[Apologetics] Adventists Visit the Pope. . . for Other Reasons

[Stephen Korsman]

Adventists Visit the Pope. . . for Other Reasons
via Seventh-day Adventist to Roman Catholic by Hugo on 3/28/08

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. 

Adventist Today catalogued the activities of many Adventists in preparation for the 1993 Denver World Youth Day.

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"is available here). The Catholic League described the book in a 1998 report.

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:


  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)


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."

Catholics should be ready for these Adventist initiatives where and when they will arise. I was heartened to see Catholic Answers preparing for such attacks; hopefully, the Catholic readers on this blog will do their part as well to defend the Catholic Church.
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