Wednesday, May 28, 2003

May I offer a few remarks about what were evidently derogatory comments about Catholicism in a recent letter to the editor that I missed. I pray that the tone of my comments will be consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ, the one who not only calmed the stormy sea, but who also told his disciples when they objected to the actions of someone outside their group who was evidently preaching the gospel: "Forbid him not" and, "If he is not against us he is for us."

As background, I am a Christian, a member of a Protestant church that might be considered "fundamental" or, more accurately, "evangelical."I have never been a member of a Catholic church, but I have attended Bible studies that included evangelical Catholics. In my opinion, the beliefs of my Catholic friends in the basic aspects of Christianity (centered on faith in God and in Jesus Christ as our savior) are not substantially different in the most fundamental aspects of Christian faith than my beliefs as an evangelical Protestant.

The range of beliefs among various "Protestant" churches worldwide covers a spectrum from cultishness or no belief at all to truly believing from the heart, among members of most churches, the "good news" of the Bible in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." My Catholic friends tell me that there is also a spectrum of beliefs and practices within Catholicism worldwide.

Distortions on the fringes of Christianity, whether growing out of a Catholic or Protestant tradition, are regrettable, but should not blind us to agreement among Christians in the most important areas.

There is a growing movement within the Catholic church, supported by its leadership, toward areas which seemed formerly to be divisive between Protestants and Catholics, encouragement of Bible study and support for the growing role of the laity that, in the words of a banner displayed not long ago at a Catholic retreat center, "We are the Church."

I would like to express my great admiration for Pope John Paul II, and the other leadership of the Catholic church, not only for encouraging these trends within Catholicism, but also for reaching out to those from other religious backgrounds as exemplified by his dramatic visit to the wailing wall in Jerusalem not long ago and his heartfelt prayer for forgiveness for the great wrongs done to Jewish people by Christians in the past.

It is my prayer that people everywhere will reject wrongdoing, put their faith and trust in God, turn away from sin, believe the good news that Jesus preached, follow Him and reach out to others in love that transcends religious affiliation. The Bible says, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

Frank Cawood

Peachtree City