Nuggets from Occult Invasion

The ecumenical tide has reached its irresistible proportions. The Pope’s 1986 gathering for prayer at Assisi, where he welcomed snake worshipers, fire worshipers, spiritists, animists, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and shamans, was supported and attended by representatives of the World Council of Churches and even evangelicals. Represented there were the YWCA and YMCA, the Mennonite World Conference, the Baptist World Alliance (which includes the Southern Baptist Convention), the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Lutheran World Federation. Even the Associated Press in its report seemed amused by the mixture:

“Chants, temple bells and pagan spells echoed around the Roman Catholic shrines of Assisi yesterday as Pope John Paul II and his 200 guests from the world’s 12 main religions prayed for world peace…. The medicineman of the Crow Indians, Chief John Pretty-on-Top, offered to cast out evil spirits. Many came forward, among them a young Franciscan monk. In a chapel down the road, the head of the Zoroastrian church in Bombay prayed before a fire that symbolized his God…. The 14^th Dalai Lama, exiled god-king of Tibet, headed the strong Buddhist contingent, mumbling sutras amid tinkling bells at the Basilica of St. Peter…. African animists, their togas the envy of any designer, invoked the spirits of trees and plants to come to the aid of peace….”