Dr. Frank Beckwith has apparently returned to the Roman Catholic Church. I say “returned” because he was raised a Roman Catholic (his biographical info notes that he had a Roman Catholic education through high school). The reason this is newsworthy, in my opinion, is that he is currently the President of the Evangelical Theological Society (of which I am a student member). The word evangelical has historically been associated with Protestants, not Roman Catholics.
I do not believe Dr. Beckwith has yet published an explanation of his reasons for “crossing the Tiber.” However, his decision is being both praised and criticized by several high-ranking blogs.
Though I am unqualified to speak to Dr. Beckwith’s motives for conversion, I would agree with James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries that it would be most appropriate for him to resign from the Presidency of the Evangelical Theological Society, since when he was elected to that office, he was elected as a Protestant. [Thus whether or not ETS already contains Roman Catholic members is immaterial.] I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this.
Update: I have left comments on several blogs seeking to verify details, including a blog to which Dr. Beckwith contributes.
[HT: Nick Nowalk]