Anyone Know about Campus Apologetics?
Recently I had to undergo minor foot surgery, and I ended up in bed for a couple of days because I was unable to walk. A friend of mine gave me a stack of This Rock magazines.
At the time I considered myself an “orthodox Christian” with no denomination. By the time I worked my way through the 25 issues, I had one question pounding in my brain: “How many churches did Jesus Christ set up?” The only intellectually acceptable answer — one — compelled me to enter the Catholic Church.
I am becoming more and more involved in Catholic Campus Ministry here at James Madison University, and there is a real need for an apologetics group. As former Secretary of Education William Bennett has noted, my generation is the first in American history to be dumber than the previous generation. We are largely illiterate regarding our culture and, of course, our religion.
The students aren’t the problem. We didn’t create the radically secular environment that we grew up in. But the dearth of Catholic education remains. Colleges ought to be fertile soil for apologetics, since there are many bright young minds eager to learn more about Catholicism. If there were only five people here who were knowledgeable about the Church and committed to spreading the Word, they could evangelize our CCM group and the campus at large. I don’t know of anyone who is willing or able to do it, and I would love to take on the task myself, but I haven’t been in the faith very long.
Are there any collegiate apologetics groups that you can put me in touch with? If there aren’t any, there should be. Imagine if there were a counterpart to Catholic Answers. It could be called the Guild of St. Catherine, after the other patron saint of scholars (Thomas Aquinas being the more well-known one). Apologists could share anecdotes, advice, literature, and much-needed encouragement from all over the country.
I would be obliged if you could print my home address: 8065 St. Anne’s Ct., Alexandria, VA 22309. I invite responses from anyone who’s done anything with apologetics in college.
Eric M. Johnson
Alexandria, Virginia
Editor’s reply: How about it, folks? If you are engaged in apologetics at the college or university level, or if you just know about a Catholic apologetics group on campus, drop Eric a line — and let us know too. We welcome your ideas on how to foster on-campus apologetics.
CRI to Hire Swaggarts?
You reported in the January issue that the director of the Christian Research Institute, Hank Hanegraaff, once had written in his organization’s newsletter that “CRI has had a reputation, during our 30-year history, of being credible and accurate. . . . We have done our research, and the information we present is solid.” That reminds me of something Jimmy Swaggart once said, and it’s just as credible.
CRI has promoted Loraine Boettner’s book Roman Catholicism for years. We all know that it contains hundreds of historical and theological errors or falsehoods. It’s an example of very sloppy scholarship circulated by certain anti-Catholics who continue to embarrass the educated Christian community, whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant.
And we all know how “solid” and “credible and accurate” CRI’s research was in Elliott Miller’s articles on Mary, which Fr. Mateo exposed and refuted in This Rock. (CRI’s articles were an insult to the name of “research. “)
A few years ago an educated Pentecostal minister’s book review of Swaggart’s Christianity & Catholicism (1986) noted how one professor had documented over sixty errors or falsehoods in Swaggart’s book. Yet Jimmy Swaggart actually wrote, “No, I have never misinterpreted or misrepresented anything [regarding Catholic doctrine]” (The Evangelist, February 1986, 35).
Likewise, in a personal letter in November 1987, Mrs. Frances Swaggart told me, “My husband did not make any inaccurate statements concerning the Catholic church, nor has he retracted or apologized for any articles or statements he made.”
CRI’s “specialists” in Roman Catholicism may want to consider adding Jimmy and Frances Swaggart to their staff. They’d fit right in.
Steve Neef
Lafayette, Louisiana
This Seed Well Rooted
This letter can be filed under “L” for “Long Overdue.” I’ve been meaning to write and tell you how much I’ve enjoyed This Rock.
As your records may show, I originally subscribed to the Catholic Answers newsletter several years before it matured into This Rock. The newsletter was a stepping stone to Karl Keating’s Catholicism and Fundamentalism. Had I not known him through the newsletter, I probably would not have read his book. But then I would not have been led to read and devour Frank Sheed’s books.
At the risk of sounding subjective, one of the seeds planted by your efforts is growing slowly but surely in New York.
Joseph A. Traver
Whitestone, New York
Maybe It’s too Late Already
Thank you for the warning and work against the Fundamentalists in Denver. I had heard of this some time ago, but had forgotten the details. To arm youths is important, but I think the booklet may come too late. Youngsters in the excitement most likely will not stop to read or consider the information there. Now, while they are still in school or in youth groups, would be the time to arm them and forewarn them.
I intend to copy your letter, with your permission, and give it to those who may be interested.
Mrs. Gerry Dzikowski
Cincinnati, Ohio
No, It’s Not!
I am a priest who understands that our Catholic youth going to Denver this summer to see Pope John Paul will be subject to Fundamentalists who will try to challenge their Catholic faith.
I am enclosing $100 as a donation for proper literature that will help them meet this challenge.
It helps to know the tactics of our adversaries. Fundamentalists believe that Catholics are not Christians because baptism, they say, does not make one “born again.” To become “born again,” one must follow this simple process: Acknowledge that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus died for your sins, and then receive Jesus into your life as your personal Lord and Savior. When such a prayer is made (often called the “sinner’s prayer”), the person is “saved.” His sins (past, present, and future) are covered by the blood of Jesus, who guarantees him eternal security and eternal life.
When Catholic youth are confronted by proselytizers who tell them they are “unsaved,” they could respond that they already have said the “sinner’s prayer.” In fact, we Catholics say it at every Mass.
At the outset of the mass we acknowledge our sinfulness and need for the Lord’s mercy when we say, “Lord, have mercy.” At the Gloria and the Creed we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior “who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven.” At the “Mystery of Faith proclamation” we cry out, “Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the Savior of the world.”
As you can see, every.aspect of the “sinner’s prayer” is done par excellence in our Catholic liturgy. Furthermore, a person must be “born again” according to the way Jesus taught us – “by water and the Spirit,” which is the sacrament of baptism. God chooses us. We must follow in the way he commanded. He initiates our salvation through his free gift of faith, which one can only receive gladly and humbly in faith.
John J. Gorski
Avon, Ohio
Big Trouble on Campus
I recieved your letter concerning the visit of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, this summer. I felt I must write to express my similar concerns for the young Catholics of America.
Let me tell you a little about myself. I am twenty years old and a junior at the University of California, Davis. I left this year to attend Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California for a semester. I was very much impressed by the traditional Catholic values upheld by the college. It was very different from my experience at UC Davis.
The reason I wanted to write was to express my disappointment in the attitude of the Catholics I met at Davis. I met many who had left the Church to become “Christians.” I could not understand why these young people were very much proud of their new-found Christianity but were embarrassed by their Catholic roots.
I wanted to find a niche in the huge college community by joining organizations that were Christian. Although I knew it was highly unlikely that there would be any Catholic groups, I was still disappointed. There were many clubs and organizations for Fundamentalist Christians. Even though I had many differences with these people, I attended some of their meetings.
I looked to the local Catholic church near the University, but was appalled by its adamant attempts to succumb to the political correctness movement. I was shocked at how much time they spent analyzing how many feminine images were in Scripture as opposed to masculine images. They were forgetting the content of the Gospels and focusing on making God this distant, vague concept. I was shocked by the feminist movement seeping into and destroying the traditions of the Church.
I feel that your work is important. It is too easy to be led astray by other groups. We should be proud of the rich heritage of our Church. I know it is hard to be a Catholic and to stay Catholic. Our society doesn’t make it very easy. I am very proud of my faith, and I just wish others would be too.
C. Marie Johnson
San Jose, California
Lefebvre’s Followers
Please educate me and all your other readers about the schismatic “Lefebvrites.” They are holding pre-Vatican II Masses in our diocese. The bishop has warned us their Masses are invalid. Catholics are to stay away from this group.
I believe that these schismatic Catholics (Catholics?) are numerous enough to warrant your (and our) attention. I would like to see articles about this group. I want to know their history and their beliefs. I want to know how to defend my precious faith against their erroneous teachings. Please find enclosed a advertisement that the “Lefebvrites” were running in our local paper in Lincoln, Nebraska. Also find enclosed a warning clipped from our diocesan paper.
Name Withheld by Request
Editor’s reply: The late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre established the Society of St. Pius X with papal approval. In 1988, with another bishop, he ordained three new bishops for his society. These ordinations were not done with the approval of the Pope. They were valid (that is, they “took”), but they were illicit (contrary to Church regulations).
According to generally accepted interpretations of canon law, Archbishop Lefebvre, the other ordaining bishop, and the three new bishops were automatically excommunicated. They and their supporters since have claimed the excommunications were invalid, but few canonists think their arguments are solidly grounded.
Since the death of Lefebvre, his successor-bishops have been quoted as taking ever more extreme positions. It is reported that at least one of them has been implying that there may no longer be a validly sitting pope. Even if that bishop does not believe that, certainly a fair number of the followers of the Society of St. Pius X already hold to the position of sedevacantism. This is not good news. Sedevacantism is often a sign that a splinter group is about to sever all ties with the Church.
By the way, keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with “pre- Vatican II Masses.” They are not “invalid, ” and your bishop has not said they are. He has said they are illicit if celebrated by Lefebvre’s followers. After all, these are precisely the Masses your own diocese has authorized to be celebrated weekly- but not by Lefebvre’s priests.