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Catholic Church Prepares for Cold War With Evangelists
Pacific News Service ^ | 05/31/05 | Paolo Pontoniere

Posted on 06/01/2005 6:29:39 AM PDT by murphE

Editor's Note: Statements by Pope Benedict XVI and the appointment of San Francisco Archbishop William Levada signal a Holy See ready to counteract the expansion of evangelical groups worldwide.

SAN FRANCISCO--On the day before the conclave to choose a new pope began, future pontiff Joseph Ratzinger led a liturgy that reassured the church's believers that the Holy See was not giving up on them and was prepared to fight for the salvation of their souls. He surely meant to allude to the fight against moral relativism, but he also had his sights set on evangelicalism.

Indeed, during the first mass held by Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI, he strongly implied that the Catholic church is the rightful House of Christ, and said that his first commitment was toward "the full and visible unity of Christ's followers."

Today, to regain ground in the first world and continue to expand in the Third World, the Roman Catholic Church, more than fighting secularism, must counteract the expansion of evangelical groups. It is a silent clash that could be compared to the protracted, mostly slow-burning feud between capitalism and communism during the Cold War.

According to some researchers, evangelical Christianity is expanding three times faster than the world population and is the only existing religious group showing a significant growth through conversion. By contrast, the Roman Catholic Church is expanding at a slower pace than the population, which will mean an overall decrease in the number of Catholics worldwide.

In addition, the dissolution of the Berlin Wall not only reinvigorated the Orthodox church, but also saw huge numbers of believers from the former Socialist bloc -- where the church had been persecuted -- move into evangelical groups.

There are currently more evangelicals in Asia than in North America. Singapore's churches are among the most active in the world, sending one missionary abroad per every 1,000 members. Seven of the world's 10 largest evangelical churches can be found in Seoul alone, a city in which 110 years ago there was none.

In Latin America, a mostly Catholic region for the past 500 years, the number of evangelicals has grown from under 250,000 in 1900 to over 60 million in 2000. Critics of the Vatican say the vacuum left by Pope John Paul II's disavowal of the "basic Christian communities" movement has been filled by the evangelicals.

In 1960, the number of evangelicals living in the developing countries were one-half of those in the West; in the year 2000 they were four times more and in 2010 they will be seven times as numerous.

In America, where even Protestant groups have lost 5.4 million members over the last decade, evangelicals have enjoyed a growth rate of 40 percent. They have become the largest religious force in the United States, with 26 percent of all believers -- and they wield undeniable political clout.

"The current pope is a renovator. But there cannot be renovation without tradition," says Father Joseph Fazio, founder of St. Ignatius Press and Chancellor of Ave Maria University in Florida. "I don't have any doubt that he'll realize the full spirit of Vatican II, of unifying all of Christ's believers under the benevolent care of the Holy See.

"He has already laid the doctrinal ground for the renaissance of the church -- he did it when he was at the helm of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. Under Benedict XVI the world will know that the Roman Catholic Church has Christ's message at its core and follows his teachings closely," adds Fr. Fazio.

The battle for the soul of believers in developed countries, particularly the United States, is also critical -- most of the funds used by alternative evangelical churches to send missionaries and proselytize in the poorer countries come from there.

The appointment of San Francisco Archbishop William Levada to the previous position held by Pope Benedict XVI himself can be better appreciated in this light.

Levada's appointment sends the message that the church entrusts its doctrines to a prelate who had led a diocese in America's most secular humanist and morally relativistic city. Levada has dealt firsthand with the legacies of free love, feminism, the gay movement and the evangelical juggernaut.

"Benedict XVI has chosen Levada specifically because he knows how to face these challenges," says Father Labib Kobti, pastor at St. Thomas More in San Francisco and U.S. Representative for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

"When Levada expressed his surprise at his appointment, the Pope responded that he was in fact the right man for the task because he came from a world where evangelical groups were a challenge, where the message of Christ was being distorted, and that he had provided a compassionate but firm rebuttal to the many assaults that the church of San Francisco had faced during his years as head of the diocese."

Under Levada's almost decade-long tenure, San Francisco's Catholic church regained a religious presence that had been faltered under the more politically adaptable administration of Archbishop John Quinn.

Father Kobti, however, dismisses suggestions that the Vatican is more than alarmed at the growing influence of evangelicalism. "In the past the church has been given for dead more than once," he says. "Take for example the rise of the Baptists and of the Lutherans."


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; Religion & Politics; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholiclist; evangelicals; pope; vatican
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To: Onelifetogive
That really isn't "Biblical" is it?

Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith. But if they would learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.
-1 Corinthians 14: 34-35

21 posted on 06/01/2005 7:20:47 AM PDT by Pyro7480 ("All my own perception of beauty both in majesty and simplicity is founded upon Our Lady." - Tolkien)
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To: murphE
"When Levada expressed his surprise at his appointment, the Pope responded that he was in fact the right man for the task because he came from a world where evangelical groups were a challenge, where the message of Christ was being distorted, and that he had provided a compassionate but firm rebuttal to the many assaults that the church of San Francisco had faced during his years as head of the diocese."

I guess Pope Benedict chose him deliberately, to open the arms of the Church to evangelicals. This is great, it is in keeping with my thoughts that there is a lot of low hanging fruit we have not grasped for in the Church.

If I may add, I know a lot of evangelicals and I am sympathetic to the stands they take on moral theology, while I reject the stands they take on other areas. In the area of morals, they have a great deal in common with the Church, in the area of faith they are rather divergent.
22 posted on 06/01/2005 7:22:15 AM PDT by Dominick ("Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought." - JP II)
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To: Salvation
Many parishes now have Evaangelization Committees as part of their parish structure now.

We have one. My wife is on it. They've actually done some great things, like getting someone to come speak about the "DaVinci Code", they had one of the priests from Priests for Life, they had a series on the Sacraments. They hold weekly Bible studies.

Also, one of their most attended evenings was having experienced couples come and talk about how they've dealt with issues raising their children. How they've kept the faith alive in their homes. Apparently, a lot of parents have trouble getting their teenagers to come to Mass. The experienced parents, to a couple, said you just have to lay down the law. Make sure your children understand it is your home, your rules. Have a family rosary once a week. This talk was extremely popular and there will probably be an encore.

As part of every talk given, the evangelization committee gets some kids from the school to babysit in the gym as part of their service projects.

23 posted on 06/01/2005 7:23:45 AM PDT by old and tired
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To: aspiring.hillbilly
The people cant be fooled by watered down religion.

There are "watered down" Catholics but the Catholic Church is not watered down. Salvation is though God's grace. Abortion is murder. The act of homosexuality is a grave sin. Socialism is an evil that subordinates the individual, is freedom and his property to the state.

You see any water here?

24 posted on 06/01/2005 7:23:54 AM PDT by jwalsh07
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To: Salvation
Your information is in error here. Where are you getting it anyway. In some Catholic-bashing material?

Can one get the impression that the Catholic bureaucracy is anti-death penalty ONLY from "Catholic-bashing material"????? My guess is that this information came from quotes DIRECTLY from members of the Catholic bureaucracy........

25 posted on 06/01/2005 7:23:55 AM PDT by Onelifetogive (* Sarcasm tag ALWAYS required. For some FReepers, sarcasm can NEVER be obvious enough.)
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To: jwalsh07

Sure aint Holy Water...


26 posted on 06/01/2005 7:25:49 AM PDT by aspiring.hillbilly (!.....ripped from the headlines.....!)
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To: Pyro7480

BTTT!


27 posted on 06/01/2005 7:26:03 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: murphE
Catholic Church Prepares for Cold War With Evangelists

"Prepares"!!! LOL! Boot camp, eh? General Orders, Plan-Of-The-Day, watches...

28 posted on 06/01/2005 7:26:55 AM PDT by Ff--150 (Now Unto Him That Is Able To Do Exceeding)
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To: Salvation
the one, holy, apostolic and catholic church.

What happened to all that "unity" talk I was hearing so much about?????

You should say "one of the holy, apostolic and catholic churches..." Then you won't seem to be saying that ONLY you are right and ALL other churches are wrong.

29 posted on 06/01/2005 7:27:07 AM PDT by Onelifetogive (* Sarcasm tag ALWAYS required. For some FReepers, sarcasm can NEVER be obvious enough.)
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To: aspiring.hillbilly

I'll simply take that as a tacit admission that your lack of knowledge about the Catholic Church isn't malicious, just ignorant. OK with you? :-}


30 posted on 06/01/2005 7:28:12 AM PDT by jwalsh07
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To: Onelifetogive
My guess is that this information came from quotes DIRECTLY from members of the Catholic bureaucracy........

It can be very confusing, I agree, when those designated to speak for the Church put forth their personal opinion without identifying it as just that, it gives the impression of being what "The Church" doctrine is.

31 posted on 06/01/2005 7:29:56 AM PDT by murphE (These are days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed but his own. --G.K. Chesterton)
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To: Salvation
This is a slow process, but it is starting

Americans love instant things. This isn't a criticism, it is an observation. The Church and it's truths should not be tried to be grasped overnight, and a shallow "sinners prayer" doesn't provide the depth and roots for mature faith in Christ.If anyhting we need a lot more evangelization within the Church. There are peopel taking communion with spurious ideas out there! (DUH!)

see Mark 4:3-34:

3 "Hear this! A sower went out to sow.
4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.
6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.
7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain.
8 And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."
9 He added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."

Read the passage...
32 posted on 06/01/2005 7:31:11 AM PDT by Dominick ("Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought." - JP II)
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To: Onelifetogive
Her parish with about 5000 families and several jam packed Masses every Sunday had a single adult "Sunday School" class with about 15 regular attenders.....

One thing my wife's evangelization committee has discovered. You've got to get the folks where they are. Stuff quick hitting evanglizing info into the bulletin or into the school's communication envelope. Believe it or not, they've had a number of people tell them they had no idea the Immaculate Conception was the conception of the Mother of God. Also, they've found if they hold a talk on a Friday night and include babysitting, people will come.

33 posted on 06/01/2005 7:31:39 AM PDT by old and tired
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To: Ff--150
"Prepares"!!! LOL! Boot camp, eh? General Orders, Plan-Of-The-Day, watches...

It's not such a ridiculous analogy, the Church on earth is the Church Militant.

34 posted on 06/01/2005 7:32:19 AM PDT by murphE (These are days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed but his own. --G.K. Chesterton)
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To: Pyro7480
That's a large part of the problem in many parts of the world with the Catholic Church, particularly in Latin America and the Western world. The leaders there are too busy with liberation theology, experimenting with the liturgy, and thwarting dogma to notice why their congregations are leaving for the Penecostal and evangelical churches.

In fact, liberation theology has largely been squelched in Latin America (at least officially), yet the small evangelical communities continue to grow and attract former Catholics to them.

No, the problem is the lack of priests. Here is an evangelical perspective:

For most of Latin history, however, the number of priests has been insufficient to effectively minister to all the people. Religious vacuums have thus been created, especially in rural areas and on the outskirts of urban areas. Anthony Gill, who describes the religious economy of Latin America, writes, “The evangelization mission of the Catholic Church, to ensure all members of the population were inextricably bound to Catholicism, suffered due to the simple dynamics of restricted supply under a monopolized religious market” (1999, 75). People, rather than travelling great distances to visit a priest, turned to various forms of folk Catholicism to solve everyday issues regarding sickness, financial gain or loss, and romance. These areas of folk Catholicism, largely bereft of priestly influence, provide the ripest area for evangelism in Latin America. Gill says, “When a religious provider enters a region bereft of Catholic priests, folk Catholicism generally declines, indicating that the people would prefer to delegate the task of supplying religion to a specialist” (Gill, 1999, 75) rather than a traditional curendero or spiritist.

Source.

35 posted on 06/01/2005 7:33:25 AM PDT by sinkspur (If you want unconditional love with skin, and hair and a warm nose, get a shelter dog.)
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To: old and tired; Salvation

Salvation, my post #33 may interest you.


36 posted on 06/01/2005 7:33:59 AM PDT by old and tired
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To: Pyro7480
"[a]ssuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor."

Did a search and cannot find that quotation in the Bible, pray tell what chapter and verse is that derived from? Furthermore I didn't realize the Bible came in bureaucratic language...
37 posted on 06/01/2005 7:34:11 AM PDT by aspiring.hillbilly (!.....ripped from the headlines.....!)
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To: old and tired

This sounds very similar to what we are doing. One evening a month.

Subject have been:
Advent
Annulments
Lent
Triduum -- Holy Week
Apparitions of Mary
Pentecost -- The Role of the Holy Spirit
End of Life Issues

We are finishing off our first year of this with evenings for the adults, activities for the youth, and more activities for the families with children. We start all together with a meal and a prayer service and finish with everyone comming back together as one community with a prayer service after the indivudalized sessions for the different age groups.

We also send home additional reading and study for home activities and /or faith formation during the month.

The feedback we have received has been on the fabulous side! (Sorry if that sounds like I'm bragging, I'm not -- merely reflecting the evaluations that are completed each evening.)

We have made some mistakes during this year, but are finding what works and building on it.


38 posted on 06/01/2005 7:34:31 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: jwalsh07
Lack of knowledge? you meant to say I know tooo much!
39 posted on 06/01/2005 7:35:48 AM PDT by aspiring.hillbilly (!.....ripped from the headlines.....!)
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To: Salvation

What is the error?


40 posted on 06/01/2005 7:36:57 AM PDT by aspiring.hillbilly (!.....ripped from the headlines.....!)
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