Posted on 06/23/2005 9:06:58 AM PDT by murphE
Catholics are still welcome to attend, but the lack of official involvement amazed Graham biographer Bill Martin, who characterized the archdiocese's reasoning as a "change in policy" from Mr. Graham's 1991 Central Park crusade. Back then, he said, 630 Catholic churches cooperated with the crusade and information on the meetings was handed out at St. Patrick's Cathedral.That 1991 stance had been a huge shift from Mr. Graham's first New York crusade in 1957, he said, when Catholics boycotted the event and Catholic clergy were instructed on how to counter Mr. Graham's preaching.
"So maybe something's come down from above saying not to be involved in this," Mr. Martin added.
ping
Too busy....I guess they have a lot of sock drawers to rearrange.
Real simple: There is no Salvation outside the Roman Catholic Church.
What's your point Murph? Should Catholics be out there rallying in support for Billy Graham's Crusade, or should they be apathetic, ignorant, or hostile to it?
Most Catholics I know, respect Rev. Graham as a humble and honest man. I stress the honest part because there is a certain Catholic bias that many evangelical preachers are in it for the money. Not so with Billy Graham.
On the other hand, the Catholic way of worshipping and witnessing is very different than Evangelical Protestants. If you sat both in a room, there is more that they'd agree with than disagree with....but style, terminology and theology do differ.
My link to the original article is incorrect, if you would be so kind would you remedy this please?
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050623-095811-7347r
**"change in policy"**
How about a change in a Pope?
excuse me but NO church has salvation for anyone. The Bible which we both read and believe is the word of God says there is salvation in no other name but the name of Jesus Christ.
Church membership whether Catholic or Evangelical is not salvation for any.
Salvation requires repentence and a recognition of God's grace through the gift of his Son Jesus Christ as a substitution for our sins.
Yes, I remember reading about that. What's your point?
It's a good thing that those cards are being forwarded to the diocese. It would be horrible if those desiring salvation were directed to the wrong place.
While I agree with the dioceses' actions, their way of going about this is ridiculous. I'm Catholic and certainly would disagree with Billy Graham about some serious theological issues, but one would have to have a heart of stone to deny that Graham is a sincere and humble man who truly loves the Lord. That being said, it would be very confusing to Catholics, especially those who are not well formed in their faith (like most of my generation), to have the diocese promote Graham's revival. Graham's style and beliefs are not Catholic. I don't see why any Catholic diocese should feel that it is obligated to promote a non-Catholic religious event. Why can't the dioceses of New York and Brooklyn just come out and say this? Say that they respect Graham's work and wish him success, but they cannot promote this event for Catholics because of the important theological differences. This silly excuse that "we're too busy right now" is just ridiculous and dishonest. This excuse is probably going to sow more seeds of discord than an honest, straightfoward statement from the bishops would.
I wouldn't expect the dioceses or even the parishes to officialy 'invite' people to attend but the spokesmen seem disingenuous when they mention being so busy with the Year of the Eucharist. Especially the 'preparation' statement.
C'mon, it started last October, even Billy Graham can read the encyclical on line. If you're really busy with preparations you're a bit late off the blocks.
The statements by the spokesmen seem a bit stuffy. To me, anyway. Some of his sessions will run on week nights, won't they? I doubt the parishes are going to be busy every night of the week.
Given all that, Graham's a good man for seekers, from what I've seen on TV; but I get at least as 'meaty' a message from the average week day homily at my parish. I think my fellow parishoners comprehend the fact that Jesus Christ is their personal Lord and Savior, the one mediator between man and God. They seem fairly solid on the basics.
I think so too. Wouldn't it be more charitable and less cowardly to explain the reasons why the Church cannot support Catholics attending this event, the doctrinal issues involved etc.?
You're pretty sure 'most' Catholics do not pray to Jesus Christ, are you? As a fact? Personal observation?
You might find most of a billion Catholics would beg to disagree with you.
But isn't the Church the pillar and foundation of truth? And didn't Jesus establish a Church? And doesn't Jesus require much more than just shouting out his name "Lord, Lord" to get into Heaven? Don't we have to eat his flesh which is real food and drink his blood which is real drink in order to gain eternal life? Don't we have to be baptised in Water and the Spirit in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost? Didn't Jesus establish a real Church of real men who He would send the Paraclete to guide towards all truth? Didn't he give certain men the ability to forgive and retain sins?
Do you have any Scripture to back up your claim?
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