Question: Recently I heard some good reports about something called “The Catholic Campaign for ...

Question: Recently I heard some good reports about something called “The Catholic Campaign for America.” It is dedicated to bringing higher morals to our country. Shouldn’t that please every Christian?

Answer: This “Campaign” was founded in September 1991 by former Education Secretary William Bennett (who often speaks at evangelical functions) and Mary Ellen Bork, wife of failed Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork. Its stated purpose is “to increase Catholic [not Christian] influence on public policy issues.” Please understand that Catholic does not mean Christian. There is nothing in its literature about bringing anyone into a saving relationship with Christ, but only into the Roman Catholic Church. Its board of directors includes leading industrialists of wealth and influence, some of them members of the Military Order of the Knights of Malta, sworn to defend the Pope.

In an appeal to Catholics to join, Mrs. Bork states, “Catholic Americans are...the largest religious denomination in America....Our mission is to...increase the Catholic electorate’ s influence in formulating public policy and focus the public’s attention on the richness and beauty of Catholic teaching....[We will] educate the American public regarding the Catholic perspective through earned media opportunities and a national radio, television and print campaign and defend the [Catholic] Church when it is under attack....The Catholic Campaign for America is firmly loyal to the Holy Father [Pope] and Magisterium of the Universal Church....And how urgently our beloved nation needs the guidance and teaching of our Church today!...Relying on the intercessions of Mary, the Seat of Wisdom and Patroness of the United States, together we [Roman Catholics] can accomplish so much for our nation.” (Emphasis added.) Note the goal is not Christianity but Catholicism—and there is a huge difference.

There is a reason for this “Campaign’s” reliance upon Mary, which is typical. In Catholicism, Mary overshadows Christ and God. Far back, in 1792, our country was declared by John Carroll, first Catholic Bishop of the U.S., to be under Mary’s protection. (Unless “Mary” is greater and more loving than God, why not rely upon God’ s protection? Wouldn’t that be enough? Apparently Mary’s protection is better!) In 1847, Pope Pius IX (see A Woman Rides the Beast for the horrors of this man) named the Catholic “Mary” as “Patroness of the United States.” As a memorial to this fact, the huge basilica of “The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception” (Mary’s alleged sinless birth and life) was erected in Washington, D.C.

Some of the official prayers offered to Mary at this shrine—and which she would have to be God to answer—include the following expressions: “[W]e put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate....Our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give ourselves to you. Protect us from every harm....[A]cting always according to your will....[W]e dedicate ourselves to your service....Save sinners and console the dying. You are our hope, Mary, Mother of Mercy and Gate of Heaven.” (Save sinners?! Mother of Mercy?! Gate of Heaven?!)

The last prayer listed in the booklet of official prayers to be offered at this shrine says in part, “O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke your most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living and the salvation of the dying. O Purest Mary, O Sweetest Mary, let your name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not, O blessed Lady, to help me whenever I call on you, for, in all my needs, in all my temptations, I shall never cease to call on you, ever repeating your sacred name, Mary, Mary. O what consolation, what sweetness, what confidence, what emotion fill my soul when I pronounce your sacred name, or even only think of you.” Wow!

Christian ecumenists such as those who signed ECT, and activists who join with Catholics, naively imagine that these are Christians who are concerned that others know Christ. In fact, as they themselves state, their concern is to turn America into a Catholic country by the grace and power of their false “Mary.” Beware!