THANK YOU, BROTHERS

Despite our vast theological differences it's time for all people of faith in the God of Abraham, Moses, the prophets and the Church to draw together in common defense. Our differences are substantial and important; they need to be discussed in the light of truth. Later.

Right now Christianity is under attack unlike anytime in its modern history. Any Christian that is honest with himself must recognize the importance of the Catholic Church. She is the Mother Church to all the different forms of Christianity that have come after Her. If the forces of evil manage to destroy, or at least significantly weaken Her, the other branches of Christianity will be next. And in all honesty, if evil can take the Catholic Church off the stage of history, what chance do the Baptists, Methodist or Lutherans, much less a tiny storefront Pentecostal church have?

So circle the wagons, boys. We'll drink a beer and argue the finer points of theology later. Right now we have a common enemy that we must defeat if we intend to survive. We have to put aside our differences and stand shoulder to shoulder in our common belief in the power of Jesus Christ and defeat the forces of evil.

Or we will be destroyed; all of us together.

"The misdeeds of a few priests who have committed “atrocities” should not overshadow the “great deeds” done by priests and religious of the Catholic Church, two leading African American ministers from St. Louis have said.

Writing in the St. Louis American were Pentecostal Bishop Alphonso Scott of the Lively Stone Church of God and Bishop Jesse Battle of the House of Deliverance Church. They are respectively president and vice-president of the Ecumenical Leadership Council, which represents hundreds of predominantly African American churches in Missouri.

Noting the headlines about sexual misconduct and abuse by Catholic priests, they said those truly convicted of “such atrocities” should at minimum no longer serve in any clerical capacity.

“However, while emotions are rightfully vested in anger, the membership of the Ecumenical Leadership Council would ask the public to remember that the Catholic Church has been a leader in relieving pain and suffering in the world, and in St. Louis,” they continued.

“Their worldwide generosity has all too frequently been the difference between a significant number of the world’s poor going hungry and homeless, and having a warm meal and secure shelter.

“We believe that the misdeeds of a few should not be allowed to cast a shadow on the great deeds done daily by the priests and nuns of the Catholic Church.”

The two Protestant bishops noted that Catholic Charities had raised $82 million last year to help the less fortunate in St. Louis. They reported that the Catholic Archbishop of St. Louis Robert J. Carlson has reached out to bridge racial divides through dialogue with organizations like the Ecumenical Leadership Council.

“We strongly support the healing that obviously must occur in the Catholic Church. We acknowledge the alleged abuses of imperfect priests; however, we also know that imperfection is a human condition to which all humans are susceptible.”

The two clergymen said they look forward to working with Archbishop Carlson and the Catholic clergy of St. Louis to continue their missions of spiritual guidance and leadership for worshipers of their respective faiths."
Catholic News Agency