"According to Ecclesia in America, a new document outlining regional challenges to the Roman Catholic Church, the clergy and lay workers must attend to globalization's downtrodden masses and erase the inroads made by Protestant evangelists. The Holy See carves a middle-of-the-road approach between today's free marketeers and the old-style liberation theologians who often espouse Marxist activism to achieve economic justice. Criticizing the capitalists for judging human endeavor solely by profits, and the priests for fighting class wars, the pope advises his followers to reap the benefits of competitive markets without forgetting to attend to the less fortunate. If new-liberation theology is to succeed, the pope will have to solve the chronic shortage of Catholic priests.. " (Latin Trade 4/99,p.88)
This announcement on June 18/19 1999 caused a riot in London, England. Hundreds of police had to be brought in to contain the rage of young men and women. They are aware of what is happening.
"The Catholic Church in Scotland is poised to launch a drive to tempt lapsed members back by offering to wipe clean their "sin slates" for the Millennium..
"Catholic Church in America has approved the "Millennium absolution" plan. It will be discussed at joint talks with Bishops of England, Wales and Ireland a growing number of Scottish priests are throwing their weight behind the scheme...
"Since the Millennium is being promoted as a time of reconciliation and all Christian churches throughout the world are urging their governments to wipe out Third World debt, many of Scotland's priests feel it is an ideal opportunity for the Catholic Church to lead by example and declare an amnesty to sinners. (The Mail on Sunday, 2.28.99 p.26)
Pope John Paul II and Rumania's Orthodox patriarch stood shoulder-to-shoulder May 7,99 in a remarkable show of unity on the first visit by a Roman pontiff to a mainly Orthodox Christian country in nearly 1,000 years. Not since the Great Schism of 1054, when the Eastern church definitely split from Rome, had a Roman Catholic pontiff made such a trip.. John Paul, who has made reconciliation a principal goal of the Vatican's millennium celebrations, said he was encouraging efforts for greater cooperation "among all those who call themselves Christians.".. The history of dispute is traced to Christianity's foundation as a religion of Rome by the Emperor Constantine in 313, and his decision to move the capital to what he named Constantinople. The decision created a power struggle between popes and ecumenical patriarchs. Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, is the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox. His church was founded by Saint Andrew. There are 15 independent or autonomous Orthodox churches, run by patriarchs or archbishops, Russia's church and under Patriarch Alexey II, is the largest. Although Bartholomew is "first among equals" of Orthodox leaders, he does not have the pope's power... Theological difference is the creed. Originally, the Nissan Creed ran: "I Believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Son." By the year 800, it had been altered in the West to: "who proceeds from the Father and the Son." The East accused the West of encouraging a false church doctrine." (The A - The Tampa Tribune)
"In the United Kingdom, a new Methodist Book of Worship has just appeared. Included is prayer addressed to "God our Father and Mother." Excluded is the "prayer of humble access" at Holy Communion, which begins, "We do not presume to come to your table, merciful Lord." The liturgical committee thought the prayer was too "grovelly." Said the Rev. Norman Wall work, speaking for the committee, "An overriding element of the Eucharist is to be lifted up by the healing of God. We do not want people to be brought down at this holy moment and reminded they are a sinner." Maybe he is making a point about the collective nature of sin, or maybe his grammar is as muddled as his theology." (First Things, June/July 1999)
"I feel twice blessed," a Tampa woman says who participates in the Adopt-a-Sister program, founded in 1992 by Sister Mary Rinaldi. For $100 a year, Rinaldi will match a benefactor with a Salesian sister, who becomes her adopter's prayer partner. Nuns, after all, are professionals when it comes to praying.. The New Jersey-based Salesian Sisters.. raised $4 million toward a $5 million retirement home.. for the religious order.. (Tampa Tribune 5.6.99)
"The seminary's founder says that he not only believes in Adam and Eve but also Adam and Steve. "Grace Institute Bible College & Seminary is conservative, fundamental and evangelical. It even uses some of the same tests as the Rev. Jerry Falwell's Liberty University.. Most of Grace Institute's students and faculty are homosexuals. Its founder, the Rev. Jerry Stephenson, insists that being a gay or lesbian fundamentalist is not a contradiction in terms.. Stephenson, 42, said he received a conservative Christian education at Trinity International University in Miami and North Florida Baptist Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, where he earned a doctorate in theology. He was a Southern Baptist minister for 15 years at churches in South Florida, form West Palm Beach to Key West, all the time struggling with his sexual orientation.. He spent two years at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale. It attempts to convert gays to heterosexuality. He proclaimed himself "cured" and worked with another conversion group in Key West before realizing he had not changed..
"Traditional Christian conservatives condemn homosexuality as a sin and maintain that gays and lesbians cannot gain salvation without repenting (which means to stop doing it). The Rev. D. James Kennedy said someone can no more be a Christian homosexual than a Christian adulterer.. Stephenson contends that such teachings are the result of misinterpreting the Bible or taking passages out of context.. "We are the whosoever," he said. "It bothers me with my fundamentalist friends when they would say "you are going to hell for being gay." That's not what the Bible says. When we accept Jesus Christ, he is ours." (The Tampa Tribune Times 6.6.99)
Pray for him because of this Scripture: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;" (Romans 1:18)
"Edgy music, pulsating lights, billowing smoke, flashing videos and a crowded room of people swaying to the beat.. It's Friday night church. And Why not?.. About 500 people a week do just that, kicking off their weekends with this rock 'n' roll worship.. Nondenominational with Baptist roots.. "When they come in, first thing I want them to say is, "Wow!"" the 49 year old pastor says. "This isn't Pat Boone; it's Smashing Pumpkins." (The Tampa Tribune, June 9,1999)
Both Vice President Al Gore (D) and Senator John Ashcroft, R-Ma support the "charitable choice" proposal.. At the heart of this proposal is putting religion back into government. One of the Vice President's platforms to elect Al Gore for President is: "Faith-based organizations will become distributors of social services including medical services in Al Gore's administration as President of the US.
Mind you, I'm quoting! "For too long," he said in a speech to the Salvation Army in Atlanta, "the left maintained that religious values should play no role in addressing public needs. But the hollow securalism" that resulted, Gore continued, was not sufficient to spark the personal transformation (the Holy Spirit's work) needed to save people from the traps of addiction, delinquency or dependency." He endorsed legislation, first proposed by Senator Ashcroft, that would allow faith-based organizations to compete for government social services as part of a faith-based transformational package. "For too long, faith-based organizations have wrought miracles on a shoestring," said the Vice President. "With the steps I'm proposing today, they will no longer need to depend on faith alone." [We have the new church on the horizon - not faith based but government based
Churches could end up offering "one-stop-shopping - clinics-Medicare - Medicaid - social services - prisons - education - labor - unemployment - housing - police and so on. There are nearly $2 trillion to spend every year which will be irresistible].
"No," says Elaine Kamarck, a professor at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government who advises the Gore presidential campaign. "In the post-bureaucratic government" that Gore envisions, she argues, a plethora of service providers - nonprofit, for-profit and faith - based - will all deliver social services. Karmarck, who oversaw the Clinton administration's "reinventing government" effort for four years, sees no danger to religious independence as long as faith-based organizations have to compete against other grant-seekers, and as long as all are held to strict measures of accountability.
"Churches, with their millions of voting members, will be sorely tempted to grab for the apple of federal funding.. (The Tampa Tribune, James P Pinkerton 6.1.99)
"Pastor Sentenced for Swindle - Largo, Fla. - Sobbing as he pleaded for mercy, the Rev. Henry Lyons was sentenced Wednesday to 5 1/2 years in prison for swindling more than $4,000,000 while president of one of the nation's largest and most influential black denominations. The 57-year-old minister was also ordered to repay almost $2.5 million.. He still faces federal court sentencing.." (Denver Rocky Mountain News, April 1, 1999)
Tampa, June 19, 1999 - Lyons draws light sentence for income tax evasion in federal court. Lyons pleaded for mercy and said "I need to do at least 100 good deeds for every bad. I need time [off] to do these deeds." The judge listened and gave him the lightest sentence he could: four years and three months. He'll be released 2003 and will owe $5.3 million in restitution.."
By the comment Reverend Lyons made, he does not know the Gospel. We pray he spends time studying the Word of God. We nor he, can make restitution for our sins.
Greater Ministries' pastors convicted on 30-count conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering indictment using religious beliefs as a central selling point. Five years in prison and federal charges pending.. (see The Tampa Tribune, June 14, 1999)
"Church pleads guilty to fraud, theft.. Several pastors, members and Deeper Life Christian Church itself pleaded guilty Monday to fraud and theft charges. "A church has now been adjudicated a felon and we hope that sends a message," Clendian said. Pinholes authorities charged the Church of Scientology with a felony, but the church has not been convicted.. Melvin B. Jefferson, bishop of the church, said despite the guilty pleas, his church and followers are not criminals. Jefferson had faced racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, dealing in stolen property and six counts of food stamps fraud. All the charges were dropped..
"The church pleaded guilty to trafficking in food stamps and dealing in stolen property.. As a corporation, the church must pay nearly $28,000 in fines and the cost of the investigation.
"Clendinen said the state can revoke the church's corporate status and impose sanctions if it does not abide by the terms of probation.. Each sentenced to three years probation..
"Authorities said the charges stemmed from the defendants offering a swap to court parolees assigned to community service at the church - knocking off service hours in return for food stamps.
"The stamps were converted to cash at full face value through two church-owned meat markets, investigators said, netting the church up to $20,000 a month.. " (Ibid., 6.8.99)
"Christianity Today reports that Orlando is becoming the center for evangelical Protestant organizations. Years ago there was Wheaten, Illinois, then Colorado Springs, and now Orlando. What is it with this herd instinct among evangelical? My friend Bill Bright is building a $42 million Headquarters for Campus Crusade near Orlando Airport, close to the new campuses of Asbury Theological Seminary, Reformed Theological Seminary, Ligonier Ministries, and a host of others. And of course my very dear friend Chuck Colson lives in Florida.. Be assured, however that the exit to Florida will not get in the way of projects such as "Evangelicals and Catholics Together." Christian unity is worth an occasional flight to Orlando.. (First Things, Public Square, R.J.Neuhaus, May 1999 p.90)