In the May 6, 1957, issue of Newsweek, Graham
stated: "I have many friends among Catholic
priests, and a number of New York Catholic
leaders have written me stating that they
believe New York needs a spiritual awakening,
and have promised me their prayers and interest
even though they could not officially support
the meetings. The Catholic Church has always
been as friendly and as tolerant as their church
law will allow them toward our crusades."
In a report in Newsweek magazine in October
1960, Graham admitted that he would not lead
Catholics out of their denomination: "Despite
their probable Roman Catholic background, some
50 percent of Spanish-speaking New Yorkers have
no current church affiliation of any kind,
according to Protestant churchmen. Dr. Graham
made it clear that he and his fellow crusaders
have no intention of doing any proselyting. He
emphasized: ‘The important thing to us is that
these people are unchurched. We want them to
accept Christ and they can do that whether they
think of themselves as Catholics or
Protestants’" (Newsweek, October 17, 1960).
Graham conducted crusades in Latin America in
1962. He notes that they had to "move with great
caution" because of divisions and controversies
between Protestants and Catholics in that part
of the world. In his 1997 autobiography, he
refers to that division as the fault of both
Catholics and Protestants.
Upon the death of Pope John XXIII in 1963,
Graham made this amazing remark from Bonn,
Germany: "I admire Pope John tremendously. I
felt he brought a new era to the world. It is my
hope that the Cardinals elect a new Pope who
will follow the same line as John. It would be a
great tragedy if they choose a man who reacted
against John, who re-erected the walls"
(Michigan City News-Dispatch, June 2, 1963).
From one false prophet to another
In 1963, Graham spoke at a Park Sheraton Hotel
breakfast that was held to support his New York
World’s Fair pavilion. The New York Times of
October 25 reported that he spoke on increasing
cooperation between Protestants and Roman
Catholics, and said if Pope Paul asked him to go
out and preach the gospel, he would do it
(Wilson Ewin, Evangelism: The Trojan Horse of
the 1990’s). The problem with such a statement
is that it confuses people and fails to make any
distinction between false gospels and the true
gospel. Pope Paul did not preach the true gospel
of the grace of Christ. He preached Rome’s
sacramental grace-works gospel. Why, then, does
Graham say he would preach the gospel if asked
by Pope Paul? What gospel would he preach under
such circumstances? Pope Paul’s gospel, or the
Bible gospel? Graham pretends that they are the
same, and herein lies the great error and
wickedness of ecumenical evangelism.
It was also in 1963 that Graham first spoke at a
Roman Catholic institution. It was the Belmont
Abbey College. Four years later he was awarded
an honorary degree by this institution (The
Gastonia Gazette, Nov. 22, 1967). The priest who
invited Graham, Cuthbert Allen, Executive
Vice-President of the college, noted that Graham
was scheduled to speak at other Catholic
colleges that year. In the New York Times for
October 25, 1963, Graham acknowledged that he
had preaching engagements scheduled at five
Roman Catholic institutions. Priest Cuthbert
Allen made the following interesting observation
of Graham’s ministry:
I am the one who, being acquainted with Billy
Graham, invited him to speak to the Fathers, the
Nuns, students and invited guests, and I am
pleased to reply to your inquiries. Billy Graham
gave an inspiring and a theologically sound
address that may have been given by Bishop
Fulton J. Sheen or any other Catholic preacher.
I have followed Billy Graham’s career and I must
emphasize that he has been more Catholic than
otherwise, and I say this not in a partisan
manner but as a matter of fact. Knowing the
tremendous influence of Billy Graham among
Protestants and now the realization and
acknowledgment among Catholics of his devout and
sincere appeal to the teachings of Christ ... I
WOULD STATE THAT HE COULD BRING CATHOLICS AND
PROTESTANTS TOGETHER IN A HEALTHY ECUMENICAL
SPIRIT. I was the first Catholic to invite Billy
Graham; I know he will speak at three other
Catholic universities next month; I believe he
will be invited to more Catholic colleges in the
future than Protestant colleges. So I am well
pleased, then, to answer your question: BILLY
GRAHAM IS PREACHING A MORAL AND EVANGELICAL
THEOLOGY MOST ACCEPTABLE TO CATHOLICS (Letter
of May 19, 1965, from Cuthbert E. Allen to Mr.
Julius C. Taylor, reprinted in The Christian
News, October 1, 1984).
"Nor was the fault always on the Catholic side,
I knew. Often Latin American Protestants were
guilty of intolerance, negative preaching, and
inflammatory language. I had no intention of
adding fuel to the fire. In fact, whenever
possible during our trip south (as well as on
other tours), I tried to meet with local
Catholic leaders, to the occasional
consternation of some of our hosts. My goal, I
always made clear, was not to preach against
Catholic beliefs or to proselytize people who
were already committed to Christ within the
Catholic Church" (Graham, Just As I Am, p. 357).
In May 1966, Graham made this statement: "I find
myself closer to the Catholics than the radical
Protestants. I think the Roman Catholic Church
today is going through a second Reformation"
(Evening Bulletin, Philadelphia, May 24, 1966).
In July 1966, Graham held a crusade in London,
England. Before leaving London, Graham met with
the apostolic delegate from the Vatican
(Graham interview with Edward B. Fiske, New York
Times, July 17, 1966).
Billy and John Paul are pretty good friends,
here he is giving the pope a quilt as a gift.
In October 1966, Graham was honorary
chairman of the "World Congress on Evangelism"
in Berlin, Germany. The congress was funded by
the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Observers included representatives from the
Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of
Churches. Paulist priest John B. Sheerin,
special correspondent for the Religious News
Service and editor of the Catholic World, spoke
of Graham’s powers of compromise: "The delegates
had come from all over the world and from
disparate backgrounds and theologies which were
reflected in their diverse and dissonant
interpretations of the Bible. Only the Holy
Spirit, working through Billy Graham as the
human instrument, could have welded together so
quickly so many men of different creeds. The
spirit of Pope John hovered over the council.
Billy Graham was physically, palpably and
inescapably present at the Congress speaking
admirably and holding together forces that would
unquestionably have exploded in all directions
save for his presence." A month after the Berlin
Congress, the Toronto Daily Star of November 19,
1966, quoted a priest, William Manseau, one of
the Catholic observers at the Berlin World
Congress on Evangelism: "Father Manseau noted
approvingly that a Catholic publication in
England recently suggested that some day the
Catholic Church may canonize the Baptist
evangelist, making him ‘St. Billy’" (M.L.
Moser, Jr., Ecumenicalism Under the Spotlight).
In April, 1972, Billy Graham received the
International Franciscan Award in Minneapolis,
given by the Franciscan Friars for true
ecumenism. Before I quote what Billy Graham said
about Francis of Assissi, first let me say this
about St. Francis. He believed he was saved by
works, by helping the poor. This way, he
believed he was saving his soul. St. Francis was
canonized, which means he was made a saint by
the Roman Catholic Institution because of his
strong position on the doctrine of works.
Beloved, we know that this is unscriptural. Did
you know that St. Francis of Assissi blessed and
baptized animals and gave them Christian names?
Billy getting an honorary frock
at Belmont Roman Catholic College
Now, what did Billy Graham say about this
strange fellow? He said, "While I am not worthy
to touch the shoe laces of St. Francis, yet this
same Christ that called Francis in the 13th
century also called me to be one of His servants
in the 20th century."
When Billy Graham appeared on the Phil
Donahue Show of October 11, 1979, in
discussing Pope John Paul II's visit to the
United States of America, Billy Graham said, "I
think the American people are looking for a
leader, a moral and spiritual leader that
believes something. And he (meaning the pope)
does. He didn't mince words on a single subject.
As a matter of fact, his subject in Boston was
really an evangelistic address in which he asked
the people to come to Christ, to give their
lives to Christ. I said, 'Thank God I've got
somebody to quote now with some real
authority.*'" How tragic. A man who once used
the Bible as his authority is now putting the
pope up on a pedestal and looking to him.
Faith for the Family, Nov. 1982 The
Religious News Service reported on January
13,1981, "Pope John Paul II was closeted for
almost two hours with the Rev. Billy Graham, the
world's best-known Protestant evangelist."
"Following the New England Crusade, thousands of
those who came forward are now in the process of
being integrated into the Catholic church.
Meetings have taken place between the Graham
Association and Catholic clergy for the transfer
of these people to the Roman church. One such
meeting took place at Pope John XXIII Seminary
in Weston, Massachusetts, on the evening of June
9, 1982, when the names of 2100 inquirers were
given to priests and nuns."
The Star, June 26, 1979 Rome gives
nothing to anybody unless you pay it off. Could
it be that his final pay-off was to introduce
Pope John Paul II as the greatest moral leader
of the world? Which he did. Didn't he realize
when he did this he was giving the whore a cloak
of respectability? And all of Billy's followers,
the evangelicals and multitudes of others across
this land who listen to his every word, heard
this endorsement, and trusting Billy, turned and
gave their love to the communist from Poland
dressed in his papal robes, who claims to be the
representative of Christ on this earth. I can
picture the pope smiling to himself, flying back
victoriously to Rome. He knew that Billy had
been a good investment.
A Shoehorn For Elvis:
When anyone begins to accommodate all the people
of the world, open worldliness must follow. Even
so, it was shocking to read in the newspapers
that Graham expected to see Elvis Presley in
heaven. The San Francisco Chronicle for October
8, 1977, quoted an Associated Press dispatch
from Charlotte as follows: "Evangelist Billy
Graham says he thinks he will see Elvis Presley
in heaven and is `pretty sure' he will die
within the next tens years. `I never met him
(Presley) but I believe I will see him in heaven
because Elvis Presley was very deeply religious,
especially in the last two or three years,'
Graham said." Shoehorning Elvis into heaven
seems to be a rather tough assignment,
especially since it is predicated on being "very
deeply religious" instead of repenting of sin
and casting all on Jesus Christ.
Billy Graham A Star In
Hollywood:
|
|
A Pic of Billy Grahams name
engraved in the "Hollywood Walk of Fame"
on Hollywoods sidewalk.
"The Blazing Star (Pentagram) has been
regarded as an emblem of Omni-science,
or the All-Seeing Eye, which to the
Egyptian Initiates was the emblem of
Osiris, the Creator."
Quote from Freemason: Albert Pike
|
Hollywood has been the fountainhead of the
filthy motion picture industry. On October 14,
1989, our local paper, The News-Herald, carried
the following story: "The world's best-known
evangelist tomorrow will have his name and the
likeness of an old-fashioned radio microphone
engraved on the 1900th star along the Hollywood
Walk of Fame." Apparently, this dubious honor by
the most worldly of the world bothered Billy a
bit, for the story continues as follows: "`I'm
not sure a clergyman belongs in that group of
entertainers,' Graham said sheepishly, noting
that his star will be near those honoring Wayne
Newton, Buster Crabbe, John Travolta, Judy
Holliday, Julie Andrews, Olivia Newton-John and
Greta Garbo.
... `A star was offered to me 30 years ago,' he
said, `and I said, No then. But I've changed my
views.'" I do not know all the celebrities
mentioned in the above quote, but I do know that
they were stars of worldliness and not of
godliness. On first thought it would seem
surprising that the Hollywood crowd would want a
preacher's star in its crown. The newspaper went
on to quote on that: "`I doubt there is anyone
in Hollywood who has been seen, heard or enjoyed
by more people than Billy Graham,' said Johnny
Grant, Hollywood's honorary mayor and chairman
of the Walk of Fame Committee. Grant said that
the committee voted unanimously to give Graham
the honor after he was nominated last year by
friends who paid the $4,800 fee." This is the
way the accommodation game is played. I won't
protest your filth if you don't protest my star.
Billy Graham On Abortion:
on ABC's "Good Morning America" (GMA) (9/5/91),
Graham, when asked the Christian position on
abortion, said: "… there is a Christian
position, I think. But I'm not prepared to say
what it is." And, again two weeks later on GMA
(9/19/91), Graham said: "But there are occasions
when abortion is the only alternative" (although
he didn't say when it is okay to snuff out
innocent, unborn human life). (Reported in the
2/22/93 Christian News.)
We should not be surprised, then, to learn that
Graham also holds to Rome's false gospel of
baptismal regeneration! The following quote is
from an article written in October of 1961 after
Graham gave an interview to Lutheran clergyman
Wilfred Bockelman, who was then the associate
editor of The Lutheran Standard: (Emphasis
added.)
"I do believe that something happens at the
baptism of an infant, particularly if the
parents are Christians and teach their children
Christian truths from childhood. We cannot fully
understand the mysteries of God, but I believe a
miracle can happen in these children so that
they are regenerated, that is, made Christians
through infant baptism. If you want to call that
baptismal regeneration, that's all right with
me" (10/10/61 The Lutheran Standard).
Bockelman said, "One would assume that, as a
Baptist, Dr. Graham would be opposed to infant
baptism." Bockelman not only found this not to
be the case, but that Graham's wife, Ruth, and
all their children but the youngest, were
baptized as infants. (Reported in the Summer
1991 Dorea, pp. 9-10.)
- Never mind that the Catholic sacrament of the
Mass is the greatest attack ever on the finished
work of Christ (cf. Heb. 10:19-22), Graham
thinks the Mass is not only beautiful, but that
it is clear in the gospel!: "This past week I
preached in the great Catholic cathedral a
funeral sermon for a close friend of mine who
was a Catholic, and they had several Bishops and
Archbishops to participate. And as I sat there
going through the funeral Mass, that was a very
beautiful thing, and certainly straight and
clear in the gospel. There was a wonderful
little priest that would tell me when to stand
and when to kneel and what to do" (O Timothy,
Vol. 10, Issue 9, 1993, pp. 16-17).
Billy Graham On Bill And Hilary Clinton:
A 1993 article from the Houston Chronicle quoted
Billy Graham's favorable comments about left
wing liberal President(s) Bill & Hillary
Clinton:
"President Bill Clinton would make a great
evangelist, the Rev. Billy Graham told U.S. News
& World Report in a recent interview. … Graham
said he was impressed with Clinton's charisma
and 'with some of the things he believes. … From
a biblical point of view, we should be headed in
the direction of goodness and righteousness,
away from crime and immorality,' Graham said,
'and towards one's neighbors who are in need.
I'm encouraged by the emphasis President Clinton
and Hillary are putting on that.'" Like what?
Putting homosexuals in the military or helping
to abort your neighbor's baby? Or perhaps
Clinton's enthusiasm towards the New World
Order? That Graham should have any kind words at
all for a couple who represent the antithesis of
biblical "goodness," "righteousness," and
"morality" is bad enough, but for Graham to
think that the Clintons are emphasizing these
virtues exhibits a heretofore unprecedented
level of ignorance and/or self-deceit on
Graham's part. Graham attended a recent prayer
breakfast in which Clinton participated. Senator
Kerry read Jn. 3:1-21 (skipping verse 16) and
said Christ was speaking of "spiritual renewal"
and that "in the spirit of Christ … Hindu,
Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Christian" were meeting
and "there is renewal … with a new President and
Vice President. …" Billy Graham added, "I do not
know a time when we had a more spiritual time
than we've had today."
Billy Graham On An Afterlife:
``Somebody once asked me, ... `Will there be
golf courses in heaven?'
I said, `If they're necessary for our happiness,
they'll be there.' '' -- 1994
interview with Life magazine.
Billy Graham's Use Of Rock Groups:
Dr. Billy Graham uses rock groups to draw crowds
for his crusades (see 6/1 & 8/1 CCs). Dr. Gordon
Sears writes (8/24 letter): "I was sent a copy
of Billy Graham's paper this week. He made the
statement: 'The message--the Gospel of Jesus
Christ--is timeless, but the packaging for the
message needs to change according to the
culture'. This was in reference to the use of
rock groups, etc. Isn't it strange that for
years, missionaries have said that the Gospel
lifts the cultures of paganism up and changes
lives, but now the opposite is taking place?"
Billy Graham Believes Pets
Will Go To Heaven:
Author Richard O'Connor says famed evangelist
Billy Graham agrees with him that pets go to
heaven.
"When asked if animals go to heaven, Graham
replied, `I think God will have prepared
everything for our perfect happiness' in heaven.
If it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll
be there.' If Billy Graham believes our pets go
to heaven, that's good enough for me."
Pets aren't "just animals," said O'Connor,
author of "In Memory of a Special Dog" and "In
Memory of a Special Cat." "And anyone who thinks
they are has never owned an animal. Many pet
owners are absolutely devastated when their pet
dies. People really need to know that their pets
survive death -- and they do. Their pets go to
heaven and they will see them again."
The idea that an animal's spirit survives beyond
death isn't new. Egyptians worshiped cats as
gods and their bodies were mummified for the
afterlife. O'Connor says Francis of Assisi
believed pets survive death and are rewarded by
God.
Illustrious writer and veterinarian James
Herriot of "All Creatures Great and Small" fame
also believed pets go to heaven. Once, an
elderly woman admitted she was afraid she'd
never see her dogs and cats again. "I'm
absolutely certain of one thing. Wherever you
are going, they are going too," he told her.
(National Enquirer, 10-16-1998, www)
Dick could be fibbing, but if Billy actually
said pets go to Heaven when they die he is
either senile or he said it to make people feel
good. Either way he needs to shut his mouth. If
he is senile he has no business speaking and if
he says idiotic things like this he needs to
shut up. He is doing exactly what YAHWEH said
preachers would do in the apostasy of the last
days -- tickle the ears of backslidden believers
(2 Tim. 4.3,4).
It must be remembered that Billy Graham did not
become a superstar televangelist because he was
blessed by YAHWEH. He became a superstar because
he was blessed by the devil. When Billy started
holding his tent revival meetings in Los Angeles
just after World War II he received help from
Randolph Hearst. Hearst told his editors to
"puff Graham" which meant to give him favorable
coverage. He made Graham a superstar through his
newspapers. Soon other powerful men backed
Graham and Billy preached what the backsliders
and apostates wanted to hear. He told them that
the Roman Catholic Church was a true church and
that Catholics who got saved at his rallies
should go back to their churches. He preached
ecumenicalism hard and heavy and had men from
numerous denominations and religions on stage
with him. He became a powerful force in the
satanic ecumenical movement.
Graham Revisits Florida Roots
The Rev. Billy Graham slipped into the North
Florida town of Palatka on Sunday - where he was
baptized and ordained more than 60 years ago -
to see a new mural of himself and meet with
friends.
About two dozen people came by City Barber Shop
to visit the ailing 82-year-old evangelist, who
is being treated as an outpatient at the Mayo
Clinic in Jacksonville.
Graham was baptized in nearby Silver Lake in
1938 and ordained at Palatka's Peniel Baptist
Church the next year. "I won't tell you what's
wrong with me because I'm not sure I know
myself," he told the crowd, adding that he is
getting better a little at a time." Graham has
Parkinson's disease.
Rev. Billy Graham identifies with the
Southern Baptist Convention.
The Tampa Tribune
Billy Graham is now semi-retired and has been
succeeded by his son, Franklin Graham
(author of Rebel with a Cause.)
