King 'breaching coronation vow,' says PTS

A well-known evangelical organisation has joined its voice with others in expressing concern at King Charles praying with the Pope.

Edward J. Malcolm, on behalf of The Protestant Truth Society (PTS), writes of "their grave concern, as faithful and loyal Protestants" at His Majesty's visit to the Vatican, which took place last week.

In PTS' letter to the King, Malcolm writes: "At your coronation your Majesty made a promise before God to maintain the Protestant Reformed Religion. A promise made before God is a matter of the utmost importance. This visit to the Vatican is a breach of that promise.

"Article 31 of the Church of England, of which you are, under God, Supreme Governor, makes plain that the central doctrine of the Church of Rome, the mass, is a ‘blasphemous deceit and a dangerous fable’. The Church of Rome is in error on the sacraments and on the great central issue of salvation, justification."

Malcolm goes on to quote Paul's words in Romans 3v28, that we are "justified by faith without the deeds of the law"; and Article 11 [of the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, that the King declared] which addresses this gospel truth, "that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort"; and The Westminster Confession of the Church of Scotland, "faith is the alone instrument of justification". "The Church of Rome denies this great truth," Malcolm writes.

He continues: "Further, this is a state visit to the Pope as a ‘head of state’. The Papacy claims a political authority that is only held by Jesus Christ – who is the King of kings. The bull ‘Unam Sanctam’ asserts the political authority of the Pope over all monarchs and presidents. This is something that no Protestant Head of State should accept.

"The authority of any church must be judged by the Word of God. Where any church departs from the Word of God on the central doctrines of salvation it must be judged to be a false church. The Pope is the leader of a false church. His claims to political authority seek to usurp the authority of Christ, who, at his return, will be the judge of all men. Kings, prime ministers and presidents are accountable to him.

"We would urge your Majesty to be faithful to this nation’s Christian constitution – which is based on the authority of God’s inspired Word. All authority, ultimately, lies with Him and He has spoken, and continues to speak, through His living Word. Where God has spoken we must obey. And we must oppose those powers, such as the Papacy, which are false to the great truths of Scripture, and which claim an authority that belongs to God alone."

Malcolm, referring to Scripture once again, points to the second Psalm, with its addressing of those in power: "Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him" (Psalm 2v10-12).

The letter ends with a plea to the King: "We would urge your Majesty to turn to Him who is the King of kings. Only He can forgive our sins, and He can give your Majesty strength to be faithful to the promises that you made in His name at your coronation. For ‘there is no other name by which we must be saved’ – Acts 4v12."