Posted on 10/27/2004 6:03:41 PM PDT by Land of the Irish
Nicky Gumbel joins Romano Prodi, the Queen of Belgium and 55 Catholic bishops at conference in Stuttgart
August 2004
Alpha Speaker Nicky Gumbel spoke about the impact of the Alpha course to 10,000 people attending a major interdenominational conference held in Stuttgart, Germany, in May.
Other speakers at the 'Together For Europe' event, which was watched live via satellite by around 100,000 people attending linked events in other European cities, included Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, and Cardinal Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity.
Among those present were 55 Catholic bishops and cardinals, as well as Queen Fabiola of Belgium and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Messages from the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury were read out to the delegates.
Nicky Gumbel told the assembly about the growth of Alpha across the denominations and about its impact in prisons and universities – and particularly among young people. He showed the graph detailing the ages of guests on Holy Trinity Brompton’s Alpha courses.
He spoke of the unity of the churches around Jesus and concluded by emphasising his desire ‘to work in partnership to see the re-evangelisation of Europe and the transformation of our society.’
Kitty Arbuthnott, who heads up Alpha for Catholics, was invited to read the closing declaration at the end of the event, pledging the churches of Europe to ‘work together with all men and women of goodwill so that Europe may be a place of love and fraternity...’
At the end, Queen Fabiola was invited to the stage to lead everyone in the Lord’s Prayer.
It's low key, friendly and fun. And it's supported by all the main Christian denominations.
Ping
That, right there, tells you it's unfit for Catholics.
Alpha is helping Catholics respond practically to the challenge of the New Evangelisation.
"I sense the moment has come to commit all of the Church's energies to a New Evangelisation."
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
It's a new religion, why not focus on a new Evangelisation - a kindler, gentler evangelization.
Actually some Catholic parishes do offer it. It is not difficult to modify the denominationally sensitive parts. Heck, I'm Protestant and we modified it too.
"The natives here are given to pagan practices of the most wild and horrible kind and are as difficult to convert to the faith as any indigenous population the Church has ever encountered . . . and I'm just referring to the chancery staff. "
~Richard Freeman, Catholic Tradition and Action League
Most of the more orthodox/conservative evangelical Christians also shun Alpha. For example,
http://www.banner.org.uk/misc/alpha.html
The only ones that I can think of as Alpha promoters are usually termed as feel-good "Neo-evangelical" churches or "moderately conservative" mainline Protetant" churches. Many are still Bible-believing to be sure, but to me many are also starting on the slippery slope of liberalism and apostasy.
I hope you won't hold their participation in this event against Queen Fabiola and Grand Duke Henri. Since the post-Vatican II ecumenical orientation comes from the very top, one can hardly expect all laity to resist it, especially royals who the modern world effectively prohibits from getting involved in controversy.
It is clear to me that Novus Ordo Catholicism, with its veneration of Democracy, Progress, and Equality, is the natural enemy of even constitutional monarchy, but not everyone sees it that way. It certainly creates confusion when the same Pope who praises "Liberty, Equality, & Fraternity" during a visit to France also beatifies Austria's Emperor Karl I (one of the best things he's ever done, IMHO).
An honorable exception to Catholic royalty's adherence to the Novus Ordo is Prince Sixte Henri of Bourbon-Parma, who I believe was present at the 1988 SSPX consecrations. But his family has been out of power since 1860, so he is free to do what he likes. I'm sure that if Rome returns to Tradition, the other Catholic royals will follow.
I pray that this happens.
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