Michael Brooks
Despite early suspicions and apprehension towards Catholicism, Billy Graham developed amicable ties with many American Catholic Church figures, including St. John Paul II, with whom he shared an affinity that dated back to before the latter's papacy. Graham encouraged unity between Catholics and Protestants, inviting local Catholic bishops to participate in his crusades and directing Catholics who came forward at his altar calls to return to their Catholic churches. This approach was criticised by some fellow Protestant pastors, who saw Graham as succumbing to Universalism. However, Graham's ecumenical efforts were recognised and praised by the Catholic hierarchy, and he was warmly eulogised by Roman Catholic leaders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Relationship with the Catholic Church | Fascinating |
| Affinity with John Paul II | John Paul II was a man of "real authority" |
| Approach to preaching | If someone came forward to accept Christ at a rally, he wanted them to plug back into whatever local Christian community they were already connected to |
| Critics' view of his approach | Some fundamentalist Christian critics saw Graham as succumbing to Universalism |
| His view of himself | Christian essentialist |
| Shaped American Catholicism | Yes |
| Encouraged unity between Catholics and Protestants | Yes |
| Appreciation from Catholics | Yes |
| Appreciation from mainline Protestant denominations | Yes |
| Honorary degree from Belmont Abbey College | First Protestant to receive it in 1967 |
| Awards | Presidential Medal of Freedom, Big Brother of the Year Award, Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion, Sylvanus Thayer Award |
| Critics | Some critics believe he shaped nothing but his own bank account |
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What You'll Learn
Billy Graham's relationship with the Catholic Church
Billy Graham had a complex relationship with the Catholic Church. Despite early suspicions and apprehension towards Catholicism, which was common among contemporaneous evangelical Protestants, Graham developed amicable ties with many American Catholic Church figures, later encouraging unity between Catholics and Protestants.
Graham's approach to his rallies was that if someone came forward to accept Christ, he wanted them to plug back into whatever local Christian community they were already connected to. This meant that if a Catholic came forward, Graham wanted them to have a ready connection with their local parish. Because of this, some of Graham's more fundamentalist Christian critics saw him as succumbing to Universalism, although he himself likely saw it as Christian essentialism.
Graham was the first Protestant to receive an honorary degree from Belmont Abbey College, a Roman Catholic school, in 1967. He also had a close affinity with Pope John Paul II, which dated back to before the latter became pope. When Cardinal Karol Wotjyla was elected as Pope John Paul II, Graham appeared on the Phil Donohue Show and referred to him as a man of "real authority" who didn't "pull any punches". Graham was warmly eulogised by Roman Catholic leaders, and his efforts towards ecumenism were praised.
Graham's evangelism was appreciated by mainline Protestant denominations, and he encouraged those who were converted to his evangelical message to remain within or return to their mainline churches. He also invited local Catholic bishops to participate in his crusades. More than 3.2 million people have responded to the invitation at Billy Graham Crusades to "accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior".
Graham's relationship with the Catholic Church has been described as shaping American Catholicism. In 1949, Cardinal Cushing, an ecumenical priest, personally rebuked and put down the Boston Heresy of Father Leonard Feeney. In 1964, with Cushing's blessing, Graham preached to throngs of people seeking God in Boston Garden. One attendee described how they were so moved by his preaching of the Gospel that they decided to make a decision for Christ, and from that day on, they regularly described themselves as both a cradle Catholic and a convert.
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His affinity for John Paul II
Billy Graham's relationship with the Catholic Church was a fascinating one. Despite early suspicions and apprehension towards Catholicism, he developed amicable ties with many American Catholic Church figures, including St. John Paul II. The affinity between the two dates back to before John Paul II became pope. As Cardinal Karol Wotjyla, he invited Graham to preach a mission in Krakow in 1978.
Graham appeared on the Phil Donohue Show in 1979, shortly after Wotjyla was raised to the papacy, and referred to the new pope as a man of "real authority" who didn't "pull any punches". Graham's approach to preaching and his ecumenical efforts were praised by Catholic leaders, and he encouraged unity between Catholics and Protestants. He invited local Catholic bishops to participate in his crusades and directed Catholics who came forward at his altar calls to go back to their Catholic churches. Graham's evangelism was appreciated by mainline Protestant denominations, and he encouraged those who were converted to his evangelical message to remain within or return to their mainline churches.
Graham's relationship with St. John Paul II is a testament to his ability to build bridges between Catholics and Protestants. He was also friends with Cardinal Cushing, who endorsed his techniques, and was invited by Kennedy to play golf in Palm Beach, Florida, after his election, which Graham acknowledged as an opportunity for Catholics and Protestants to come closer together. Graham's efforts to foster unity between Christians of different denominations were not without criticism, however, as some of his more fundamentalist Christian critics saw him as succumbing to Universalism.
Graham's impact on American Catholicism and his affinity for St. John Paul II are a testament to his ability to reach across denominational lines and find common ground. His legacy is remembered fondly by many Catholics, who recognise his efforts to bring Christians together.
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His approach to Catholic converts
Billy Graham's approach to Catholic converts was shaped by his belief in the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Graham encouraged converts to remain within or return to their local Christian communities, including Catholic parishes. This stance, which evolved over time, was influenced by his understanding of Christian essentialism and his desire to preach the Gospel. Graham's ecumenical efforts were recognised and praised by Catholic leaders, who eulogised him after his death.
Graham's approach to Catholic converts stood in contrast to the views of some more fundamentalist Christian critics, who saw his stance as a concession to Universalism. However, Graham's focus on individual spiritual transformation and his respect for the Catholic Church's traditions and sacraments shaped his perspective on Catholic converts.
Graham's influence on American Catholicism was significant. He was the first Protestant to receive an honorary degree from Belmont Abbey College, a Roman Catholic school, in 1967. Graham also had a close relationship with Pope John Paul II, who invited him to preach in Krakow in 1978 when he was still Cardinal Wotjyla. After becoming pope, John Paul II was described by Graham as a man of "real authority".
Graham's willingness to build bridges between Catholics and Protestants, exemplified by his encouragement of Catholic converts to remain connected to their parishes, was not without controversy. Some evangelical pastors criticised his efforts, claiming they went too far in asserting theological agreement between the two traditions. Despite this, Graham's inclusive approach and his ability to transcend denominational boundaries left a lasting impact on American Catholicism and Christian ecumenism.
Graham's approach to Catholic converts reflected his commitment to fostering unity and mutual understanding between Christians of different denominations. By encouraging individuals to follow Christ within the context of their own faith traditions, Graham contributed to a more inclusive and interconnected Christian community.
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His encouragement of Catholic-Protestant unity
Billy Graham was a complex figure who, despite his early suspicions and apprehension towards Catholicism—a common sentiment among contemporaneous evangelical Protestants—developed amicable ties with many American Catholic Church figures and encouraged unity between Catholics and Protestants.
Graham's approach to his rallies was notable. If someone came forward to accept Christ, he wanted them to reconnect with their local Christian community. This meant that if a Catholic came forward, Graham wanted them to have a ready connection with their local parish. This stance led some of his more fundamentalist Christian critics to see him as succumbing to Universalism. However, Graham likely saw it as Christian essentialism: that Jesus wanted to be Lord of people's lives, and it was Graham's duty to preach this.
Graham's encouragement of Catholic-Protestant unity was evident in his relationship with President John F. Kennedy. After Kennedy's election, Graham acknowledged that it was an opportunity for Catholics and Protestants to come closer together. Graham and Kennedy discussed Jesus Christ, and the evangelist claimed to have felt an "inner foreboding" before Kennedy's assassination, even trying to contact the president to urge him not to go to Texas.
Graham also had a notable relationship with Pope John Paul II. The affinity between them dated back to before Karol Wotjyla became pope. As a cardinal, Wotjyla invited Graham to preach a mission in Krakow in 1978. When Wotjyla was raised to the papacy, Graham appeared on the Phil Donohue Show and referred to the new pope as a man of "real authority" who "didn't pull any punches." Graham was also the first Protestant to receive an honorary degree from Belmont Abbey College, a Roman Catholic school, in 1967.
Graham's efforts at Catholic-Protestant unity were recognised and praised by Roman Catholic leaders, who eulogised him. He was also warmly received by Catholics, with one individual sharing how they were moved by Graham's preaching of the Gospel and subsequently described themselves as both a "cradle Catholic and a convert."
Graham's ecumenical efforts, however, were not without controversy. Some Bible Christians saw his embrace of Roman Catholicism as a red flag, believing that the two gospels of salvation were opposed to each other. Additionally, some evangelical pastors criticised the "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" document from 1994, arguing that it went too far in claiming theological agreement between the two sides.
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His eulogies from Catholic leaders
Billy Graham was a well-known and influential Protestant evangelist. Despite early suspicions and apprehension towards Catholicism, he developed amicable ties with many American Catholic Church figures and encouraged unity between Catholics and Protestants.
Graham's relationship with Catholicism is a fascinating one. On the one hand, he was a major inspiration for a global wave of Protestant preachers who drew millions of faithful away from the Catholic Church. On the other hand, he was warmly eulogized by many Catholic leaders, who praised his ecumenical efforts and the good work he did for Christ.
Some of the eulogies from Catholic leaders include:
- "How Billy Graham Shaped American Catholicism" by Jon M. Sweeney at americamagazine.org. Sweeney writes about his personal experience of being moved by Graham's preaching of the Gospel, which led him to make a decision for Christ. He describes himself as both a "cradle Catholic and a convert" and hopes that Graham is now "welcomed to hob-nob with his Lord and Savior as once he did with presidents and monarchs."
- "US Bishops, Catholic Leaders Praise Christian Witness of Billy Graham" at ncregister.com.
- "A Catholic Priest Pays Respects to Billy Graham" by Father Dwight Longenecker at patheos.com.
- "Statement of Cardinal Dolan on the Passing of Billy Graham" at archny.org.
In addition to these explicit eulogies, there were also many other glowing articles from Catholic sources that spoke highly of Graham and his legacy. One source notes that "Catholics are falling all over themselves trying to show how much they really loved Billy Graham."
Graham's relationship with Catholicism was complex and multifaceted. While he may have contributed to a decline in Catholic Church membership, he also found common ground with Catholics and was appreciated by many in the Catholic community for his message of hope and his commitment to Christian unity.
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Frequently asked questions
Billy Graham had a complicated relationship with Catholics. Despite early suspicions and apprehension towards Catholicism, which was common among contemporaneous evangelical Protestants, he developed amicable ties with many American Catholic Church figures, later encouraging unity between Catholics and Protestants.
Billy Graham is said to have shaped American Catholicism. He was praised by many Catholic sources for his ecumenical efforts. He invited local Catholic bishops to participate in his crusades and directed Catholics who came forward at his altar calls to go back to their Catholic churches.
Yes, Billy Graham met Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 1990. The affinity between the two dates back to before Karol Wotjyla became the Pope. As a cardinal, he invited Graham to preach a mission in Krakow in 1978.
Billy Graham appreciated the moral clarity of the Catholic Church, its sense of history, and its universality. He once remarked, "I feel much closer to Roman Catholic tradition than to some of the more liberal Protestants."
Yes, in 1967, Billy Graham became the first Protestant to receive an honorary degree from Belmont Abbey College, a Roman Catholic school.
