Popery is a corrupt addition to the truth, and we can give the very dates of the several corruptions.
Attrition, as distinguished from contrition, was first pronounced to be sufficient.
The priest’s right intention was first pronounced to be indispensable to the valid participation of the sacraments, and
Judicial absolution was first publicly authorized, by the Council of Trent, A. D. 1551.
Auricular confession was first enjoined by Innocent III., at the fourth Council of Lateran, A. D. 1215.
Apocrypha received as canonical first at the Council of Trent, A. D. 1547.
Compulsory celibacy of the clergy, first enjoined publicly at the first Council of Lateran, A. D. 1123.
Communion in one kind only, first authoritatively sanctioned by the Council of Constance, A. D. 1414.
Use of images and relics in religious worship, first publicly affirmed and sanctioned in the second Council of Nice, A. D. 787.
Invocation of saints, first taught with authority by the fourth Council of Constantinople, A. D. 754.