathema condemning anyone that rejects infant baptism) “If any one saith, that little children, for that they have not actual faith, are not, after having received baptism, to be reckoned amongst the faithful; and that, for this cause, they are to be rebaptized when they have attained to years of discretion; or, that it is better that the baptism of such be omitted, than that, while not believing by their own act, they should be bapized in the faith alone of the Church; let him be anathema.” Seventh Session CANON XIII
(Anathemas condemning anyone that rejects the priesthood) “If any one saith, that there is not in the New Testament a visible and external priesthood; or that there is not any power of consecrating and offering the true body and blood of the Lord, and of forgiving and retaining sins; but only an office and bare ministry of preaching the Gospel, or, that those who do not preach are not priests at all; let him be anathema.” Twenty-Second Session CANON I
“If any one saith, that by those words, Do this for the commemoration of me (Luke 22: 19), Christ did not institute the apostles priests; or, did not ordain that they, and other priests should offer His own body and blood; let him be anathema.” Twenty-Second Session CANON II
“If any one saith, that all Christians have power to administer the word, and all the sacraments; let him be anathema.” Seventh Session CANON X
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