Chuck Colson died today at age 80. A former self described Nixon hatchet man, he went to prison for his involvement in Watergate. He underwent a religious conversion and turned his life around. After his release from prison he founded Prison Fellowship, an organization that has won accolades for its work in bringing the gospel to men and women incarcerated. He was ever a tireless voice for the unborn and the handicapped, as the video above indicates. In a time of easy cynicism and fashionable atheism, Colson’s conversion was a reminder of the power of the grace of God for those who humbly repent and accept it. The world is poorer by his passing. May God grant him mercy and the Beatific Vision.
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I thought so much of Chuck Colson and gained so much from his “Break Point” commentary. http://www.breakpoint.org/commentaries
He is such a great example of how our lives can change when we turn wholly to God… he took his energy and intelligence and put it to work! plus he helped so many others in their own turn around.. his life is really a study in Hope and Love
I have long been an admirer and supporter of Colson and his Prison Fellowship ministry. His books exploring church-state and church-society issues, such as “Kingdoms in Conflict” and “Loving God” are outstanding and though written from an Evangelical point of view, contain many positive references to the Catholic Church. One of his books (can’t remember which one offhand) includes the story of Fr. Maximilian Kolbe. Truth be told, he was one of several prominent Protestants that I would not have been surprised to have seen “jump the Tiber” eventually. (I believe his wife was Catholic.) May perpetual light shine upon him….
The world is poorer by his passing. May God grant him mercy and the Beatific Vision.
Amen
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I always enjoyed listening to Colson. He clearly had a deeper appreciation for the Church Fathers and Councils than many other Protestants, and I too always had the feeling that he was close to conversion.
May God have mercy on him and may we all meet happily in heaven.