|
D r a g n e t
Praise the Lord and Pass the Potatoes
|
This Rock
Volume 9, Number 9
 September 1998 
|
|
|
Maybe there’s a good reason the seer doesn’t use her last name. She seems to be known only as "Debra of Australia." A promotional brochure explains that "God has given Debra extensive teachings and prophesies for the world." Supposed Jesus has told her "about the healing properties of flowers and roots. I am teaching you further now of their hidden properties, so that your bodies may not be defiled with tempting poisons of the rich. . . . Use potatoes to treat the depressed, the ginger in tea to clean up mucus in sinus and lungs and restore health where pollution has invaded." He even explained to her "how to get rid of parasites."
Redemption has taken on a whole new meaning.
The Southwest Radio Church, in its July 1998 newsletter, promotes a book called The Antichrist and a Cup of Tea. The author, Tim Cohen, asserts that "the Antichrist will rise out of Europe from the Habsburg line through the royal family of England." Maybe someone should inform Otto von Habsburg, son of the last Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, about this.
These Last Days Ministries is the late Veronica Lueken’s organization. She was the seer behind the false apparition at Bayside, New York. The apparition was condemned repeatedly by successive bishops of Brooklyn. But it still has followers. In the latest newsletter to them, they are informed that the Vatican is plotting to have a whole new Mass, which will be known as the "Missa 2000." The Mass will be shortened to as few as ten minutes (or about a quarter of the present length), and it will not need a priest because it will be "conducted by lay deacons, extraordinary ministers, nuns, etc." There will be "ecumenical saints," and there will be no need for Vatican approval of vernacular translations, "a sneaky way to get inclusive language in."
All this is as bogus as the Bayside apparition itself. It takes a whopping lack of faith to think the Church would try to promote a priestless Mass, and it takes considerable confusion to write about "lay deacons" (there are no such things, since the diaconate is an ordained ministry, and deacons are clerics).
In other news, These Last Days Ministries tells it followers that the governments of the world are conspiring to make vitamins available by prescription only. "If you take vitamins, you may want to store enough for a year or two in advance." Worse yet, the IRS plans to audit everyone in the year 2000. If so, maybe the auditors should start stocking up on vitamins. They certainly won’t be getting much rest that year and will need all the energy they can muster.
AV [Authorized Version] Publications, located in the aptly named town of Ararat, Virginia, invites prospective buyers to "discover the King James Bible’s built-in dictionary," which defines "each word, in its context, using the very words of the Webster’s and Oxford English Dictionaries!" It isn’t clear what AV Publications means by this. If it means that its printing of the KJV includes, perhaps at the bottom of the page, running definitions of all the words of the sacred text—well, that makes for a lot of footnotes. But the advertisement refers to "God’s built-in dictionary," which suggests the definitions are located within the sacred text itself, in the sense that one verse supplies definitions to be used in another verse. And if that is the case, then AV Publications runs into a bit of an anachronism. If its principals believe they have discovered in the KJV, which is a seventeenth-century translation, definitions that appear in today’s Webster’s and OED, then they have some explaining to do.
But that is a trifle. They go on to claim that "the King James Bible has a vocabulary and reading level which slowly builds progressively from Genesis to Revelation." That means that the New Testament is harder to read than is the Old, and the early books of the New are easier than the later books. If that is so, then why are the epistles of John considered by scholars to be the easiest ones for students of Greek to read? Since they appear later than the Gospels, they should be harder to read than the Gospels.
Other claims made for the KJV: It "has internationally recognizable vocabulary and spelling." It "has a sentence structure which enhances accurate doctrinal interpretation"—perhaps explaining the wide variance in belief among the sects that use the KJV. It "uses literary devices which enhance doctrinally important concepts and memorability." It "has the precision and longevity of the legal document that it is," a claim that seems to undercut the appeal to the translation’s clarity. (Legal documents tend to be opaque and eminently unmemorizable.)
As further proof of the utility of the KJV, AV Productions notes that "the owner of the exclusive printing rights to the NIV [New International Version], Rupert Murdoch, was just made a Knight by the Pope," while "the publisher of the NKJV [New King James Version] has just been charged with fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission." Besides, "forensic stylonomy would conclude that the new versions were written by an effeminate man or a woman." And that should settle it.
In the Prophetic Observer, the Southwest Radio Church’s leader, N. W. Hutchings, ratchets up the sensationalism regarding the "year 2000 problem." He explains that because of the computer bug, "thousands and possibly millions would die or starve or freeze to death. Martial law would be declared, and national guard units would be mobilized. The army would take over all communications and transportation facilities. Without water available to fire departments, conflagrations would rage of control. Gasoline would be either rationed or nonexistent." Even worse things may ensue. "Military missiles, some possibly armed with nuclear devices, could go out of control. Nuclear power plants in Russia and the Third World could experience meltdowns, filling the atmosphere with deadly atomic poisons. The military and police forces would be unable to control the pillaging and carnage, resulting in total anarchy. . . . With contaminated water sources, sanitation would be nonexistent and deadly diseases would spread throughout the population."
This apocalyptic language goes on for four closely-packed pages. Then comes the punch line: "Those who would like more information on the coming Y2K disaster, write for a copy of Y2K=666? ," a book by N. W. Hutchings.
A conspiracy of sorts at a different part of the religious spectrum: The Catholic Voice is a quarterly magazine published by the Society of Traditional Roman Catholics. Most Traditionalists, as they commonly call themselves, are simply Catholics who want to see the old Latin Mass restored to widespread availability. They may attend a vernacular Mass on occasion, but they prefer the old one. Nothing wrong with that. But some Traditionalists wouldn’t hear of such a thing. Those associated with The Catholic Voice say that the Novus Ordo Mass is invalid—it isn’t a real Mass at all and never should be attended. The Pope and all of the bishops of the world (at least all of those who are in union with him) may think that the new rite is valid, but they’re all wrong. The folks in the STRC know better. After all, they’re real Catholics, and they know a plot when they see one.
They oppose the "indult Masses," Tridentine Masses that were established in response to a 1983 papal indult that encouraged bishops to make such Masses available. Traditionalist Catholics shouldn’t attend indult Masses, says the STRC, because by doing so they may come to think that the Novus Ordo rite is valid. After all, the indult Masses are celebrated in the same parishes, and usually on the same altars, as are the Masses of the new rite, and innocent Catholics may come to believe in the equality of the rites.
Not long before his retirement as the bishop of the Diocese of Orange, Norman F. McFarland wrote about the National Catholic Youth Conference, held in Kansas City last November. In addition to 14,000 youths, the conference was attended by 3,000 adults, including about two dozen bishops. "There was an impressive witness of faith among the young people who obviously attached great value to their identity as Catholics and expressed an eagerness to follow Christ as active participants in his Church. . . . But I also detected a disconcerting note in the reports of the conference. While there apparently was great emphasis and a felt need expressed among the youth to be able to participate more meaningfully in their parish liturgies . . . it was not evident that they had much of a real understanding of what the Mass is truly about.
"A commonly voiced sentiment: ‘It’s supposed to be a celebration, but, if it is, it’s one of the worst parties I’ve ever been to. Nobody gets up to have fun.’ Said one: ‘Change the tradition a little bit. . . . Make it fun. . . . Don’t be too strict, loosen up, and let people enjoy themselves.’ And another: ‘It has to be exciting, empowering, and fun.’ Indeed, ‘fun’ was the most universally desired characteristic of good liturgy in their eyes," wrote Bishop McFarland.
He noted that "liturgical planners seeking spontaneity and continual innovation often achieve no more than banality and weariness. This is not to disparage the communal and participatory liturgy which is by authoritative design and all to the good. But such participation must be based on understanding if it truly is to support the words and actions of the Upper Room in which the Church finds its ‘source and summit’ and proclaims the ‘Lord’s death until he comes.’ . . . ‘To have fun’ seems a witless expression to characterize the content and goal of participation. Could one imagine going over to Calvary ‘to have fun’? . . . The essence of Calvary was not fun and games—nor is the Mass. Liturgy’s purpose is enchantment, not entertainment."
Foundation, which describes itself as "a magazine of biblical Fundamentalism," has made mention of Catholic Answers. It notes that we are "urgently appealing for monetary donations in order to ‘fight back’ against anti-Catholic radio programs. . . . The solution, according to Catholic Answers, is to financially support a new Roman Catholic radio talk shown entitled ‘Catholic Answers Live.’ Catholics are urged to support the new program because over 100,000 Catholics leave the Roman Catholic Church annually to join Protestant churches. . . . Catholic Answers . . . is strongly opposed to Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism. While many religious liberals and professing Evangelicals are perpetuating the idea that unity between Catholics and Protestants is possible and that Protestant and Catholic theology can be harmonized, those who actually know Roman Catholic dogma and are well read in the doctrines of the Catholic Church realize that Protestant and Catholic theology drastically differ. The Bible-believing Fundamentalist must separate not only from the Roman Catholic Church but also from those liberals and New Evangelicals who teach that Roman Catholic dogma has been changed and is now similar to the teachings of Protestants. Believers also need to be aware of groups like Catholic Answers that attempt to arm Catholics with doctrines that will blind them from the complete truth as revealed in the Bible."
If one can commend anything here, it is fidelity to principle. These Fundamentalists know where the opposition is, and they don’t want anything to do with it. There’s a consistency that’s refreshing, especially if one has been reading too much of ecumenical efforts that engage in false irenicism. Of course, there also is considerable error in what Foundation says. There aren’t really any Evangelicals who say that "Roman Catholic dogma has been changed and is now similar to the teachings of Protestants." What some Evangelicals admit is that Catholic teachings are not as far removed from their own beliefs as they once thought. That’s quite a different thing. Evangelicals don’t claim that the Catholic Church has altered its beliefs, and Catholics don’t claim that either. It seems that just about the only people who think that are those Fundamentalists who are strongly anti-Catholic. This may have roots in the need to keep the bogeyman as scary as possible.
You can find anti-Catholicism in the unlikeliest places, such as in The Battle for Hunger Hill, published by Presidio Press. According to the cover blurb, it’s a novelistic account of a light infantry battalion that "is matched against the fictitious Gulf of Mexico island of Cortina’s rebel forces, who are in the midst of overthrowing their government." Author Daniel P. Bolger "takes us through each step of the intense two-week experience and explores the inner workings of the light infantry battalion in combat. Decisions on tactics, logistics, communications, and intelligence play a crucial role in the outcome of the exciting final battle. The Battle for Hunger Hill, in addition to providing all of the thrills of combat writing at its best, is an enormously valuable case study on tactics and leadership."
On page 89 Bolger takes a detour and opines that "American soldiers resemble Roman Catholics, who also pick and choose, grabbing at half-understood biblical verses in order to justify a daily faith principally founded on tradition. You can search both testaments of the Bible from stem to stern and you will not find a pope, saints, rosary beads, or seven sacraments rattling around, and yet Catholics think these conventions are in there and even contrive to find them when they look."
Presidio Press, which has a reputation as a top publisher of military books, needs to find a new editor, someone who can weed out sentiments that don’t belong in any book.
It’s still not too late to sign up for the October 30–November 1 Call to Action convention, which will be held in Milwaukee. Some of the sessions are intriguing.
There will be a "Common Ground Dialogue on Abortion," sponsored by the Common Ground Network for Life and Choice of Washington, D.C. If you want to attend this session, you have to sign up early, and you will have to sit through the whole session. "Ground rules of respect and confidentiality help us speak our own values and beliefs concerning abortion. . . . You’ll be contacted beforehand and asked where you stand on a continuum of pro-choice/pro-life viewpoints." (There’s a "continuum"? Isn’t it a black-or-white decision? Either you approve of abortion or you don’t.)
If that session doesn’t appeal to you, try "Not for Women Only: Theologies and Liturgies of Women-Church." Mary Hunt and Diann Neu, who are co-directors of a radical feminist group, will explain that "Catholic women, men, and especially children find new ways to pray, new concepts and images of the divine, being created by base communities that are Church despite the Kyriarchy’s reluctance to change. Workshop includes a feminist ritual."
In still another session, Robert McClory "challenges the notion that dissent from Church teaching is almost always disobedience that deserves official condemnation. Dissent has often served a vital function in Church history and may even be an obligation for the committed Christian." Hmmm. Does he mind if we disagree with that?
If you’re within driving distance of eastern Pennsylvania, plan to attend the October 10 Family Spirit 2000 Evangelization Conference, which will be held at St. Joseph’s Church in Danville. Among the speakers will be Mike Aquilina, editor of New Covenant, Fr. Thomas Morrow, founder of Catholic Faith Alive!, and Fr. Fran Peffley, who will speak on De Montfort spirituality. Programs for youths will be conduced by the Legionaries of Christ, Regnum Christi, and the Sisters of Christian Charity. For more information call (717) 271-0244.
It’s getting easier than we had imagined. The advertisement says, " Escape from Purgatory. Regular, $10. Special, $5." And all these years we thought we had to worry about tallying up indulgences. At these bargain-basement prices, we can make arrangements to take up a collection that will empty purgatory in no time. Let’s see. A million dollars will get 200,000 people to heaven. This year’s Vatican budget will release about forty million. And if we could apply the U.S. budget . . .
No, wait a minute. We’ve misread the ad. It’s not for a service but for a book, written byJoseph Schofield. The "escape" isn’t from purgatory itself, notes Schofield, because there is no purgatory to escape from—except in the sense that the doctrine is a Catholic fiction, and we need to escape from all the fictions promoted by the Catholic Church. Schofield’s work is advertised in the newsletter of Christians Evangelizing Catholics, a small but long-time ministry run by Bill Jackson.
CEC advertises other titles such as Far From Rome, Near to God ("stories of fifty converted ex-priests"), Romanism, by Rob Zins (an attack on Karl Keating’s Catholicism and Fundamentalism), Roman Catholics and Evangelicals, by Norman Geisler and Ralph MacKenzie (described as "a book of Evangelical compromise" that is "promoted by Hank Hanegraaff"—it isn’t clear why Jackson bothers to sell such a book, since it tends to undermine his unrelenting anti-Catholic position), and even Evangelical Catholics, by Keith Fournier, head of the Catholic Alliance ("a heretical book" that sports a "foreword of compromise by Chuck Colson"). The best listing: The Gospel According to Rome, by James McCarthy ("only one [copy] left"—thank God).
The Catholic Evidence Guild is spreading. There already are chapters in New York City and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and now there's one in Prescott, Arizona. Deacon Bill Starrs and other members of Sacred Heart Parish talked with Fr. Fred LeClair about setting up a guild chapter, and the pastor was enthusiastic. Next came permission from Bishop Thomas O'Brien, and then the training classes began.
The first meeting attracted twelve people. "All had some previous experience in public speaking, were daily communicants, and were involved in perpetual adoration," said Starrs. "They also had a strong interest in apologetics and were very well read."
The meetings, held once a week for ninety minutes, resulted in a decision to compose one-hour presentations consisting of three short talks: "The Proof of the Existence of God," "The Catholic Church," and "The Bible." Following the talks would be a question-and-answer session. Each member prepared his own outline on the three topics and practiced his talks at home. During the meetings they gave the talks and received criticism. Each member then picked one talk to specialize in. "By this time," said Starrs, "because of the intense time commitment required, our group had dwindled to five." In preparation the members studied This Rock, Frank Sheed's Catholic Evidence Training Outlines, and Beginning Apologetics by Fr. Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham.
The first public presentations were given on Pentecost Sunday at the courthouse plaza in downtown Prescott. The day before, Fr. LeClair celebrated a special Mass and commissioned the members to go forth and preach the Good News. Immediately before the talks the members spent an hour in Eucharistic adoration. The outdoor talks were videotaped, and the tapes are being edited for use on public access television (which does not charge for air time).
"We feel we've benefited tremendously from working closely with the pastor. His suggestions helped us avoid pitfalls," said Starrs. "The importance of spiritual and academic preparation cannot be over-emphasized. Each speaker has a track record in his devotion to the Church and orthodoxy. We did not try to force anyone into a particular mode as outlines and methods of presentations were developed. One member is a plumber by trade, another a retired Army sergeant, another an active sales manager."
During the question-and-answer period, they found, some of the questions turned into mini-speeches. "We should have limited the length of the questions so the speakers could repeat them for the benefit of the audience. Our public address system needs more power – we didn't realize this because we practice inside, where wind and traffic noise are no problem."
For information on the group's work, write to the Catholic Evidence Guild, Sacred Heart Parish, 150 Fleury Ave., Prescott, AZ 86301 or call (502) 443-3068.
The Catholic Society of Evangelists had a booth at the California Home Show held at the county fairgrounds in the high desert community of Victorville, north of Los Angeles. About 15,000 people attended the show, which was held in May. Hundreds of books and thousands of pamphlets were distributed. Bob Gallinger, a member of CSE, said, "It was one of the most satisfying experiences of my life. I believe that I talked to at least three hundred people, and other members did about the same. I talked to Catholics, fallen-away Catholics, other Christians, Muslims, Jews, Eastern Orthodox, and many that said that they didn’t believe in God at all. By Sunday evening we were all exhausted and had sore throats, but it certainly was worth the effort."
CSE was founded in 1993 by Tom Balboa and John C. Leach. Among its members and apologists is Victor Claveau, who has written for This Rock. The organization has 1,100 members. For information, write to CSE at 22797 Barton Road, Grand Terrace, CA 92313, or call (909) 825-0377.
A recent Harris poll found that 75 percent of adult Americans expect to go to heaven, while just two percent think they will be condemned to hell, with four percent thinking they will go to purgatory. (Yes, that leaves 19 percent with no idea of where they will go.) Of those who identified themselves as Christians, 96 percent believe in the Resurrection – though the poll apparently did not determine just what respondents thought that doctrine entailed – and 91 percent in the Virgin Birth (which many probably thought meant the birth of the Virgin).
These statistics are not to be taken with too much satisfaction, since, of the non-Christians asked, 49 percent said they believed in the Resurrection and 47 percent in the Virgin Birth. If such beliefs aren't enough to entice one to become Christian, an observer might wonder how solid the beliefs of the professing Christians might be.
On a less hopeful note, one out of five Christians polled said they believed in reincarnation, and nearly twice that proportion of Americans as a whole believe in astrology and ghosts (with, no doubt, the Holy Ghost excepted).
|
