Billy Graham and the Roman Catholic Church
Rev. Charles Dullea S.J., Superior of Rome’s Pontifical Biblical Institute, recommended Catholics to attend Graham’s crusades in these words, “A Catholic will hear no slighting of his church’s teaching authority, nor of papal or episcopal prerogatives, no word against Mass or Sacraments or Catholic practice” (Newsweek, June 23 1969).
Explo 72 was co-sponsored by Billy Graham. Roman Catholic Churches and members were invited to participate and did so. Catholic literature was distributed at Explo. It read in part “True Catholics believe that under the appearance of bread and wine, achieved at the consecration of the mass, the very real body of Christ is present in the tabernacle of their Churches” (Lagos, May-June 1972).
The North American Billy Graham Crusade known as Key 73 held a meeting in 1971 and invited Roman Catholic participation . . . Billy Graham recommended Catholic books and literature. One, a biography of Pope John XXIII contained hundreds of pages of that Pope’s devotion to Mary and the Saints, worship of the host and trust in the sacraments for salvation. Graham advertised it as “a classic in devotion”.
The St Louis crusade was held by Graham at the end of October 1973. Msgr John T. Byre said in the St Louis Review, Catholic Archdiocesan weekly, “St Louis is fortunate to have the presence of the Rev. Billy Graham”. Some 50 nuns served as counsellors and others sang regularly in the choir.
The Graham crusade in Poland was given full co-operation by the Roman hierarchy including Cardinal Harol Wojlyla, now the present pope. Four of the Rallies were held in Catholic Churches and priests participated on the platform with Graham. Masses were said before and after the Rallies. A picture taken at the famous Polish Shrine of the Black Madonna shows Graham welcoming pilgrims to the worship of their Virgin (Decision, February 1979).
Modern Popes Pius XI, Pius XII, John XXIII and John Paul I all subscribed to the Council of Trent (1535-1563). Its pages defines the beliefs of Romanism. The present Pope John Paul II repeatedly expressed personal acceptance and loyalty to the Council of Trent in his encyclical “Redemptor Hominis” given at Rome on March 4, 1979. When Pope Paul II offered his masses on American soil, he claimed to offer Jesus Christ, body, blood, soul and divinity, exactly as Christ did at Calvary. Rome teaches that when Catholics eat the host at communion they are actually eating the literal flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. The Roman Church through the Council of Trent places a curse upon those who believe that sinners are redeemed by the blood of Christ alone, and that salvation is by faith alone in the Person of the Saviour. Rome teaches that man must atone for his personal sins through penance, indulgences, prayers, good works, and finally in the flames of a supposed purgatory.
Extracts from the Revivalist, February 1981.
W.M.
Creation and Evolution
A Daily Express report tells of a legal battle in America over the question as to whether Biblical Creation be included in the science lessons of children in the State of California. The State itself is seeking to continue teaching the Darwin Theory of Evolution exclusively in its schools. Already some states in America have conceded the right for Biblical Creation to be taught as part of biology lessons. It is to be hoped that those pursuing the case for Biblical Creation will be successful so that children will not have foisted on them as truth what is an unproven theory. It would be good if the same could be done in the schools of our own land.
Invasion of Parental Responsibility
It is reported that the British Medical Association is to confirm a doctor’s right to prescribe contraceptives to minors without advising the parents. This means that girls under 16 can be given the Pill without their parents knowing. All this is indicative of the low state to which morals have fallen in the land. Promiscuity has increased to such a degree that this appears even to a hitherto responsible body like the B.M.A., to be the only solution to the problem. What need there is throughout the land of Scriptural teaching so that the land may be cleansed from its filthiness and parental authority be restored.
Sabbath Football
Some Members of Parliament objected to a proposal by the Football League in England to allow more football matches on the Lord’s Day. The Sports Minister Mr Hector Munro was urged to make representations to the Football League in this matter because of the disturbance to people in the vicinity of football grounds. One M.P., John Stokes, said the best thing people could do on Sabbath was to go to church and then go to lawful activities. Yet how little understanding there is, on the whole, among our Members of Parliament of the inestimable blessing of the Sabbath and of the evil nature of the sin of Sabbath breaking.
Schools and Communist Infiltration
Parents demanded the sacking of a school teacher at Possilpark Secondary School, Glasgow, after essays of pupils in his class appeared in the “Socialist Worker”. It was claimed that the teacher had been indoctrinating the pupils. Whatever may be true in this case, there is little question but that Communists have infiltrated our schools and are very active propagating Communistic ideology. It is very easy for this to be done under the guise of the teaching of history and in other ways. Closer scrutiny of prospective teachers when applying for posts might prevent some of this infiltration. The other way is through parental vigilance.
Syncretism
The Queen attended the Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey. At this service there were prayers given from leaders of the many religions of the Commonwealth. It is sad to think that Her Majesty the Queen would favour with her presence such a God-dishonouring service. The Christian Faith is altogether unique and any attempt to mix with it other religions is highly offensive to Him whose Name alone is to be honoured.
Drug-taking
The West of Scotland has seen an alarming increase in the use of heroin in recent times, according to a Scotsman report. A Glasgow clinic had 28 new cases in the last six months. The drug users were aged between 14 and 25. The danger to the young from the use of this and other drugs cannot be over-emphasised. The authorities are doing what they can to prevent the importation of drugs but some get through the net. School authorities and parents should do all in their power to warn of the danger. What a floodgate to all manner of evils is departure from the Word of God. We are reaping the fruit of our departure from God. May the Lord yet be pleased to return in mercy to this our beloved land with an outpouring of His Spirit.