The Roman Catholic Indoctrination of our Seventh-day Adventist Youth in Peru

On August 25, 2021, Puno Adventist College, one of the largest Adventist academies in all of Peru, congratulated some of its graduates who were described as already enrolled in the local Catholic University. What was even more worrying was that the President of the South Peru Union Mission, Enzo Chavez, appeared in the photo paying tribute to the students bound for the Catholic University.

The President of the South Peru Union, Enzo Chávez, is standing to the right with some of the graduates of Puno Adventist College. The photo caption reads:

“Recognition to the 5th Year Secondary students, who to date have already entered the Catholic University of Arequipa.” (Puno Adventist College Facebook Post).

To make matters worse, there are actually two Seventh-day Adventist Universities in Peru. There is the Peruvian Union University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution in Lima, Peru. And also in the same town where the Puno Adventist College is located, is the Chuluncayani Adventist University, a small private university near the city of Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. But sadly, none of these Adventist institutions are mentioned for our prospective graduates coming out of Adventist academies. Only the Roman Catholic institution is offered as continuing education for our students.

None of this can be sanctioned by the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy. These men are leading the youth astray. There was a time when faithful leaders used to raise the alarm and resist the enemy’s advances. There was a time when we used to speak out against the indoctrination of our youth with Roman Catholic mystical philosophies.

We refer to a solemn warning that was given to all of our pastors and administrators during the 1940s in Ministry Magazine, an official church publication. This warning placed the ax at the root of the problem regarding our relationship with modern Babylon. This appeal has been completely rejected today. In fact, we are doing the exact opposite. By rejecting this warning, we hold ourselves responsible for inviting chaos and disaster into our ranks. Notice what Ministry Magazine published in 1944 (77 years ago) about this very thing:

“How dare a man contemplate, or have the temerity to present, the degree of doctor of divinity, gained in the universities of Babylon, as a credential for teaching or preaching this threefold message, the second stipulation of which is, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen…. Come out of her, My people.’ How dare we accept such a Babylonian credential in lieu of mastery of the truth? Shall a man go into Babylon to gain strength and wisdom to call men out of Babylon? To ask the question is but to disclose how far some have compromised with Babylon, as they have gone back to Babylon to drink from her wells of wisdom. Oh, for the living waters of truth fresh from the Word!” [1]

“Pray tell: Just how can we expect to get actual light on God’s divine message for today from men steeped in the Sunday-sabbath concept, committed to the natural immortality of the soul theory, ensnared by the evolution hypothesis, antagonistic toward the sanctuary and judgment-hour truths, denying the principle of the historical interpretation of the prophecies, scoffing at the year-day principle, repudiating the Spirit of prophecy and its inspired guidance for study and research, and scoffing at the supreme truths of the imminent second premillennial advent of Christ?” [1]

Adventist education is supposed to be about leading students to Christ and His truth. The plan to educate our youth should be to restore the image of God in the lives of the students. To be restored means transformed and changed:

“The knowledge of God as revealed in Christ is the knowledge that all who are saved must have. This is the knowledge that works transformation of character. Received into the life, it will re-create the soul in the image of Christ” (Acts of the Apostles, page 475).

Every aspect of Adventist education must contribute to transforming the character of students. By being mindful of our priorities, we can help them develop Christian character, obedience and fruits of righteousness. It won’t be just about reading, writing and arithmetic. No, each student will know that Jesus loves them and that God has a special plan for their lives.

“True education means more than the perusal of a certain course of study. It means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come” (Education, p. 13).

We are also warned by inspiration that if we continue to lower God’s standard of truth, then we will enjoy peace with the “dragon.” But when we hold high our banner of truth and unfold its message to the world, the wrath of the dragon will become manifest:

“It is because the saints are keeping all ten of the commandments that the dragon makes war upon them. If they will lower the standard and yield the peculiarities of their faith, the dragon will be at peace; but they excite his ire because they have dared to raise the standard and unfurl their banner in opposition to the Protestant world, who are worshiping the institution of the papacy.” (Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 223).

The decision to send our students to Catholic institutions and promote this propaganda on social media will be seen as a positive step on the part of Rome. This is helping to heal divisions within the ecumenical family. The more we lower our standard of truth and the more we send our youth to receive special training and care from Rome, the faster we will strengthen the ties of interfaith unity and cooperation.

Unfortunately, many Seventh-day Adventist leaders and brethren will see this as a good thing. Tragically, this is just another example of how the church is being sold down the river without a paddle and is “drifting away to sea, without chart or compass” (Review and Herald, July 24, 1888).

Sources

[1] https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1944/04/the-subtle-inroad-of-scholasticism