Former Christianity Today Editor and Trump Critic Mark Galli Converts to Roman Catholicism
Mark Galli kneels during Mass at St. Michael Catholic Church on Sept. 8, 2020, in Wheaton, Illinois. RNS photo by Tom Killoran
The former Editor-in-Chief of Christianity Today, Mark Galli, perhaps best known for a parting editorial in the flagship magazine where he blasted Donald Trump for being “profoundly immoral” and called for his impeachment, has left the Christian faith and become a Roman Catholic.
Galli has a long and storied history of converting from one denomination to another. He started out Presbyterian, then became an Episcopalian, then traded that in for Anglicanism. He attended a Greek Orthodox Church, then finally found himself swimming the Tiber and jumping into Rome’s sweet false-gospel embrace.
I’m not rejecting evangelicalism…I’m only taking Anglicanism deeper and thicker.
Galli, who has been attending daily mass at St. Michael Catholic Church for the past two years, even while editor of Christianity Today, intends to be officially confirmed on Sunday, said in an interview with RNS.
“I want to submit myself to something bigger than myself. One thing I like about both Orthodoxy and Catholicism is that you have to do these things, whether you like it or not, whether you’re in the mood or not, sometimes whether you believe or not. You just have to plow ahead.
I want that. If it’s left up to me, I am one lazy son-of-a-bitch. I will not do anything unless someone comes along and says, ‘You need to do this. This is really important. This will shape your life. Come on, Galli. Get off your butt.’
Reflecting on his love for the service, which he can be in-and-out in less than 30 minutes, he is appreciative.
“The Mass is a perfect Mark Galli service. There’s no singing. There are no hymns. The homily is five minutes. The whole service is 25 minutes. They give you a single thought, a single illustration, a quote, and you’re done. Wow.”
With joining the Roman Catholic church, Galli will be accepting the width and breadth of Roman Catholic false doctrines, such as the infallibility of the Pope, and the idea of the Pope being an ‘Alter Christus” or “Another Christ.” He accepts the sinlessness of Mary, that Mary was an “ever virgin,” and that she did not die but ascended into heaven, being unable to perish due to her sinless perfection.
He accepts purgatory and rejects salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ’s work alone. He accepts the treasury of merit and the belief that sacred tradition is equally true as scripture. He believes that grace can be merited and that the church magisterium is the true infallible source of doctrine and truth. He believes that forgiveness of sin and salvation is by faith and works, penance being necessary for salvation, the practice of indulgences, and a host of other spiritually poisonous and biblically noxious beliefs that culminate in a plethora of damnable heresies.
Mark Galli, taking his cue from 1 John 2:19 went out from us, because he was not of us; for if he had been of us, he would have continued with us. But he went out, that it might become plain that he is not of us.
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No surprise considering Billy Graham’s flagship reflects his own and his son’s sentiments about their sympathies with the RCC. The New Evangelicalism is showing what non-separatism brings with it…a muddied view of church history, a liberal theology, calling bad good, and abnoxiously being men-pleasers rather than God-devoted. It is the same attitude which has spawned the many Bible versions and Arminianism. The Catholics are dogmatically Semi-Pelagian as well.
The conversions at Graham’s crusades were despite the man. Most (over 80%) never abided or stayed the course. Neither has Mark Galli.
In speaking of the “25 minute Mass”, Mr. Galli was referencing the daily Mass. Daily Masses tend to be shorter and simpler than the Mass on the Lord’s day. (ie: In the picture referenced in this article, September 8th, was a Tuesday.) Daily Masses accommodate working Catholics, parents, etc. and allow the faithful to participate in the source and summit of the Christian faith throughout the week. Most faithful Catholics are not “Sunday only Christians”. Frequent participation in the Mass allows sanctifying grace to permeate the everyday lives of Catholics. There are many solid refutations of the so-called “false doctrines” mentioned in this article but, as the great Anglican convert John Henry Cardinal Newman said: “Catholicism is a deep matter. You cannot take it up in a teacup.” “You must consent to think.”
The return home of Mr. Galli to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church is worthy of celebration in heaven and on earth.