Billy Graham on Roman Catholicism/JPII

[Rich in Faith]

Pastor Mike,

What was Graham thinking

Billy Graham: Pope John Paul II Was "Most Influential Voice" in 100 Years
www.cbn.com/spirituallife/BibleStudyAndTheology/Perspectives/ANS_PopeGrahamCaviezel.aspx

Larry King asked Dr. Graham: "Did he actually say to you once, "We are brothers' "?

GRAHAM: That's correct. He certainly did. He held my hand the first time that I met him about 1981 -- he'd just been Pope for two years when I saw him first. Because when he was elevated to the papacy, I was preaching in his cathedral in Krakow that very day. And we had thousands of people in the streets. And watching the television today of Krakow has brought back many memories.

KING: You said that he was an Evangelist.

GRAHAM: He was, indeed. He traveled throughout the world to bring his Christian message to the world.And we see tonight the outpouring from the world that he touched. And I think he touched almost everybody in the whole world.

<snip>

KING: There is no question in your mind that he is with God now?

GRAHAM: Oh, no. There may be a question about my own, but I don't think Cardinal Wojtyla, or the Pope -- I think he's with the Lord, because he believed. He believed in the Cross. That was his focus throughout his ministry, the Cross, no matter if you were talking to him from personal issue or an ethical problem, he felt that there was the answer to all of our problems, the cross and the resurrection. And he was a strong believer.

[Mike Miller]

What was he thinking? I have no idea. John Paul II did not believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course, what exactly he believed has caused much confusion in the Roman church. The Roman Catholic catechism clearly states that salvation is attained through the Roman church only--that the sacraments, which have to be administered through a priest, are "necessary for salvation." Supposedly JPII supported the catechism and it's non-Gospel. However, he also made comments about Muslims and Christians worshiping the same God. What?! Regardless, I think it's safe to say that if he had embraced the true Gospel, he would have had to have rejected both the catechism as well as his other universalist-leaning claims.

Billy Graham was a faithful evangelist for many years, proclaiming the Gospel to millions. However, at times, he seems to have shown some political correctness, which has caused many to question his ministry. Unfortunately, some prominent Christians are either unwilling or unable to face the reality that Catholicism and Christianity are incompatible. I don't know why, but it is troublesome indeed.