Illinois Bishops Urge Institutions to Drop "Left
Behind" Items
Cite Anti-Catholic Message and Bad Theology
CHICAGO, JUNE 24, 2003 (Zenit.org) <http://www.zenit.org>.-
The bishops of Illinois are warning Catholic institutions to remove "Left
Behind" books and videos from their shelves, citing the series'
anti-Catholicism and faulty end-times theology.
In a statement, the Catholic Conference of Illinois says the series published by
Wheaton, Illinois-based Tyndale House Press espouses "a fundamental
theology of the end times in conflict with Catholic teachings."
Moreover, the series of novels, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, has taken on an
anti-Catholic slant.
"In later books in the series," the bishops' statement said, "the
new Pope is depicted as instrumental in establishing a relativistic world
religion encouraged by the Antichrist and operated from New Babylon (formerly
Rome). The Left Behind series is anti-Catholic in content and form, consistent
with Mr. LaHaye's other writings, in which he associates the Church with
'Babylonian mysticism.'"
The "Left Behind" series, which is growing in popularity in Protestant
as well as Catholic communities, tells of a coming "Rapture," a
fast-approaching secret and silent disappearance of Christians from the earth
prior to a time of tribulation (see June 13 interview in ZENIT, at www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=37173
<http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=37173>).
The Illinois bishops caution, however, "This belief is not supported in
Scripture."
"The scenario in Left Behind, of a 'tribulation force' of born-again former
sinners who attempt personally to derail the progress of the Antichrist, is
broadly classifiable as pre-millenarianism," the statement said. "The
pseudo-historical backdrop for the story ties apocalyptic scripture to specific
events in history, an error known as pre-millennial dispensationalism."
It continued: "While many adult Catholics are secure enough in their faith
to avoid being proselytized by such works, or by the direct preaching of
fundamentalists, the real danger of Left Behind is its attractiveness as a story
of good people in a heroic battle against ultimate evil. Readers lacking a full
understanding of Catholic scriptural teaching about the end times in many cases
have internalized this fictional post-rapture time of tribulation when sinners
are left to battle the Antichrist, because it sounds familiar and 'biblical.'
...
"We, the Catholic Bishops of Illinois, call upon those responsible for
faith formation to provide planned, coherent, and informed catechesis to all age
groups about Church teachings on the end of the world, based on scripture and
tradition. We also call upon Catholic institutions -- libraries, bookstores,
schools, and parishes -- to remove any Left Behind books and videos from their
shelves, to prohibit the sale of these materials in Catholic venues, and to
provide the faithful with information that these materials are, in fact, a
marketing tool for fundamentalist preaching about the end times and a thinly
disguised polemic against the Catholic Church."
ZE03062422
Illinois Bishops' Statement on "Left Behind" Books and Videos
"Theology of the End Times in Conflict With Catholic Teachings"
CHICAGO, JUNE 24, 2003 (Zenit.org) <http://www.zenit.org>.-
The Catholic Conference of Illinois is taking on the Rapture.
The Rapture, according to many fundamentalist and evangelical Protestants, is
the fast-approaching secret and silent disappearance of Christians from the
earth before a time of tribulation. The notion has soared in popularity with the
"Left Behind" novels, which have sold tens of millions of copies.
Recently the Catholic conference issued this statement on the phenomenon.
* * *
Statement on Left Behind Books and Videos
When Jesus told us to be alert and ready for his return, he also warned there
would be false prophets. One of the most attractively marketed recent false
"prophets" has been the Left Behind series, published by Tyndale House
Press in Wheaton, Illinois. Since 1995, the series by Mr. Tim LaHaye and Mr.
Jerry B. Jenkins has been a tool for active promotion of a fundamentalist
theology of the end times in conflict with Catholic teachings. More than that,
the series has been a vehicle for anti-Catholic sentiments by the way Catholics
are characterized and treated in the plot line.
Promoted nationally in grocery checkout aisles, discount outlets and bookstores,
over the Internet and even through book sale fundraisers in Catholic schools,
these novels are now in the tenth installment of the adult series and the
twenty-fourth volume of the children's version. There are also two videos,
(produced by Cloud Ten Productions) a board game, and other marketed items.
These materials, about fictionalized end-times, popularize a common
fundamentalist belief in a time of tribulation after the "rapture"
(when the "good people" are secretly taken up overnight to Heaven) and
before the Second Coming of Christ. This belief is not supported in Scripture.
Responding to similar fundamentalist agendas back in 1937, Pius XI, in "Divini
Redemptoris <http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_19031937_divini-redemptoris_en.html>"
said any such speculations about a period when a remnant of the Church
progresses towards its own ultimate victory might of themselves be a sign of the
Antichrist:
The Antichrist's deception already begins to take shape in the world every time
the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only
be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment. The Church
rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under
the name of millenarianism ...
The Catechism of the Catholic Church continues:
The kingdom will be fulfilled then, not by a historic triumph of the church
through a progressive ascendancy, but only in God's victory over the final
unleashing of evil ... (676-677)
The scenario in Left Behind, of a "tribulation force" of born-again
former sinners who attempt personally to derail the progress of the Anti-Christ,
is broadly classifiable as pre-millenarianism. The pseudo-historical backdrop
for the story ties apocalyptic scripture to specific events in history, an error
known as pre-millennial dispensationalism. In later books in the series, the new
Pope is depicted as instrumental in establishing a relativistic world religion
encouraged by the AntiChrist and operated from New Babylon (formerly Rome). The
Left Behind series is anti-Catholic in content and form, consistent with Mr.
LaHaye's other writings, in which he associates the Church with "Babylonian
mysticism."
Tyndale House, and by association Cloud Ten Productions, have made clear in
their marketing that they feel divinely inspired to promote their theological
agenda among the most vulnerable. A recent promotional mailer, created by the
Christian Film and Television Commission for their second Left Behind video,
claims: "God is using the "Left Behind" films, as He has used the
books, to reach out and touch the lives of people who won't go to church, but in
their hearts are looking for the answers to life's questions." If there are
any doubts that the aim of the Left Behind series is as much to promote a
fundamentalist agenda as to make money, these marketing techniques should put
them to rest.
Attractively packaged proselytization
While many adult Catholics are secure enough in their faith to avoid being
proselytized by such works, or by the direct preaching of fundamentalists, the
real danger of Left Behind is its attractiveness as a story of good people in a
heroic battle against ultimate evil. Readers lacking a full understanding of
Catholic scriptural teaching about the end times in many cases have internalized
this fictional post-rapture time of tribulation when sinners are left to battle
the Anti-Christ, because it sounds familiar and "biblical."
Overall, these books reinforce an unhealthy and immature belief in a harshly
judgmental God whose mercy we earn by good behavior. In response to reading
them, Catholic catechists have been observed confusing and even frightening
children in religious education programs by teaching the "rapture" as
if it were an article of Catholic faith. There is also real danger that
Catholics persuaded by this agenda may judge other people on spiritual fitness
for the "rapture."
A call for better catechesis about the end times
We, the Catholic Bishops of Illinois, call upon those responsible for faith
formation to provide planned, coherent, and informed catechesis to all age
groups about Church teachings on the end of the world, based on scripture and
tradition. We also call upon Catholic institutions -- libraries, bookstores,
schools, and parishes -- to remove any Left Behind books and videos from their
shelves, to prohibit the sale of these materials in Catholic venues, and to
provide the faithful with information that these materials are, in fact, a
marketing tool for fundamentalist preaching about the end times and a thinly
disguised polemic against the Catholic Church.
Any persons interested in obtaining a more faithful reading list, on this
subject or any other aspect of Catholic teaching, should contact their Diocesan
Office of Religious Education for guidance.