its a real shocker indeed, i felt a lil sadden by it even tho I dont know him too well.
But nevertheless he will be in prayers.

Tito, I am for some reason just reading about this story now, it is very sad. I have heard though that, "Bill has been Seventh Day Adventist, Lutheran, Catholic, Lutheran, Catholic, and, now, Seventh Day Adventist." I also heard that his family was not Catholic. I am unsure why the diocese would put a man who seems to change his religion with the seaons in a possition of influence over young people?

"Bill has been Seventh Day Adventist, Lutheran, Catholic, Lutheran, Catholic, and, now, Seventh Day Adventist." I also heard that his family was not Catholic. I am unsure why the diocese would put a man who seems to change his religion with the seaons in a possition of influence over young people?"

Bill did not change his religion with the seasons. He was brought up SDA, he later became a Lutheran (ELCA - and was ordained), and later entered the Catholic Church. That's it. The Catholic Church was the culmination of his journey to the fullness of truth, and he did have an incredible testimony.

When he was hired by the diocese, he had already years of campus ministry experience, with a solid educational background, and what he did with the diocese is amazing and clear, as Tito has pointed out. There is nothing that would have disqualified him from this position.

Those who say that Bill's religion changed "with the seasons" don't have any idea what they are talking about.

Well Alan, even if we accept your more condensed version of his wanderings, that's still SDA to Lutheran to Catholic to SDA, four faiths, for seasons.

Obviously I can't personally speak to the situation in Houston, it sounds like he was a nice guy. It just seems though that when Rod Dreher converted from Protestantism to Eastern Orthodoxy there was a huge backlash and a lot of criticism, yet when this guy who was making his money from the Church and having influence over a lot of young people jumps ship, and not to Eastern Orthodoxy mind you, but to a denomination founded in the 1900's, everyone is saying "back off, it's his choice," implication being he did what is best for him.

Anyway he can do what he wants, I am just sad that the story of his convesion is probably going to be damaging to the Church, I won't be surprised if it is front-cover material for the SDA magazine.

"Well Alan, even if we accept your more condensed version of his wanderings, that's still SDA to Lutheran to Catholic to SDA, four faiths, for seasons."

What's condensed? He left the SDA 24 years ago. That's 24 years out of one man's life. I've only been Catholic for 10 years myself, and I'm only 28. At any rate, the final transition to SDA, which was a shock, could hardly have been known at the time he was hired -- 9 years ago. Myself, I first met him almost 11 years ago.

Yes, it's a shock. He's a grown man, and he's made up his mind. But he's not dead, and it's not the end of the world. So pray for him and for his family. I suggest we not start or perpetuate rumors, especially when we do not know the truth. If we are really concerned with truth, we'd best speak truth when we open our mouths, or type it, as it were. I know it's frustrating to see someone leave the Catholic faith. But our faith is in Christ, not in man. Let us live that.

I don't think that Bill's departure should be a matter of public comment...except...I see from his latest post that he has accepted a position as an associate pastor at an SDA church.

What does this say about his faith when he was still serving the diocese and taking a diocesan paycheck? That's VERY fast.

But I still say hands off until he starts making his Catholic life a part of his public speaking. Which he might - or starts being part of an effort to target Catholics (say, Hispanics)

Waiting to see.

Exactly Anon, I have a bad feeling that "making his Catholic life a part of his public speaking. Which he might - or starts being part of an effort to target Catholics (say, Hispanics)" is comming right around the corner.

He is already starting with the Catholic Church is a harlot. Sad, very sad!

Here is the link

http://billcork.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/posts-along-the-road/#comments

Anna B.

Just for the record, Bill Cork has been posting quite anti-Catholic rhetoric on his facebook website. Perhaps someone who worked with Bill at the Diocese could try to counsel with him regarding this...I tried to, as I went to school with his wife years ago, and was a former Adventist myself, (I am now a Catholic, as is my husband and family)and I was met with what I can only describe as a violent litany about his former job in your diocese, so I had (in his opinion) no right to ask h im to recant his information about Our Pope Benedict, Our Holy Church, or Church History. I do hope and pray that someone who knew him from your diocese can get through to him...please.

I find it quite interesting that for a guy who has changed his religion so many times that with each faith he goes to receives a position of influence.

the whole "back-off and leave him alone" thing seems a bit strange for me.

I will watch and wait to see how deep his conviction is to the new faith. "Anti-Catholic" could just be another way of silencing the concerns of the members of the new (SDA) faith... good cover-up...
but question is what is he covering up?

Well I'm glad I googled William Cork before I went recommending to a former SDA in RCIA that she read his story in When Only One Converts. Bill was actually friends with a guy who was father to a high school friend of mine at the time he first came into the Church. So sorry to find that he's reverted to SDA. I know he'd had some unhappy experiences in some parishes because his wife was still SDA. It's really difficult to be the only one in a marriage that converts (17 years and counting here). I can really understand the pull to be united in that way again.

Yes, it's disappointing. I do not want to fathom how difficult it is for anyone when only one spouse converts. Bill didn't have it easy on both sides of the divide.