Catholics Force Church Off Air
In this small South Carolina seacoast town the Roman Catholic 'Church is in a decided minority, but it holds more influence than one might first imagine. This organization holds enough power to have a gospel preacher gagged by a simple call to the local radio station. On Monday, February 20, a series of lessons was started entitled "Some Errors Concerning the 'Sacrifice of Christ." On Wednesday, February 22, the local priest and several members of the Roman Catholic Church phoned the station and complained about the program, although the name of the Roman Catholic Church was not mentioned over the air. Then on Friday, February 24, calls were again made to the station demanding the preaching be stopped. Consequently on Monday morning I was informed the church could not continue the program in the manner it had been conducted in the past two years. The station admitted the phone calls were the reason we were off the air. It was pointed out to me what I was preaching was causing a "stir" among the denominations and the station wanted no part of it.
On Monday, February 27, I called the local priest to see if he had called and why. He admitted the call and said it was made because of my "intolerance." He agreed I had the right to speak what I would over the air, but he hoped the station would not give me that right. A suggestion was made that we have a discussion of our differences (either public or private), and in the middle of the suggestion he hung up. Immediately I called back to finish our conversation, but the cleaning woman answered and said "Father Anderson" was "too busy" to talk.
The exact reason for the refusal to sell the church more time is not clear. One of the stock holders (before four witnesses) stated it was the fear of a boycott headed by the Catholics. The denominational churches have fallen in behind the Catholic Church on this matter (even one Jew, called to complain about the sermon on transubstantiation!). For this reason the threat of a boycott seemed highly possible. However, the station manager said there was no threat of a boycott, but the church must be kept off the air because it is "stirring up the town." The manager agrees I have not been 'sarcastic or abusive in any way. It seems the only crime committed is condemning error.
The Lord's church in Beaufort is turning again to the newspaper to reach the multitudes with the gospel of Christ. We pray the newspaper will permit us to lead men from darkness to light, and the town remains "stirred up" to the extent souls continue to obey the gospel and the borders of the Kingdom are extended.