ROMAN CATHOLIC "EVANGELISM"
BASIC R.C. BELIEF
From the encyclical ON EVANGELISM IN THE MODERN WORLD, Pope Paul VI,
12/8/75. "This preaching, inserted in a unique way into the Eucharistic
celebration (Mass), from which it receives special force and vigor. . . The
faithful. . . expect much from this preaching, provided it is. . . faithful
to the magisterium. . . This supernatural life finds its living expression
in the seven sacraments and in the admirable radiation of grace and
holiness which they possess. . . We also insisted on the grave
responsibility of preserving unaltered the content of the Catholic faith
which the Lord entrusted to the Apostles. . . The full, supreme and
universal power which Christ gave to His Vicar is this especially exercised
by the Pope in the activity of preaching. . . This is the desire that we
rejoice to entrust into the hands and heart of the Immaculate Blessed
Virgin Mary."
CATHOLIC JOURNALS
From NEW COVENANT, November 1990 report on Indianapolis '90 - Congress on
the Holy Spirit and World Evangelism. "Roman Catholics were by far the
largest group at the Congress."
RELIGIOUS JOURNALS
From CHRISTIANITY TODAY 2/6/87, "Roman Catholics are planning a billion
dollar project that could turn out to be the largest evangelistic effort
ever attempted by the 810 million member church. Called `EVANGELISM 2000',
the ten-year project will culminate with a world-wide satellite telecast on
Christmas Day in the year 2000. During the telecast, the pope is scheduled
to speak to a potential audience of 5 billion people.
"Tom Forrest, a Redemptorist priest, is in charge. It was conceived in
1984 by Catholic charismatic and conservative Catholic student movement.
Forrest said, `The object is to give Jesus Christ a 2,000 birthday gift of
a world more Christian than not.'
"The 1400 member Catholic charismatic Community of God's Delight in
South Dallas will produce television programs which will be beamed to
portable satellite receiving disks.
"Forrest is planning to organize a retreat for thge world's Catholic
bishops in 1989. A world conference for 7000 priests is planned for 1990.
Both conferences will provide these men with books and sermons on
evangelism.
"Other aspects include a papal proclamation of a decade of evangelism, a
world wide prayer crusade and traveling evangelistic teams."
COME BACK HOME
(Often one hears this in a Catholic parish, and it is directed to former
Catholics and Protestant Christians. The thinking behind this movement was
aptly put in print by a priest identified only as "Fr. Tito." A copy of
this was sent to Doug and Tammy Kuepper by a Catholic friend to whom they
sent a Gospel message.)
"Whoever you are, wherever you are, come back to the church of your
roots. Why do you keep fighting the invitation that God gives you? How can
you forget your roots?
"Why do you spurn the faith you received when as a child you were
presented for Baptism? You cannot remember how proud your parents were on
that day. They took you to church and tried to keep you from crying. And
when they were asked, `Do you want this child to be baptized in the faith
we have professed with you?' Proudly they answered, `We do.' And at that
moment God gave you three beautiful presents, Faith, Hope and Love. So why
are you now wasting your heart on a foreign religion or no religion at all?
"As a Catholic you spent your happy childhood, learning about the great
church that Jesus gave us. As a happy youngster you approached the altar
of our Lord to partake of His banquet, His body and His blood. As a young
bride or a gentle groom, you went to that altar and filled with joy became
one with your savior.
"And Catholicism grew up with you, its beauty interwoven with your life's
adventures. In that faith you expressed your happiness, your sorrows and
your grief. In that faith you humbled yourself, begging God to forgive all
the wrong things you did. Filled with joy you left the confessional knowing
how much God loved you. And if you still think you are a lost sheep,
remember that the shepherd is still looking for you, he is still searching
to bring you back to the fold. He wants to welcome you home.
"Now you are grown up. You have heartaches and headaches. You married and
have a family of your own. Would you deprive your children of the joy you
knew as a happy child? Do you think for one moment that no matter what your
condition of life is, the church will ever disown you? Would a mother ever
disown an infant she bore in her womb? Was it not that mother church opened
for you the treasure of her groom, Jesus?
"Love whatever you want but never disown the roots of your ancestors. How
can the church, your mother, ever offend you? Did she ask too much of you?
Did you find the grass greener on the other side. Were you stabbed in the
back by your own mother church because life was not as you imagined it to
be? Do you consider yourself such a big sinner that not even your mother
can forgive you? Do you really believe there is no hope or place for you in
your mother's arms?
"Look at the whole world, look at everything around you. If they can be
of service to you, accept the challenge but never drive out that which is
of the home. Come back home, the doors are always open.
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