Posted on 03/27/2008 8:52:59 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
Following a visit to Assisi where he was reported to have prayed at the tomb of St Francis, perestroika father and former USSR president, Mikhail Gorbachev, has denied rumours that he is secretly a Catholic.
AsiaNews says rumours of Mr Gorbachev's alleged "secret" conversion had begun circulating after he and his daughter Irina visited the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, home to the saint's relics.
Italian daily La Stampa called the event a "spiritual perestroika".
"Over the last few days some media have been disseminating fantasies, I can't use any other word, about my secret Catholicism, citing my visit to the Sacro Convento friary, where the remains of St. Francis of Assisi lie," Gorbachev said.
Instead he insisted that he undertook the trip, not as a pilgrim, but as a "tourist".
But AsiaNews says that the stories were fuelled by statements the former leader made following his visit.
After a half an hour meditation in the basilica Gorbachev told reporters that the story of the saint played a fundamental role in his life.
"It was through St Francis that I arrived at the church," he said.
Gorbachev, who was baptised into the Orthodox Church as a child, said that he respected all religions and was conscious of the crucial role they play.
Referring to earlier visits to other churches and sites of worship, Gorbachev noted that "nobody related me to this or that belief during all these years. To avoid misunderstandings I would like to say I was atheist and I stay atheist".
In another comment, a Moscow Patriarchate spokesperson said that Mr Gorbachev "is still on his way to Christianity".
Hmmmm....there’s hope. Maybe we can make him a Calvinist. ;O)
I don’t know what to make of this. How many atheists visit the tomb of St. Francis of Assissi?
aren’t Presbeteryians theologically inclined towards Calvinism?
Harley, do you realize what this means? You & I might secretly be "real Catholics", despite our stance as Trent-anathemized Protestants!?! And here I just got baptized by proxy into the Mormon church. I sure hope I don't get double-billed.
Oh, my!!! Does anyone know where I can buy a rosary cheap???
“I might secretly be “real Catholics”, despite our stance as Trent-anathemized Protestants!?!”
That’s ok. You’ll come into the fold. We are praying for you and others.
I pray for your health and happiness and for your conversion to Catholicism with others here.
Peace and love be to you and them.
Whatever floats your boat, Alex. Speaking of "self-identification", I think the most obvious incongruity on this forum is the use of the term "Christian". "Self-identification" as such is clearly no guarantee of Christ-like behavior, as we see every day. My point is that "self-identification" sometimes isn't worth a whole lot.
Wherever Gorby is on his own spiritual journey, it's poor form to use it as just one more artillery shell to lob at your target of choice.
I make rosaries. It's not hard to do. If I thought, even for an instant, that you were actually honestly interested in meditating on the significant events in the life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I'd give you one. Free. Gratis. Entirely at my own expense. I'd even cover the cost of shipping it.
Seriously.
I'll even throw in the little book with the Scriptural references for each Mystery.
You have but to ask ... and provide shipping information.
I’ll be offline for a few days ... #12 still stands, though.
Thank you very much. However my wife has a bead making kit. I suppose if I’m really desperate then I can always ask her to whip me up something.
No, it sounds like he’d prefer to follow Christ instead of Calvin.
On the link you posted, they're all congratulating each other on his return to Rome. LOLOL. He'll return to Rome when the Berlin wall goes back up.
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