Luis Palau in a Catholic Town
Luis Palau is a very famous Latin American evangelist known for his gigantic meetings around the world (25 million have heard him speak in "live" events).
These days Palau is doing "festival evangelism" which combines a weekend of national contemporary Christian music groups, motorcross, professional skate boarders with food and Palau's preaching.
Anyway, the Heartland Festival in Omaha this summer will have a new wrinkle: official participation from the Archdiocese of Omaha.
So far, 11 parishes have signed up to participate. I enjoyed these rather militant comments from Fr. Lewis, vice chancellor of the diocese:
"We want strong, active, motivated Catholics who are very secure in their faith down at that festival doing evangelization and speaking articulately about the faith," Father Lewis said. "I would say the archbishop is very pleased with the response from the Catholic community and he continues to see it as a real opportunity to bring back the lost, those who have fallen away and those who've never really heard the message to begin with."
For the first time at a Palau festival, all participants will fill out a card indicating their religious denomination. The cards on which a person states he or she is Catholic or once was Catholic will be given to representatives from Catholic parishes who will follow up after the festival, Father Lewis said.
The archdiocese will have a large tent on the grounds where Catholic literature and items will be available and where priests will hear confessions all day long, he said.
"Initially there was so much fear about whether we were making a terrible mistake by getting involved, but I think it's quite the opposite," Father Lewis said. "I've been overwhelmed by how strong the Catholic response has been. It's certainly going to be a Luis Palau festival unlike anything he's ever experienced before and he's taking a risk by coming into this Catholic town and inviting the Catholics in."
The exact nature of the risk is unclear. A number of strongly conservative Protestant groups are already complaining that Palau has sold out by collaborating with Catholics but I don't think that that is the risk to which Fr. Lewis was referring.
posted by Sherry W @ 10:31 PM
10 Comments
10 Comments:
While a Protestant Evangelical, I participated (doing decision counseling or singing in the choir) at crusades by Franklin Graham, Billy Graham, and Luis Palau. I think it's a good thing that this diocese is participating, and not "dumbing down" their Catholicism. The fact is, many of those who attend such a crusade will be Catholic, and many who commit or re-commit their lives to Christ in some way will have been baptized in the Church. Better this than having them end up referred to a Protestant church simply because no Catholic parishes participated. I like the fact that the participation is official, not just kind of under the radar, and that they have a priest at events for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
I've been to several festivals where Luis Palau has spoken--most notably Creation West, a 5 day festival at the Gorge in George, Washington. He is a bit of an "old school" evangelizer. His style is quite different than that of other younger speakers.
The interesting thing is that he bangs pretty hard on the "not saved through rituals" drum, and I can tell you from the reaction of many catholics I know that the "simplicity" of that type of gospel presentation (as incomplete as it may be) is highly effective in drawing people away from the Catholic Church.
Ithink it is important for the Diocese to not only have Catholics who are strong in their faith present, but they should be effective in communicating that faith and experienced in evangelical culture. Having spent much time among evangelicals (mostly at festivals), I can tell you that my first few experiences I definitely felt like a stranger in a strange land.
Now, I have a lot of fun going to festivals and wearing some explicitly catholic gear. I'm a big fan of wearing a shirt that says Papist in bold letters. :)
It's a great conversation starter!
Since Palau is Argentinian and of an older generation, he no doubt drank deeply of the anti-Catholic feelings common among Protestant Latins. So it is interesting that he is formally cooperating in this way.
He, no doubt, is hoping to influence us and the Catholics, no doubt, are hoping to influence no only their own but searching Protestants who attend and can access that big tent with the Catholic literature as well.
If we were routinely sharing the kerygma with our own people, we wouldn't have to worry so much about the Palau's of the world - but since we don't, we need to be where the Protestant version of the kerygma is going to be preached to Catholics and make sure they encounter Christ in the context of his body, the Church.
Wow - three "no doubts" in a row! I must re-read my comments more closely before publishing!
Sherry,
No doubt!
Sherry,
All punning aside, I agree with you. I am encouraged by the decision of the Diocese to do this. I just hope that they prepare those Catholics who will be in attendance as evangelizers.
It is not always an easy thing to dialogue with and among a community whose theological and cultural experience of Church can be so radically different--as I'm sure you are ver much aware having encountered that experience in the opposite direction.
Oh, and I think the risk Fr. Lewis is referring to is the effect that motivated catholics actively evangelizing their "own" and those who are seeking will have on this largely protestat event.
I almost want to go!
Keith:
It would be great for you to go! think of the stories you'd have to tell at Making Disciples!
Sherry,
It would be awesome! But I'm so busy preparing for MD and the Catechist retreat that I'm giving two days later that I don't have the time. Y'all are keeping me busy.
Not proclaiming the kerygma? Do you sleep through Mass?
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