Catholic blogger Kathy Schiffer had an incredible opportunity fall to her; an interview with the boy who has allegedly sat on the lap of Jesus, and is the inspiration behind the movie “Heaven Is For Real”.
“The Burpos were resigned to living their lives in accordance with the will of God, wherever He would take them. But things are complicated now, Sonja told me. Sure, they still live in the same house; Todd still pastors the same church, Crossroads Wesleyan. But now they have eight employees, and four attorneys; and their schedule includes frequent travel (such as the trip to Los Angeles to meet with me and other journalists, and a trip to New York City to appear on major media outlets).”
Don’t it give you the warm and fuzzies? Just like the story of Bernadette Soubirous. Or Lucia Dos Santos. Or Melanie Calvat. Simon Stock. Gemma Galgani…
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I apologize for being facetious on such an important issue, but I’ve long been unable to buy into this story.
And then, this. When Colton tells the interviewer Kathy Schiffer that he will not become a pastor like his dad,
“That was my cue to say, “Well Colton, come on over to the Catholic Church!” But this was an interview, not a witnessing session; and his father and mother were sitting beside him, happy in the Christian church they ran. I said a prayer for the Burpos after my interview, asking God, if it be His will, to bring someone into their lives who would talk with them about the Catholic Church’s 2,000 years of continuity and consistent teaching.”
A “witnessing session”? Wha? This kid purports to have spoken to Jesus, and you don’t ask the kid if that wafer-y thingy that Catholics get all gushy about is REALLY and SUBSTANTIALLY Jesus? The kid practically opened the door when he expressed concern for “the number of denominations”. His dad is still “pastorin'”. He’s basically unfolding an avenue to broach these theological issues. And Schiffer steps off the rubber. She didn’t want to turn it into a “witnessing session”. Well, God forbid that happening eh? But that’s fine. After all, “witnessing” would have been proselytizing to the kid. “Journalism” is asking the questions – even the tough ones! – that everyone wants answered.
I guess we’ll just have to wait. Until then, more souls get sucked into the vortex of a kid who allegedly talked to Jesus. And his Jesus has allegedly revealed absolutely nothing that would lead folk – including his own father – into the bosom of the Church that Christ Himself established.
Where’s Barbara Walters when you need her?
Who am I kidding? “Wawa” wouldn’t have asked, either.