Roberta M. Meehan, Ph.D.
| The purpose of this document is to examine
in a multi-part series the organization known as CUF (Catholics United
for the Faith). In particular, this document will analyze the writings
of the CUF organization and discuss points of questionable doctrine. In
addition, this document will also point out CUFs misuse of Scripture
and CUFs misuse of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).
Before delving into the writings of CUF, two particular points should be noted. First, CUF has appropriated techniques used by organizations such as Campus Crusade for Christ. This is an evangelizing protestant proselytizing organization active on many college campuses. The techniques of all such organizations are NOT to be used in Catholic evangelism and catechesis. Ecclesia in America (73 p 1) clearly states: "The Catholic Church in America is critical of proselytism by the sects and, for this reason, rejects methods of this kind in her own evangelizing work." Thus, CUFs evangelizing techniques are clearly contrary to the teachings of the Church. Second, for virtually every teaching, CUF uses a Sola Scriptura explanation. If Roman Catholicism is a church of Tradition as well as a church of Scripture, why does every CUF item have to be found in Scripture? Tentative Outline (for this CUF Examination Series) I. Introduction based on an introductory packet sent to an inquirerLITERATURE Membership Brochure The membership brochure in paragraph 1 makes a point of the fact that one particular member of the Information Services team is a Protestant convert. Other members of the team are listed by profession, rather than by former religious affiliation. This persons profession is not given. The problem with the "Protestant" label is that the brochure does not identify the type or denomination of "protestant." Protestantism is hardly a single unified category. Later examination of other CUF materials would indicate that the person is an Evangelical Protestant. This could definitely influence the approach to Catholicism. In general, Evangelical Protestants are theologically quite far removed from most mainline Protestants. Mainline Protestantism (while admittedly not a single entity) is relatively close theologically to Roman Catholicism. The presence of this "converted protestant" seems to indicate that a major component of CUFs mission is to "evangelize" Protestants. This theme is continued in other introductory materials. Citations from the introductory literature demonstrate how widespread the influence of this organization is. Testimonials from the Bishop of Fargo, North Dakota, the Chancellor of Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio, and the President of Christendom College, Front Royal, Virginia, are included in this Membership Brochure. CUF claims to have 99 local chapters, not limited to the United States. The twelve US Bishops who actively support CUF are: Fabian W. Bruskewitz Lincoln NEFaith Facts Brochure The major problem with the Faith Facts Brochure is the introductory quotation from an unknown person: "Your apostolate has helped me answer the questions my protestant friends ask. Now I can evangelize them." The problem is that Protestants do not need evangelization in the sense that evangelization is about spreading the Gospel. What Protestants need, from a Catholic prospective, should be solid catechesis about why the Catholic Church represents the fullness of salvation. This is more than simply a misuse or juxtaposition of terms. Evangelization is literally the spreading of the Gospel (the Gospel which Protestants already have) and Catechesis (as used by the Catholic Church) is literally instruction in the Catholic faith. Protestants do not need primary evangelization; Protestants need catechesis. Letterhead The hierarchy of the CUF organization consists of a large number of converts from Evangelical Protestantism. These include all of the "big names" in the organization Scott Hahn, Tim Gray, Jeff Cavins. Even the Advisory Counsel, with the exception of the Episcopal Advisors, is made up predominantly of Protestant converts. The CUF spiritual advisor, Rev. Ray Rayland, is a convert from the Unitarians through the Episcopalians, to Catholicism. It is interesting to ask why this organization is predominantly Protestant. Are no individuals who have been practicing Catholics since birth a major part of the CUF hierarchy? If not, why not? Further, these Protestants are, for the most part, NOT mainline Protestants but are, instead, Evangelical Protestants. Why? And why is the Vatican supporting not only Evangelical Protestant influences, but also Evangelical Protestant mind manipulation as condemned by Ecclesia in America? Later in this document is a discussion of a statement by Scott Hahn wherein he specifically states that he and other converts do not give up the Protestantism of their evangelical past in their conversion to Catholicism. WHY NOT? If Protestants have to be evangelized (per this brochure as well as the rest of the CUF literature), but if they do not have to give up their Evangelical Protestantism, what is the point of CUF? CUF Links This is a CUF newsletter. As this document progresses, numerous points about CUF Links will be addressed. However, typical of CUF Links errors, it is important to make particular note of the May 2000 issue which has problem of both semantic confusion and Mariology. The semantic confusion centers around Christology the nature and personhood of Jesus Christ. CUF either does not understand this or has a difficult time explaining it. The Mariology problem concerns the claiming of a Marian doctrine that has not been accepted by the Church universal. Specifically, the CUF Link proclaims Mary as Coredemptrix. This is a very serious problem. Lay Witness This is the CUF magazine. Basically, the issues of this magazine reviewed thus far are party line with no gross errors. This magazine is traditional Catholicism. ADVERTISEMENTS Benedictus Bookstore This ad for the bookstore is noteworthy only in so far as it is a representation of the poor level of scholarship (or care) used by the CUF organization and its subsidiaries. For instance, in advertising the Jerusalem Bible, the word CANON is misspelled. The word DEUTEROCANONICAL is also misspelled. How do these major misspellings reflect the credibility of the parent organization? Emmaus Road Publishing In the advertisement for the book, Faith Facts, by Suprenant and Gray (on the back page of the Faith Fact, "All in the Family The Communion of Saints") one can find a gross grammatical error the use of the word THEY when referring to a single book. Faith Facts: An Overview Faith Facts are the information bulletins distributed by the Information Services arm of Catholics United for the Faith (CUF). Faith Facts purport to be "easy-to-read" answers to specific Catholic faith questions. Each Faith Fact is a two to four page fold out that can be duplicated and used as a church bulletin insert (similar to updates put out by St. Anthony Messenger). Each Faith Fact responds to only a single question. These Faith Facts can be obtained individually or in a binder containing all Faith Facts published to date. All CUF members have unlimited access to Faith Facts and are encouraged to contact CUF every six to eight weeks to inquire about newly published Faith Facts. The predominant language of Faith Facts is English; however, several Faith Facts are also published in Spanish. In the Faith Facts binder, the individual pamphlets are organized by category. These categories, as listed in the introduction to this paper, are as follows: A. Apologetics Within each category, the Faith Facts are arranged alphabetically by title of document. Subsequent parts of this series will deal with each of the above mentioned categories.1. Catholic Church as ordained by God for People This ends Part 1 of this Examination of CUF. Part 2 will consider the material in the Apologetics Section of the Faith Facts binder. Posted 10 December,
2000 Return
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