This is no joke. The Canadian Protestant League, which is the analogue of America’s Mission to Catholics International, just held its annual Reformation Retreat in St. George, New Brunswick. The venue was a hotel called–yes–the Fundy Lodge (so named not for the reason you might think, but because it’s at the Bay of Fundy).
Another convention, but at the opposite end of the spectrum: American Atheists held its twenty-second annual convention in Austin, Texas. Notable speakers included Madalyn O’Hair, her son Jon G. Murray (“known to television viewers in 120 cities as the host of the weekly ‘American Atheist Forum'”), and Frederick Ide, who explained why the Bible is “the last place one should look for guidance in family relations.”
Events included an Atheist Pride March, a theatrical performance based on the words of atheist writer Robert G. Ingersoll, and an excursion to the Alamo (a curious choice since the Alamo is a former mission).
Msgr. Michael Gallagher, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church in El Cajon, California, still hasn’t recovered from the Tom Swifty fad of the 1960s. His latest offering: “‘Yes, I started Catholic Answers,’ Karl Keating said apologetically.”
Clayton F. Bower, Jr. and Patrick Madrid were television personalities in the U.S. Virgin Islands. On a recent eleven-seminar tour, the two Catholic Answers staffers had their talks broadcast live throughout the islands. Their messages reached homes of Fundamentalists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and others challenging the Catholic faith.
At one seminar Patrick was confronted by a dozen Seventh-Day Adventist ministers, one of whom said, “I just want you to admit that the Catholic Church says it has the authority to change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday!” Answered Patrick, “Okay, I admit it.”
A Gallup survey shows Catholics don’t know much about Holy Communion.
Only 30% believe they really receive Christ’s body, blood, soul, and divinity under the appearances of bread and wine. This is transubstantiation, the Catholic position.
Twenty-nine percent say they receive “bread and wine, which symbolize the spirit and teachings of Jesus” and in so doing express their “attachment to his person and words.” This is the doctrine of Protestant Reformer Ulrich Zwingli.
Twenty-four percent say that “when receiving Holy Communion, you are receiving the body and blood of Christ, which has become that because of your personal belief” (rather than through the sacramental action of the priest). John Calvin taught the faith of the believer transforms the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.
Ten percent believe that “when receiving Holy Communion, you are receiving bread and wine in which Jesus is really and truly present” (along with the bread and wine). This is consubstantiation, which Martin Luther taught.
Anyone for renewed adult ed?
This Rock contributor Frederick D. Wilhelmsen (University of Dallas) will be leading another Summer Institute in Siguenza, Spain. The program–useful for apologists–focuses on Spain’s contribution to Western civilization. Courses cover the history of Spain, Spanish cultural history, the development of Western political philosophy), and even a Spanish language course. Side trips will be taken to Madrid, Toledo, Avila, El Escorial, and the Valley of the Fallen.
The faculty also includes Alexandra Wilhelmsen (University of Dallas), Maria Stella Ceplecha de Vega (St. Olaf’s College), and Francesca Juliana Wilhelmsen, director of the Institute.
The dates: June 30 to July 24. The cost, including air fare from Washington, D.C.: $3,000. For further information and an application, call (214) 367-3892.
Frederick Wilhelmsen asks, “Why not escape for three weeks? We’ll have a great time in a fabulous town, very historic, removed from the secularization that plagues nearly everyone in the West today.”
If you can’t make it to Spain, or if you want to see the other side of things, go to Kansas City, where, from June 29 to July 10, Grace Bible Mission will hold the Tyndale Institute, which “covers a multitude of areas of interest to those who work with Roman Catholics.”
The faculty includes ex-priests Bart Brewer and Charles Berry and ex-nun Mary Kraus. “We have scads of hands-on missionaries to the Roman Catholics, including a specialist in Hispanic ministry, Reverend Carlos Pagan.” (Just as we suspected–pagan influences within Fundamentalism!)
Students will learn about the priesthood, papacy, and magisterium from Berry, the history of Christian doctrine from Lyle Murphy, sacramentalism from Greg Durel, “Roman Catholicism from A to Z” from Bill Jackson, “priestcraft and its problems” from Brewer.
The institute is intended to help people learn to transform Catholics into “real Christians.”