Show the reverend the utmost kindness, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá writes, and tell him to become a heavenly clergyman, free of prejudice, an intimate companion of Christ. The invitation sets the tone for criticism that is otherwise unsparing. Ordained ministers are many, confirmed ones few; Christ, hungry in the wilderness, grieved no heart, while the Pope rides in a gilded carriage; and in the cardinal’s procession ‘Abdu’l-Bahá watched pass by, He saw a crown of jewels where Christ wore thorns, brocade where Christ wore rags, applause where Christ met abuse, a pulpit where Christ had a cross. The measure throughout is the life of the Teacher the office invokes, and missionary colleges that teach contempt for a student’s parents, or clergy who recite scripture like parrots, fail that measure as surely as wealth does. Jesus telling His disciples that greatness among them means service, with His own self-giving as the pattern [1], speaks from inside the Gospel to the same point. Anyone with religious influence is asked how far their conduct has drifted from what they profess. From here the way leads to Christ and Christianity, and to Bahá’u’lláh’s proclamation to the religious leaders of the world.
And show utmost kindness to the reverend on my behalf and say that these existing clergymen are earthly, but you become a heavenly clergyman. These are bound to this mortal world, you become bound to the divine Kingdom. These are immersed in prejudice, you become free and sanctified from prejudice so that you may become an intimate companion of Christ and the apostles in the divine Kingdom and attain the presence of the beauty of Baha'u'llah.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1912-Mar-13, to Sara Louisa Blomfield -- AB04080)
02
Ordained Ministers are many, confirmed Ministers are few. During the days of Christ there were many Rabbis and high-priests but none of them was confirmed except Paul. All of them were deprived but he became the confirmed King of the ministers.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a minister, spoken at Hotel Marquardt on 1913-Apr-28 -- ABU2053)
03
We follow Christ and not the priests. We give more importance to what Christ said than what the Pope and the cardinals say.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a Christian girl, spoken at Rue St. Didier 30 on 1913-Feb-23 -- ABU3201)
04
Christ, hungry and destitute, subsisted on the herbs of the wilderness and would not consent to see any heart saddened. The Pope rides in a gilded carriage and passes his days in the utmost majesty, occupied with such pleasures and pursuits as to surpass the opulence and self-indulgence of all the kings of the earth.
Christ did not harm anyone, but certain Popes put many innocent souls to death.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Chapter 34, Peter and the Papacy, 1905-Jan -- AB00256)
05
In Christ's divine ceremony, He had a crown, but it was made of thorns, while this cardinal wears a crown adorned with lustrous jewels. Christ had garments, but they were torn, while in this ceremony, the cardinal's robe is made of the finest brocade. In that ceremony, those that followed Christ were the object of [people's] contempt and abuse, while those that were with cardinal walked in great honor, pomp and glory. … Christ's procession was the manifestation of humility, reverence, hardship, spirituality and divine attraction, while the cardinal's is the display of might, wealth and power. Christ's throne was upon a cross, while this cardinal's place is upon a much adorned pulpit.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1915-Jul-04 in Haifa -- ABU1262)
06
Christ wore a crown, albeit one of thorns; this cardinal also wears a crown, but his is studded with gleaming gems. Christ wore clothing, though it was badly tattered; this cardinal, too, wears clothes, but his are made of silk and gold. One had a cross for His kingly seat, while the other has a golden altar and throne. One gave His life to edify humankind, while the other uses the means and lives of people to secure his own glory and comfort.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1913-Mar-16 in Paris -- ABU3671)
07
Many of such Ministers, priests and clergy are unable to breathe even one breath of the disciples, how much more to walk in their footsteps.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Jun-06 in Tiberias -- ABU0289)
08
But as for those Jewish doctors, Christian priests and monks who read them - verily, they know only the letter, uttering the words like parrots, without understanding their inner meanings.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1916 or <, to Jacob Fletcher -- AB08374)
09
There are a number of Missionary Colleges in the East who are dogmatically sectarian, trying all the time to teach the students the falsity of their parents' religions and the grandeur and sublimity of Christianity. The net result has been a woeful failure, for generally the students turn out of the College with no religion.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Interview with five American teachers, Haifa, 1914-Jul-21 -- ABU1512)
10
I told them, you may go first to your own ministers and clergy and ask this question from them, for they look upon the Easterners as heathens, unbaptized, unregenerated, unconfirmed and unordained while they consider themselves as the heirs and joint-heirs of the Kingdom of God and well-informed of the mysteries of Holy Writ; hence they are not willing to accept our interpretation quite readily.'
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the friends, spoken on 1915-May-22 -- ABU1363)
11
When the government lost its influence, naturally the influence of the clergy did not remain either. "They destroy their houses with their own hands and the hands of the believers." If they had intelligence, their benefit lay in the strength of the government's influence, but they did not understand and cast themselves into this trap and snare. Now their blessed beards are caught and no strategy remains, and they cannot bear the humiliation. This is why their cries of "O Valley! O Sacred Law!" reach to the ethereal sphere.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1907-Jul-11 ca., to Jinab Nazim (Barfurush) -- AB01237)
12
Every year, on the occasion of the arrival of the New Year, the Pope would deliver a sermon in the church. One year he invited the Italian king to attend this ceremony.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1919-Dec-09 -- ABU2985)
13
He that attaineth to true hearing ariseth to serve My Cause in such wise that neither the divines of this age who have become corrupt and have corrupted others, and who pronounced judgment against God when He came with a Cause before which all things that were and will be created stand powerless, can hinder him.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1299 ? [1881-1882], to Ghulam-Husayn Khan -- BH01650)
14
The Popes live in luxury in the Vatican. The Christ gave the Command not to curse your enemy, but to turn the cheek to receive the second blow. The Popes shed blood freely. There were many holy man among the Popes, but not all.
Christ opened the gate of heaven; this cardinal is going to open that of a church. Christ had a crowd following Him but they were there to hurl contempt and abuse at Him. This cardinal had a crowd with him but they are there to help. Christ had a crown but it was made of thorns, while this cardinal wears a crown set with lustrous jewels. Christ had clothes but they were made of old, coarse cloth, while this man's robe is made of the finest brocade of the day. Christ spent His days in sorrow, while this cardinal's days are spent in security and comfort. Christ's home was a desert, while this cardinal's home is a splendid building, like that of a king.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the Baha'is, spoken on 1912-Oct-29 -- ABU1677)
16
Convey thou my greetings to Mrs. Florence, and tell her: The diverse congregations have given up the ground of their belief, and adopted doctrines that are of no account in the sight of God. They are even as the Pharisees who both prayed and fasted, and then did sentence Jesus Christ to death.
Among these meanings is the dissolution of those souls who, before the rising of the Sun of Oneness from the Muhammadan horizon, had illumined people with the lights of their sciences, wisdom and knowledge - like those souls who, in the Christian dispensation before the appearance of the Beauty of Ahmad, called people to the straight path and the mighty way, and from whose tongues shone forth the lights of knowledge and wisdom they had borrowed from the lamp of Jesus and the niche of Christ, and by whose guidance and direction and light of wisdom and knowledge people walked the path of guidance.