Promise Keepers, Catholics & Mormons....Together



Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT) is a document signed by a number 

of well-known Evangelicals and Roman Catholics.  Contained within the 

document, which attempts to bring ecumenical unity, are some seriously 

compromising agreements regarding proselytizing and doctrinal distinctions.

Having read the ECT document, we wondered about Promise Keepers with 

respect to Roman Catholicism.  We had heard many rumors about the 

involvement of Catholics in the Promise Keepers and particularly the 

impression Catholics might have about the organization.



Assuming that the Pope would not return a phone call, we did the next best 

thing.  We called Cardinal Roger Mahoney at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.  

We explained that we were interested in the Cardinal's position on the 

Promise Keepers.



We were told to contact Father Alfred Burnham, who is the Director of the 

Ecumenical Office of the Archdiocese.  The call to Father Burnham revealed 

some startling information.  We asked if any of his remarks were published. 

He said the same information was available in the March 31 edition of  The 

Tidings, which is "the Archdiocese paper."  We obtained that issue of The 

Tidings and read the article titled " 'Promise Keepers' Promises Spiritual 

Renewal for Men."  The article describes Promise Keepers this way:



"Promise Keepers is a basic program of evangelization for men of faith, 

begun among more fundamentalist and evangelical Christian communities, but 

now being expanded to include Catholic congregations."



The article reveals that Father Christian Van Liefde, pastor of St. Hillary 

Church in Pico Rivera, "at the urging of Cardinal Roger Mahony, has studied 

the feasibility and appropriateness of utilizing Promise Keepers at the 

Catholic parish level.  The article goes on to state:



"While noting the evangelical roots of the program, Father Van Liefde says 

there is no "doctrinal issue which should cause concern to the Catholic 

Church."



"Promise Keepers places a very strong emphasis on returning to your own 

church congregation or parish and becoming and active layman," Father Van 

Liefde points out. "There is no attempt at proselytizing or drawing men 

away from their faith to another church."



In a phone interview with Father Van Liefde, we asked about the possibility 

of proselytizing?  He said the Promise Keepers representatives told him 

that there would be no proselytizing. "rather just the opposite."  He 

mentioned promise number 5: "A Promise Keeper is committed to supporting 

the mission of the church by honoring and praying for his pastor, and by 

actively giving his time and resources."  Van Liefde confirmed that 

proselytizing was discussed with the Promise Keepers representatives, who 

referred to promise 5 as proof that none would occur and that men would be 

sent back to their own churches.



The article further indicates that there have been Promise Keepers seminars 

at the local parish level.  One of the seminars was described as having 

"presentations by local priests."  After describing the national growth of 

the Promise Keepers, the article reports:



"Father Van Liefde, however, is optimistic that Promise Keepers can grow at 

the parish level as well--and without adversely impacting existing parish 

programs or finances.  'Rather, the opposite is true,' he asserts. "One of 

the primary promises of the program is to return to one's local church and 

become a force for good in the local community.  Another is the commitment 

to financial support of one's local church.  The men are challenged to give 

generously of their time, treasure and talent to their local church."

Father Van Liefde envisions regular gatherings of small groups of men, 

perhaps in the parish hall, on a parish or joint parish basis.  Such 

gatherings would follow a large-scale event like the upcoming Coliseum 

weekend. At the end of the article is a detailed announcement and 

encouragement for Catholic men to attend the Promise Keepers Conference at 

the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on May 5 and 6.



There you have it.  Promise Keepers and Catholics together.  One of our 

concerns about the Promise Keepers movement is its Ecumenicalism.  The 

above is just one example of that.



How about another example?  What about the involvement of the Church of 

Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons)?  By calling Salt Lake City and 

several temples, wards, and stakes of the Mormon church, we found that 

while there is no official position on the Promise Keepers, many Mormon men 

have participated in the past and will do so at the Wake Up Calls and 

regional meetings this year. We heard much agreement from Mormon leaders 

with the seven promises of the Promise Keepers.  These Mormon leaders 

praised the movement and commented on how attendance "has been a life 

changing experience for some of the Mormon men."



John Dart reports in a Los Angeles times article (5/6/95, page B5):



"Yet, because of Promise Keepers' interdenominational approach, attorney 

Chip Rawlings and fellow Mormon leaders of the Palos Verdes Stake, or group 

of congregations, are urging members of the Latter-day Saints to 

participate in the movement."  "The movement's 'Seven Promises' are like 

something straight out of the men's priesthood manual for the church," 

Rawlings said.



And, yet another example comes from a Council Bluffs, Iowa newspaper 

article indicating that a Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day 

Saints (RLDS) was participating with the Promise Keepers.  The article 

mentioned that the Promise Keepers had given a presentation to the RLDS 

men.  We called their central office in Independence, Missouri and learned 

that RLDS had no official position on the Promise Keepers. We then called 

Joe Hanna, the Iowa State RLDS president.  Hanna said that the RLDS church 

in Council Bluffs was "very high" on the Promise Keepers and "would no 

doubt be going with it."  He also said that he had no problems with Promise 

Keepers.  We then called Bob Watkins, who pastors the RLDS church in 

Council Bluffs.  He said that he was very supportive of the Promise Keepers 

and that he had "no problem with it at all."  Watkins said, "it's a 

wonderful program. The men at my church will be participating."



In addition to Promise Keepers and Catholics together, we now have Promise 

Keepers, Catholics and Mormons together.  In summary, Promise Keepers are 

committed to no doctrinal violations, no proselytizing, and men will be 

sent back to their churches, parishes, and wards (Mormon units).  This 

seems to be an Ecumenicalism of proportions never experienced since the 

Reformation.  There have been single issues, such as abortion, pornography, 

and prohibition, that have drawn a spectrum of churches together, but none 

have reached the popularity and Ecumenicalism of the Promise Keepers. 



We have received reports from other countries indicating that they are 

beginning to have Promise Keepers meetings as well.  Where will it end?  

Will Promise Keepers attain their goal of 75,000 clergy in Atlanta, GA, and 

one million men in Washington, DC, in 1997?  And then What?  And then 

where? Is this, as some have proclaimed, the greatest movement of God since 

the day of Pentecost?  Or, is this part of the last days deception 

signaling the Lord's return?

---------------------------



The above article was adapted from PsychoHeresy Awareness Letter, Vol.3, 

May-June, 1995.



PROMISE KEEPERS WARNING PACKAGE

Promise Keepers is a burgeoning force in American Christianity.  With the 

goal of  "Point Men" in every church, one cannot ignore its influence.  

Beneath the emotional hype, camaraderie, enthusiastic speakers, songs, and 

cheers, Promise Keepers champions a psycho-spiritual, ecumenical and 

political agenda.



This Promise Keepers Warning Package, revealing PK's Ecumenicalism and 

psychoheresy, includes:  "Promise Keepers and the Rising Tide of 

Ecumenicalism" (2 Audio tapes) by Pastor Gil Rugh; Promise Keepers & 

PsychoHeresy (44pp booklet) by Martin & Deidre Bobgan; "Promise Keepers: Is 

What You See What You Get?"  Media Spotlight Special Report by Al Dager; 

and "Promise Keepers: 'Encountering' Guys at Risk" (article) by Sarah 

Leslie. 



To order, send $10 to:

PsychoHeresy Awareness Ministries

Dept. C

4137 Primavera Road

Santa Barbara, CA  93110



Permission Granted to John Beardsley  76531,3355 to place on CompuServe.





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