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Date:         Wed, 6 Jan 1993 18:22:00 PST
From:         Jim McIntosh <Jim@AMERICAN.EDU>
Subject:      Re: EWTN

On Wed, 6 Jan 1993 14:20:24 CST CCCAMPER%MIZZOU1.BITNET@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
said:
>You know, what amazes me is that it is so easy for many to believe
>that Satan is actively working causing apparitions all around the world all
>the time to lead us to doom....yet it is so *difficult* to believe that God
>may be exercising His power to save us. An interesting approach thought.
>Perhaps we believe more in the power and evil of Satan than in the power and
>goodness of God? Or perhaps we have not thought much about Satan and can
>believe him capable of anything, yet we have thought much of God and in our
>minds have defined how we think He should speak and act.

Well, I don't know who is causing the apparitions, if they are caused, but I
am leery of them.  For one thing, they seem to be very inwardly centered,
much as the Church was in times past, rather than directed out to the world.
The message seems to be fast and pray, and encourage others to do the same.
While I have no problems with conversion (a continual conversion is a very
necessary part of our religion), unless one is called to a life of
contemplation they should by necessity be spending part of their time in the
world... working to bring about the Kingdom of God.

My second problem is the lack of a Christ or Gospel focus.  We have an
incredible gift, one we celebrated yet again less than two weeks ago... the
gift of the Son of God. We have his words and his teachings. We have his
instructions on how we are to live our lives, and how we are to treat others.
Instead of hearing about Matthew 5-7, however, I hear "pray the rosary" and
"fast" from these various groups of children with their secrets.

This is the third problem I have with these events, the gnostic quality. "We
have the secrets of God. If you accept us we might let you in on God's
secrets."  This seems very unchristian to me. Jesus was always open with his
teachings. The message of the Gospel should be proclaimed to the nations, not
treated like hidden treasures.

>According to Fatima, and Medjugorje, if we do not do these things
>then many nations will be annihilated, and many children that God
>dearly loves will be lost forever. The chastisements will be much
>worse. This is why some people care very much whether others not
>only hear the message, but are moved to *live* it. It affects us all.

Why is it we humans have to be threatened with punishmment in order to
want to do good?  Why is it that so many of these visions have, as one of
their basic messages, predictions about an impending and terrible end-time?
How has Christianity, one of the greatest gifts of God's love, fallen to
this? Hidden secrets and private piety. What would Jesus say about how we
treated his message?

On the other hand, I do truely feel that whatever brings you closer to God
should be celebrated. I welcome the visions if they bring you closer to God.
I know people who I respect deeply who are convinced that the visions and the
message are true. I don't want you to think that I'm criticizing you,
Elizabeth, only expressing my own discomfort with uncritical acceptance of
what, perhaps, are only the wild imaginings of some mischievous children.

Jim McIntosh, SFO (jim@american.edu)
The American University
Washington, DC USA 20016-8019
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU