The Church of Rome claims that Sunday is her mark of authority. Moreover, she claims that it is her right to legislate moral issues, and that governments should subscribe to her directives. This is not only a right she claimed for herself during the Middle Ages, but is a right she claims for herself today.

Changing the Ten Commandments

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, sanctioned by Pope John Paul II, has this to say on the issue:

The Church, the "pillar and bulwark of the truth," "has received this solemn command of Christ from the apostles to announce the saving truth." "To the Church belongs the right always and everywhere to announce moral principles, including those pertaining to the social order."ⁱ

According to Roman Catholicism, moral issues are dictated by the Ten Commandments—but not the Ten Commandments as found in the Bible. Rome’s Ten Commandments are defined by Augustine, the Catholic Church father:

The division and numbering of the Commandments have varied in the course of history. The present catechism follows the division of the Commandments established by St. Augustine, which has become traditional in the Catholic Church.ⁱⁱ

What an amazing confession! The Ten Commandments defined by Augustine, rather than defined by Scripture, form the basis for Catholic morality. Since Sunday is also the mark of the Catholic Church’s authority, it follows that this mark is in direct opposition to the declared will of God. Compromise on this issue is not possible. Sunday worship can be defended only on Catholic principles. Read what the Catholic Church has to say about keeping Sunday holy

Legislating the Mark

One might think that Rome would not pursue the Sunday issue as vigorously in our age. If, however, the enforcing of the mark of the Beast is to become a reality, then this controversy will escalate until legislation is created enforcing the observance of Sunday.

The Roman Catechism, dubbed by Pope John Paul II as, "a work of the first rank as a summary of Christian teaching,"ⁱⁱⁱ says that governments are to cooperate with the Roman Church regarding Sunday law:

Cooperation by the Civil Authorities Regarding This Commandment: The civil authorities should be urged to cooperate with the church in maintaining and strengthening this public worship of God, and to support with their own authority the regulations set down by the Church's pastors.

In explaining this commandment the pastor should include a discussion on how it is related to the other commandments: how it resembles them and how it differs from them. For it is only in this way that the faithful will understand why it is Sunday and not the Sabbath day that we now keep holy.^iv

Just prior to the new millennium, Pope John Paul II took several steps towards this cooperation between his Church and the state. The Church has introduced strict obedience laws into its canon requiring total submission to the Pope in matters of doctrine. For example, in his 1998 apostolic letter on Sunday sanctity, Dies Domini, the Pope repeatedly asks for Sunday legislation to enforce its observance.

Just a few days after issuing the directive on the maintenance of Sunday, the Vatican issued its apostolic letter, Ad Tuendam Fidem, making strong statements about submission to the Pope on issues of doctrine.

These apostolic letters say that those who deny the Catholic faith will be branded a heretic, and will be punished. History will repeat itself. Just as refusal to observe Sunday led to economic measures, persecution, and eventually death in the past, the same will happen again.

However, this time the decree will be universal and the whole world will have to choose between allegiance to God or allegiance to Satan. Then, according to Daniel, John, and E. G. White, will follow a time of trouble such as never was:

When our nation, in its legislative councils, shall enact laws to bind the consciences of men in regard to their religious privileges, enforcing Sunday observance, and bringing oppressive power to bear against those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath, the law of God will, to all intents and purposes, be made void in our land; and national apostasy will be followed by national ruin (Maranatha: 193).

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