(Editor's Note: In our New & Views column we quote from many different sources. Please understand that this does not necessarily mean that we approve of all of the publications from which we quote. We will give the name of the source in the first quote and thereafter we will give the abbreviation of that name.)

Hispanics Leaving Catholic Church-More Hispanics are leaving the Catholic Church for Protestant denominations and other religions. They tend to retain their cultural Roman Catholic characteristics. (LA Times, 5/5/01) They also retain their views on moral issues such as the death penalty and abortion. When they join some so-called Protestant churches, they could hardly tell the difference. Candle burning and wafer feasting in the Methodist church is little different than the Catholic services. In fact, many of the pastors of many protestant churches are dressed little different than the Catholic priest. Such as Robert Schuller, etc. -(W. W. Mosley, hereafter WWM)

Pope Visits Muslim Mosque-There should be no doubt in any true believer's mind that the Harlot of the Revelation is busy making peace with the religious world. John Paul II's visit to a Muslim mosque, accompanied by Muslim leaders, is one of the latest steps. The Pope has repeatedly called for Muslims, Christians, and Jews to work together for peace. "Vatican and Syrian flags decorated the Omayyad Mosque in the old walled city at the heart of modern Damascus." (Dallas Morn. News, 5/6/02) The Pope referred to the area as "holy land" and said, "Christians, Muslims and Jews are called to work together with confidence and boldness and to work to bring about without delay the day when the legal rights of all peoples are respected and they can live in peace and mutual understanding." Israel must keep the words of Jeremiah in mind. "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." (Jer. 6:14) Baptists must keep the words of Paul in mind. "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (1 Thes. 5:3) -WWM

Muslim Leader Declines Prayer With Pope-The Vatican had hoped the pope and Muslim leaders would pray together in a ceremony in the courtyard in his early May visit to a Syrian mosque. Pressure from hard-line Muslim states caused this proposal to be rejected. (Dallas Morn. News, 5/7/01) The Islam religion takes a stronger stand than many who really have the true God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Even Baptist(?) churches today are succumbing to the pressure of breaking down biblical barriers to become more acceptable to other religions and a lost world. When the Lord's true church and the world's religion join hands, guess who is going to be tarnished. "Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations?" (Ezra 9:14) -WWM

President Declines Designating Gay Pride Month-A white House memo states: "Theexecutive office of the President will not sponsor an observance [or speaker's forums] for Gay and Lesbian Pride Month." Neither will the Departments of Defense and Justice be participating in any homosexual events. This doesn't seem to deter homosexual promotions from other national positions. Several Cabinet level departments are planning gay pride celebrations. Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Norman Mineta is promoting an "Embrace Diversity" celebration. Interior Secretary Gale Norton is also moving ahead with an "Embrace Diversity" event. (Traditional Values Coalition, 6/7/01) -WWM

Higher Education On Getting High-A 6/13/01 newscast on News Channel 4, Oklahoma City, reported a new high (or low) in higher education. "Edmond police are handing out free alcoholic drinks today. And they're doing it in hopes it will save lives." Jack Damrill reported the volunteers were "bellying up to the bar" for Edmond (OK) police. The purpose? To train Edmond police recruits on how to give sobriety tests. This is the equivalent of putting hay into the tent to teach the camel how to adorn his master's tent. Or passing out `crack' to volunteers to see how long it takes to make a drug addict. How to save lives by this method is a mockery to a normal society. God pronounces a "woe" on this activity (Hab. 2:15). The city of Edmond (OK) should pronounce a "whoa" upon it as well. -WWM

Presidents & Gay Pride Month-During his 8 yr. stopover in the presidency, former Pres. Clinton declared June as "Gay & Lesbian Pride Month," and joined Hillary in the "Gay Pride Parade" in New York. To his credit, Pres. Bush refused to formally recognize Gay Pride Month earlier this June. (BP, 6/12/01) However, some cabinet members and executive offices "picked up where they left off last year." David Elliott, spokesman for the national Gay & Lesbian Task Force said " . . . they're not going to be driven into the closet." Be careful Mr.(?) Elliott, the demands of the sodomites in Sodom and Gomorrah were left in ashes. -WWM

SBC Challenges Disney-SBC's four year old boycott could be lifted if the Walt Disney Company would "cease its promoting of homosexuality as a normative lifestyle and allow evangelicals the same access to the entertainment giant as enjoyed by the homosexual community." (BP, 6/14/01) The SBC noted, "The Disney Company has not only ignored our concerns, but flagrantly furthered this moral digression in its products and policies." Sin promoters will never clean up its method of deteriorating society or damage to lives until it sees sin as being exceeding sinful. (Rom. 7:13) This will only come about through salvation through the blood of Christ. -WWM

High Court & Christian Groups In Schools-"The Supreme Court ruled for a Christian youth group June 11 in a church-state battle over whether religious groups must be allowed to meet in public schools after class hours. . . . Justice Stephen Breyer, usually a moderate-to-liberal vote on the court, joined the five most conservative members Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonio Scalia, Anthony Kennedy and Clarence Thomas in partial support of the religious club's request. Justices John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter dissented." (BP, 6/11/01) Early American classrooms found out much about the Bible and its content in every day classes. As late at the `30s & `40s many teachers quoted Bible verses as a guide to follow. -WWM

Forget Seeker-Sensitive Churches?-Southern Baptist were told to "forget seeker-sensitive church" at the meeting in New Orleans June 10th. Richard Lee, founder and pastor of First Redeemer Church in Cumming, GA said the indoctrination with the "philosophy of church growth" has replaced preaching of the Word. (BP, 6/11/01) The psychological approach to the Gospel along with CCM, has saturated worship(?) services in the mega-church & seeker sensitive operation. The result has been varied: no belief in a literal heaven and hell, and a blurred vision of the true God. Bill Hybels' Willow Creek church is typical of seeker-sensitive church activity. How many Baptist Churches are on the list of the Willow Creek Assoc. Churches? -WWM

Criswell College Affiliates With SBTC-"Trustee boards of the Criswell Center for Biblical Studies (CCBS) and Southern Baptist of Texas Convention (SBTC) have unanimously approved an agreement that places the college in the budget of the state convention and provides SBTC access to the facilities and consultation resources of the school." (BP, 6/8/01) "SBTC will contribute more than $600,000 over the next three years . . ." The SBTC cut ties with the Baptist General Convention of Texas because the BGCT had moved "away from the convictional base of the SBC . . . ." The SBTC was formed in November 1998 with 123 churches. It has now grown to more than 800 churches in Texas. -WWM

State-Employed HIV Instructors Teach Safe Homo Practices-It is embarrassing to my generation to even speak of such activities. Homosexual acceptance and now tax payed employees are instructing teens how to perform certain perverted sexual experiments. "At a Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network Mass. Department of Education conference held at Tufts Univ. in March, 2000, teens who attended this conference were taught how to . . ." perform certain sexual activities with their partners. (Traditional Values Coalition, 6/8/01) Don't be too surprised when other state-supported institutions of learning offer classes on such a depraved conduct. The GLSEN is gaining ground in the public schools of America. What a sad commentary of a nation that has drifted so far from its Christian roots. -WWM

Presbyterians, Gays, Salvation, Ordination-Earlier this month the General Assembly of the governing body of the Presbyterian Church USA met. Among their heated subject matter was whether to ordain gays and lesbians. Also expected to cause debate was the matter of salvation only in Christ. (Dallas Morning News, 6/9/01) It seems some one at this assembly of preachers(?) would have a KJV Bible. If so, why not just see what the Scripture says about these matters and act accordingly. Gods people were never in the dark about His directives on homosexuality. (Deut. 23:17) "There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel." Neither should there be any doubt about salvation from another source. (Acts 4:12) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Although godly women have always been used of God in their places of service, they cannot qualify as pastors, only the wife of a pastor. (1 Tim 3:2) " bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; . . ." -WWM

ABC & Religion Reporting-ABC News has excommunicated themselves from religion reporter Peggy Wehmeyer. ABC News president David Westin announced that the network's new alliance with Beliefnet will keep the faith. (DMN, 6/6/01) Beliefnet caters to many religion such as Buddhist, Muslim, Hindus, etc. Don't expect any change in the area of true religion and undefiled by the liberal news media. Peter Jennings of ABC recently hosted a program based on the search for Jesus. The media has one primary gigantic problem in this matter. They simply do not qualify in reporting on matters concerning God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Peter Jennings and co. should heed the message of the Prophet Jeremiah. (Jer. 29:13) "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." The liberal news media does little better in providing unbiased coverage of daily events. Most are pro-everything that is opposed to God, country, and the traditional family. -WWM

Liberal News Media & High Court Decision-After the U.S. Supreme Court's latest decision concerning religion in public schools, liberal commentators were distraught. By ruling that a New York school couldn't bar a student religious group from meeting in a classroom after school, the New York Times lamented the justices blurred "the line between regular classroom instruction and religious indoctrination." The Washington Post said the court was tolerating a government endorsement of religious faith. (Chicago Tribune, 6/14/01) The media has indeed blurred the line of regular classroom instruction with gay/lesbian promotion. Liberals in the name of journalism flood American homes with first amendment rights for every sin group imaginable. Yet when a Christian school teacher has prayer with a student, here gallops in the ACLU with news cameras rolling to protect the other students from being exposed to Christianity. Pay day some day! -WWM

Hybels' New Fiber-Optic Services-Willow Creek Community Church and Pastor Bill Hybels have a new wrinkle in their brainstorm. "In a dozen sites across the Chicago area, Willow Creek hopes to build, rent or remodel auditorium spaces where a pastor, musicians and a congregation can gather for a mix of in-house worship and preaching beamed in via fiber-optic lines." (Chicago Tribune, 6/11/01) A 20 foot screen is already needed in another building WCCC for the overflow crowd. Over the next 10 years their hope is to open 12 satellite sites where folks can sit before a mega-screen there and watch the mega-services in a mega-church, namely WCCC. Of course there will be Hybels bigger than life. That size of screen will be needed to reveal all of his self-esteem/ego. Plans are already in the making to purchase 59 acres for the first satellite mega-church. If Bill Hybels preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ many of `his disciples' would depart as did our Lord's. (John 6:66) "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." Don't hold you breath until Hybels preaches the truth. -WWM

Simpson's Language Now Defined-Homer Simpson, that is. The beer-guzzling cartoon dad has hit the literary big time. His favorite expression has made it into the erudite Oxford English Dictionary. The online editions of OED defines Homer's "doh" as being usually accompanied by a slap to the forehead . . . expressing frustration. (The Australian, 6/16/01) For years parent have been warned of the impact TV cartoons have on their children. No one should be surprised that it is having its impact on the literary scene. Baby sitting TV sets have done irreparable damage to young lives and ultimately society at large. Vocal baby sounds adopted by cartoon characters have now made it into the English language. Political correctness will demand other senseless drivel to become an acceptable manner of expression. What ever happened to letting "yea be yea; and your nay, nay, lest ye fall into condemnation?" (James 5:12) -WWM

Among Communism's Primary Agenda-Communism's objectives are not limited to these characteristics alone, yet these are more noticeable than others may be. Movements that contend that the following goals are constitutional are aiding to destroy America and traditional family life. "Presenting homosexuality, degeneracy, and promiscuity as `normal, natural, healthy.' Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed biblical truth with a `social' religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a `religious crutch.' Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the grounds that it violates the principle of `Separation of Church and State.'" (Copied) Familiarity and concession toward those who take this stand today is allowing communism's mission come to pass. Their highest aim is to discredit any semblance of Christianity in America. Our hope? (Titus 2:13) "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; . . ." (Matt. 16:18) ". . . upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." -WWM

Baptist Pastor More Ecumenical Than Methodist Pastor-Walton High School in East Cobb Co. is an Atlanta suburb. The school had its baccalaureate ceremony at the Mt. Bethel UMC. Rabbi Steven Lebow (Jewish) was scheduled to deliver the address. The pastor of Mt. Bethel UMC objected because the Rabbi was "non-Christian" and "don't believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ." (NewsMax, 4/20/01) Rabbi Lebow spoke at a similar ceremony last year at the Johnson Ferry Baptist Church just down the road. Where did this Baptist pastor get his theological training? He obviously doesn't know any better, or plainly does not care. Ecumenism says, "It doesn't really matter, we are all trying to get to the same place." Billy Graham and Robert Schuller agree that religions that have never heard of Christ can be saved. (Plains Bapt. Challenger, 9/99) The Holy Spirit inspired Peter to give better instruction. (Acts 4:12) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." -WWM

`Jesus First' Wants Women Pastors In LCMS-A Christian News (4/23) headline reads: "Jesus First: An Umbrella Group Open for LCMS [Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod] Liberals, Uninformed Conservatives, Supporters of the Ordination of Women Pastors, Evolutionists, Charismatics, Church Growthers--Supporting Kieschnick for President Diekelmann for First Vice-Pres." The drive for women pastors is said to be gaining momentum in the LCMS, as its July convention in St. Louis nears. The names of 661 LCMS members who support Jesus First are listed in the 4/23 CN. -(Calvary Contender, hereafter CC)

Why Aren't Astrologers Rich?-Something's wrong. If astrologers, palm readers, and fortune tellers could foretell the future, they could make a killing in the stock market, winning the lottery, etc. But instead, most of them live in rundown shanties, trailer courts, etc. (4/01 VITW). Their fakery is revealed. They're not millionaires for a similar reason that the many "faith healers" can't go to hospitals and send all the patients home healed. -CC

Colorado Gov. Signs Faith Healing Bill-Colorado Gov. Bill Owens April 16 signed into law a bill which makes faith healing a crime, under the state's child abuse law, when used in place of medicine for a child in danger of dying (4/23 Religion Today). The law was prompted by the illness of Amanda Bates, 13, who died Feb. 5 of complications from untreated diabetes. Her parents, members of General Assembly Church of the First Born, did not believe in medical treatment for their daughter. Since 1974, 13 children of parents in religious sects have died in Colorado from lack of medical care. -CC

New Age, Hinduism, & Yoga-The 3/23 Vanguard states: "So-called New Age thought is for the most part a recycling of Hinduism [basically pantheistic] plus magic and occult ideas and practices in a way acceptable in the West. The use of drugs, especially the so-called harmless drugs like marijuana, is a way in to the altered state of consciousness, which opens the mind up to the Hindu way of looking at life. Yoga and Hindu meditation have now become mainstream, often offered in church halls, with no understanding that `there is no yoga without Hinduism and no Hinduism without yoga' (a Hindu saying)." -CC

Hate Crime Laws Violate Freedom Of Thought And Belief-From a religious standpoint, it is frightful to think of the government's penalizing certain beliefs. Such a practice can potentially criminalize any religious teaching that is not politically correct. For example, the freedom to so much as quote Bible passages that call homosexual behavior an abomination to God cannot stand long in a society laced with hate crime laws protecting homosexual behavior. (4/01 Baptist Bulletin) -CC

Alcohol: The `Most Damaging Substance In Society'-The director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism calls alcohol "the most widespread and damaging substance we have in society." The May 7 U.S. News has an 8-page article showing, among other things, how alcohol alters brain chemistry. New science uses new imaging techniques and shows how alcohol can rewire the circuitry of the brain, eroding its ability to feel pleasure and act wisely, and replacing it with a locus for intense craving and destructive behavior. The article terms alcoholism a disease [the Bible calls it sin, drunkenness] that interferes with home life, work, interpersonal relationships, and eventually with health." It says "excessive drinking can ruin lives through betrayal, broken promises, lost jobs, car accidents, and a host of other personal tragedies." Bingers can suffer impaired concentration, slowed reflexes, disrupted sleep and high blood pressure. "For active alcoholics, drinking trumps reason. It distorts judgment. It severs the connection between behavior and consequence. It lays waste to marriages, friendships, and careers. It leaves children stranded." Some 14 million people in the U.S. are alcoholics or abuse alcohol. Moderate drinking is not an option for a true alcoholic. Be warned, be wise, beware! -CC

CCM Growing In Popularity-John Styll, president of Nashville-based CCM Communications and chairman-elect of the Gospel Music Association notes that contemporary Christian music is having a huge impact on the church and is the only category in the Grammy nomination process defined by lyrical content (4/26/01 Ala. Baptist). While there are many styles of CCM, contemporary/pop is the most popular, but the "praise and worship" category is quickly growing. Styll says CCM has made the worship experience more relevant to a new generation but "the danger is, contemporary music is very performance-oriented. The line between worship and entertainment can very easily get blurred." -CC

New Aids Czar Is Open Homosexual-Scott Evertz has been appointed to head the president's Office on National AIDS Policy. He is "the first ever openly gay GOP appointee, and the first homosexual AIDS czar." (4/21 World) This has drawn fire from conservatives. Dr. James Dobson says: "This appointment sends a disturbing message that the problem of AIDS can be resolved without dealing with the (rampant) promiscuity of many in the homosexuality life." (5/01 NLJ) Evertz has called the Boy Scout policy of banning openly homosexual leaders "absurd." He has urged black ministers to stop describing homosexuality as a sin. How long will our president try to please both "gay" activists and pro-family conservatives? -CC

Kung Wants Term Limits For Pope-Hans Kung, a prominent theologian and a frequent critic of the Vatican, has proposed term limits or a mandatory retirement age for popes (C.E.C. Journal News, 4/24/01). He said it was "unbearable" that the church is currently headed by someone "not fully present from a psychic or physical point of view." Pope John Paul II, 80, suffers from Parkinson's disease and has undergone several operations that have reduced his mobility. The Vatican has acknowledged he has been slowed physically but deny it has affected his mind. Most popes have served until their death. Kung, a modernist globalist whose mandate to teach as a Catholic theologian was withdrawn by the Vatican years ago, thinks the next pope will be Italian. -CC

Awana Is Changing Again-Awana recently sent a letter from its president to churches who currently use Awana. The biggest changes are in the doctrinal statement where it has reverted back to its weaker original statement and dropped the stronger recent one. It claims it is going back to its roots, but this is really a step toward further compromise. A Kansas pastor wrote the following, in a recent long discourse with an Awana official: ".I will not argue with you about Awana's glorious history and how God has used it.My problem is with the deceit of chartering American Baptist Churches [member of apostate NCC/WCC] despite the clear statements prohibiting it, and now the removing of key parts of the doctrinal statement that clearly speak against false doctrine and trends such as the charismatic movement, and the policy change. Its statement formerly said churches who used Awana were not to be `affiliated with' the NCC/WCC at all. Then they weakened it to `not be supportive of.'" Now this more recent change is to drop the policy on this completely, and opens the door for charismatic/Pentecostal and liberal churches. The Awana official, in an e-mail to the Kansas pastor, noted specifically that the Assemblies of God and all American Baptist Churches now would be free to use Awana. The Kansas pastor adds: "In this latest change, Awana has dropped its policy of selecting churches completely. All you have to do now is say you agree to teach the materials as they are given." He said Awana's philosophy, and that of many other organizations and churches that formerly stood for the truth, is to downplay doctrine so that more people can be reached for the gospel. The Bible clearly condemns that philosophy ["end justifies the means"]. In recent years both the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship and the American Council of Christian Churches have had strong resolutions warning of Awana's compromise. -CC

Mormons Make Converts From Baptists-Mormons claim that they have more converts from Baptists than from anybody else (4/16 Christian News). SBC's Paige Patterson says it could be partially true because "we have not taught our people the truths of the Word of God. If we had, they wouldn't be sitting ducks out there on the pond for every `ism' that comes along." -CC

Falwell Announces `Tim Lahaye School Of Prophecy'-In the May National Liberty Journal, Dr. Jerry Falwell wrote: "Dr. John Borek, president of Liberty University, and I are pleased to announce the formation of the Tim LaHaye School of Prophecy to be unveiled in January." Dr. LaHaye, co-author of the popular Left Behind series of novels, will be president and Dr. Ed Hindson will serve as dean. Adjunct and guest faculty includes Drs. John Walvoord, Dwight Pentecost, Thomas Ice, Robert Gromacki, Renald Showers, Earl Radmacher, and John Ankerberg. Falwell is to speak June 10 at the SBC Pastors Conference. He says: "I firmly believe that the New Testament church is poised with the SBC in the vanguard for spiritual awakening across America and unprecedented world evangelization." -CC

Ecumenicals Celebrate Armenia-Leaders from America's Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox communities will gather at Washington's National Catholic Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, May 30, for an ecumenical prayer service marking the 1700th anniversary of Armenia's becoming the world's first Christian nation in 301 (NCC 4/24 e-mail). Main speakers are National Council of Churches Pres. Andrew Young, and Cardinal William H. Keeler. -CC

Some Evangelicals Weak On Homosexuality-Ralph Blair in the Spring 2001 issue of the pro-homosexual Evangelicals Concerned Review, had these questions for the authors of a new IVP book: "Is that why an Old Testament scholar and president of The Evangelical Theological Society conceded that there is nothing in the Old Testament that corresponds to homosexuality as we understand it today? Is that why a leading evangelical theologian conceded that, for purely historical reasons, we can't turn to the New Testament for specific data on homosexuality today?" We might dismiss this as pro-homosexual propaganda except for the evident compromise of ETS on this subject in recent years past. (For more on this, see 1/1/96 & 1/15/99 CCs). -CC

Colson At Ecumenical Day of Prayer-For the May 3 National Day of Prayer, Chairman Shirley Dobson encouraged all people of faith to "set aside their differences." Billy Graham served as honorary chairman and wrote a special prayer for the occasion. Speakers included Michael Smith and Dean Jones. Chuck Colson was the keynote speaker, and said: "At the end of our lives, we too must kneel before the cross and ask Jesus, `Did I live a life worthy of the sacrifice you made for me?'" (5/4 Religion Today) No one is ever, nor could be, worthy of the sacrifice Christ made for sinners. -CC

Faith-Based Charitable Choice-John DiIulio heads the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. A Roman Catholic, he praises Catholic Charities which receives about 2/3 of its funding from government and has become "just another government contractor." (3/31 World) But the NAE and other new-evangelicals have endorsed the "charitable choice" faith-based program. But recipients will not be allowed to discriminate in hiring. So influence and pressure follows the funds. Could a church refuse to hire a homosexual drug counselor? Weird religious groups could qualify in some cases. -CC

Illegal Aliens bad For Our Country-With one million crossings a day, the U.S.-Mexico border is the world's busiest. An estimated six million illegals are today costing U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars per year for education, health care, food stamps and public housing (2/22 Wisc. Report). Most of today's immigrants are poor and unskilled. The 12/12/94 U.S. News said we should replace our present policy which discriminates against Europeans, and admit more people with high skills and education (1/1/95 CC). Roman Catholic prelates have often called for a Catholic majority in the U.S. and boasted that one day they would accomplish this "by the stork and immigration" (1/1/86 CC). Most illegals, by far, are Catholic and tend to vote for liberal Democrats. The Pope has called for more [RC] babies and for capitalist "have" nations to feed RC socialist "have not" countries. It seems Catholicism and socialism often cause poverty, while Christianity and freedom produce prosperity. -CC o

NAE Gives Up The Fight Against Liberal NCC-The National Association of Evangelicals, formed largely in response to the liberal National Council of Churches, was in reality at its inception, a neutralist body. In a recent capitulation it altered its policy and allows a denomination to be a member of both the NAE and the NCC. NAE president Kevin Mannoia says a new day has now arrived, and calls for defining itself in terms of what we are "for." (5/21 Chr. Today) He says: "To continue defining ourselves in opposition to the liberal groups not only validates their importance but ties our identity to a dying cause." And, "Now is not the time to fight secondary battles with a diminishing adversary [e.g., NCC]." If fighting liberals is only a "secondary" battle, what is a primary one? Or, "Is there no longer a cause?" -CC

Liberal Lutheran A Former V-P Of Fuller?-Dr. David Luecke was a supporter of the liberal professors at Concordia Seminary years ago who were found guilty of false doctrine. He is now a member of the "Jesus First" (see 5/15 CC) steering committee. He was a former V-P of Fuller Seminary, a seminary which ordains women, supports the charismatic movement and no longer affirms the inerrancy of the Bible (4/30 C. News). Fuller is modernistic, ecumenical and charismatic (11/15/99 CC). -CC

Pope Urges New Effort Against `Sects' [Charismatics] In Latin America-Pope John Paul II, alluding to Pentecostalism and other groups, called religious sects a serious problem in predominantly RC Latin America and urged bishops there to re-evangelize their flocks (5/21 CT). Pentecostals have been attracting large numbers of Catholic converts in recent years and the 289 million Catholics in Latin America make up almost a third of the 1 billion Catholics worldwide. The number of "evangelicals" in Latin America has grown from 50,000 in 1900 to about 64 million in 1997 about three-fourths of whom are Pentecostal or charismatic. -CC