Alleged Quote: "How well we know what a profitable superstition this fable of Christ has been for us." - Pope Leo X (1513-1521)
Bushby cites the infamous Pope Leo X quote on the cover of The Bible Fraud as well as a few other times throughout his book. Because we have already debunked the quote on this page, I will summarize our conclusions here. The quote's true origin is a satirical work by the 16th century playwright, John Bale. Bale wrote many parodies in which he openly expressed his disdain of papal abuse. One such work, known as The Pageant of the Popes, is the actual source of this quote:
"For on a time when a cardinal Bembus did move a question out of the Gospel, the Pope gave him a very contemptuous answer saying: All ages can testify enough how profitable that fable of Christ hath been to us and our company." (Pageant of the Popes Page 179)
The Catholic Encyclopedia, which openly admits to Leo's questionable practices, even comes to his defense by stating this quote does not come from him: "His piety cannot truly be described as deep or spiritual, but that does not justify the continued repetition of his alleged remark... John Bale, the apostate English Carmelite, the first to give currency to these words in the time of Queen Elizabeth, was not even a contemporary of Leo." Catholic Encyclopedia
PAGE 11: Did Nostradamus Foresee The Bible Fraud? "O vast Rome, your ruin draws near. Not of your walls but of your blood and substance. One sharp in letters makes so horrible a mark. His sharp point goes all the way to the quick." -Nostradamus Quatrain X.65
This isn't necessarily an error inasmuch as it's just ridiculous and arrogant. Though I personally pay little attention to the Nostradamus predictions, the church seems to be doing quite well in the wake of Bushby's not-so horrible a mark.
PAGE 12: No Arguments Many people may find themselves at odds with certain conclusions reached within this book. Therefore the author publisher and associates of this publication will not engage in written religious argument with readers who hold a different opinion from those expressed here.
In my opinion, this disclaimer shows Bushby's role as an agenda pusher instead of a truth searcher. To me, this "no argument" clause basically translates into "I know my research is bogus so please don't bother.
