"It is one thing to invite unconverted Roman Catholics to a gospel meeting to hear the gospel preached, but it is quite another matter to go to a meeting where Roman Catholics, and Roman Catholic priests that are still firmly in Rome, are preaching from the platform." --Christian News, June 26, 1988

FLIRTING WITH ROME: EVANGELICAL ENTANGLEMENT WITH ROMAN CATHOLICISM

By David W. Cloud

Copyright 1993

Way of Life Literature
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Volume 1--Billy Graham
Volume 2--Key Evangelical Leaders and Organizations
Volume 3--The Southern Baptist Convention
Volume 4--The Charismatics

VOLUME 2--KEY LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS

Nothing more plainly evidences the bankruptcy of new-evangelicalism than its flirtations with Rome, and in these reports we are tracing this sad and serious matter. Some do not believe we should deal with negative matters such as this. They do not believe we should name names and publicly expose the compromises of Christian leaders. But we must. We must do so because God has commanded that we reprove and rebuke error. And we must do so because Rome preaches a false gospel which leads people to hell, and those who fellowship with Rome thereby put a stamp of approval--unwittingly, perhaps, but just as surely--upon Rome's false gospel. We simply cannot keep silent in the face of something this serious.

In Volume 1 of Flirting with Rome we traced Billy Graham's involvement with Catholicism from 1950 to the present. In this second volume we will look at other key evangelical leaders and organizations.

HAS ROME CHANGED?

Some claim that Rome has changed and we should no longer say it is utterly heretical. While the declarations of the Vatican II council of the 1960s did bring changes to the Catholic Church, it did not change its foundational dogmas. Not only did Vatican II uphold Rome's false teachings, it actually strengthened them.

The hundreds of bishops attending Vatican II reaffirmed such Roman heresies as salvation through the sacraments, papal supremacy, the Roman priesthood, the mass as a re-sacrifice of Christ, Catholic tradition on equal par with Scriptures, Mary as the Queen of Heaven and co-redemptress with Christ, auricular confession, Mariolatry, pilgrimages to "holy shrines," purgatory, and prayers to and for the dead. All of the these doctrines were unhesitatingly reaffirmed by Vatican II, the latest, most authoritative statement of Catholic teaching. Pope John XXIII, at the opening of Vatican II, stated, "The greatest concern of the Ecumenical Council is this: that the sacred deposit of Christian doctrine should be guarded and taught more efficaciously. Vatican II did not change the doctrinal foundation of Romanism.

There are Catholics today who claim that they don't believe Rome's heresies, but this does not change the fact that Rome holds them. If one does not believe official Catholic dogma, he should leave the Catholic church.

In an appendix to this book we have included some quotations from Vatican II which reaffirm Catholic heresies.

The fact is that the Catholic church does teach heresy, and God commands that the Christian separate from such things. When evangelical leaders fellowship with Romanism, they are acting in direct disobedience to the Word of God. "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Rom. 16:17).

EVANGELICAL CATHOLICS

Some who acknowledge that Rome as an institution hasn't changed, believe there is a "renewal" happening within the Catholic church which is bringing Catholics into an "evangelical" experience and faith. The 1991 book Evangelical Catholics by Keith Fournier and foreworded by Charles Colson put forth this thinking. Catholic Fournier contends that he is truly Catholic and truly evangelical, and Colson seconds that opinion. Both men are as confused as they could possibly be. The term "evangelical Catholic" turns language on its head, and denies the historical definition of both terms. Further, when examined, this evangelical Catholic phenomenon is a nothing more than a clever ruse.

To illustrate this, we quote from an interview Dennis Costella of the Fundamental Evangelistic Association had with Keith Fournier at Notre Dame '88, a large charismatic Catholic conference. When Costella asked about the Catholic use of D. James Kennedy's Evangelism Explosion materials, Fournier replied:

"...some of the early planning of our program had a lot to do with a Catholic parish that had James Kennedy's program ... The gospel is the gospel and everybody knows what the basic gospel truth is ... denominational differences [are] in the follow-up ... there were a couple of things in James Kennedy's process that we as Catholics couldn't accept because it wasn't Catholic teaching. For example, too obvious was the total assurance of salvation ... and the other one is salvation by faith alone. For Catholics we are saved by faith and also through obedience to Christ. We don't earn our salvation but we believe that there are acts of obedience and cooperation in God's Spirit that are tied up with salvation."

Do you see the tremendous deception in this? Fournier says the gospel is the gospel, implying that we are all preaching the same basic gospel, yet he goes on to deny the very heart of the gospel which is salvation through the grace of Christ alone, by faith alone. He would call this difference merely a matter of "interpretation," or perhaps a semantics problem. That's not the case, though. To add any kind of works to Christ's grace is a matter of heresy and blasphemy, and brings God's curse upon anyone who preaches it (Gal. 1:8-10). Fournier says "we are saved by faith AND ALSO through obedience to Christ," yet he claims he doesn't believe in earning salvation. This is Jesuit sophistry at its diabolic best.

When I find a man who is steadfast in the type of deception Fournier spouts, I will not argue with him nor will I put up with him. I will obey God and reject him and separate from him. "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself" (Titus 3:10-11).

There is no excuse for today's evangelical leaders to be deceived by this kind of duplicity. If a man is not doctrinally strong enough to see through Rome's deceptions, he is not qualified to be a Christian leader. There is nothing truly difficult here.

THE NEW-EVANGELICALISM

Evangelicalism today, though, is not doctrinally strong. Though evangelicalism once stood for the stalwart defense of the New Testament faith, sadly, this is no longer the case. A generation has arisen within evangelicalism which, though rich in all manner of worldly benefits, has abandoned the spiritual zeal of its forefathers. Blindly following their compromised leaders, most evangelicals of this generation have removed the landmarks and knocked down the fences which were carefully set up by their wise forebears. With the rise to prominence of the Billy Graham generation, another kind of evangelicalism emerged.

The term "new-evangelicalism" was coined by the late Harold Ockenga, one- time head of Fuller Theological Seminary and editor of Christianity Today, to define this new type of evangelicalism and to distinguish it from those who had heretofore bore that label. In the foreword to Dr. Harold Lindsell's book The Battle for the Bible, Ockenga reviewed the position of new evangelicalism:

"Neo-evangelicalism was born in 1948 in connection with a convocation address which I gave in the Civic Auditorium in Pasadena. While reaffirming the theological view of fundamentalism, this address repudiated its ecclesiology and its social theory. The ringing call for a repudiation of separatism and the summons to social involvement received a hearty response from many evangelicals. ... It differed from fundamentalism in its repudiation of separatism and its determination to engage itself in the theological dialogue of the day. It had a new emphasis upon the application of the gospel to the sociological, political, and economic areas of life."

Ockenga and the new generation of evangelicals, Billy Graham figuring most prominently, determined to abandon a militant Bible stance. Instead they would pursue dialogue, intellectualism, and appeasement. They determined to stay within apostate denominations and to attempt to change things from within rather than practice biblical separation. The new-evangelical would dialogue with those who teach error rather than proclaim the Word of God boldly and without compromise. The new-evangelical would meet the proud humanist and the haughty liberal on their own turf with so-called scholarship rather than follow the humble path of being counted a fool for Christ's sake by standing humbly and simply upon the Bible. New-evangelical leaders also determined to start a "rethinking process" whereby the old paths were to be continually reassessed in light of new goals, methods, and ideology.

God says, "Walk ye in the old paths," but the new-evangelical reassesses the old paths. God says, "Remove not the ancient landmarks which thy fathers have set" but the new-evangelical has removed them one by one. God says, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness," but the new-evangelical reasons that such fellowship is necessary. God says, "A little leaven leaventh the whole lump," but the new-evangelical thinks he can reform the already leavened lump. God says "evil communications corrupt good manners," but the new evangelical thinks good manners can uplift evil communications. God says, "I resist the proud but give grace to the humble," but the new-evangelical thinks the way to reach the world is by meeting them on their own proud territory, matching them scholarly degree with degree.

The result of this new thinking has been dramatic. Within a mere forty years, evangelicalism has lost all semblance of its past purity, power, and glory. New-evangelicalism is blind and naked, but is not aware of it. In fact, new evangelicalism glories in its new-found acceptance by the world and by apostate Christendom, its vast material wealth, its satellites and transmitters, its worldwide television and radio networks, its massive conferences.

It is God who has commanded that His people separate from error and from those who teach and practice it; it is God who has commanded that His people "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints." And when these and other aspects of old-time evangelicalism were rejected, the power and blessing of God was removed just as it was from Samson of old when he broke his Nazarite vow.

EVANGELICALISM AND ROME

Nothing more clearly illustrates the downfall of evangelicalism than its increasingly close relationship with Romanism. The evangelical warriors of past generations considered Rome the Mother of Harlots. Most old-time evangelicals would have thought it utter folly even to consider Roman Catholicism true Christianity. This doesn't mean old-time evangelicals hated Roman Catholics. Far from it. It was their love for souls which drove them to preach the Gospel to benighted Catholics that some might be saved and plucked as brands from the fire.

Roman Catholicism, as noted earlier, has changed since the 1800s, but it has not changed its basic heretical nature. The changes have been cosmetic with the design of furthering its treacherous ecumenical goals.

It is impossible to conceive of evangelical leaders of old, such as Charles Haddon Spurgeon, calling the blasphemous Pope of Rome a "great evangelist" as Billy Graham has said of John Paul II. It would be impossible to picture Spurgeon inviting a Catholic bishop to stand with him on a platform to "bless" those coming forward at a gospel service. Yet this is exactly what Billy Graham did in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1963.

Today's new evangelicals are indeed a different brand from those of bygone days. Rome hasn't changed, but evangelicalism certainly has. Consider as we give an overview of just how widespread this evangelical blindness is. From the vast amount of documentation which could be presented, we draw the following sad and frightful illustrations involving many of evangelicalism's best known men and organizations.

KEY '73

The fact that the evangelical world has compromised with Rome has been evident in most of the large evangelical conferences of the past twenty years. We are including reports of three of these, beginning with Key '73, to document this trend.

Key '73 was a massive ecumenical "evangelistic" outreach across North America. The Key 73 Congregational Resource Book stated, "Key 73 proposes to raise an over-arching Christian canopy in both Canada and the United States under which all denominations, congregations and Christian groups may concentrate on evangelism during the year 1973." It was said that "never before in the history of the Christian church have so many denominations and Christian organizations banded together in order more effectively to carry out the Great Commission" (Theodore A. Raedeke, National Executive Director of Key '73, speaking at the Philadelphia Area Christians for Key 73 Banquet, Jan. 26, 1973, quoted by D.A. Waite, What's Wrong With Key '73, Supplement #2).

Key '73 was organized by such big-name evangelical leaders as Billy Graham and Bill Bright, and was sponsored by most major denominations in America, both liberal and conservative, and by most major evangelical organizations. Some of the participants were as follows: InterVarsity Fellowship, Youth for Christ, World Vision, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the Canadian Home Bible League, Tyndale House Publishers, Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod, Assemblies of God, United Church of Canada, Church of the Nazarene, American Lutheran Church, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church U.S., Reformed Church in America, American Baptist Convention, Anglican Church of Canada, Baptist Federation of Canada, Christian Church, Friends United, Christian Reformed Church, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Salvation Army, and the Southern Baptist Convention. There were more than 150 different denominations and organizations in all.

Not only were the evangelicals yoked together with modernists, but they were yoked together with Rome. Key '73 was sponsored by Roman Catholic leaders at the very highest levels.

The following are excerpts from Key '73, an Appraisal, by the Fundamental Evangelistic Association. The facts of this conference leave no doubt that many evangelical leaders and organizations have capitulated to Romanism. Remember, too, that this was twenty years ago.

"In December 1970, the Key '73 Central Committee voted to invite Roman Catholic and Orthodox participation in Key '73. Joe Hale, United Methodist member of the Key '73 executive committee, said of this invitation, `We hope and pray that when our brethren in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches receive their invitations, they will respond with wholehearted support and participation.'

"Early in 1972, three Roman Catholic dioceses officially joined Key '73. When the National Conference of Catholic Bishops met in Atlanta in April 1972, Bishop Charles Helmsing, head of the Catholic Ecumenical Relations Committee, `warmly recommended Catholic participation in the evangelistic campaign.'

"According to the Christianity Today report, John Cardinal Carberry of St. Louis `was even more enthusiastic in urging Catholic participation,' although Auxiliary Bishop Gerald V. McDevitt `cautioned that clerics should be concerned about sacraments as well as spreading the gospel.'

"Roman Catholic participation in Key '73 was thus permitted and encouraged at the highest level of the Catholic Church in the United States. Subsequently, Monsignor Baker of St. Louis was quoted as saying that all of Missouri's Catholic bishops have shown genuine enthusiasm for Key '73. `They are very deeply committed ... and see the program as a real opportunity for spiritual renewal,' he said.

"Here's what the Bishops of Missouri wrote:

"`We, the Catholic Bishops of Missouri, are happy to announce to you that on behalf of our Catholic people we have accepted an invitation to join in the program known as Key '73.

"`Among the means of fostering our personal renewal with Christ are a whole-hearted participation in Christ's offering of Himself in the Mass, deep devotion to Christ present in the Eucharist, personal meeting with Christ the Healer and Reconciler in the Sacrament of Penance ... use of the Rosary to meditate on the Mysteries of Christ. ... We shall also seek to grow in the love of our Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. We shall endeavor to deepen our devotion and loyalty to our most Holy Father, Pope Paul VI.

"`In union with Mary, who first brought Christ to the world, and whom He has given to us as our Spiritual Mother, and with the saints who have witnessed to Him through the ages, we beg the blessing of God upon this unique effort to bring Christ, Our Lord and Savior, to our land'" (Key '73, an Appraisal, Fundamental Evangelistic Association Press, 1972).

An example of Key 73 ecumenism is seen in the fact that the Greater Chester [Pennsylvania] Key '73 Launch Rally was held at St. Roberts Roman Catholic Church. Local Christian leader Robert Bell said of that gathering, "This was the greatest single event in the history of Chester, demonstrating more cooperation between Catholics and Protestants ... than ever witnessed before" (D.A. Waite, What's Wrong With Key '73, Supplement #2). The Pennsylvania Council of Churches sponsored a Key '73 Ecumenical Prayer Seminar at the Villa MARIA Retreat House, Wernersville, Pennsylvania (Ibid.)

What a shame! What a horror! What a tragedy! We see that even twenty years ago the most influential leaders of evangelical Christendom welcomed with opened arms the Roman Catholic Church to participate in a key gathering on evangelism. They allowed the Catholic priests to promote their heresies of Mariolatry, to present their false gospel of sacramentalism, to exalt their false "vicar of Christ" by such blasphemous titles as "Holy Father." And not a word of warning was given of Rome's damnable errors. Not a word of warning! Oh, ye blind guides and dumb dogs!

NORTH AMERICAN CONGRESS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT & WORLD EVANGELIZATION

Another massive congress which illustrates evangelical capitulation to Rome was the North American Congress on the Holy Spirit & World Evangelization. I had opportunity to attend these meetings with press credentials. The first was in New Orleans, in July 1987; the second, in Indianapolis, in August 1990. Forty denominations and more than 200 Christian organizations were represented. Of the roughly 75,000 in attendance at these conferences, more than 50% were Roman Catholic.

It is difficult to describe the overwhelming Catholic presence at these meetings. Priests and nuns were everywhere. A Roman Catholic mass was held each morning. On Saturday evening of the New Orleans congress, the conference chairman, Pentecostal Vinson Synan, encouraged everyone present to attend the mass on Sunday morning. He said, "If you want to see something beautiful, come see a spirit-filled Catholic mass."

Roman Catholic books dominated the literature sales areas. There were books on the mass, books about Mary worship, books about Mary shines such as Fatima and Lourdes, books by the popes, books on the rosary. All sorts of Mary statues, rosaries, crucifixes, and medallions were on sale.

The final and most important messages of both conferences were delivered by Roman Catholic priest Tom Forrest, and he acknowledged that he came from his office at the Vatican with instructions from "the holy father" about his ministry in these charismatic congresses. Yet he was welcomed as a "Spirit-filled man of God," as a hero of the faith, and he literally brought the crowd to its feet when he proclaimed that the world must be evangelized by all denominations working together.

Some might be thinking, "Perhaps this Tom Forrest is one of those `evangelical Catholics' I have been hearing about; perhaps he has rejected many of the Roman Catholic errors." Let me explain how "evangelical" Forrest is. He preached a message at the Indianapolis conference in which he gloried in the Catholic distinctives. He said he praised God for the Pope. He praised God for Mary, the Queen of Heaven. He praised God for the Roman priesthood "ordained after the order of Melchizedec." He even praised God for purgatory! When Forrest gave an illustration of how to evangelize, he said he walked through the streets of Rome praying a mystery of the rosary for every person he passed! Friends, this is NOT Bible Christianity.

In addition to charismatics, many of the well-known evangelical organizations, schools, and leaders were involved in these meetings.

Consider just a few: Charles Kraft and Peter Wagner of Fuller Seminary, Floyd McClung (Youth With A Mission), Loren Cunningham, E.V. Hill, David C. Cook Publishing, Every Home for Christ International, Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Jews for Jesus, Scripture Press, Thomas Nelson Publishers, U.S. Center for World Mission, World Vision, and Wycliffe Bible Translators. In light of evangelical participation at this and many other national and international congresses, it is not possible to deny the total capitulation of mainstream evangelicalism to Rome. See Charismatic Confusion in Indianapolis.  

EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW ENGLAND

The Evangelical Association of New England (EANE) further illustrates the capitulation of evangelicalism to Rome. When the EANE held their annual conference in Boston in 1985, Pastor Wilson Ewin was present to represent his ministry of Catholic evangelism. The following amazing report of his censorship by the conference leaders illustrates the hostile attitude of present-day evangelicalism toward the truth:

"The Congress was a 25th anniversary. Interdenominational evangelism conferences had met yearly to promote `fellowship with Christians from all over New England.'...

"The story comes from conversations at a booth and book display rented by Bible Baptist Church of Nashua [New Hampshire]. A four-by-eight-foot banner over the booth read, "The Roman Catholic and Evangelism."

"Surprisingly, our application for a booth was accepted months before the meeting. It stated frankly that evangelism of Roman Catholics would be the theme. In fact, the literature printed by the EANE itself and given to all visitors at the Congress read, `Bible Baptist Church: Visit us and obtain the answer to witnessing to Roman Catholic neighbors, friends, or strangers. The Bible Baptist booth materials cover every possible subject.'

"Several Vatican-approved books were on the table, among them: The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent (1978 edition); The Glories of Mary; The Baltimore Catechism; The St. Joseph Edition of the Bible; The Faith of Millions and the 1985 Catholic Almanac. These [proved to be] acceptable.

"However, from time to time, books, and literature intended to assist in the conversion of Catholics to Christ generated a storm of protest. Most offensive were those bearing the titles: You Shall Know the Truth and the Truth Shall Make You Free; You Can Lead Roman Catholics to Christ; The Church of Rome: Its Beginning, Evolution, Struggle for World Power and Impending Destruction; Pilgrimage from Rome; The Vatican-Moscow Alliance and The Secret History of the Jesuits.

"During the first hour of Congress '85, we encountered many crosscurrents of opinion. Most evangelicals were skeptical and several expressed opposition. The attitude of some improved slightly when they listened to discussions with Roman Catholic inquirers at the booth. Classical or historical Pentecostals displayed the usual conviction that Catholic Pentecostals are truly `brothers in Christ' and need no conversion to Christ. To them, of course, speaking in tongues is a proof of conversion.

"And then it happened! Early on Friday morning a Roman priest in clerical dress approached our booth. [Priest] Jim O'Driscall expressed his displeasure about the books and began to defend his church before the crowd at the booth. When shown to be in error by the content of Catholic books on the table, the priest disappeared into the crowds.

"A short time later he reappeared with Michael Parise, a diocesan priest from St. Gregory's parish. They began a strong controversy and the crowd increased. A reporter began recording the discussion. This continued for some time. Then suddenly, the strong and crystal-clear voice of a stranger began to be heard. An elderly man told the crowd how Christ had saved him from the paganism of Rome. The priests left.

"Then came members of the EANE administration. Carrying their walkie- talkies, they stated their intention of removing this menace to the ecumenical spirit of their Congress. One stated: `We are seeking to build bridges but you are doing the opposite. If this material is not removed, we can assure you that you will not be back next year.'

"We told them, ... `The nuns of the Daughters of St. Paul have a booth close by. Their display of pro-Catholic books and literature clearly opposes the evangelical or Biblical faith. In fact, the nuns are selling a 218-page book entitled Mary: Hope of the World. It is a bold contradiction of the Congress '85 theme, "Wholeness in a Broken World--a healing which involves the healing power of Jesus Christ." Why is there no protest by the EANE against this? Instead, the silence is deafening.'

"`So why are we singled out? Certainly this is discrimination against a voice of truth and in favor of one that speaks for darkness and error. Obviously, you are seeking to censure those who proclaim the message of salvation through Christ. In fact, bigotry by the Congress is being shown--intolerance of those who truly love the Catholic and who seek his salvation.'

"The answer to these questions came at the plenary session held in the auditorium on Saturday morning. The main speaker was Roman Catholic Henri J.M. Nouwen. This priest is a philosopher and counselor, former worker with the Maryknoll Missioners in Latin America, lecturer at Harvard Divinity School, and professor of pastoral theology at Yale Divinity School. The Hynes Auditorium was packed for the occasion. As he came to the platform, the entire body rose and sang the `Doxology.'

"The speaker was presented as an author of many books offered and eagerly bought from a booth at the Congress. ... He was introduced as a man who `comes to us as a brother in the Lord to share as the Lord would have him share that we might further discover wholeness--Father Henri Nouwen.' The priest was obliged to wait for the applause to subside.

"The ending of his message was followed by forty seconds of deafening applause.

"Two of the main speakers at Congress '85 were Charles Colson and Mrs. Joni Eareckson Tada. Their impact upon current evangelical life throughout the world is substantial" (Wilson Ewin, "Congress '85: Tragedy in New England," The Baptist Bulletin, May 1985).

BILL BRIGHT AND CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST

As early as 1969, Bright said, "We do not attack the Roman Church. We believe God is doing a mighty work in it and will no doubt use millions of Roman Catholics to help evangelize the world" (The Post & Times Star, Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug. 30, 1969). At Billy Graham's Amsterdam '86 conference, Bright said, "There was a day when Protestants and Roman Catholics would not have much to do with one another. But today the Spirit of God is doing such a great work in both the Roman Catholic and Protestant fellowships and communions that I feel very much at home wherever Jesus Christ is honored" (Foundation, Jul.-Aug. 1986).

We would ask Mr. Bright how it is possible that Roman Catholics honor Jesus Christ when they deny the sufficiency of His atonement and of the Holy Scriptures, and when they ignore His commands about such things as adding human traditions to the Word of God and calling religious leaders "father."

Each year since at least 1980, Bill Bright has been a key organizer and sponsor of the "Washington for Jesus" celebrations, which have included Catholic priests, Seventh-day Adventists, those who deny the Trinity (the United Pentecostal Church), and other unscriptural ecumenists. The first "Washington for Jesus" convention in April 1980, featured modernist Robert Schuller; charismatics Jim Bakker, Demos Shakarian and Pat Robertson; as well as Catholic priests John Bertolucci, John Randall, and Michael Scanlon.

Campus Crusade has had Roman Catholics on staff. In an interview with Wittenburg Door, June-July 1978, Richard Quebedeaux noted, "In Ireland, Campus Crusade is registered as a religious order ... And they work entirely within the Catholic church there with Catholics because there is nobody else to work with."

Bill Bright has been one of the leading organizers of ecumenical meetings such as Key '73 and has been involved in the decisions to invite Catholic participation in these conferences. Bright's "Here's Life America" crusade in 1976 had Catholic participation. In the Dec. 12, 1986, issue of Christianity Today, Bill Bright endorsed the film The Mission, which is about Catholic missionaries. Bright calls the movie "a triumphal film with a life-changing message which will enrich your life for years to come." Bright participated in the publication of a series of books on evangelism co-sponsored by Tyndale House and the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association. The first book in the series, What Christians Can Learn from One Another About Evangelizing Adults, included articles by Bill Bright, Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Joseph Bernardin, and others.

CHRISTIAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION

The February 1992 issue of the Bookstore Journal, the official publication of the Christian Booksellers Association, featured three articles on the theme "The Catholic Market: Dispelling Myths, Building Bridges." The cover of this issue is dominated by a large string of rosary beads. The main article was written by Peter Kreeft, who is described in the magazine as a "born again, Bible-believing, Spirit- filled, evangelical Catholic." Kreeft argues that Catholics and Protestants share a common faith and must come together for the sake of reaching the lost and presenting a united front against humanism. The magazine encourages bookstore owners to stock Catholic materials in order to "minister" to the Catholic crowd.

CHRISTIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE

"Recently on `The Bible Answer Man' radio program, Norm Geisler declared that the Roman Catholic doctrine of justification by faith was biblical. Luther would be shocked! Christian Research Institute director Hank Hanegraaff (Walter Martin's successor), who was interviewing Norm, agreed. ... CRI ... has even allowed Scott Hahn (another leading Catholic apologist) on `The Bible Answer Man' to promote Roman Catholicism without offering the slightest rebuttal!" (The Berean Call, April 1992).

In two CRI Perspective sheets, Christian Research Institute President Hank Hanegraaff makes it clear that he does not believe Romanism is a cult:

"While Protestants continue to disagree over the issue, CRI firmly maintains that Roman Catholicism is a religious system which includes both orthodox biblical Christianity and elements of unbiblical or `cultic' doctrine and practice. ... We acknowledge the presence in Roman Catholicism of many genuine brothers and sisters in the Lord, while also recognizing that many of those within Roman Catholicism worldwide appear to be lost. ... One thing we are unwilling to do is to misrepresent Roman Catholicism or to exaggerate its faults. That would be patently unfair, at CRI we've always striven for balance.

"Well, in spite of the vast differences between Catholics and evangelicals, I believe our points of agreement provide us with common ground through which we can share and discuss the gospel in love and with understanding."

The term "cult" is a man-made one; it is thus impossible to reach an absolute definition of the same. But one thing we do know: The Roman Catholic Church meets every Bible criteria for apostasy. Its gospel is false, and thus is cursed of God (Gal. 1:8). It has exalted its own man-made traditions to the level of Holy Scripture, and thus worships God in vain (Matt. 15:1-9). Its leaders are false prophets; its dogmas are doctrines of devils; its Papacy is antichrist. What does God say regarding an apostate entity? Does he say we should find positive ways to see that entity? Does he say we should try to find common ground through which we can share and discuss the gospel in love and understanding? No, God says, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues"! (Rev. 18:4). New-evangelical leaders will answer to God for their refusal to preach and practice Bible separation.

CHUCK COLSON

Chuck Colson, head of Prison Fellowship, is entirely given over to ecumenical relationships with Rome. In Feb. 1977, Colson told the 35th annual convention of the National Association of Evangelicals:

"`I'm not certain that I have any convictions other than one, that [we must end] ... the divisions which have separated the believers historically and have weakened the impact of Christianity on 20th Century America. ...

"`You know, I am in a very ecumenical position. I'm an Episcopalian. I love to go to Baptist churches nearby, particularly one Baptist church where the pastor is on the board of Prison Fellowship Foundation. My wife was Roman Catholic when I was converted, and she's remained in her church, organizing a little Bible study. ... we must seek a fresh unity of spirit and a healing of the divisions which many historians write has crippled the impact of Christianity...'"

Colson has only grown more ecumenical through the years. Colson wrote the foreword to Catholic Keith Fournier's deceptive book Evangelical Catholics, published in 1990. Consider an excerpt from Colson's foreword:

"A few years ago I was invited to Franciscan University of Steubenville [a Roman Catholic institution], in Ohio, to receive the Poverello award. ...

"But at root, those who are called of God, whether Catholic or Protestant, are part of the same Body. What they share is a belief in the basics: the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, His bodily resurrection, His imminent return, and the authority of His infallible Word. They also share the same mission: presenting Christ as Savior and Lord to a needy world. Those who hold to these truths and act on this commission are evangelical Christians.

"... It's high time that all of us who are Christians come together regardless of the difference of our confessions and our traditions and make common cause to bring Christian values to bear in our society. When the barbarians are scaling the walls, there is no time for petty quarreling in the camp. ...

"We have much to forgive, much to relearn. But Evangelical Catholics can help us do both so we can band together against the rising tides of secularism which threaten to engulf us."

My friends, the only way to label a Catholic an evangelical is to change the historical definition of both terms. A look at the Vatican II declarations in the appendix of this book leaves no doubt of this. Secularism cannot be defeated with a disobedient alliance between true and false Christianity.

In his new book, The Body, Colson calls on evangelicals to "join forces with Catholics and charismatics in the `common cause to combat cultural relativism.' He says, `The body of Christ, in all its diversity, is created with Baptist feet, charismatic hands, and Catholic ears--all with their eyes on Jesus.' Colson, ever ecumenical, praises the Catholic chain of command, and includes the Catholic Church as part of the body of Christ. The book was endorsed by Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Carl C.F. Henry, and Catholic priest Richard John Neuhaus; a July 19, 1993, Christianity Today advertisement carried endorsements from Roman Catholic Cardinal John O'Connor, neo- evangelicals J.I. Packer and Kenneth Kantzer" (The BDM Letter, September 1993).

An example of Colson's ecumenical activities was the Catholic/charismatic renewal meeting he attended in 1979, in New York, which featured a Marxist priest, a mass celebrated by Cardinal Cooke, and a healing service led by Ruth Carter Stapleton (Christian Beacon, Sept. 27, 1979).

JAMES DOBSON

James Dobson has a close and uncritical relationship with Roman Catholicism. The Nov. 1989 issue of Focus on the Family's Clubhouse magazine featured Roman Catholic Mother Teresa. A smiling Mother Teresa was on the cover, and the lead article was entitled "Teresa of Calcutta: Little Woman with a Big Heart." The readers of this magazine were made to think that Mother Teresa is a genuine New Testament Christian and that she is doing a great work for God through her Sisters of Charities mission. This is a great deception. Mother Teresa preaches the false sacramental gospel of Rome and has given multitudes a false comfort by encouraging them to place their faith in such vanities as the Roman Catholic mass and the Roman Catholic Mary. It is an abomination before God for Dobson to feature this woman in his magazine.

Dobson's ecumenical flirtations have not gone unrewarded. The Catholic Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, bestowed an honorary doctorate upon him as a statement of their support for Focus on the Family (Evangelical Catholics, p. 200). The Sept. 1990 issue of New Covenant, a Catholic charismatic magazine, featured Dobson and a very positive report on Focus on the Family. Dobson's photo graced the cover.

JERRY FALWELL

Though Jerry Falwell claims to be a fundamental Baptist, he acts like an new evangelical. He has long worked with Roman Catholic leaders. In Christianity Today, Feb. 21, 1986, Falwell stated that Catholics made up the largest constituency (30%) in Moral Majority. At that time Moral Majority had 500,000 active contributors and a mailing list of six million people.

Consider just a few examples of Falwell's frequent ecumenical relationships: Christianity Today, Nov. 2, 1979, records an ecumenical gathering Falwell attended in 1979. "Seated with Falwell on the platform were ministers of varying racial, ethnic, and denominational backgrounds, including traditionalist Catholic theologian, William H. Marshner ... A Jew, director Howard Phillips of Conservative Caucus, gave the opening address."

Falwell was one of the speakers at the April 1980 "Washington for Jesus" rally. Fellow speakers were Catholic priests John Bertolucci, John Randall, and Michael Scanlon; as well as modernist Robert Schuller; and a host of radical charismatics, including Jim Bakker of the PTL, Pat Robertson of the 700 Club, and Demos Shakarian of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International.

In Feb. 1991, Falwell attended the 10th Annual National Christian Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. A Roman Catholic and a Jewish rabbi were on the same platform. In 1985 Falwell gathered with thirty-two Catholics, Protestants, and Jews at Indiana University for discussions sponsored by Rabbi Leon Klenicki (Australian Beacon, Nov. 1985).

In 1983 Gary Habermas, a professor at Falwell's school, co- authored a book which, according to an advertisement in Charisma magazine, reached an amazing conclusion: "The Shroud [of Turin] [which the Catholic church claims to be Christ's burial shroud] is almost certainly authentic. Through its revelation about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it helps build faith in an unbelieving age" (The Flaming Torch, Jan.-Feb. 1983). Habermas would have us believe that a bogus Catholic relic can actually build faith in an unbelieving generation. An amazing conclusion for supposed fundamentalists to reach. There are many objective reasons for rejecting the Shroud of Turin. For one, the image on the Shroud depicts a longhaired man with severe wounds. This could not possibly be the Lord Jesus Christ, according to 1 Corinthians 11, which says it is a shame for a man to have long hair.

In the Dec. 1984 issue of the Fundamentalist Journal, a Roman Catholic cardinal was given a forum to tell fundamentalists what he felt they needed to hear. This is like asking the devil what he thinks of fundamental Baptists! Journal editor Edward Dobson said:

"`What would you say to a Fundamentalist if given the opportunity?' This was the question we recently asked a Jewish rabbi, a Roman Catholic cardinal, an Evangelical leader, and an articulate voice for liberal Christianity ... For too many years, we Fundamentalists have existed in our hermetically sealed world and promoted the attitude that we do not care what anyone else thinks about anything. In this issue of the Journal, we venture into new territory and listen to what others say and think about Fundamentalism.

"The article by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin is especially interesting. It reflects many of the changes that have occurred in the Roman Catholic church in recent decades. We view much of that change in a positive light. ... To Cardinal Bernardin's unique insight into the American Catholic church we say, `gratias.'"

God has not called His people to listen to heretics; He has commanded that we reject them! For a supposed fundamentalist to call the changes in Rome "positive" is evidence of overwhelming ignorance and blindness.

In the Mar. 1985 issue of Falwell's Fundamentalist Journal, Ed Dobson, then vice-president of student affairs at Liberty Baptist College, made this amazing statement: "Extremists who declare that the Papacy is of anti-Christ ... are insensitive to others and lack the love of Christ." If it is extremism to declare the papacy anti-Christ, most Bible-believing preachers through the centuries have been extremists!

In his Fundamentalist Journal for Dec. 1986, a photo of Falwell shows him addressing the students at Notre Dame University, a major Roman Catholic school.

In an editorial in the Jan. 15, 1988, issue of Christianity Today, author Terry Muck noted Falwell's radical, ground-breaking ecumenism:

"Perhaps Falwell's greatest accomplishment, however, was getting Protestants, Catholics, and Jews to work together on common causes. The Moral Majority is a coalition of groups that heretofore had let theological difference's stand in the way of coordinated activity on shared concerns like abortion and pornography. It stands as a model of ecumenicity of the best sort--an agreement to work together on issues without trying simply to gloss over theological differences."

Falwell has spoken highly of the Pope on several occasions. In his Jan. 1985 Morality Majority Report, Falwell called the Pope and Billy Graham great moral and religious leaders. In 1988 Falwell mailed to bookstores a letter advertising a film about John Paul II. These are the amazing statements made by Falwell about this Catholic Pope:

"Dear Christian Bookstore Owner: Pope John Paul II will never become a Baptist, and it is for sure that I will never convert to Roman Catholicism. However, I have stated often that I believe this Pope is a man of unique character and courage. His consistent stand on moral and social issues has provided the world leadership so desperately needed at this hour. Robert Evans is the Cecil B. deMille of this generation. It should be, then, no marvel that Mr. Evans has so perfectly captured the innermost person and principles of John Paul II. When I first watched the `Power of Faith,' I was deeply moved. While the Pope and I have broad doctrinal and theological differences, this man's commitment to the dignity of human life and his strong opposition to tyranny and bigotry provide a shining light for the people of our generation who need such reinforcement. ... I think people from all faiths and walks of life will appreciate this film."

In 1985 Falwell invited radical Catholic Senator Edward Kennedy to speak at Liberty Baptist College and Thomas Road Baptist Church. "The Senator announced to the audience of 5,000, `I am an American and a Catholic.' He then lectured them on Pope John XXIII's renewal of the gospel call and the voice of Catholic bishops in the U.S.A. He opened his speech with these words. `I have come here to discuss my beliefs about faith and country, tolerance, and truth in America. ... I love my country and I treasure my faith'. ... In spite of Kennedy's travesty of historical facts, open defiance of Biblical standards (`I utterly reject any such standards,' he said), his obvious scorn of Biblical truth and defense of his Roman faith, the Senator was given two standing ovations and was interrupted a dozen times by applause. Cal Thomas' impression as Moral Majority spokesman was that this is a step towards `disarming ideologues on both sides'" (The Flaming Torch, Jan.- Mar. 1985).

We see just how cozy Falwell has come to feel toward Romanism in a scene described by Keith Fournier in his book Evangelical Catholics. Fournier, Dean of Evangelism at Roman Catholic Franciscan University of Steubenville, verifies the shifting position of Jerry Falwell with regard to the Roman Catholic Church. Speaking about a meeting he attended of the "American Congress of Christian Citizens," Fournier states:

"In our meeting room were major evangelical leaders I've admired for years--Dr. Charles Stanley, Dr. Jerry Falwell, Dr. D. James Kennedy, Pat Robertson, and many others. I found not only a tremendous openness to my presence, but also a growing respect for my church and a thawing in what had been hard ice in the past. Perhaps the comments by Dr. Falwell were most illustrative.

"He told the whole group not even to consider trying to affect public policy with only a narrow evangelical Protestant church coalition. He said that from its inception any such effort must include Catholics and consultation with great churchmen such as Cardinal Law and Cardinal O'Connor. Clearly not backing off one bit from his self-described `narrowness of doctrine,' Dr. Falwell showed a refreshing openness" (p. 172).

Falwell endorsed Chuck Colson's 1992 book, The Body, which urges evangelicals to join forces with Catholics and charismatics and which looks upon the Catholic church as a part of the body of Christ.

FULLER SEMINARY

Fuller is deeply involved in fellowship with Catholicism. Fuller Seminary President, David Hubbard, speaking to the 35th annual convention of the NAE in Feb. 1977, called for greater cooperation with Rome: "We must venture into a place of increasing influence in the church at large. ... The amazing openness, for instance, of Roman Catholics, to enter into conversation is just one illustration. ... God's people have shown their oneness in mission by working together across denominational and confessional lines. Seminaries do well to teach about such things" (D.A. Waite, What's Wrong with the N.A.E. - 1977?). Hubbard was putting feet to his call for closer conversation with Rome. He was a key participant of the Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue in Mission which began in 1977 and was completed in 1984.

When Fuller recognized a lack of spirituality on the part of its students, it answered the problem by inviting Roman Catholic priests to help develop a program of spiritual development (Los Angeles Times, Jan. 3, 1981).

In 1983 Fuller sponsored the Lowell Berry Foundation which brought together evangelicals, Catholics, and charismatics. Of this, Fuller Seminary president, Dr. David Hubbard, said: "This convocation will offer Protestants and Roman Catholics the opportunity to join together in Ecumenical and evangelical celebration of life together in the Body of Jesus Christ" (Foundation, Vol. IV, Iss. 2, 1983).

In 1988 Fuller president Hubbard joined hands with Roman Catholic Archbishop Roger Mahony of the Los Angeles diocese to form a 12-person "Roman Catholic/Evangelical Committee" (Foundation, Jul.-Sept. 1988). Archbishop Mahony spoke before the entire student body at Fuller, "praising the efforts of this new committee and stating that `Roman Catholics and evangelicals must unpack the labels, caricatures and put- downs of each other and come together in an ecumenical spirit where they have common ground'" (Ibid.).

INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH

The Sept. 1, 1992, issue of Calvary Contender gives this bit of information: "The Institute for Creation Research's Jul. 1992 issue of Acts & Facts invites interested readers to write for information to a new Catholic group in England which opposes evolution. It said ICR's Dr. Duane Gish recently spoke at CBN's chapel and 700 Club. ICR sometimes works with Campus Crusade. We appreciate its long scholarly fight against evolution, and realize this is a complex and unpopular question: But ... does the end justify the means?"

INTER-VARSITY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), like Campus Crusade for Christ and Youth for Christ, is dedicated to ecumenical relationships with Rome. In the early 1970s, Inter-varsity Fellowship was already working with Catholic coordinators in their Bible studies in Catholic universities (Eternity, Nov. 1971). IVCF has joined with all sorts of ecumenical rallies and conferences since the early 1970s. IVCF was represented on the Central Committee for Key '73 and was a participant of the North American Congress on the Holy Spirit & World Evangelization, both of which had Catholic participation. Catholic priest Thomas Welbers announced in the official Los Angeles diocese paper that a four-year dialogue between IVCF and the Catholic Campus Ministry has resulted in an agreement to seek "mutual understanding" and to "refrain from competition in seeking members" (Battle Cry, Oct. 1992).

KENNETH KANTZER

Kenneth Kantzer, chancellor of Trinity College and senior editor of Christianity Today, has the same sympathetic view of Roman Catholicism as that of so many of his fellow evangelical leaders. Though Kantzer admits that many of Rome's doctrines are heretical, he is strangely unwilling to "call a spade a spade" and label Rome the wicked entity that it is.

The Sept. 6, 1985, issue of Christianity Today contained an editorial entitled "A Man Under Orders" by Kenneth Kantzer. Though Kantzer did acknowledge briefly that "on many vital matters that affect the souls of men and their relationship to God, Rome is still Rome," this two-page editorial is actually an amazing tribute to John Paul II. Consider an excerpt:

"John Paul II's personal appeal to evangelicals cannot be denied. Despite his Mariology, his adamant opposition to contraception, to all divorce on any grounds, his emphasis on priestly celibacy, his teaching on the role of women (which sometimes comes across as though the only legitimate place of women is in the home), and his strong clericalism, their enthusiasm has not been dimmed. Their appreciation is based on his strong support of certain fundamental doctrines of biblical faith; his biblical emphasis in which his messages are invariably sprinkled with scriptural teaching; his strong commitment to the family, to a biblical sexual ethics, and to pro-life positions; his insistence upon justice and true freedom of religion everywhere; and his bold stand for the priority of the Christian message over political involvement. All these endear him to the hearts of evangelicals."

This is amazing. To appreciate the Pope because of his supposed good qualities is like appreciating the devil because he sometimes quotes Scripture! If there is such a thing as a wicked, vile, blasphemous false teacher, it is the Pope of Rome. The new-evangelical's positive approach to error is unscriptural and destructive.

Consider Christ's "editorial" on the Pharisees in Matthew 23 and contrast it with Kantzer's approach to the Pope. All of the supposed good deeds of the Pharisees did not seem to "endear" them to Christ! Think of the multitudes which have gone to hell because of the Pope's lies. John Paul II stands for all of the terrible blasphemies against Christ embodied in the Roman system. Does the Pope stand for true justice and freedom of religion? Does he stand for the gospel over against political involvement? Do his messages have a biblical emphasis? Is he strengthening some impetus to conservatism? Is he doing some good in the world? No, sir! He is of the antichrist, and we should leave it at that.

In an editorial in the Nov. 7, 1986, issue of Christianity Today, Kantzer continued to enthuse about Rome:

"Traditional Roman Catholics are a different matter altogether. They retain much of biblical Christianity and possess qualities that I admire and wish to imitate. For example, I treasure their reverence before God, the dignity of their worship, their faithful attendance at church, their frequent celebration of the Lord's Supper, their loyalty to the Bible, their willingness to stand up and be counted for their faith, their skill in the arts and literature, their educational system, their emphasis on sexual purity, and their stand against divorce, abortion, euthanasia, and homosexuality. ...

"For the evangelical, the most exciting change in Roman Catholicism is the new freedom for the gospel. ... the gospel is central to most Catholic charismatics. They have become true evangelicals with varying degrees of concern about bringing their new-found faith into harmony with the church's teaching. ...

"How does all this affect the evangelical? First, we should continue to dialogue. To refuse to dialogue would be to say two things no evangelical wants to say: (1) We are not interested in our Lord's desire to have a united church, and (2) We evangelicals have nothing to learn from anyone. ...

"Second, we can rejoice with the new-found evangelicals in the Roman Catholic church. We can encourage them. We can learn from them. We need not attack what we deem to be holdovers from Roman Catholic doctrine, but we can exalt the Lord with them and urge them to join us in testing faith by Holy Scripture. ... Finally, we can work together on those political and social issues where we are in such strong agreement" (Kenneth Kantzer, "Church on the Move," Christianity Today, Nov. 7, 1986).

Again, this is utterly amazing. Kantzer really seems to believe the myth about evangelical Catholicism. Our report on this deceptive phenomenon in O Timothy magazine, Vol. 9, Iss. 7, 1992, proves that there is no such thing as an evangelical Catholic. To say that there is, turns language on its head and perverts the historical meaning of both terms.

Can Kantzer be serious when he praises traditional Roman Catholics for their "frequent celebration of the Lord's Supper"? Does the man not know that the Lord's Supper for a traditional Catholic is an abominable, idolatrous event in which an illicit priest claims to have the power to sacrifice Christ afresh, to turn bread into the very Christ of Glory? Surely Kantzer knows this. He knows what the Mass is. Why, then, does he say what he does?

What about Kantzer's praise for the Roman Catholic's loyalty to the Bible? Does he think it is loyal to exalt Roman tradition to the level of Holy Scripture, thereby bringing the Bible DOWN to the level of man-made heresies? What kind of strange loyalty is this? Really, now, how loyal has traditional Catholicism been toward the Bible? What a strange choice of words.

What about Kantzer's praise of Rome's supposed emphasis on sexual purity? Are we to ignore the fact that wherever Romanism has sway over men's minds and hearts, immorality is rampant? How sexually pure is Roman Catholic Italy? How sexually pure is the Roman Catholic priesthood? You say, "Kantzer is simply trying to win the Catholic's trust by putting things in a positive light." Oh, I, see. We're saying, then, that it's O.K. to lie about things for the sake of fruitful dialogue? You see, Kantzer is lying about Romanism. I'm sorry; these are hard words, but the man isn't being honest.

"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is NO light in them" (Isa. 8:20).

D. JAMES KENNEDY

When the fact was brought to light in recent years that Evangelism Explosion (EE) is training Catholics in Catholic churches, James Kennedy defended the practice and evidenced no concern for the fact that people would thus be brought into the bondage of Romanism. The problem is not so much that Catholics are sometimes present for EE training sessions. The problem is that the training is actually given by EE, specifically for Roman Catholics, within a Roman Catholic setting. "When asked about this, the senior vice-president of Evangelism Explosion had this to say: `As far as we have been able to ascertain to this date, the Roman Catholics who are being training in Evangelism Explosion in their respective churches are faithfully declaring the Gospel in its essence. The effort to bring people into membership in their church, is strictly a secondary concern'" (Biblical Missions, Jul./Aug. 1985).

Anyone who believes Roman Catholics are faithfully declaring the gospel, would also find it easy to believe in the tooth fairy! And to call the matter of people joining the Roman Catholic Church a secondary concern is absolute treachery.

Pastor Frank Bumpus of Bethel Baptist Church, Schaumburg, Illinois, tells of a lady in his church that participated in an Evangelism Explosion in a Catholic church before she was saved. Speaking of Catholic priest Alvin Illig, who has been cleverly trained in the use of evangelical terminology and who is playing a key role in the ecumenical movement, this lady testified, "Pastor, I know that Father Illig. Before I was saved and you baptized me, he led our Catholic church in what they called an Evangelism Explosion." In one of those sessions she asked him what Illig meant by reaching people, and he answered, "I mean reach them for the church." Pastor Bumpus asked her, "Did he teach you how to lead a soul to Christ?" "Oh no," she replied, "it was the same old Catholic dogma, bring people to the church" (Frank Bumpus, F.B.F. News Bulletin, Nov.-Dec. 1988, Fundamental Baptist Fellowship).

To illustrate the duplicity of the Catholics in using Evangelism Explosion material, we quote from an interview Dennis Costella of the Fundamental Evangelistic Association had with Catholic Keith Fournier at Notre Dame '88, a large charismatic Catholic conference. Fournier is the author of Evangelical Catholics, which deceptively attempts to put an evangelical face on the so-called Catholic renewal. When Costella asked about Kennedy's EE seminars, Fournier replied:

"...some of the early planning of our program had a lot to do with a Catholic parish that had James Kennedy's program ... The gospel is the gospel and everybody knows what the basic gospel truth is ... denominational differences [are] in the follow-up ... there were a couple of things in James Kennedy's process that we as Catholics couldn't accept because it wasn't Catholic teaching. For example, too obvious was the total assurance of salvation ... and the other one is salvation by faith alone. For Catholics we are saved by faith and also through obedience to Christ. We don't earn our salvation but we believe that there are acts of obedience and cooperation in God's spirit that are tied up with salvation."

Do you see the tremendous deception in this? Fournier says the gospel is the gospel, implying that we are all preaching the same basic gospel, yet he goes on to deny the very heart of the gospel which is salvation through the grace of Christ alone, by faith alone. He would call this difference merely a matter of "interpretation." No way. To add any kind of works to Christ's grace is a matter of heresy and blasphemy, and brings God's curse upon anyone who preaches it (Gal. 1:8-10).

Fournier says "we are saved by faith AND ALSO through obedience to Christ," yet he claims he doesn't believe in earning salvation. This is Jesuit sophistry at its diabolic best. There is no excuse for today's evangelical leaders to be deceived by this kind of duplicity. If a man is not doctrinally strong enough to see through Rome's deceptions, he is not qualified to be a Christian leader.

Kennedy thinks nothing of preaching on the same platform with Catholic priests and modernists. He was one of the speakers for the April 1980 "Washington for Jesus" rally. Fellow speakers included Catholic priests John Bertolucci, John Randall, and Michael Scanlon; modernist Robert Schuller; and a host of radical charismatics, including Jim Bakker of the PTL, Pat Robertson of the 700 Club, and Demos Shakarian of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International. Kennedy appeared as a guest with Catholic priest John Bertolucci, and radical charismatics Paul Yonggi Cho, Oral Roberts, and Demos Shakarian, during the premiere broadcast week for the launching in 1986 of the Rock Christian Network (F.B.F. News Bulletin, Jul.-Aug. 1986).

In Aug. 1988, Kennedy participated in the ecumenical Congress '88, in Chicago. The Archbishop of Chicago, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, brought the opening address of the Congress. This faithful son of Rome was introduced as a "warm, caring, Christ-honoring, Christ-like brother" (Frank Bumpus, "New-Evangelicals United with Catholics and Liberals," F.B.F. News Bulletin, Nov.-Dec. 1988). Kennedy joined Jerry Falwell in founding the ecumenical Moral Majority, which encouraged Catholic participation.

Kennedy participated in the publication of a series of books on evangelism co-sponsored by Tyndale House and the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association. The first book in the series, What Christians Can Learn from One Another about Evangelizing Adults, included articles by D. James Kennedy, Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Joseph Bernardin, and others.

D. James Kennedy was one of the sixty ministers, including Roman Catholic priests, who gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., in July 1986, for the covenant signing ceremony for the Coalition on Revival (COR). COR signers made a commitment "to unity and to a `non-quarreling policy' over doctrinal points such as eschatology, dispensationalism, Christian freedom, tongues, charismatic activity and evangelism" (Christian News, Sept. 12, 1988). COR is committed to an attempt to conform American society to a biblical standard--an impossible and unscriptural goal. Kennedy is one of the inner core leaders for COR.

Kennedy was one of the sponsors of the Billy Graham Central Park Rally in New York City in 1991. Roman Catholic Cardinal John O'Conner and other Catholic leaders encouraged their people to attend, and Graham gave public acknowledgment for this support (Detroit Free Press, Sept. 21, 1991).

LIVING BIBLES INTERNATIONAL

Living Bibles International is totally committed to Roman Catholic ecumenism. The Living Bible is published in Catholic editions which include the Apocrypha.

The release ceremonies for editions of the Living Bible in three Indian languages in 1983, 1984, and 1985, illustrate the commitment of Living Bibles International to work closely with Roman Catholicism:

"The release of the Nepali LNT [Living New Testament] by the Living Bibles of India on the evening of 5th July 1984 at the Church of North India [CNI] Local Church, Darjeeling ... Besides the CNI and the Roman Catholic Church leaders, representatives from every denomination from the Nepali Christian world had gathered for this solemn occasion" (Reported by the coordinator, Living Bibles International, S.K. Moral, India).

"Ray Knighton, Assistant to LBI's International Executive Director, traveled nearly 1,500 miles in 7 days during November participating in dedication ceremonies for the Marathi Living Bible ... Knighton reported: `What a blessing to see Catholics and Protestants, Baptists and charismatics, young and old, drawn together by the Living Word of God'" (Thought for Thought, Winter, 1983, Living Bibles International).

"`We attended the release ceremony for the Gujerati Living New Testament in Ahmedabad. Church leaders from the Church of North India (Anglican and Presbyterian merger), Catholic, Baptist, and Pentecostal churches all joined together in celebration for a truly understandable Bible translation in their language'" (Robert Zawoysky, LBI director of communications, Thought for Thought, Vol. 4 No. 1, 1985).

J. VERNON MCGEE

The F.E.A. News & Views for Jan.-Feb. 1972, carried this report: "Dr. J. Vernon McGee is the former pastor of the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles and his `Through the Bible' broadcasts have been widely heard and appreciated for many years. We knew, however, that Dr. McGee did not believe in, nor preach Biblical separation from apostasy. But we were hardly prepared for Dr. McGee's broadcast of Jan. 5, 1972, in which he reported his recent visit to the Monastery of the Precious Blood in Portland, Ore., at the invitation of the Mother Superior there. Calling it one of the most thrilling experiences he had ever had, he was lavish in his praise of these Catholic nuns who assured him, he said, that they were trusting only in the blood of Christ. As a result of this visit, Dr. McGee is taking an entirely new view of the Roman Catholic Church. Said Dr. McGee, `This has just ruined two sermons that I've got against Romanism ... I can't use them anymore. Things are changing today, friends."

NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS & NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EVANGELICALS

The National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), an arm of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), has had a cozy relationship with Romanism for many years.

In April 1969, Jesuit priest Dennis Daly, director of the Sacred Heart Hour, was invited to the 27th annual convention of the NAE in Cincinnati, Ohio, to attend the NRB sessions. This same priest attended other meetings in the years which followed, and in April 1972, Priest Daly gave a major address at the 30th annual convention of the NAE. In introducing this Catholic leader, Stanley Witcanack, said, "But it's nice indeed to have Father Daly with us. He has been in a number of our meetings. He is a very fine brother! And doing a tremendous work" (D.A. Waite, What's Wrong with the N.A.E. - 1972?, report on the 30th annual convention of the National Association of Evangelicals, Apr. 11-13, 1972).

In Sept. 1970, NAE president Arnold Olson spoke before an ecumenical meeting in New York City which featured Jewish, Catholic, and National Council of Churches leaders. Olson appeared on the platform with Catholic priest Francis X. Murphy, an associate of the Papal Office for the United Nations (Sword of the Lord, Dec. 25, 1970).

In Apr. 1972, David Wilkerson, speaking before the 30th annual convention of the NAE, said, "All these new Bible believing Jesus lovers in the Catholic church. ... I think the time has come for some kind of a new evangelical Catholic union or fellowship of Jesus lovers, called the `United World Church of Jesus People'" (D.A. Waite, What's Wrong with the N.A.E. - 1972?).

At the 1978 NAE convention, Timothy Smith, professor of history at Johns Hopkins University, recommended the book Catholic Revivalism published by Notre Dame Press (D.A. Waite, What's Wrong with the N.A.E. - 1978?, report on the 36th annual convention of the National Association of Evangelicals, Feb. 21-23, 1978).

The Nov. 1986 issue of Religious Broadcasting, the NRB magazine, featured Roman Catholic priest John Bertolucci and Catholic nun Mother Angelica. The NRB's magazine for Feb. 1987, had a full-page ad for Catholic charismatic evangelism.

According to the EP News Service for Sept. 11, 1987, the NAE extended a greeting to Pope John Paul II during his Sept. 1987 visit to America, saying they applauded his stand on moral issues and his vocal opposition to abortion, euthanasia, and homosexual activity, as well as his concern for the poor, and his efforts to promote political and religious freedom. The statement went on to say, "While we cannot accept Pope John Paul's claim to be the vicar of Christ on earth and the head of the one true church, we do believe in the spiritual unity of all true believers in Jesus Christ." It would appear that the NAE accepts the Pope as a true believer in Jesus Christ. Otherwise why say something like this?

"In an interview with the conservative ecumenical Christian magazine Touchstone (Spring 1992), Jack White, former president of the NAE, says there is growing cooperation between the NAE and Roman Catholics. "There has been a broadening of our perspective. Many historic definitions no longer work in the reality of contemporary culture. We are in a culture war about the very essence of Christianity, and some of the old areas of battle [between Catholic and Protestant] or distinctives are no longer relevant," says White (Religion Watch, quoted in Sword of the Lord, Oct. 9, 1992).

J.I. PACKER

Packer is the author of many popular books, including Knowing God. He is probably the best-known Reformed theologian in North America, and is a senior editor of Christianity Today. When Packer's evangelical friend Thomas Howard joined the Roman Catholic Church in 1985, Packer made the following statement in an interview with Christianity Today: "I don't think becoming a Catholic is anything like the tragedy of a person becoming a liberal ... Catholics are among the most loyal and virile brothers evangelicals can find these days" (Christianity Today, May 17, 1985).

Packer claims that statement has been taken out of context, but when we consider the man's frequent and close relationships with Catholic leaders, we are convinced the man believes exactly what he said. Packer claims that he does not believe Rome's gospel is sound, but if not, how could it be anything other than a tragedy for an evangelical to cleave to Catholicism? Why does Packer and other evangelical leaders not sound a clear note about the wickedness and utter apostasy of Romanism? Why do they soft-peddle? Why do they strive so hard to be positive in the face of Rome's blasphemies?

Packer joined hands with Catholic Cardinal Bernard Law and Orthodox theologian Theodore Stylianopoulos for an "Allies for Faith and Renewal Conference" sponsored by the ecumenical/charismatic Servant Ministries Center. A report in Christian News, Jan. 4, 1988, said, "James Packer ... rates the Allies conference as `ecumenically one of the most important happenings in the English-speaking world at the present time'" (p. 21). The same report noted that the Catholic Cardinal was equally enthusiastic: "I am convinced that there is indeed being formed a new alliance between--of all people--Catholics and evangelicals." The 1988 Allies conference was held at Wheaton College and featured, in addition to Packer, Law, and Stylianopoulos, evangelical Charles Colson and Ralph Martin, a charismatic Catholic who has vowed allegiance to the Pope.

Not only, therefore, does J.I. Packer participate in joint ministry with Catholic cardinals, he believes such ecumenical happenings are extremely important. His statement about Catholics being loyal and strong brothers arises from firsthand experience--experience the Bible forbids, we should add.

The Feb. 1988, issue of the Catholic/charismatic magazine New Covenant carried a series of interviews with leaders from various parts of Christendom. The same question was asked of each of these leaders: "Where is renewal happening in the Catholic Church?" Packer was among those interviewed and his reply is significant:

"I see two streams of renewal flowing. ... One is a renewal of true godliness. This stream runs mainly, though not exclusively, in charismatic channels. ... The second stream is a renewal of authentic

supernaturalism ... Though I do not enthuse about the papacy and the Curia as institutions, pronouncements from both sources since John Paul II took over have seemed to me, not indeed infallible, but bracing expressions of this convictional renewal.

"It is as these two streams of renewal continue to flow, and hopefully converge, that the Catholic Church will give most to the rest of Christendom and to the benighted pagan world of our time."

How Packer can see signs of renewal in a totally apostate entity like Rome is beyond me.

Packer endorsed Chuck Colson's 1992 book, The Body, which urges evangelicals to join forces with Catholics and charismatics and which looks upon the Catholic church as a part of the body of Christ.

LUIS PALAU

Christianity Today for Dec. 19, 1975, reported on Palau's Managua, Nicaragua, crusade, "It enjoyed the support of most of Managua's 125 Protestant churches and many Catholics. Catholic charismatic groups attended" (John Ashbrook, New Neutralism II). While reporting on Amsterdam '86, Fundamental Evangelistic Association reporter Dennis Costella asked Luis Palau if he would cooperate with Roman Catholics. Palau replied that he certainly would and admitted that it was being done. He went on to mention specific plans for more extensive Catholic involvement in his future crusades (Foundation, Jul.-Aug. 1986).

The 1987 Palau crusade in New Zealand was reportedly "the first time the Catholic Church has ever backed a major evangelical Christian mission" in that area. Catholic Bishop Dennis Browne of Auckland accepted an invitation to join the mission's advisory board along with leaders of many other denominations (Challenge Weekly, Apr. 18, 1986, reprinted in Australian Beacon, May 1986).

RADIO BIBLE CLASS

The Fundamentalist Digest for May-June 1992, contained this report on the Radio Bible Class:

"Sports Spectrum is a magazine produced by Discovery House Publishers, a publishing house affiliated with the Radio Bible Class. Its supposed purpose appears to be the reaching of professional athletes and sports crazed readers with the Gospel.

"The Jan.-Feb. 1992 issue contains shocking documentation about the cooperation of this magazine with Catholic churches and other blatantly ecumenical groups. This shocking compromise is documented on page 30 where the magazine boldly states that `Sports Outreach Minnesota' (a Minnesota based religious ministry) teamed up with `Sports Spectrum' for a `Statewide Super Bowl effort,' with `nearly 300 churches, denominations, organizations and ministries,' including the Assemblies of God churches, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Campus Crusade for Christ, Catholic Churches, Episcopal Churches, Lutheran Churches, Presbyterian Churches, United Methodist Churches, Youth for Christ, and many more!

"The cooperation of this Radio Bible Class-sponsored magazine with apostate, liberal and charismatic organizations is both deplorable and tragic, and contrary to the practices and policies of its founder, the late Dr. M.R. DeHaan, a committed separatist. The road of compromise leads to the door of Rome! The span between a compromising new-evangelicalism and ecumenical harlot R.C. church is short, a fact which pseudo-fundamentalists are ignoring or denying."

ROBERT SCHULLER

It is not because we personally view him as an evangelical that we include Robert Schuller in this report, but because he often is referred to as such by others. Schuller is a great lover of the Pope and an uncritical friend of Romanism.

When the Pope came to Los Angeles, California, in 1987, Schuller played the papal hoopla on his giant-sized screen for people to come watch. Schuller said: "It's time for Protestants to go to the shepherd [Pope] and say `what do we have to do to come home?" (Calvary Contender, Nov. 15, 1987).

More recently Schuller made a special trip to Rome to ask the Pope's blessing on the building plans for his Crystal Cathedral (Foundation, March-April 1990)).

In Self Esteem: The New Reformation, published in 1982, Schuller said, "I found myself immediately attracted to Pope John Paul II when, upon his election to the Papacy, his published speeches invariably called attention to the need for recognizing the dignity of the human being as a child of God" (p. 17).

Schuller frequently speaks at conferences with Roman Catholic priests and bishops. He spoke at the "Washington for Jesus" rally on Apr. 28, 1980, with priests John Bertolucci, John Randall, and Michael Scanlon. In Oct. 1987, Schuller spoke at a Roman Catholic conference called the Jesus Day VII, in Chicago. Catholic priests Matthew Fox, John Powell, and Richard McBrien also spoke (National & International Religion Report, Sept. 21, 1987). In Aug. 1988, Schuller participated in the ecumenical Congress '88, in Chicago. The Archbishop of Chicago, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, brought the opening address of the Congress. This faithful son of Rome was introduced as a "warm, caring, Christ-honoring, Christ-like brother" (Frank Bumpus, "New Evangelicals United with Catholics and Liberals," F.B.F. News Bulletin, Nov.-Dec. 1988).

Schuller participated in the publication of a series of books on evangelism co-sponsored by Tyndale House and the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association. The first book in the series, What Christians Can Learn from One Another about Evangelizing Adults, included articles by Schuller, Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Joseph Bernardin, as well as others.

In early 1992, Schuller formed an ecumenical church network called Churches Uniting in Global Missions (CUGM). CUGM's declaration affirms that it seeks "a spirit of unity that is truly Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Evangelical, and Charismatic."

JOHN R.W. STOTT

Anglican John R.W. Stott is a key evangelical leader in Britain, and like other evangelicals, Stott once stood against participation with Rome. In a book Stott wrote years ago entitled Christ the Controversialist, he said, "I find it distressing to see Protestants and Roman Catholics united in some common act of worship or witness. Why? Because it gives the onlooker the impression that their disagreements are now virtually over."

We agree fully with that statement. Yet by the mid-1970s, this was no longer Stott's position in regard to Romanism: "Speaking to the 2000 evangelicals attending the 2nd National Evangelical Anglican Congress in England, [April] 1977, Stott said: `The visible unity of all professing Christians should be our goal ... and evangelicals should join others in the Church of England in working toward full communion with the Roman Catholic Church" (Arthur Johnston, Battle for World Evangelism, p. 328). Christianity Today for July 8, 1977, confirmed this statement.

From 1977 to 1984 Stott was a key participant in the Evangelical-Roman Catholic Dialogue In Mission, and he co-edited with Catholic Cardinal Basil Meeking the report which was published on the dialogue. Time magazine noted, "Whatever transpires, the contact represents a breakthrough for the evangelicals, who in the past have been staunchly anti-ecumenical and anti-Catholic" (Time, Feb. 3, 1986). Though the report issued following the Dialogue marked serious differences between evangelicals and Catholics, the entire process was conducted in disobedience to the clear Word of God and tended to break down barriers which the Bible raises between truth and error. Evidence of this is seen in another participant in the Dialogue, Michael Harper.

Michael Harper is also a key British evangelical and has been a co-worker with Stott. He was formerly assistant curate at All Souls Church which Stott pastored. He also participated with Stott in the Dialogue In Mission with Rome. The powerful influence all of this ecumenical activity had on Harper is revealed in his book Three Sisters which was published in 1979 by Tyndale House. Harper contends that the "Three Sisters"--Evangeline (the evangelicals), Charisma (the charismatics), and Roma (the Roman Catholic Church)--should be reconciled to each other:

"After five years' participation in dialogue with Roman Catholics and several years with evangelicals, I have formed the conclusion that the things which unite us both are more numerous and more weighty than the things which divide us. The Holy Spirit is so obviously at work in all three worlds that only good can come from an increasing unity, which need not be thought to compromise the essential convictions of those involved. ...

"... when my prejudices melted and I found myself increasingly meeting and sharing with Roman Catholics ... Oh, what an enrichment it has been to meet with Catholics and to be introduced to some of the treasure stores of Catholic life! The Virgin Mary has come alive and I feel I know her now, in the same way as my evangelical heritage helped to know St. Paul" (Focus, Dec. 1985).

Harper was influenced away from truth by the illicit dialogue in which he participated. The publication of his book has doubtless influenced many others to ignore the Bible's warnings. In this we see the incalculable evil which comes from ignoring God's commands.

When Pope John Paul II visited England in 1982 and was invited to participate in an ecumenical service in the Canterbury Cathedral, Stott said, "It seemed entirely right that the united service should include a recitation of the Apostles' Creed, and so a reaffirmation of our common baptismal faith" (Malcolm Watts, "The Crumbling of Evangelicalism," Sword & Trowel, 1987).

Stott is a vice-president of the United Bible Societies in Europe. One of his fellow vice-presidents is a Roman Catholic cardinal, Dr. Francis Arinze. The majority of new translations being made by the United Bible Societies are done in fellowship with the Roman Catholic Church. The United Bible Societies publication Word in Action No. 47 for 1985 stated that as many as 390 of their 590 ongoing translation projects were "interconfessional," meaning joint projects between the UBS and Rome. Stott is right in the middle of all of this confusion.

THOMAS NELSON PUBLISHERS

Though Thomas Nelson, the largest private publisher of Bibles in the world, claims to be an evangelical organization, it has increasingly become entangled in working with and promoting Roman Catholicism. Thomas Nelson is one of the seven publishers licensed by the National Council of Churches in the U.S.A. to print the Catholic-approved RSV Common Bible, which contains the apocryphal books. At the first U.S. celebration of the RSV Common Bible in Chicago, a Roman Catholic priest, John L. McKenzie, preached.

Thomas Nelson's affiliation with Rome is even more evident in the fact that they have created a special publishing division for the production of Catholic literature. Frank Couch, new products planner for what is being called the Catholic Bible Press, said, "For years we have published books and Bibles for Catholics, yet we felt like we could be doing more. We decided with counsel from various church officials to concentrate our efforts in the form of a special publishing arm of our company" (Foundation, March-April 1986).

This new Catholic arm of Thomas Nelson Publishers has been busy, and already they have released the New Catholic Study Bible, containing the imprimatur of a Catholic cardinal and two archbishops. The notes, of course, are strictly Catholic. Catholic tradition is exalted to the same level as Scripture: The Thomas Nelson-published Bible has notes such as these:

"The Catholic Church also teaches that, in addition to the Scriptures, there is a tradition from which she cannot deviate and which is also a source of truth for her ... Sacred tradition and sacred Scriptures form one sacred deposit of the word of God, which is committed to the church" (xxxii).

Not only do the notes promote medieval Catholicism, they are wretchedly modernistic. The study helps in this 1720-page work present the Bible as a human book filled with errors and myths; Genesis is not historical; Moses did not write the Pentateuch; the miracles did not happen as the Bible claims; the book of Daniel was written after the occurrence of the events recorded therein, etc. An example is the note on page 1361 which says, "We do the Scriptures a serious injustice if we read myth as though it was history."

The text of the New Catholic Study Bible is the perverted Today's English Version. (Source of information: "New Catholic Study Bible," The Christian News, Apr. 21, 1986.)

TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS

Tyndale House Publishers has been working hand-in-hand with Roman Catholicism since the 1970s. "It has just been announced that the Living Bible is now available in a new edition which contains the eight apocryphal books--and that the paraphrase for these spurious books was prepared by the Roman Catholic paper Our Sunday Visitor in cooperation with Tyndale House" (FEA News & Views, July/August 1976).

Kenneth Taylor, head of Tyndale House, was on the Central Committee for the ecumenical Key '73 meeting, and was therefore involved in the decision to invite Catholic participation.

In 1979 Tyndale House published Three Sisters by Episcopalian Michael Harper, a participant in the Evangelical- Catholic Dialogue In Mission between 1977 and 1984. In this Tyndale House publication, Harper contends that the "Three Sisters"--Evangeline (the evangelicals), Charisma (the charismatics), and Roma (the Roman Catholic Church)--should be reconciled to each other.

In Sept. 1985, Tyndale entered into a new level of cooperation with Rome. Foundation, Vol. VI Iss. 4, 1985, gives this amazing report:

"[Evangelicals and Roman Catholics] have now joined to publish a series of books that are said to `lay out common ground' on evangelization. Two books have already been published and others are anticipated. The joint publishing "team" consists of the supposedly evangelical Tyndale House Publishers and the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association (PNCEA), the chief evangelization arm of the Roman Catholic Church in the USA.

"Roman Catholic priest, Alvin Illig, director of the PNCEA, was recently quoted by RNS as follows: `We're trying to further evangelization and further the cause of ecumenism.' Illig made it clear that the Roman Catholics `seek collaboration, not conflict' and expressed the hope that the newly published books would also lead to agreement on ground rules for evangelization. Said Illig, `One ground rule is that we [Catholics and Protestants] will never attack one another' and that `we also don't go after children.'"

JACK VAN IMPE

Dr. Don Jasmin, in the Fundamentalist Digest, reports that evangelist Jack Van Impe in his Sept. 29, 1992, television program "praised Pope John Paul II, calling him a `great' man; extolling his character and telling his audience that they ought to `thank God' for such a courageous religious leader" (Calvary Contender, June 15, 1992).

In 1993 Van Impe began advertising a video entitled Startling Revelations: Pope John Paul II. The full page advertisement, which appeared in such publications as Christianity Today, Moody Monthly, and Charisma, claimed: "Hear the most amazing words ever spoken in view of the greatest prophecy ever recorded! The most authoritative, reliable and stunning information ever released during the history and reign of 264 popes." Van Impe gives no warning about the fact that John Paul II is an apostate and a heretic. He treats the Catholic church as a true church which is only now going apostate. In the video Van Impe says there is "vast amount of doctrinal agreement between classical Catholicism and historic Protestantism ... the traditional branch of the Catholic Church [is] similar to the Protestant conservative." Amazingly, he says: "We're not going to get into disagreements. We want to stay with the things with which we agree." Christ refused to practice such a philosophy with the Pharisees! The Apostle Peter certainly did not avoid disagreements with the legalizers in Acts 15! The Apostle Paul refused to focus merely on areas of agreements with the Galatian legalizers! God's Word does not allow the Christian to ignore doctrinal error--especially error as gross and wicked as that promoted by Rome. To use the pope as an example of great preaching is unbelievable blindness. Van Impe was once a fundamental Baptist, but he rejected Bible separatism in the early 1980s, and it is fearful to see how far he has fallen in a mere decade. Biblical separation from error is a wall of protection for the wise believer. Dig holes in that wall, and harm will follow.

WORLD VISION

World Vision is given over to radical ecumenism and sees no problem with working with Rome. Information sent by World Vision in Nov. 1981 to a contributor stated, "World Vision's view of the church is broad and inclusive, rather than narrow and exclusive ... We find no scriptural mandate for excluding ourselves from any who name Christ as Lord. ... We believe that there are large numbers of Christians in many different ecclesiastical traditions. In many countries we are working along side and sometimes with members and officials of other traditions, such as the Roman Catholic" (Foundation, Nov.-Dec. 1982).

World Vision has participated in countless ecumenical conferences and projects with Roman Catholics. Examples are Key '73 and the North American Congress on the Holy Spirit & World Evangelization, both of which are reviewed in this report.

In June 1979, Stanley Mooneyham, International President of World Vision, spoke at the Jesus '79 Interfaith Rally at Shea Stadium, New York. On the platform with Mooneyham was the Roman Catholic bishop of Brooklyn, Francis J. Mugavero.

Mooneyham wrote to the editor of Christian Century magazine (July 4-11, 1979) regarding his ecumenical activities: "In one of those projects, incidentally, an ecumenical service has subsequently been held, with both Catholic and Protestant churches participating. I was invited to speak, and my sermon was translated into Tagalog by the local Catholic priest. A very brotherly dialogue was held with Cardinal Jaime Sin and members of his staff. Our relations are cordial and the dialogue continues" (Blu-Print, July 10, 1979).

Mooneyham's strange love for Catholic things extended even to the Catholic Mary. He made the following remarks on the third day of the 27th annual convention of the National Association of Evangelicals, held in Cincinnati, Ohio, Apr. 17, 1969: "And in this Cathedral [the Shrine of Monte Seratt in Barcelona, Spain], in this lovely church, there is enshrined a black Madonna, carved out of ebony wood ... they found this black carved Madonna with the infant Jesus ... and it is magnificent!" (D.A. Waite, What's Wrong with the N.A.E. - 1969?).

The Mar. 1981 issue of World Vision magazine featured an extensive lead article on Mother Teresa. The June-July 1984 issue of World Vision magazine included a glowing account of a visit with Mother Teresa by Joseph Ryan, director of World Vision's Northwest Regional Office. World Vision has given thousands of dollars to Mother Teresa. Mooneyham has appeared on television appealing for $10,000 for Mother Teresa (Plains Baptist Challenger, Mar. 1982). The proceeds for the Jesus '81 rally at Anaheim Stadium in Los Angeles went to Mother Teresa's Indian work (Foundation, Jul.-Aug. 1981).

World Vision staff member Peter Phillip of Melbourne, Australia, gave the following amazing recommendation of the Catholic Jesuits and Maryknollers: "After visiting Central America on a number of occasions and spending time sitting and talking with the poor and the priests and bishops who serve them, I can confirm to you readers that the Church of the poor, particularly through the Jesuits and Maryknollers, is providing the most exciting Christians witness I have ever seen" (Plains Baptist Challenger, Feb. 1984).

In 1988 World Vision cosponsored a national conference on "growing the church in small groups" in Australia (Australian Beacon, Feb. 1988).

The present World Vision chairman, Roberta Hestenes, made the following statement at Lausanne II, held in the Philippines in July 1989: "One obstacle we must face is our attitude as evangelicals toward those whose traditions are other than our own. ... toward those who are fellow Christians in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions, to those fellow Christians in the Conciliar and Ecumenical movement, to those fellow Christians in the Pentecostal and charismatic or non-Pentecostal and non- charismatic movements--we must acknowledge that God, Who is Lord of the whole Church, is doing astonishing things among many parts of His Church" (Foundation, May-July 1989).

WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS

Because of the ecumenical commitment of founder W. Cameron Townsend, Wycliffe and the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) have been in fellowship with Roman Catholicism from the earliest days. In an article quoting the late ecumenical/charismatic leader David du Plessis, the amazing fact is revealed that du Plessis attended Rome's Vatican II meetings in 1962 as Wycliffe's representative (Paraclete Journal, Oct. 1986).

According to a brochure distributed at the North American Congress on the Holy Spirit & World Evangelization, New Orleans, July 1987, the Catholic Bible translation association LOGOS traces their origin to Townsend.

"W. Cameron Townsend, Founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators, had a vision. He saw many translation organizations sending Bible translation teams all over the world. He encouraged [Roman Catholics] Paul and Ginny Witte to organize LOGOS translators. ... In 1977 they transferred to Venezuela at the invitation of Archbishop Mata Cova of Ciudad Bolivar. ... Thus, in November 1982 a group of Christians representing several denominations gathered to seek God's guidance concerning LOGOS translators (Undated LOGOS translators promotional brochure)."

In 1971 Wycliffe's annual Bible Translation Day was co-sponsored by The Catholic Bible Association (Eternity, Nov. 1971). According to Christianity Today for Mar. 5, 1982, Allan Shannon, a coordinator for the Summer Institute of Linguistics of the Wycliffe Bible Translators, is a "prime mover" in the Catholic-Charismatic movement in Peru.

Wycliffe works closely with Roman Catholic priests in many of their translation projects:

"Serious attempts are made to make all the translations [done by the United Bible Societies in Kenya, Africa] interconfessional and the Catholic church has continued to show much concern to get fully involved. ... An increasing feature of translation activities is the work of the Wycliffe Bible Translators who have shown a considerable desire to cooperate" (Bible Society Report, Aug. 1987).

"Scripture selections in Tiwi were published in 1985 by Wycliffe Bible Translators in collaboration with Roman Catholics" (UBS Report, 1985.101).

"The Guide to Catholic Bible Translations, Vol. 1, The Pacific, 1986, lists four interconfessional translations in which Wycliffe participated with the United Bible Societies and the Roman Catholic Church. Wycliffe translator David Lithgow worked with a Roman Catholic priest belonging to the `Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus' in the production of the Dobu New Testament in Papua New Guinea. Other translations carried out in Papua New Guinea with the joint cooperation of Wycliffe Bible Translators and the Roman Catholic church include the Holia New Testament (1978), and Scripture portions in Rossel and Tawala. The Summer Institute of Linguistics of late has sought greater cooperation with the [Catholic] bishops' conference [of the Philippines] in view of obtaining the imprimature" (Quarterly Record, Trinitarian Bible Society, April-June 1987).

Joann Shetler, Wycliffe translator working in the Philippines, flew to the States in July 1987, to speak at the massive ecumenical/charismatic New Orleans '87 Congress. Of the 50,000 in attendance, 51% were Roman Catholics. There was a Roman Catholic mass each morning in the New Orleans Superdome. The final speaker of the meeting, Tom Forrest, was a Roman Catholic priest whose headquarters is in Rome and who works closely with Pope John Paul II.

In spite of the ecumenical confusion of this meeting, Shetler spoke in smaller groups during the days of the Congress, and was allowed to give a presentation to the general body. Speaking to approximately 25,000 Roman Catholics, plus the thousands belonging to the forty other denominations, including Church of Christ, Episcopalian, and Lutheran, Shelter challenged this mixed multitude to join Wycliffe and give light to a dark world. Speaking during one of the morning denominational sessions to the liberal United Church of Christ, Shelter "stressed the importance of Christian unity, noting that Wycliffe Bible translators work together peacefully though they come from 70 different denominations" (A.D. 2000 Together, Jan.-Feb. 1988).

It is clear from these activities at New Orleans '87 that Roman Catholicism is widely accepted by Wycliffe as a legitimate branch of Christianity. The general attitude toward doctrine among Wycliffe personnel is illustrated by a statement made by one of their translators in Ivory Coast, Africa: "Out here labels don't mean a lot. `Lutheran' or `Pentecostal' or `Evangelical' aren't as important as `Christians.' We have the same goals. And though we disagree doctrinally on some things, we agree on the basics and we learn to put the rest aside. The task of evangelizing is too important to allow differences to interfere" ("Wycliffe Bible Translators: Facing Danger," Pamela Honan Peterson quoting Nancy Burmeister, A.D. 2000 Together, May-June 1988).

YOUTH FOR CHRIST

Youth for Christ has always been ecumenical, but in its earlier years it did take a stand somewhat against Romanism. In the 1940's, Youth for Christ rented a plane and bombed the Vatican with gospel tracts (James Hefley, "How I Lost My Protestant Prejudice," Eternity, Nov. 1971)! Like most of the evangelical world, though, Youth for Christ has since become reconciled with Rome and is given over to the most radical form of ecumenism. As early as 1971 YFC had a Catholic nun on its full-time staff in Rochester, New York (Ibid.). Since the early 1970s, Youth for Christ has joined Roman Catholics in ecumenical meetings throughout the world. Sam Wolgemuth represented Youth For Christ International on the Central Committee of the ecumenical Key '73, which had strong participation by Roman Catholic leaders and laymen.

An example of YFC's ecumenical activities is seen in its participation in the Evangelical and Ecumenical Conference for Clergy and Laity in 1983. Together with the Roman Catholic diocese of San Diego, the Salvation Army, and other organizations, the San Diego Youth for Christ co-sponsored this meeting (Foundation, Vol. IV, Iss. II, 1983).

It is the working policy of Youth for Christ to send "converts" to the church of their choice. At a workshop on "Follow Up" for new converts at Billy Graham's Amsterdam '86, the national director of Youth for Christ in New Zealand, Ian Grant, stated, "Sometimes it's better for kids to go to a charismatic Catholic church than to a Brethren Assembly. We just have to put them where they'll grow. ... We make no judgment of churches--that's the Holy Spirit's job. Young Christians can be more led into Bible reading and faith in a Catholic charismatic church than in some conservative evangelical churches" (Foundation, Jul.-Aug. 1986).

Jim Groen, president of Youth for Christ International, was one of the organizers for the 1987 Billy Graham crusade in Denver, Colorado, which featured close Catholic cooperation. The crusade had the full backing of the regional Catholic hierarchy, trained dozens of Catholics as "counselors," and sent to local Catholic churches the names of hundreds of those who had responded to the altar calls each night. One of the supervisors of the 6,600 counselors was Catholic priest Donald Willette. See the section on Billy Graham in Flirting With Rome: Volume 1 under the year 1987 for details of this event.

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Do we have to continue? Sadly, it would be easy to do so, but is this not sufficient to show that the alarm must be raised against flirting with error and against following those disobedient Christian leaders who are involved in these activities? The root error of new-evangelicalism is not so much what it teaches that is wrong, but what it refuses to preach and the illicit fellowship in which it is involved. If we don't lift a voice against compromise of this magnitude, surely we must be branded as traitors.

More than twenty years ago Dr. Charles Woodbridge defined new- evangelicalism as "a spirit of compromise with unbelief." He identified five steps of progression: 1) toleration of error, 2) accommodation to error, 3) cooperation with error, 4) contamination by error, 5) capitulation to error. We have traced these steps as we have witnessed the evangelical movement flirting with Rome. The Bible does not speak in vain when it warns, "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Cor. 15:33).

Brethren, "Keep thee far from a false matter" (2 Kings 10:10).

VATICAN II REAFFIRMS CATHOLIC HERESIES

While the declarations of the Catholic Vatican II council of the 1960s did bring changes to the Catholic Church, it did not change its foundational dogmas. Not only did Vatican II uphold Rome's false dogmas, it actually strengthened them.

The hundreds of bishops attending Vatican II reaffirmed such Roman heresies as papal supremacy, the Roman priesthood, the mass as a re-sacrifice of Christ, a polluted sacramental gospel, Catholic tradition on equal par with Scripture, Mary as the Queen of Heaven and co-redemptress with Christ, auricular confession, Mariolatry, pilgrimages to "holy shrines," purgatory, prayers to and for the dead, etc.

All of the these Roman dogmas are reaffirmed in Vatican Council II--The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents. This book is published by the Roman Catholic Church and contains the Imprimature: Walter P. Kellenberg, D,D., Bishop of Rockville Centre, Aug. 12, 1975. "Imprimature" is the official Catholic stamp of approval and means "let it be printed."

Consider some quotes from the Vatican II documents:

THE MASS, A SACRIFICE OF CHRIST

"The Mass, the Lord's Supper, is ... a sacrifice in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated." (p. 108)

"In this sacrament Christ is present in a unique way, whole and entire, God and man, substantially and permanently. This presence of Christ under the species `is called real, not in an exclusive sense, as if the other kinds of presence were not real, but par excellence.'" (p. 114)

THE HOST TO BE WORSHIPED

"All the faithful ought to show to this most holy sacrament the worship which is due to the true God, as has always been the custom of the Catholic Church. Nor is it to be adored any the less because it was instituted by Christ to be eaten. For even in the reserved sacrament he is to be adored because he is substantially present there through that conversion of bread and wine which, as the Council of Trent tells us, is most aptly named transubstantiation." (pp. 109-110)

"It is necessary to instruct the faithful that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Saviour and that the same worship and adoration given to God is owed to him present under the sacramental signs." (p. 221)

MASSES FOR THE DEAD

"The Church offers the Paschal Sacrifice [the Mass] for the Dead so that... the dead may be helped by the prayers and the living may be consoled by hope." (p. 197)

CATHOLIC TRADITION ON EQUAL PAR WITH SCRIPTURE

"Sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. ... Thus it comes about that the Church does not draw her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Hence, both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal feelings of devotion and reverence." (p. 682)

SALVATION THROUGH SACRAMENTS AND THE CHURCH

"[Christ] also willed that the work of salvation which they preached should be set in train through the sacrifice and sacraments, around which the entire liturgical [ritualistic] life revolves. Thus by Baptism men are grafted into the paschal mystery of Christ. ... They receive the spirit of adoption as sons." (pp. 23-24)

SALVATION THROUGH BAPTISM

"By the sacrament of Baptism, whenever it is properly conferred in the way the Lord determined and received with the proper dispositions of soul, man becomes truly incorporated into the crucified and glorified Christ and is reborn to a sharing of the divine life." (p. 427)

POPES DISTRIBUTE SALVATION

"God's only-begotten Son ... has won a treasure for the militant Church ... he has entrusted it to blessed Peter, the key-bearer of heaven, and to his successors who are Christ's vicars on earth, so that they may distribute it to the faithful for their salvation ... The merits of the Blessed Mother of God and of all the elect ... are known to add further to this treasury." (p. 80)

THE POPE IS SUPREME HEAD OF THE CHURCH

"The Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, namely, and as pastor of the entire Church, has full, supreme and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered." (p. 344)

MARY, THE SINLESS MOTHER OF GOD, PERPETUAL VIRGIN, BODILY ASSUMED INTO HEAVEN AS QUEEN OVER ALL

"Joined to Christ the head and in communion with all his saints, the faithful must in the first place reverence the memory of the glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ ... Because of the gift of sublime grace she far surpasses all creatures, both in heaven and on earth. ... The Immaculate Virgin preserved free from all stain of original sin, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, when her earthly life was over, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things." (p. 378,381-382)

MARY, CO-REDEMPTRESS WITH CHRIST

"As St. Irenaeus says, she being obedient, became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race. Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert with him in their preaching ... `death through Eve, life through Mary' ... This union of the mother with the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ's virginal conception up to his death." (pp. 380-381)

MARY, HEAVENLY INTERCESSOR

"Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into their blessed home. Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix." (pp. 382-383)

MARY, TO BE WORSHIPED BY THE CHURCH

"Mary has by grace been exalted above all angels and men to a place second only to her Son, as the most holy mother of God who was involved in the mysteries of Christ: she is rightly honoured by a special cult in the Church. ... The sacred synod teaches this Catholic doctrine advisedly and at the same time admonishes all the sons of the Church that the cult, especially the liturgical cult, of the Blessed Virgin, be generously fostered, and that the practices and exercises of devotion towards her, recommended by the teaching authority of the Church in the course of centuries be highly esteemed, and that those decrees, which were given in the early days regarding the cult images of Christ, the Blessed Virgin and the saints, be religiously observed." (pp. 384-385)

INTERCESSIONS OF AND PRAYERS TO DEAD "SAINTS"

"The union of the living with their brethren who have fallen asleep in Christ is not broken. ... Now that they are welcomed in their own country and at home with the Lord, through him, with him and in him they intercede unremittingly with the Father on our behalf, offering the merit they acquired on earth through Christ Jesus. ... Their brotherly care is the greatest help to our weakness." (p. 77)

PURGATORY

"The doctrine of purgatory clearly demonstrates that even when the guilt of sin has been taken away, punishment for it or the consequences of it may remain to be expiated or cleansed. They often are. In fact, in purgatory the souls of those who died in the charity of God and truly repentant, but who had not made satisfaction with adequate penance for their sins and omissions are cleansed after death with punishments designed to purge away their debt." (p. 75)

Further quotes (including Vatican II's affirmation of the Council of Trent and citations from the New Catholic Catechism) are given in the author's book Is the Roman Catholic Church Changing? 

It is plain that the Catholic church continues to uphold doctrines which are blasphemous and contrary to the Word of God.