Fifty Years In The Church Of Rome

by Charles P. Chiniquy

This is an excellent look at the religious system of the Catholic Church from the inside. Charles Chiniquy was born at Kamouraska, Quebec, Canada of Roman Catholic parents. He studied at the college of Nicolet in Canada, professor of belles-lettres, after graduation he entered the priesthood (at an early age) and continued therein until he was an old man. At the age of 49 he left the Roman church taking his congregation with him and became a Presbyterian minister. His encounters with the inner workings of the of the Roman church are so enlightening that it could only come from someone who was embedded in such a system for so many years. He later published a number of books and tracts on temperance and about his life and experiences in the Catholic church, of which some became very popular and were translated into several languages. In this book he covers such subjects as:

· The Bible and the Priest of Rome,

· Preparation for the First Communion-Initiation to Idolatry,

· Intellectual Education in the Roman Catholic College

· Moral and Religious Instruction in the Roman Catholic Colleges

· Protestant Children in the Convents and Nunneries of Rome

· Rome and Education- Why the Church of Rome hate the Common Schools of the United States, and want to destroy them?

· Theology of the Church of Rome: its Anti-Christian Character

· The Vow of Celibacy

· The Impurities of the Theology of Rome

· The Priests of Rome and the Holy Fathers.

· How I Swore to give up the Word of God to follow the Word of Men

· The Roman Catholic Priesthood, or Ancient and Modern Idolatry

· Nine Consequences of the Dogma of Transubstantiation.

· The Old Paganism under a Christian Name

· Simony

· Strange and Sacrilegious Traffic in the so-called Body and Blood of Christ

· Enormous Sums of Money made by the Sale of Masses

· Conversions of Protestants to the Church of Rome

· How the priest spy on the Protestants through the Confessional

And much more. If you want an inside look at the Catholic church then this book is a must read.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Religion, Church History, Christian Non Fiction, Cults

597 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1885

About the author

Charles Paschal Telesphore Chiniquy (30 July 1809 – 16 January 1899) was originally a Canadian Catholic priest who became a Presbyterian pastor and mad conspiracy theorist.

Reviews

[Bethany Willcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, one that every Protestant should read at least once! You will never view the Roman 'Church' quite the same way again!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book many years ago and it quickly became one of my favorite books (one of those I could not put down). Some sections literally brought me to tears reading.

This is a eye-opening view into the world of Roman Catholicism, which is sometimes dark and twisted (especially when looking at the religion in its honest, historical context).

I'm sure there will be some folks that describe themselves as Catholic (or even some Protestant Christian folks that have Catholic friends and don't see many differences between these faith systems) that will have a difficult time with some of the information this book presents, because it is not exactly "positive" toward the Roman Catholic religion; BUT, every story is shared from the perspective of a man who walked in those shoes, who grieved over the things he used to believe and teach once he discovered its conflict with Scripture and the ruin he witnessed in people's lives. In this book is shared the testimony of a man who clearly loves the Catholic people despite his rejection of Roman Catholic doctrine.

Charles, the author, describes his experiences as a child growing up in the Catholic Church and his transition into the priesthood, which he served in for 25 years. It really is quite an amazing story to say the least.

There were moments in the book where the author takes you through such intense emotion that such anger arises in your mind toward so much of the Catholic mindset, but then he reminds the reader that God's love is so amazing and His forgiveness and mercy so great and none of us have any excuse to hate others no matter what deception they are caught by (for there but for the grace of God go we as well and most of us have gone there and God delivered us out of bondage as well). All of us, at some point in our lives, have fallen prey to some kind of deceptive thought and all of us have been plagued by sin... God's love and forgiveness toward us should remind us that He has the same love and long-suffering for others and desires (and is able) to bring freedom for them as well. God is so awesome and good!!!

Charles shares how God led him personally to freedom from religion into a close relationship with the Lord (and thusly out of Roman Catholicism). He tells of the thousands of other Roman Catholics that chose to believe (through his testimony) the Bible only and trust in Jesus rather than popes and priests. There is intrigue, laughter and tears throughout each chapter.

This is a LONG book. I read the abridged version and it was almost 400 pages of small print! But I will never forget the book and how it encouraged me. It did not make me hateful at all towards Catholic people, but rather broke my heart at the deception so many are bound by... and really not just in Catholicism. Even Protestant believers can become slaves of religion and let it rob them of a joyous relationship with Jesus Christ. There were several places in the book that I believe God used to touch areas of prejudice and pride in my own heart and cause me to ask His forgiveness and teach me to love more.

This book will NOT make you hate Catholics! It will grip your heart with love and, yes, it will make you mad and disgusted at some of the horrific doctrines pushed on people throughout history in the Roman Catholic Church and some of the despicable mindsets and actions people have been manipulated by, but it will also encourage you that God is love and that He wants to set every person trapped in legalistic religious bondage FREE COMPLETELY!

Granted it's been a lot of years since I read this book... I've sometimes noticed when re-reading books I once thought were amazing that my own perspectives change and the book doesn't strike me quite the same way. My wife and I have recently started reading this one again in the evenings before bed, so I'm revisiting it now. So far, so good!

If you're interested in this subject, I encourage you to give the book a read. Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. What a great testimony of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This book reveals the truth of the Roman Catholic Church from the mouth of one of its own priests, who would leave the church (at great personal cost) to proclaim the Gospel of Christ and preach the Bible. There is eye-opening information concerning Abraham Lincoln and his assassination. Read it and be astounded.

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ridiculous anti-Catholic fiction under the guise of non-fiction. Let me bullet point a few problems:

*His paranoia knows almost no limits.

*One would think that a Christian minister might have an ounce of humility, but Chiniquy barely possesses a gram--there isn't an over-the-top compliment he receives that he doesn't mention.

*Surely his ability to remember dialogues and monologues that last for pages has to strike any reader as suspect--how could he remember everything he places within quotation marks?

*And his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln is entirely out of keeping with the known, historical Lincoln. To make Abraham Lincoln, who was no "Know Nothing," into a raging anti-Catholic is revisionist history at its worst. I believe it was Don E. Fehrenbacher who wrote of how Lincoln historians consider Chiniquy the greatest liar about Lincoln.

If you're wanting to see how 19th-century anti-Catholics viewed the Catholic Church, or if you want false history, or if you like your autobiographies served up with arrogance on every page, then this is the book to read.

[Paul Frederick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly this book should get three stars for writing and five stars for content, so I split the difference. Definitely worth your time to read, but you are going to have to work for it.

[Curtis Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I must admit that I have never been a fan of the Catholic Church. Mainly because it calls itself Christian, but has perverted, twisted, and distorted God's Holy Word with its teachings and its doctrines. I believe it to be actually very anti-Christ in many ways.

My Dad recommended this book to me many years ago, and it took me several years to get around to reading it. I wish I had not waited for so long.

Chiniquy, an ex-Jesuit priest, calls out the Catholic Church on a multitude of its own sins, including the omission/addition to God's Word, the fabricating/inventing of non-Biblical, heretical doctrines not even remotely associated with what is actually contained in the Bible. He also puts his finger on the nose of the Catholic leadership for their past atrocities against God, and mankind.

This is a book of historical accuracy, and most importantly, total honesty.

A must read for any student of history or theology; a virtual gem of a book!

[Andy Pullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autobiography of Charles Chinquy. He spent Fifty years in the Roman Catholic Church before seeing true salvation in the Bible and converting to Presbyterian. He started the town of St. Anne, Illinois (side note: I took a trip up there to see this place, kind of cool, but not as much History as I had hoped). After leaving the Catholic Church, the Church sought to persicute him, he was then represented by a young lawyer, Abraham Lincoln. This is a very interesting story and will keep you interested the whole way.

[Todd Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shocking!! Chiniquy writes a history as a member and priest. Hard to put it down...but shocking shocking shocking. If you've ever wondered of the evils of Catholicism, you should read this.

[Melvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such good eye opening book about life. I always wondered about the life of a priest
Good book i like it.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually started this last year and never got around to finishing it, so I did this week. :) Awesome book <3

[Steven H · Rating 1 out of 5]

DID THE POPE ORDER THE ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN BY JESUITS?

Charles P. Chiniquy (1809-1899) was a Canadian Catholic priest who in about 1858 was either (a) excommunicated as a schismatic, or (b) resigned as result of becoming a "true" Christian, and then became a Presbyterian pastor.

He also wrote books such as 'The Priest, the Woman, and the Confessional.' This is an ABRIDGED edition published by Jack T. Chick's publishing house; the original was first published in 1866. He wrote in the Dedication to the first edition, "Faithful ministers of the gospel! I present you this book that you may know that the monster Church of Rome, who shed the blood of your forefathers, is still at work today... You will see the inside life of popery from the supreme art with which the mind of the young and timid child is fettered, to the unspeakable degradation of the priest under the iron heel of the bishop..."

He recounts a conversation with a friend of his, who explained differences between monks and parish priests: "The monks being concealed from the eyes of the public inside the walls of their monastery where ... very few people, have any access, are more easily conquered by the devil... than the secular priests. The sharp eyes of the public, and the daily contact the secular priests have with their relations and their parishioners, form a powerful restraint upon our depraved nature. In the monastery there is no restraint except the childish and ridiculous punishments of retreats, kissing of the floor, or of the feet, prostration upon the ground..." (Pg. 169)

He asserts, "Long before I was ordained a priest, I knew that my Church was the most implacable enemy of this republic. My professors of philosophy, history, and theology had been unanimous in telling me that the principles and laws of the Church of Rome were absolutely antagonistic to the laws and principles which are the foundation stones of the Constitution of the United States." (Pg. 283)

He professes to record a conversation he had with the President, in which Chiniquy told him, "That letter [from the Pope to Jefferson Davis] is a poisoned arrow thrown by the pope at you personally; it is your death warrant... That letter tells every Roman Catholic that you are a bloodthirsty tyrant fighting against a government which the infallible and holy pope of Rome recognizes as legitimate... By this letter of the pope ... you are not only an apostate... but you are more vile, criminal and cruel than the horse thief, the public bandit, and the lawless brigand, robber and murderer... I plead that you to pay more attention to protect your precious life, and not continually to expose it as you have done till now." (Pg. 297-298)

He says ominously, "The hour was fast approaching when he was to fall by the hands of a Jesuit assassin, for his nation's sake." (Pg. 303) He wrote, "The great fatal mistake of the federal government in the prosecution of the assassins of Abraham Lincoln was to cover up the religious element of that terrible drama. But this was carefully avoided throughout the trial... Several of the government men told me in confidence: 'We had not the least doubt that the Jesuits were at the bottom of that great iniquity." (Pg. 312)

Chiniquy's story (also available in comic book form from the same publisher; 'The Big Betrayal') is conspicuously lacking in historical documentation. The assertions against his own moral character (e.g., the accusation that he was excommunicated for "moral turpitude") also suggest that one should approach his books warily. Caveat Emptor...

[Pastor Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading the old books. This is a controversial work with very serious accusations against the Church of Rome and very serious implications for those who will answer to God for having served in such a corrupt religious system who not only preaches a false gospel but has wreaked havoc on the lives of millions, not to mention those who have died at the hands of the Inquisitors and monarchical Papal System.

Most of what you will read in this 19th century work is corroborated by many other eyewitnesses. The author is a former priest and while his zeal may offend the sensibilities of active Roman Catholic readers, one can only imagine how emotional and zealous we would be if we were in his situation (knowing that what we were writing were absolutely true).

It's a little long and there is some repetition. And some of his claims (like the effects of alcohol on the human brain and body) are not really accurate. If he had left out the fringe material, the book would have been shorter and better. But even with the flaws that are found in very human work, this was a very intriguing book and I recommend it to those with an interest in the subject.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Account of Charles Chiniquy, former Roman Catholic priest, on his life in the ministry, and how he left the Roman Catholic church. He was raised owning, reading and reciting the Bible, the most dangerous book to the RC church. The Light of God's Word, shone through and brought him out of Rome. Under the Church of Rome, he was part of the Jesuit movement to move French Canadians from Canada to the prairies of Illinois. He founded the town of St. Anne, IL. The Jesuit movement was to spread Catholicism throughout our nation and infiltrate all of society at such levels that the Pope would, in effect, rule the United States. He was once defended in a lawsuit by Abraham Lincoln and he felt that the Jeuit order was ( loosely) behind the assassination President Lincoln. Once Mr. Chiniquy left the Roman church, he had many attempts on his life, stoned, almost, shot, whipped, but each time the Lord preserved him to continue his work in the spread of the Gospel of Christ worldwide.

[Ted Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Difficult to say. One can take Chiniquy's testimony as a case study for the Roman Catholic ambience of the second half of the 19th century in Canada and the US (possibly also Rome); he describes many abuses of the Church, which I buy. Sadly, there will always be abuses in any kind of environment.
But many things have changed since then.
On the other hand, he writes with resent towards the Catholics; finally leaving them to be accepted in the Presbyterian vine, as he calls it.
He is at one time a victim, then a hero. But always one or the other. Also, conspicuously remembering entire conversations with people on a span of 20 years? 30 years?
Moreover, Abraham Lincoln was his lawyer in a case, and praises him incessantly. Canadian Chiniqui is very proud to have met President Lincoln and also to have become American.

[Gordon Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.
History, murder, adultery, theft, intrigue, and truth, so much truth. Makes for a very good read indeed.
I google fact check as much history as I possibly could and found no fault. I was surprised how Abraham Lincoln and the Civil war played such a part.
The murder, adultery, theft are too easy believed, and the truths are biblical.
If you decide to read, do not overlook the dedication.
Great book !

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a blessing!

A great testimony of coming to Christ. This book is especially relevant today as the White House (both parties), Congress, Supreme Court, News media is under complete control of the Whore (Revelation 17:18). Thank God for all the dear Catholic people who came to receive the free gift of eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ through Brother Chiniquy’s ministry. Everyone should read this book.

[John Alexander Hellewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Chiniquy exposes the seedier side of 19th Century Roman Catholicism. This is one book that the Vatican will not want you to read, especially as it also exposes the despicable antics of the nefarious Jesuits Order.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real eye opener into the Catholic Church. Being raised a Catholic and going to Catholic school for 12 years it brought back many memories. I am so thankful that I am now a Bible Believing KJV Baptist! Every believer should read this to know WHY to witness to any Catholic friends!!

[grace nassaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reading

It is a very good read.It gave me an insight into the medieval Catholic church. I'm wondering how much it has changed.

[Fred Coward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A difficult read - but offers an inside look at some of the foibles of the Catholic Church. If everything Mr. Chiniquy contends is, in fact, true; then the Church ought to be ashamed of itself.

[Janis Schwing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the book, filled with so much information!

[Luis Melendez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read but had me wondering what took him so long to leave the catholic church.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and well written book! Whether you are a Protestant, Catholic, or unsure, you should read this book.

[Kristina Clement · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was painful to read. It could have been half as long and communicated the same message. Would not recommend.

[Arash Ahsani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book except the education part in which Chiniquy uses the modern cosmology as the truth which Rome opposed. Even a broken clock can display the correct time twice a day.

[Douglas Gordon Spratt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too many repeats of stories. Excessive use of superlatives.

[Gary Detrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Food For Thought

Very interesting story. Anyone who has studied the history of Rome should not be surprised. Extremely interesting are Chinqy's documentated encounters wth Abraham Lincoln.

[C A Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

One of the most amazing books I have read. An autobiography of a priest in the Roman Catholic church who, through things he saw and heard and experienced, eventually came to realise that this church was not of God. His study of the Bible which was not encouraged by the church taught him that purgatory did not exist and neither was Mary worship lawful. Fascinating story of his friendship with Abraham Lincoln, the real fear that his life would be in danger from the Jesuits (and how true that was with his assassination). Chiniquy's eventual escape from Popery and then the attacks on his life by the Catholics. A long but essential read, especially for all Roman Catholics.

[Editor · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a known anti-Catholic diatribe of nearly pure bigotry. It's almost devoid of fact, and it is at the root of the hyper-exagerrated libels in the Dan Brown books that cast the Catholic Church as an evil entity. For bigots without faith, this book is a source of affirmation much like Mein Kampf is for white supremicists.

[Thomas Kinsfather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible biography and history. Chiniquy came into conflict with his church by reading the Bible and encouraging his congregation to do the same. His life was in peril when a young lawyer named Lincoln rose to defend him against the Roman Catholic Church. Amazing book.