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In Brazil, Signs of Reconversions - Bishop Says Evangelicals Are Returning to Church
Zenit News Agency ^ | January 25, 2006

Posted on 01/26/2006 8:12:07 AM PST by NYer

KOENIGSTEIN, Germany, JAN. 25, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Brazil has seen the phenomenon of Catholics who leave the Church to become members of evangelical communities. Now, some evangelicals are coming back, says a prelate.

Bishop Franco Dalla Valle of Juina, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, shared his view during a recent visit to the headquarters of the charity Aid to the Church in Need.

"When my diocese was erected in 1997, there were just six parishes, now there are 10 and a mission area," said the 60-year-old bishop.

The prelate, an Italian missionary, added: "The number of priests has risen from six to 20, nine of whom are diocesan priests. Currently, five young men are preparing for the priesthood in the Cuiaba seminary. And we also have vocations to the female religious life."

Bishop Dalla Valle explained that violence and drug trafficking are widespread in the region, mainly due to poverty and unemployment.

"In order to give a perspective to young people, I am planning to establish institutions of higher education and professional training," he said.

The prelate also emphasized the importance of Catholic media.

"Our diocesan TV programs do not contain 'telenovelas,' pornography or propaganda," he said. "Therefore, they are popular even among evangelicals, many of whom return to the Catholic faith when they contemplate the mystery of God."


TOPICS: Activism; Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; Evangelical Christian; Ministry/Outreach; Prayer; Religion & Culture; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: brazil; catholic; evangelical; media; southamerica
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1 posted on 01/26/2006 8:12:08 AM PST by NYer
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To: american colleen; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; ...
"Our diocesan TV programs do not contain 'telenovelas,' pornography or propaganda," he said. "Therefore, they are popular even among evangelicals, many of whom return to the Catholic faith when they contemplate the mystery of God."

We've got our own media maven, right here in the US of A.


Mother Angelica

2 posted on 01/26/2006 8:15:22 AM PST by NYer (Discover the beauty of the Eastern Catholic Churches - freepmail me for more information.)
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To: NYer

Prayers that in-active Catholics around the world may feel the call and return to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.


3 posted on 01/26/2006 8:25:55 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: NYer
We've got our own media maven, right here in the US of A.

I fondly remember her telling of being mobbed in Peru. She has to be considered one of the greatest women of the last century, along with Mother Theresa. What great and diverse gifts they had. What a wonderful Church we have!

4 posted on 01/26/2006 8:34:40 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: NYer

Good stuff.


5 posted on 01/26/2006 8:37:14 AM PST by The Old Hoosier (Right makes might.)
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To: Salvation

Amen


6 posted on 01/26/2006 8:39:37 AM PST by TXBSAFH (Proud Dad of Twins, What Does Not Kill You Makes You Stronger!!!!!!)
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To: NYer
Bishop Franco Dalla Valle of Juina, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, shared his view during a recent visit to the headquarters of the charity Aid to the Church in Need. "When my diocese was erected in 1997, there were just six parishes, now there are 10 and a mission area," said the 60-year-old bishop. The prelate, an Italian missionary, added: "The number of priests has risen from six to 20, nine of whom are diocesan priests. Currently, five young men are preparing for the priesthood in the Cuiaba seminary. And we also have vocations to the female religious life."

Sounds like an outstanding Bishop. God bless him.

7 posted on 01/26/2006 8:40:48 AM PST by Nihil Obstat
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To: Salvation
It bothers me to see one Christian group claiming to be the one true church while the others are somehow of lesser vintage.If you believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ then to me you are a member of his church. His church has many dimensions to it, some are Catholic and some are main line Protestant and some are Evangelical but the bottom line is that you are a Christian. Its time to stop arguing about the fringe elements or theological differences that we have and to focus on the message of Christ which is to " love the Lord your God and thy neighbor as thyself". As Jesus said this is the essence and foundation of everything.
8 posted on 01/26/2006 8:42:54 AM PST by Courdeleon02
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To: NYer

My family and I met Mother Angelica about 6 years ago. We were on vacation and heading back to Michigan from Florida. We decided to take a little detour through Alabama. We managed to get tickets to the "Mother Angelica Live" program (free, but not always available). She used to come out before each show to say hello to everyone. She's awesome. We named our oldest daughter after her.


9 posted on 01/26/2006 8:45:03 AM PST by goodform
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To: NYer
I am very glad to hear this news. The shrinking Catholic population in Central and South American countries has been weighing heavily on my heart lately. I've got grandchildren adopted from Guatemala and I am told that only 60% of that country still calls itself Catholic.

Over the last few years, the first place our charitable contributions have gone after pro-life US causes has been genuine Catholic education. But I believe the Lord has put Evangelization south of the border on our hearts and I ask my fellow Catholics with a few dollars to spare to join us in our efforts.

http://www.catholicworldmission.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=48879

10 posted on 01/26/2006 9:03:14 AM PST by old and tired (Run Swannie, run!)
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To: Courdeleon02
It bothers me to see one Christian group claiming to be the one true church while the others are somehow of lesser vintage.

Get over it.

"Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church." St. Ignatius of Antioch Letter to the Smyrnaeans 107 AD

11 posted on 01/26/2006 9:06:51 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham
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To: old and tired

"Aid to the Church in Need" (cited in the article) is also outstanding. http://www.kirche-in-not.org/index_s.html


12 posted on 01/26/2006 9:11:32 AM PST by Nihil Obstat
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To: Courdeleon02

Nothing bad could ever come from accepting people's diversity.


13 posted on 01/26/2006 9:15:08 AM PST by countorlock (But thy strong Hours indignant work'd their wills, And beat me down and marr'd and wasted me,)
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To: NYer

I started watching telenovelas to help my Spanish aural comprehension, and I enjoy them immensely. Unlike most American TV, there's a consistent undercurrent of traditional morality that always comes across, namely abortion is evil, life and family are good, prayer to "la virgencita" is good, etc. Telemundo and Univision may not exactly be EWTN but they're way ahead of just about everything else (ESPN and FOXNews, excluded, of course).


14 posted on 01/26/2006 9:18:44 AM PST by Ozone34
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To: Aquinasfan

If you have not yet done so, read Raymond Arroyo's book on Mother Angelica. I could not put it down! She is beyond amazing! I'm going to post a thread on her.


15 posted on 01/26/2006 9:30:36 AM PST by NYer (Discover the beauty of the Eastern Catholic Churches - freepmail me for more information.)
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To: A.A. Cunningham

I don't understand your reply. Do you agree or disagree with what I said?


16 posted on 01/26/2006 9:53:01 AM PST by Courdeleon02
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To: NYer

It has always amazed me how these supposedly Catholic areas in Latin America have almost no Priests even after 500 years of existence. How is this possible? What has the Church heirarchy been doing?


17 posted on 01/26/2006 9:54:51 AM PST by Hermann the Cherusker
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To: Salvation

Yes, and that in coming in, they bring All That is Good from the Protestants -- love and knowing of the Lord, knowledge of the Bible, an understanding of orthodox Christianity. There is a mighty wind blowing.


18 posted on 01/26/2006 10:01:31 AM PST by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: countorlock

I think there can be terrible things come from accepting diversity. And have come.


19 posted on 01/26/2006 10:03:43 AM PST by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: bboop

So true!


20 posted on 01/26/2006 10:11:40 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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