More Chick Tapes
All reviews ©2001 Monsterwax
"CLOSET WITCHES" Tape REVIEW! (© 1986) When I first received audio copies of Closet Witches, I wasn't very motivated to play them. Why waste three hours of valuable time (time I might better spend fawning over tracts) listening to a couple of born-again babes bitching about witches? I mean, a witch is a witch is a witch. What could they possibly say for three hours that hasn't already been said? Besides, "real" witches are so passe. They rank on the believability scale right up there with vampires and werewolves... Sure, there are some people who call themselves witches and probably really think they are witches, but like the vampire wanna-bees who sleep in coffins during the day and have their incisors sharpened by dentists, they don't really possess any more powers than the rest of us. (Except the power to infuriate Fundamentalists.)
But there was one thing about the tapes that compelled me to listen to them anyway, and that was the presence of a third person. The interviewer who was none other than Jack Chick himself. So I set aside three hours, nailed some garlic to the door and sprinkled holy water around the room before plopping the tape in the machine and punching "play". What I heard KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF!
I quickly realized that Rebecca Brown was more than just another author that Chick plugged in his tract footnotes in order to sell more books (which of course, his company published). Oh the contrary, she was a major influence in his work during the time of their association. In fact, she was the next big (controversial) thing after Alberto!
Many Chick watchers wondered where Jack would go after Rivera. He had burned a lot of bridges and many "mainstream" Christians (the ones concerned about appearances) distanced themselves from Chick Publications. Would he preform some sort of public penance to get back into their graces? Would he go back to printing regular tracts with non-controversial topics? Would he stop causing a fracas and let everything blow over? Those who thought 'yes' obviously didn't know Jack very well.
Chick instead hooked up with someone with an even more sensational and conspiratorial story than Alberto. Instead of being an ex-Jesuit, this person is a former medical doctor who turned into a sort of Christian version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She would warn of an even bigger conspiracy than the Vatican. (Just when you thought all roads led to Rome, along comes the super highway to hell!) Only this conspiracy didn't use sneaky Jesuits to manipulate history or assassinate good Christians. Its agents were powerful demons, witches and werewolves! And whether you believe Rebecca Brown or her partner in these colorful exploits (Elaine Moses, ex-Witch), you have to acknowledge they inspired some of the most incredible Chick tracts of all time.
Now that you know what's at stake, (a little "burning witch" humor there) lets turn to the tapes and permit this tale to unravel itself at its own pace. But allow me to set the stage with a little caveat. If you ever wondered where Chick got the idea he could open a story like Satan's Master with the bold statement "based on a true story", even though the tract is filled with demons physically attacking people and Satan making visible manifestations, well, you're about to find this out and a whole lot more. So turn down the lights and turn up the Halloween music. Things are going to get real creepy as you read what Rebecca has to say. Rest assured that it will make John Todd and Alberto seem like warm up acts... Go Here to continue this Review!
"WALTER MARTIN vs. DR. RIVERA Debate" TAPE REVIEW! (© 1982) You gotta hand it to Alberto, he never shied away from a chance to prove or disprove his story-- even if he was taking on the best minds and resources the Vatican could muster! That isn't to say Walter Martin worked for the Vatican, but he was certainly "carrying water" for them as far as Alberto was concerned. For those not "in the know", Dr. Walter Martin was a renowned Protestant Theologian and expert in cults (and ran the Christian Research Institute) until his death in 1989. His clear arguments and catalog like knowledge of the Bible made him a formidable adversary to Mormons, Christian Scientists, and Jehovah's Witnesses etc. etc. He was generally conservative. In fact, there was really only one controversial Church that many Protestant's considered a cult that he didn't: The Roman Catholic Church. Martin did acknowledge that Vatican was a "back slidden, apostate church" and that they were wrong about many teachings, but he maintained since most Catholics believed in Jesus, they were still Christians. He also said he wanted to unify the Catholics with the Protestants, but just who he expected to change the most in the marriage was uncertain. These attitudes were in direct opposition to Alberto's belief that the Roman Catholic Church was the "mother of all harlots" described in Revelations. It was fitting, if not destiny, that the two should meet and publicly debate these issues.
The tape begins with Jack Chick himself introducing it. (Although the tape was sold by Alberto's AIC organization, Chick had an obvious interest in promoting Alberto's case.) Chick says, "Those involved (in this debate) are Dr. Alberto Rivera, Dr. Walter Martin, and Mr. Brian Onkin. I believe you will find this a very stimulating message between two very strong personalities." Exactly which of the three Chick thinks is NOT very stimulating is unclear, but it's safe bet he doesn't think much of Brian Onkin, who comes across as a bit of a whiner. (He sounds a lot like the kid at grade school who was always trying to whip up fights between other people. "Did you hear what he just said about you? Are you going to let him get away with that?!" Charming.) Truth be known, Chick wasn't too fond of Martin either. He had asked for Martin's support when publishing Alberto, and Martin refused. Chick was upset because he thought the information in Alberto was VITAL to Protestants. But Alberto told Chick to forget about Martin, because he actually worked for the Vatican. Chick has since told friends that he thinks Martin is roasting in hell for helping the Pope. Martin wasn't very magnanimous either. Before his untimely death, he routinely told others that they should toss their Chick tracts in the trash because they were worthless. (Obviously, he never foresaw the collecting value of some of the rare ones!)
After the Chick introduction, a brief segment follows where Alberto is on the phone with Martin working out the details of the meeting. Alberto sounds completely discombobulated, stumbling around trying to get the recorder working and carrying on a conversation in his trademark broken English. An incessant "beeping" interrupts every five seconds to alert the caller he is being recorded. Alberto asks Martin if they can tape everything and make it available to the public. Martin says yes, but only if it's in context. The two are civil and both sound genuine. Alberto signs off after telling Martin he'll be staying at the Jolly Roger Hotel-- kinda ironic, considering Alberto claims the Jolly Roger flag is a symbol of the Jesuits.
Then the "debate." Martin and Onkin attempt to pen Alberto down by asking pointed questions. Alberto answers them willingly and in great detail. He seems to have an answer for everything, though Martin and Alberto disagree whether the answer is legitimate. At one point, Martin says, "You've made some very serious charges, and that requires very thorough documentation." Unfortunately, he's incorrect. Allegations don't require proof, convictions do, but not allegations. Anyone can allege anything and it's up to the subsequent trial or debate to prove or disprove them. By that measure, this debate is another stalemate. Great exchanges are made, but little proof one way or the other is actually provided. Common sense and preconceived notions would allow anyone to listen to this tape and feel it proves whatever their opinion already was (much as the Nixon/Kennedy debates let both sides claim victory) but if you really approached it with an open mind, it was another draw. Yes, Alberto is THAT GOOD at advocating his position, even against the grand Pooh Bah Walter Martin!
Many of Alberto claims are fantastic. No surprise there. What is more surprising is that some of Martins claims are equally wild, especially coming from such a respected intellectual. At one point, Martin tries to suggest that Alberto is wrong about the Catholic Church being the Whore of Babylon, because the majority of Protestant theologians say it isn't. Since when does the truth rely on polls? Especially when it comes to religion. Using that logic, no Christian should believe in Jesus, because the majority of humans don't. Alberto missed an opportunity to make another point regarding Martin's claim. He could have pointed out that one of the reasons there aren't more Protestants who believe as he does is because millions of them were murdered by Vatican agents during the Inquisition. Like it or not, killing the heretics did have the effect of reducing the number of vocal Vatican critics.
Brian Onken brings up a flyer with the name "Father Alberto Rivera" on it from the Universal Life Church. This is the outfit that allows anyone to become an ordained minister for FREE via mail or internet. Both Martin and Onken ask what affiliation Alberto has with the organization. Alberto seems confused over the flyer, and doesn't admit that it's his name on it. However, Martin asks the leading question "...and you don't have any ordination with them?"
Alberto doesn't give a clear answer to this. Who would want to admit to being an ordained minister through a mail order mill? Onken's follow up question is "Do you know Bishop and Mrs. Hensley?" Alberto responds, "I know them personally!"
The couple he knew was none other than Kirby J. Hensley and his wife Lida, the founders of the notorious Universal Life Church. For all of the alleged heresies of Roman Catholicism, Alberto associated with the founder and "pope" of the world's flakiest religion, where plants, pets, and ficticious people can be ordained upon request. (No beliefs or theological training required.) The ULC is the world's most infamous ordination and diploma mill, where a "degree" of Doctor of Divinity costs only a few dollars. Was the Universal Life Church also on the Jesuit infiltration list that Alberto infiltrated under orders from the Black Pope? (See Crusaders vol. 12, "Alberto" that alleges that all churches have been infiltrated with Catholic spies.) One wonders...
There are other funny exchanges as well. A highlight is Alberto's claim that Walter Martin is a "knowing Agent of the Vatican." Alberto says he saw a list when he was an undercover Jesuit of big-name Protestants that the Vatican could "rely on" for help. Martin's name was on the list. Martin gets down right defensive at that point, stammering for the first time, "No, no, I'm not- I- if, if you saw THAT..." He actually seems temporarily speechless until Onkin comes to his rescue. One could imagine the panic that might have briefly entered his mind. Suddenly the hunter had become the hunted! What if instead of discrediting Alberto, Alberto discredited Martin? A life time of religious Academia destroyed by a comic book author? THE HORROR!!! But the usually unflappable Martin quickly regains his composure and returns to going on the offensive.
Funny interludes of confusion still throw him off though. At one point Martin says, "But the statement that was made here, was that uh, was not from that perspective though. What was the statement?" Onkin chimes in, "That he, Dr. Martin, was a knowing agent of the Vatican." Martin continues, uncertain, "To them, but not to me?" Alberto blurts out, "What YOU know, I don't know, what THEY know, I know!" It reminded me of the old Jerry Lewis routine from Which Way To the Front, where he responds to the guard asking for the password. "But if YOU know the password, and I know the password, I shouldn't tell you the password because you already KNOW the password, unless you don't really know the password, in which case, I shouldn't tell you!" Funny, yes, but it can also give you a headache trying to figure it all out.
The entire session goes on like this. Back and forth, tit for tat. Pretzel logic circling back and intersecting itself. But there's also something very sobering about it all. One of these ministers isn't truthful. If Alberto is accurate, we might conclude that Martin was just uninformed, but that's ignoring Alberto's claim that Martin's name was on the secret Vatican list of "reliables". If Martin is right, then it's Alberto who's lying. Either way, it's disconcerting to hear two men of the cloth who both sound so very sincere and realize one of them is pulling a Clinton.
Martin also told friends he never intended for this debate to be sold by AIC. So from that perspective, Alberto got the last laugh. Not only did Martin fail to discredit him, but he ultimately helped Alberto's credit card sales by providing another tape for Alberto's organization to peddle. The listener is the real winner though. You'll be hard pressed finding something more fun or fascinating to listen to for 90 minutes. (Although understanding Alberto's English is sometimes frustrating.) Grade: B+ for Bickering! Return To Tape Index.
SMOKESCREENS Tape/ Book Review: It's a tape! No, it's a book! No, it's a tape AND a book! Smokescreens started out in 1982 as an audio tape read by Jack Chick, but was published as a paperback book ©1983 with photos and articles added to back up the allegations. There's even a reprint of several panels from Macho! on page 8, showing "how communism ties in with the Vatican plan to take over the U.S." The Vatican is a central theme of the book. Other topics include the Vatican, the Vatican, and more of the Vatican. If you thought Chick had an ax to grind with the Papists in Let's Take A Stand, you might adjust the metaphor to a rotary saw after hearing this tape. In fact, at one point he says, "The Christians of today are like little blades of grass, growing up in the sunshine, and there's a big lawn mower coming toward them-- and it's singing hymns! It's the Roman Catholic Institution!"
One of the customer blurbs on the back of the book says that after hearing the tape, "I couldn't keep my eyes from watering nor could I keep from becoming righteously angry." This description probably describes most the audience, be they fundamentalists who believe the Vatican is the "whore of Revelation" or Catholics who consider it the "one true Church." This opus is arguably Chick's biggest assault on Rome yet-- which is no small achievement considering his constroversial tracts and comics! It's a must-have for any serious Chick collector/fan or alarmist.
Unlike Let's Take A Stand, this book/tape is not spontaneous. Chick wrote it all out in carefully organized his message. This review will address each section. It begins with an introduction where Chick addresses the question of his motives.
"There has been a multi-million dollar campaign made through the media to convince people that I am a bigoted, anti-Catholic, hate literature publisher. And do you know something? They have been very effective in convincing people this is what I am. The truth is, I love the Catholic people enough to risk my life and my business to reach them with the gospel of Christ to pull them out of the false religious system they're now serving. I know what this system has done in the past and what is planning for the future. I believe you'll understand when I'm finished this message, where I'm coming from. But before we get started, let's go into prayer..."
Chapter one covers the Jesus cookie controversy, where Catholics view the Eucharist (communion wafer) as the literal body of Christ, whereas protestants view it as a symbolic ritual done in remembrance of Jesus. Chick explains how this was the litmus test during past inquisitions to determine whether to burn the heretic or not. If they denied the divinity of the wafer, they went up in smoke, all in the name of Catholic church.
"It holds firm, just as strong today, as it did in the time of Middle Ages, that anyone who ridicules it, or says that it only represents Christ, is damned. The Vatican II Council re-affirmed this. Pope XXIII said, 'I do accept entirely all that has been decided and declared at the Council of Trent.' That Canon law in in effect today, beloved!"
In chapters two through four, Chick covers historical atrocities he blames on Rome.
"I believe one of the reasons Protestants are so desperately weak today is the fact that history has been covered up. Books have been re-written. It only takes about two generations for everything to be forgotten, especially, if it is not told over and over again...
"On August 22, 1572, the bloody St. Bartholomew massacre began. This was to be one fatal blow to destroy the Protestant movement in France. The kind of France had cleverly arranged a marriage between his sister and Admiral Coligny, the chief Protestant leader. There was a great feast with much celebrating. After four days of feasting the soldiers were given a signal. At twelve o'clock midnight, all the house of the Protestants in the city were forces open at once. The admiral was killed, his body thrown out of a window into the street where his head was cut off and sent to the pope. They also cut off his arms and privates and dragged him through the streets for three days until they finally hung his body by the heels outside the city.
"They also slaughtered many other well-known Protestants. In the first three days, over then thousand were killed. The bodies were thrown into the river and blood ran through the streets... From Paris, the destruction spread to all parts of the country. Over eight thousand more people were killed. Very few Protestants escaped the fury of their persecutors.
"A similar massacre occurred in Ireland in 1641. The conspirators picked October 23, the feast of Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order. They planned a general uprising for the whole country. All Protestants would be killed at once. To throw them off guard while the plan was being made, extra acts of kindness were shown to the Protestants. Early in the morning the conspirators were armed and every Protestant they could find was immediately murdered. They showed no mercy. From children to the aged, they were killed. Even invalids were not spared...
"Death often was the least they had to fear. Women were tied to posts, stripped to the waist, their breasts cut with shears and left to bleed to death. Other who were pregnant were tied to tree branches, their unborn babies cut out and fed to dogs while their husbands were forced to watch."
Chick warns that both purges followed the same pattern, where the Vatican would become friendly and act like disputes were healing, then attack! So Chick's first piece of evidence that the Vatican is planning another Inquisition is the fact that they are trying hard to improve relations with Protestants today. (In other words, they are safer when they are UNfriendly.)
Chick outlines the Vatican-Hitler alliance he published in comics like The Godfathers and tracts like Holocaust. Photos of various Vatican dignitaries chumming it up with Hitler and other Nazis are shown. One features the future Pope Pious XII and Paul VI signing a concordat with Nazi diplomat Franz von Papen. Gruesome genocide by the Catholic Croatians against the Orthodox Serbs are recounted, complete with photos.
"This happened in our generation, beloved. This is an example of the unleashed rage of the Vatican. I once read that, 'Rome when in minority is as gentle as a lamb, when in equality is as clever as a fox, and when in the majority is as fierce as a tiger.' I believe this is an accurate description."
Chapter five discusses the how the Catholics are wrong about scripture, especially Mary worship, purgatory, and good works. Chapter six talks about how red baiting discracted Protestants from the dangers of the Catholic Menace, and how Hollywood put a new coat of paint on the Great Whore.
"Do you remember Dragnet? on television? The Christian was always pictured with a big Bible, smiling after he had strangled Grandma up in the attic. And always, the priests were the good guys. Just like in the popular television series called M*A*S*H. You see, we are hit psychologically on many fronts."
Chapter seven worries about all the nuns and priest appearing on Protestant TV shows including PTL and the 700 club. Chapter eight covers the Ecumenical Billy Graham.
"After World War II, the Vatican had to pick and back an American champion who would be a friend, a man they would help put on a pedestal, who would be loved by everybody... He could be used as the pied piper who would pull all the evangelicals into the arms of the pope.
"They wanted a man who would be a good speaker, a man with charisma who could pack stadiums; a man who would preach a gospel message, but on the soft side; one who would never attack the Vatican. And so when they found him, William Randolph Hearst, a good Roman Catholic publisher, used his newspaper chain to push Billy Graham to fame...
"Rome gives nothing to anybody unless you pay it off. Could it be that his final pay-off was to introduce Pope John Paul II as the greatest moral leader of the world? Which he did. Didn't he realize when he did this he was giving the whore a cloak of respectability? And all of Billy's followers, the evangelicals and multitudes of others across this land who listen to his every word, heard this endorsement, and trusting Billy, turned and gave their love to the communist from Poland dressed in his papal robes, who claims to be the representative of Christ on this earth. I can picture the pope smiling to himself, flying victoriously to Rome. He knew that Billy had been a good investment."
Chapter nine gives similar criticism of Walter Martin, who Chick approached to help support the Alberto comics but who, instead, lead an attack of sorts against Alberto. Rather than turn the other cheek, Chick apparently figured turn-about was fair play! He gives a complete mini-history:
"One of the most difficult decisions I've faced since I've been a Christian publisher was after I heard Dr. Rivera's true story, saw all his documents, photos, I.D.'s, and letters proving that he was a Jesuit priest. When it finally dawned on me that we were being set up for another Inquisition, I realized what a mess I'd be in if I sounded the alarm and the Christians wouldn't believe it. I could lose our business, our reputation and friends. If I printed Alberto's story, I would be going into a battle that would jeopardize my family and my own life.
"I realized no other Christian publisher would hit this issue because they could go under, and business-wise, it would be a disaster for them. I went before the Lord in prayer and the thing I dreaded came to pass. I asked the Lord if I should attack the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.
"Should I attack the Vatican? The Lord said yes. And so we published Alberto. I hoped, down in my heart, Walter Martian would back me up.
"One thing stuck in my mind. Why didn't Walter Martin sound the alarm? He was a great expert on cults, especially since he knew all about the Inquisition. And yet he kept quite. Why is Walter Martin defending this evil system, calling it a Christian church? The man is a genius. He knows about her history, and yet he's defending the whore of Revelation...
"Martin's followers see no need to reach the Roman Catholic people. They look upon our soulwinning material with contempt. And I say, with heavy heart, as Paul did [when he cursed Alexander the coppersmith] may the Lord reward Walter Martin according to his works."
Chick makes an interesting observation about his Alberto comics in general:
"The sad thing is all the is money and energy was spent to stop this soulwinning comic book. And yet we have al these adult book stores and garbage like that and nobody says a word. But when we spoke out against Rome, all hell broke loose. A man once told me, 'Jack, if you throw a rock down a dark alley and you hear a yell, you'll know you hit something.' Well, from the sound of the scream that was let loose, I think we hit something big!"
Chapter ten talks about the Vatican hypocrisy about providing for the poor, when it's such a wealthy multi-national tax free corporation.
"Remember when the pope came to the United States? How he chided us for not showing mercy? That we should give away what we have to the poor? We are such a wealthy nation. And then remember the great earthquake that took place in 1980 over in Italy? I remember the when the pope came in to this ruined area, walked up to the bedside of some poor little wounded Italian man and the pope so benevolently laid his hand on his head and made the sign of the cross, blessed the man and walked off.
"And the newscasters were telling of the devastation. And then we cut back to the United States and Senator Kennedy looked at the camera with sorrowful eyes and said, 'Oh, we Americans, out of mercy we should send at least 45 million dollars to this devastated village so we can reconstruct it.' Remember that? Now let me read something out of The Vatican Billions by Avro Manhattan, and I think you're going to get as mad as I am right now...
"'The Catholic church is the biggest financial power, wealth accumulator and property owner in existence. She is a greater possessor of material riches than any other single institution, corporation, bank, giant trust, government of state of the whole globe. The pope, as visible ruler of this immense amassment of wealth, is consequently the riches individual of the twentieth century. No on can realistically assess how much he is worth in terms of billions of dollars.'
"And I think back about how the pope, the wealthiest man of this planet, walked up to that poor little Italian man lying in that rubble, put his hand on his head, and said, 'Bless you,' and then walked away and just left him there. That has got to be the height of hypocrisy. And then Sen. Kennedy, the pope's boy over in the United States makes the big pitch to the U.S. people to foot the bill to repair that devastated village, right in the Pope's backyard. What a set-up!"
Chapter eleven gives Alberto's take on the dire situation.
"I questioned Dr. Rivera about the briefings he recievied in the Vatican when he was a Jesuit priest. I asked him if he was briefed on how the Vatican planned to take over the United States...
"I asked Dr. Rivera: What about the military picture today? How Catholic is our military position?
"Dr. Rivera said: Horrifying.
"I then asked about the political picture.
"Dr. Rivera said: It is even worse.
"Then I said: What about the Catholic structure in the judiciary?
"Dr. Rivera shook his head and said: It is very painful because of the heavy Jesuit penetration in this area. Most of the Judicial decisions are distorting and perverting the Constitution of the United States to take away our freedoms, preparing the way for anarchy for the final take-over of the United States.
"Then I said: Is this preparing the way for the coming inquisition?
"And Dr. Rivera said: That's correct..."
"Then I said: What do you see as hope for the United States? A revival amng the Christians and they actually start exposing Rome and pastors start preaching this from the pulpets, or is it already too late?
"Dr. Rivera replied: It's never too late because it's in the hands of the Lord. What I believe with all my heart through the study of the scriptures plus my personal expience with the harlot is that, profphetically speaking, God is going to fulfill His profphecy, and He will allow these prophecies to take place in the United States. But it is a matter of time. What we are dealing with here is that God can either shorten or lengthen the time until these events take place. The Roman Catholic Institution is feeling the impact of your publications...
Chick takes the compliment in stride.
"I believe, if we had kept silent, in 5 years it would have been over. The plans for the take-over would have been in full operation. No one would have been able to withstand it. But because we did go ahead with Alberto, I believe we knocked back their time-table at least 5 years. And our hope and prayer is that with the material we're publishing we'll be able to wreck their time-table for at least a generation, that our children can survive before they unleash their holocaust against us."
One silver lining not mentioned is that Protestant's needn't worry about setting up a trust funds for their grand-children, since they're fates are presumably sealed. All the recounting of Alberto's gloomy predictions seem to re-energize Chick and he becomes noticeably agitated and even a little desperate:
"Is what I'm saying sinking in? Beloved, now when you turn on the evening news, you'll see it in a different light because you're going to see the hand of Rome in world politics.
"Let's wake up, beloved. We're not a bunch of little two-year olds anymore. Pastors need to wake up. You deacons and church members need to wake up because your kids are going to destroyed in a few short years if you don't. I'm referring especially to those pastors who are pushing bubbly love to everyone, and who turn white and break in to a cold sweat when anything controversial comes along. do you think the priests of Rome respect you for that? Let me tell you, pastors, they hate the ground you walk on and hold you in nothing but contempt. They secretly look at you like scum under their feet. I was recently told that in 1949, an ex-Jesuit priest told a Rev. Eubanks in California, that when the Vatican take control of the United States, every pastor and his family will be shot in the head...
"We're in a war, beloved, and I thank God that the Lord has directed us to prepare the ammunition you'll need from Chick Publications to give you back-up and background, and you'll know how to face the lost Roman Catholics after you've gone into prayer. Because, if you don't turn into soulwinning church, the whore is going to have your and grandchildren for breakfast. Have you already forgotten the screams that filled the night air in Paris during St. Bartholomew massacre? Have you forgotten the little pregnant mothers tied to the tree branches, begging for mercy in Ireland while the dogs were fighting underneath for their unborn children? And the bloody knives in the hands of those smirking fanatics driven on by their priests to butcher these Christian ladies? Have you forgotten these bloodbaths that were quoted in Foxe's Book of Martyrs? The Vatican wants you to forget it. Have you forgotten what took place in Yugoslavia... Catholic priests impaling children on stakes as they screamed in agony in 1940? You better never forget it! And don't forget that it was at a time of peace, love and kindness just before each attack, just like today, beloved. And don't forget one million Knights of Columbus in the United States have sworn to turn American into a papal state. God help us. You don't think it's coming here? It's time to get sober and turn into spiritual soldiers, and start arming yourselves with the helmet of salvation and the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, realizing the forces of darkness can be held back."
Just when you're afraid Chick is about to start burning effigies, he concludes by urging his audience to do opposite:
"WIN these people! Don't throw rocks at them! We're not Nazi's. We're not Ku Klux Klanners. We care about these people. But it's not the selfish, worldly love being taught so much today, that would rather watch them go to to hell, than to risk offending them with the truth. We've put everything on the line to try to win them to Christ. And by God's grace, we will."
Overall, this is Chick's most inflammatory book to date. Far from burying it in the basement, he continues to keep it in print and pushes it in his catalogs. After all, Catholics tried to put him out of business and failed, so he probably thinks he's got nothing more to lose! In fact, he tells tape listeners they can make copies so long as they don't edit and distort the contents, and now he even offers entire chapters of it FREE on the web! You can bet that stunt took him off Rome's Christmas card list.
Grading this book/tape could get me in the middle of feud which is much more fun to watch than it is to wage, so I'll be diplomatic and say I don't have a dog in this fight. However, if I were to place a bet on the remaining dogs, I would put my $2 on "Fang." I'm always a sucker for the underdog.
Rev. 10.31.08r
