Is Jimmy Swaggert Worth the Trouble

A Response to Jimmy Swaggert Ministries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

October 10, 1988

To Whom It May Concern,

After writing my letter, someone asked me, "Do you really think Jimmy Swaggert is worth it?" My propensity is to believe that everyone is worth trying to enlighten to the truth and salvation. The pragmatic part of me fears that it will be to no avail. The mindsets and worldviews that separate us are too different. The issues are considered differently and even the way the Scriptures are viewed is dissimilar. In any case, my perspective is one that would seek to defend and accurately explicate Catholic truths. I have endeavored to maintain sound reasoning and to render an interpretation of the Word of God in communion with antiquity. There is a real difference between this approach and his which centers upon a personal experience of the Holy Spirit and contemporary fundamentalism.

Reviewing my letter, the one item which necessarily requires more weight is in reference to the charges often made against Catholics regarding good works and merit. So often we have been accused of Pelagianism, thinking that we could earn our salvation, apart from Christ. However, we know full well that it is totally God's gift. The Catholic Christian would answer back that whenever he performs an act of charity like feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting those imprisoned (both in a prison and in a nursing home), it is really Jesus living and working in us. It is meritorious because Christ is doing it. Without the Lord, all our acts become petty and meaningless.

I wrote this letter quickly, without recourse to any scholarly books, using catechetical materials which I had learned by heart in my academic training. As such, there may be some minor errors, but I am confident that it is essentially accurate.

Perhaps, if the continued distribution of anti-Catholic propaganda is unavoidable, such responses as the one I have made, may be valuable to others? There may be better materials out right now; I know there are several fine books. However, I feel that between the printed media and television, we are saturated with negative materials regarding our faith. All of us need to seek legitimate dialogue with those who are open to the ecumenical spirit. However, we should also be prepared for good old-fashioned apologetics against those who hate us so much, that they would even distort the truth in the attempt to destroy the Church. We are losing people by the thousands. We need to act now in educating our people about the Church and in letting them know that Christ continues to love and to heal them in this two-thousand year old family of faith.

With every good blessing,
Fr. Joseph A. Jenkins