There are all kinds of ecumenical relationships, projects and partnerships among Catholics and Evangelicals in America. The friendship and partnership in Orange County, California between Bishop Kevin Vann and famed pastor Rick Warren is an example. The two men pray for and with each other, they share their struggles, their ministry and have become partners in social projects both locally and nationally.
Rick Warren attended the installation of Bishop Kevin Vann over the Orange Catholic Diocese. Soon after, they were together on a radio program. Warren said he was “deeply moved” by the bishop’s words at his installation and admired him. They quickly became friends.
The bishop quoted from one of the books written by Warren’s wife in one of his sermons on Mary, whom Catholics venerate. This “sealed our friendship!” says Warren.
Their friendship grew by talking about their ministries, studies and by praying together. They send texts to each other with prayer requests. The staff from their churches got to know each other through various joint meetings.
When Warren’s son committed suicide, Vann let Warren know he was praying for him. Similarly, when Vann’s father died, Warren let Vann know he was praying for him. “Sharing pain and grief brought us closer,” said Warren.
Then one day Vann called Warren and said, “Rick, what can we do together for mental health?” That started a series of brainstorming meetings between their two staffs on what they might do. Eventually they partnered in a two symposia on mental illness. The collaboration brought evangelicals and Catholics together in Orange County. They also worked together on pro-life projects, immigrant projects and opposing physician assisted suicide in California. They have also partnered on a nationwide conference about the church’s response to racism.
“Our friendship began with heart-to-heart praying together,” says Warren, “but then it grew into working hand-in-hand together on projects where Christians can offer a compassionate response to those in need, and also stand together with clear and united voice in opposing evil.”
The ecumenical movement has matured to the point where partnerships and collaboration between evangelicals and Catholics at the local level on good projects with useful benefits for society is possible. However, most evangelicals have no understanding of the destination of these relationships. The Catholic Church has effectively muted the Protestant protest through social cooperation, and now they see each other as partners in social activism and even political solutions. They both promote Sunday observance, and oppose the seventh-day Sabbath. As they unite together, they will eventually exalt Sunday and mistreat Sabbath keepers. The ecumenical movement is a key step toward Sunday laws. In other words, though it is not currently being agitated, the real purpose behind ecumenical collaboration is to eventually exalt Sunday observance.
“These records of the past clearly reveal the enmity of Rome toward the true Sabbath and its defenders, and the means which she employs to honor the institution of her creating. The word of God teaches that these scenes are to be repeated as Roman Catholics and Protestants shall unite for the exaltation of the Sunday.”
The Great Controversy, page 578.
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