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<DIV class=""><A href="">Adventists Visit the Pope. . . for Other
Reasons</A></DIV></H2>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em">via <A class=f href="">Seventh-day Adventist
to Roman Catholic</A> by Hugo on 3/28/08</DIV><BR style="DISPLAY: none">With
mere weeks left until Pope Benedict XVI steps foot on American soil, I expect a
few zealous Adventists will join the crowds to pass out polemical literature.
Typically, independent Adventist ministries (not all of positive repute within
the mainstream church) lead the charge. <BR><BR>Adventist Today catalogued <A
href="">the activities of many Adventists</A> in preparation for the 1993 Denver
World Youth Day.<BR><BR>During John Paul II's 1999 visit to St. Louis, 40
volunteers for Danny Vierra's Modern Manna Ministries passed out 75,000 copies
of what they publicly and deceptively advertised as a "kosher Mary book" with an
inviting cover of a young girl kissing a statue of the Virgin Mary (an hour-long
"testimony"<A href="">is available here</A>). The Catholic League <A
href="">described the book</A> in a 1998 report.<BR><BR>In July 2002, several
Adventist ministries (Hartland, Hope International, etc.) converged on Toronto
to distribute another booklet entitled, "Beware of Protestant Teachings."
Despite a title reminiscent of Catholic apologist tracts, it actually attacked
doctrines shared by Catholics. I remember seeing an advance copy of the booklet,
and being deeply disturbed by it. Its deceptive packaging seemed to contradict
the standards exalted in the writings of Ellen White:<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE>False speaking in any matter, every attempt or purpose to deceive
our neighbor, is [condemned in the ten commandments]. An intention to deceive
is what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand,
an expression of the countenance, a falsehood may be told as effectually as by
words. All intentional overstatement, every hint or insinuation calculated to
convey an erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the statement of facts in
such a manner as to mislead, is falsehood. (PP 309)</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
<P>This statement is a terrible indictment of the tracts passed out by
Adventists in 1999 and 2002. Still, in spite of my reservations, I almost
participated in this mission as a young, faithful Adventist. At the time, I was
assisting an evangelistic seminar in New York City. I yearned to go to Canada
with many friends of mine, but ultimately found the trip logistically
unfeasible. I was disappointed, recognizing what a great opportunity World Youth
Day presented to share "the three angels' messages."<BR><BR>Catholics should be
ready for these Adventist initiatives where and when they will arise. I was
heartened to see Catholic Answers <A href="">preparing</A> for such attacks;
hopefully, the Catholic readers on this blog will do their part as well to
defend the Catholic Church.</P></DIV></BODY></HTML>