Welcome to this week’s “Throwback Thursday” installment. Today, we’re going to revisit a post that was originally published back on February 17, 2016 and has been revised.

Back in December 2015, I commented on how several journalists had used then-presidential candidate, Donald Trump’s controversial remarks suggesting the banning of Muslims from entering the U.S. to remind readers of anti-Catholicism in America in previous generations. I pointed out that the journalists conveniently reported only half of the story. Protestant Americans of past generations were well-aware of the persecution of non-Catholics in countries where Catholics held the majority. Popes and bishops reserved the “divine right” to suppress Protestants and their worship services wherever Catholics held sway and were able to gain the cooperation of the civil authorities. See my previous post on that topic here.
In the article below, Spanish evangelical Christians recall the persecution they suffered in Spain during the dictatorial regime (1939-1975) of faithful Roman Catholic, Francisco Franco (see photo of fascist Franco posing with Catholic prelates).
“…many Spanish Protestants were incarcerated, beginning with Franco’s victory and until the late sixties. Most of them were brought to the courts by Catholic priests. In 1965, Monroy recalls, private Protestant meetings to pray, sing and study the Bible were approved. But the meetings were only legal if there were less than 20 people. Christians were were fined and even incarcereted. In the public spaces, only Catholic ceremonies were allowed.”
But Protestants were also oppressed in many other Catholic countries during the 20th century including Salazar’s Portugal, Mussolini’s Italy, inter-war Poland, Vichy France, Pavelic’s Croatia, and in many Latin American countries where Catholic clerico-fascism ruled.
Some may respond, “Why bring this up now? It’s all water over the dam. The Catholic church is nowhere near as religiously and politically militant as it used to be.”
The Catholics who still bother to attend mass on Sunday are fed a saccharinized version of their church’s history. Why would anyone think it would be otherwise? But their church’s actual history defies all claims to Spirit-led, infallible leadership. That’s the moral of the story.
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Spain, forty years after Franco’s death
http://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/1173/Spain_Forty_years_after_Francos_death
“The Catholics who still bother to attend mass on Sunday are fed a saccharinized version of their church’s history. Why would anyone think it would be otherwise? ”
Yuuuuuup!
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Thanks, Beth. Yup, every false religious group presents an idealized history to its membership. When I was a young child, I was so proud of my Catholic heritage as the nuns presented it. Catholicism’s history is actually quite embarrassing.
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As a Catholic, I have followed this religion and raised in a large number of families. Nowadays, people consider religion as a tool guide to their belief. However, because of doctrine, we miss the concept. Knowing that the world has 4200 religions, we are all in one body of Christ Jesus. Except for Muslims.
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RE: we are all in one body of Christ Jesus.
Hi Leonie. The Roman Catholic church teaches in error that people of all religions and even atheists may merit Heaven if they are “sincere” and “good.” That is not the genuine Gospel of salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.
Please watch the helpful YouTube video below, Catholic vs Christian | “I am a Catholic. Why should I consider becoming a Christian?”
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I am not against any religion for as long they preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; that is all that matters. And win souls, especially those who do not know. Christ Jesus. What divides people is religion. Peace!
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As I mentioned earlier, the gospel the Roman Catholic church teaches is not the Good News of salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. The RCC teaches everyone – Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, etc. can merit salvation through their own particular religion. That is not Christianity.
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Dropping by with a hi! In the middle of Homeschooling as usual lol
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👋🏻
Howdy! Hope you had a good HS session! It’s time for me to start working on the next Friday apologetics installment. Argh!
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Wow your diligence to work ahead for the blog is amazing
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Thanks, brother! Completed the first half and will finish tomorrow. You know exactly what it’s like.
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Awesome to hear of progress
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👍🏻
Thanks! The Lord helps me “get through” these. This latest chapter is Broussard’s most discombobulated argument to date. Half the battle is trying to make his rebuttal discernible for the reader.
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Another reason to know Rome’s history is because Rome never changes. Given the opportunity she will repeat the atrocities of her past.
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Thanks, Cathy. JPII, Benedict XVI, and Francis have offered window-dressing apologies for past offenses, but I have listened to Catholic apologist after apologist justify or at least rationalize all historical atrocities
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Crazy to think of these persecutions of Protestants was not that long ago; thanks for covering this little discussed topic!
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Thanks! Yeah, the RCC was blatantly militant. It took a long time for Vatican II’s rapprochements to filter down to the rank and file. They’re still old school in rural Mexico.
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I heard that from you and also sites you shared in the past that there’s persecution of Protestants in certain South and Central American countries as well. Again good post brother!
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Thanks, my friend!
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You are welcome
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And to think that for 8 years I lived under Franco’s regime. It was during that time I was told that the Bible was a dangerous book.
Thank you Tom for this informative post .
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Thanks, Crissy! I was thinking of you as I revised this post. Most aren’t aware of how Protestants and the Gospel were forcibly suppressed by the RCC in large regions of Europe and Latin America only fifty or sixty years ago.
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And the hold they have on those that follow the RCC even today. Only God can set the prisoners free. Thank you Tom.
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👍🏻 🙏🏻
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