When the Roman Bough Breaks: How a History of Violence and Scandal Shaped the Roman Church, and Hope for Catholics in the Gospel

Political assassinations. Sexual deviance. Extortion and cons. Mass genocide and torture.

The history of the popes of the Roman Catholic Church is a shocking litany of crimes against humanity not often acknowledged at Sunday Mass. Many amazing Catholic individuals who make up the landscape of Christianity have inadvertently followed theology and tradition passed down for generations from an unbiblical hierarchy with ulterior motives, with no resemblance to the early Church and apostles.

Christianity has always been a movement centered on one defining event and person-the resurrection of Jesus Christ-with the simple mission to spread the good news that God has reconciled the world back to Himself, forever removing the penalty of sin. But when Constantine legalized Christianity in the 4th century, religion, paganism, and politics were merged together. This marked the beginning of a Roman system of ＂church＂ that was built to enrich the dynasty of self-serving popes, deceptive doctrines, and immoral clergy. Faithful believers have been intentionally kept ignorant of the true Gospel for centuries, forced to rely on human achievement, negating God’s grace.

When the Roman Bough Breaks draws together extensive published research, investigative journalism, and endless Catholic admissions and apologies, showing the true nature of the Roman Catholic system and its roots in sharp contrast to the original Church and the true Gospel. Under the New Covenant that Christ ushered in, believers are forgiven only once for sins past, present, and future through His sacrifice on the cross. And, through His resurrection, we are given His life and righteousness. In this simple twofold Gospel of faith, there is freedom from the religious performance of endless duties and prideful self-righteousness.

This is an invitation to explore God’s New Covenant offered after the cross: a one-time, permanent forgiveness because of Christ’s finished work. It is an invitation to discover the glorious salvation in Christ, separate from the trap of rituals and requirements.

Explore the relevance of the true history of the Catholic faith to believers today, and examine what Catholic theologians like Scott Hahn, Trent Horn, and Jimmy Akin teach about the roots of doctrines like indulgences and purgatory. What really happened in the Crusades and Inquisitions of the Middle Ages? Is confession to a priest biblical? How has the celibacy of priests and nuns led to global Catholic sex abuse scandals and widespread homosexuality in the Vatican? Was Peter the first pope? Drawing on research from Keith Thompson, Frederic Martel, and many others, author Jeff Nottingham examines the history of Catholic theology and the teaching of Catholic apologetics alongside the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the faith of the early apostles.