[murphE]

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.

[murphE]

Catholic Church Prepares for Cold War With Evangelists???

Frankly, I don't see what evidence there is to support this opinion.

ping

[Salvation]

Evangelization bump.

[aspiring.hillbilly]

The purpose of any church is to teach members to live by Biblical truths, any straying from this by the inclusion of liberalism, political correctness, accepting homosexuality, in other words, embracing the evil trends of the day results in a shrinking congregation. The people cant be fooled by watered down religion.

[Dominick]

"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.

[Ff--150]

Catholic Church Prepares for Cold War With Evangelists

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

[theFIRMbss]

>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

Paula sez: "All your
base are belong to us!" So,
there, Mr. Pope Man!

[Aunt Polgara]

If the author of this piece is going to put words in someone's mouth, he could at least spell Fr. Joseph Fessio's name correctly, wouldn't ya think??

[wallcrawlr]

I agree with the comment at the bottom of that source, "

Please do not compare the cold war with Christian conversions. It is flawed and immature. Please have practicing Catholics and Protestant Christians read, review and edit your articles on the subject. This article could have been written by a eighth grader.

[Petronski]

Some leftist eRag decides to make a shabby attempt to pit Catholics against Evangelicals and vice versa).



Oooh, let's all fall for it!

[HKMk23]

<SARCASM>
Oh, those evil, despicable evangelicals! Leading people to Christ and ensuring their eternal salvation without consulting Rome! Whatever IS this world coming to? Why, the very IDEA that someone could be saved from the fires of Hell and not be Catholic... Mercy! And the NOTION that anyone could be indwelt by the Holy Spirit and not even own a Rosary -- oh, don't EVEN get me started. Dear me, it hasn't been this bad since the rise of the hated Lutherans and the coming of the Baptist hordes. Oh, the humanity!
</SARCASM>

As if being a Catholic were more important than Salvation itself.
As if being a Catholic were more powerful than the Blood of Jesus.
What damnable blasphemy!

All of Christendom, Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical, has a sole commission to spread the gospel and win converts to Christ. All have a shared goal. We may belong to different divisions, but we are members of ONE Army, having ONE Commander, who is Christ Jesus.

Isn't it about time to start acting like it?

[dangus]

Real story:

PAcific News plots to drive wedge between Catholic and Protestant elements of "religious right."

[JohnnyZ]

Father Joseph Fazio

Make that Father Fessio.

[mercy]

Roman Catholicism has one great twofold selling point. Ritual and gaudy pomp and circumstance. If they would add Truth and Bible teaching they could grow just like the evangelicals. Some decent hymms would help too. Only Jews rival RCs in the absolute destitution of their group singing.

Right now they are failing miserably with their 1000 year outdated (and made up out of whole cloth) methods . They should try what Peter and Paul did. It works.

[Protagoras]

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.

Huh?

[redgolum]

There is tension between Roman Catholics and non in many parts of the world. For instance, my Lutheran synod often sends missionaries to South and Central American countries. This has not been viewed very kindly at times by the local Catholic clergy.

What has stopped the bad feelings somewhat is that the missionaries make no attempt to convert other Christians, but mainly focus on those who are unchurched. One priest in an interview stated he didn't mind it, since after they went back to Christ he figured he could lead them back to the Roman Catholic Church.

In places like S. Korea, Lutherans, Catholics, and Proletarians work so much together that they tend to blend in. My old church had a pastor from Seoul come one Sunday, and he often talked about working with the local Catholics, something which was pretty verboten in Nebraska.

[P-Marlowe]

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.

So the Catholic Church has declared war on those who are seeking to bring people to Christ and abandoning the war against those who would seek to destroy Christianity altogether.

So much for ecumenicism.

The reason why evangelical churches are growing is because they are actually doing what the lord commanded. They are preaching the gospel of Christ. They are going into all the world with the gospel. Apparently this is anathema to the current RC leadership.

[F16Fighter]

Catholic Church Prepares for Cold War With Evangelists

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.

What a disingenuous and disgustingly sh*t-shirring title and so-called "Editor's Note."

One wonder why the "Editor" didn't also mention "armaments and troop strengths of Catholics vs. Protestants" while he/she was at it.

[Antoninus]

The atheist left has realized that they need to stir the pot and try to cause emnity between the evangelicals and Catholics. Divide and conquer. I'm as easily baited by this stuff as anyone, but I think we need to put aside our differences and work together to ensure the defeat of the TRUE enemy.

Why should I waste my time attacking Protestants who agree with me on 80-90% of the important issues, when there exist large numbers of people that absolutely despise all things Christian? Both Catholics and Protestants should concentrate their efforts on the atheist secularists and muslims, not on each other.

"And John, answering, said: Master, we saw a certain man casting out devils in thy name: and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said to him: Forbid him not: for he that is not against you is for you." Luke 9:49-50

[donbosco74]

ping.

[thombo]

Good article.I can see where differences in theology could be a problem between Catholics and Evangelical Christians.It would be great if the 2 sides could get together,and take on the anti-religous,anti-family left.I think that is the bigger threat.