Bishop says Catholic theological views differ from Rev. Graham's

Published: 2005-06-24

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) -- Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio of Brooklyn extended a warm welcome to the Rev. Billy Graham, the Southern Baptist evangelist, when he came to New York for a series of evangelistic services June 24-26. "As a fellow Christian, I pray that the Lord will continue to bless him in his ministry to preach the Gospel to all who are willing to listen," the bishop said in his weekly column June 25 in the diocesan newspaper, The Tablet. However, Bishop DiMarzio noted that Rev. Graham, while praising Pope John Paul II in a recent interview, had himself pointed out that his theology differed significantly from that of the Catholic Church. "These differences are important to understand, especially for those who may have chosen to attend any of Dr. Graham's talks," the bishop said. The Greater New York Billy Graham Crusade was held at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, which is in the borough of Queens, part of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

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