ANTI-CATHOLIC LIES AND DECEPTIONS IN QUOTING CATHOLIC BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS, Part 1 "The Spirit of Catholicism" by Karl Adam

The book cover of my personal copy of The Spirit of Catholicism by Karl Adam. This classic was instrumental in bringing to the Catholic Faith many former Protestant Ministers. A true treasure of Catholic Theology until now.

Few days ago I received a request from a young girl who is studying the Catholic Faith with the Catholic Faith Defenders of Davao. She asked for help concerning the accusations against the Catholic Church by a certain Jason Abalos... obviously a pseudo name. This Anti-Catholic was throwing quotations from some Catholic Books which are unfortunately out of print or unavailable in Philippine bookstores.

Here is the lies and deceits of the hiding Mr. Jason Abalos in his serpentine attack:

The Spirit of Catholicism” by D.r Karl Adam,p.166

“She does not hesitate even to take over PAGAN RITUAL and PAGAN SYMBOLS,Whenever such things can be christianized and reformed.”

Sa Pilipino;

“Siya {ANG IGLESIA KATOLIKA} ay hindi man lamang nag aatubiling KUMUHA ng mga RITUWAL at ng mga SAGISAG PAGANO.Kailan mat ang gayung mga bagay ay maaaring isa kristiano at maisaayos.”

The Spirit of Catholicism” by D.r Karl Adam,p.2

We CATHOLICS acknowledge readily,WITHOUT ANY SHAME,MAY WITH PRIDE,That CATHOLICISM cannot be identified simply and wholly with primitive christianity,NOR EVEN WITH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST,…”

Sa Pilipino;

Tinatanggap naming mga KATOLIKO kapag karaka,NG WALANG ANUMANG IKAHIHIYA,BAGKUS MY PAGMAMALAKI na sa anumang paraan ang KATOLISISMO ay HINDI maaaring IHAMBING sa UNANG KRISTIANISMO NI MAGING SA EBANGHELYO NI CRISTO;…”

The guy futher claims that he is a former Catholic but he abandoned the Catholic Church after thorough studies and research, thus pretending to be a sincere in his search for truth and that he truly studied the Catholic Faith:

dati catholic ako,MASUSI ko pong pinag aralan SUNURI ang CATHOLIC CHRUCH bagu ako lumipat ng ibang relihiyon, wala nmng dahilan pra magsinungaling ako sa site na to itataya ko relihiyon ko ngaun kung kasinungalingan at inimbento ko lang yang aklat niong yan,and im sure na AKLAT KATOLIKO yan!

Page 166 of The Spirit of Catholicism by Karl Adam. The markings are my own, I made them while reading my books.

After reading his claims I immediately suspect that his quotes are either fake or distorted. Fortunately I am blessed with a personal copy of that book which I got from the Chairman of our Defensores Fidei Foundation. When I checked, Lo and behold his claim on Page 166 of The Spirit of Catholicism has been proven to be a bogus quote. In fact, it is nowhere on that page in which Karl Adam supposedly stated his claim. Nothing... Nada... in Russian: Nyet Nyet!

The topic being explained on that page is THE SUPERNATURAL ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH which is no other than but JESUS THE LORD. So, instead of Karl Adam accepting the so-called Pagan Origin of the Catholic Church our great theologian even argued brilliantly that the Church came from Jesus Christ our Lord.

Page 3 of The Spirit of Catholicism

On the other hand, his quote on Page 2 as shown in the scanned material below is distorted. It was cut short so that the full intent of the author could be twisted to favor the liar's claim:

The Spirit of Catholicism” by D.r Karl Adam,p.2

"We CATHOLICS acknowledge readily,WITHOUT ANY SHAME,MAY WITH PRIDE,That CATHOLICISM cannot be identified simply and wholly with primitive christianity,NOR EVEN WITH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST,…”

And here instead the full quote:

"We Catholics acknowledge readily without any shame, nay with pride, that Catholicism cannot be identified simply and wholly with primitive Christianity, nor even with the gospel of Christ, in the same way that the great oak cannot be identified with the tiny acorn."

Obviously Karl Adam accepts the fact that the Church today is different from the Church of the primitive Christianity because it is like the seed which has grown into a full grown tree. It is substantially the same but already a developed entity like a child that passed into full maturity. Instead, the Liar twisted it to provide ammunition for his malice.

Page 2 of The Spirit of Catholicism by Karl Adam

The distortion is all the more obvious if we shall check the following page of the same book, the Page 3:

"For the Catholic is intimately conscious that Catholicism is ever the same, yesterday and today, that its essential nature was already present and manifest when it began its journey through the world, THAT CHRIST HIMSELF BREATHED INTO IT THE BREATH OF LIFE, AND THAT HE HIMSELF AT THE SAME TIME GAVE THE YOUNG ORGANISM THOSE GERMINAL APTITUDES that have unfolded themselves in the course of the centuries in regular adaptation to the needs and requirements of its environment." [Spirit of Catholicism by Karl Adam p. 3]

Again, Karl Adam points to the Lord Jesus as the Origin of the Church. It is He who gave life to it and nourished it throughout the centuries like an organism that developed throughout the centuries.

I HOPE THAT THIS PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE WILL ENLIGHTEN THAT GUY WHO IS SO COURAGEOUS IN SPREADING HIS LIES WHILE HIDING ON THE MASK OF THE ACTOR 'JASON ABALOS'. MAY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD FREE HIM FROM THE PRINCE OF LIES AND BRING HIM TO THE LIGHT OF CHRIST... THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE... THE FOUNDER OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. AMEN.