Catholicism and the Ezzos
Rebecca Prewett

For the following reasons:

1. We know that a significant portion of visitors to our pages are either part of the Roman Catholic Church or former members of that church. I'm not sure how large that "significant portion" is, but have enjoyed email dialogue with a number. While there are definitely some theological differences which seem insurmountable to me, I certainly find common ground in the desire to search the Scripture for answers to family issues. I hope that my Catholic guests will find these articles valuable.
   
2. Theologically discerning Protestant readers who are not frightened <g> by references to Catholic theology and tradition will find that the three articles referenced below offer a number of valuable insights applicable to non-Catholics as well. I would urge that no one dismiss either article out of hand simply because the authors are not Protestant.
   
3. The article in Our Sunday Visitor seemed well researched and offered both new answers and additional questions to the oft-asked questions about the Ezzos' background. I learned the interesting tidbit that Anne Marie Ezzo, a lapsed Catholic, left the Church a few years after her marriage to Gary Ezzo. More surprising to me is that Gary and Anne Marie were married within the Catholic Church.
   
4. The article by John Kippley will be of interest to those who are opposed to artificial birth control, be they Protestant or Catholic. It offers an interesting perspective into how the Ezzos' view of birth control influences their entire parenting philosophy.
   
5. Calvinists will no doubt find the Catholic perspective of Calvinism, in Thomas Mezzetti's article, interesting. I know that I did! However, as I have since pointed out to him (and have written about here) Gary Ezzo's teaching is often at odds with Calvinism as well. A true understanding of human depravity--of our total inability to choose good over evil in the spiritual realm and our blindness to the things of God until He regenerates us--will render almost ridiculous the argument that infant scheduling could offer any sort of answer to this human condition. The suggestion that we, as parents, can train the hearts of our children and bring about a condition of spiritual inertia and somehow take control of our children until God takes control is not only presuming upon the sovereignty of God but presuming that we can somehow do that which only He has power to do--change the heart of a child.
   
6. I have to admit that I read Thomas Mezzetti's article with a measure of profound sadness. I wish that such an articulate and thoughtful critique could be written from a Protestant perspective as well. Perhaps its existence on my web site will serve as a mild rebuke to us Protestants. So for those who would rebuke me for offering a critique from a theological standpoint that I find problematic: I would urge you to pray that God would raise up articulate Protestant voices that are unafraid to deal with the important issues raised in these articles.
   
7. The editorial in "Our Sunday Visitor" raises the issue of accountability within the Church. Certainly we Protestants balk at the very idea of a Pope! However, as Luther pointed out, the "freedom" of everyone having their own private heresy and going to hell in their own way is hardly an improvement. Each individual and each individual church doing what is right in their own eyes has led to all manner of error and discord. The lack of accountability of many who would presume to set up teaching organizations reaching into local churches is alarming, to say the least. It is time that we not only establish healthy, godly authority within local churches, but also recognized the authority of other churches by withdrawing the welcome mat to those who are under censure from their own church--until such time as a careful investigation, a "church trial", if you will, has revealed either that Biblical reconciliation has taken place or that the disciplining church acted in error.

So now, without further comment (what a relief! readers are no doubt shouting) I offer the following:

CCL: Family Foundations
John Kippley critiques the Ezzos' teaching and philosophy

copyright 1998 by Rebecca Prewett

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