Some things just don’t seem
to mix – oil and water, good and evil, pain and pleasure, alcohol and a sharp
mind, Batman and the Riddler, etc.
Another example is different types of churches…
Two Churches
On the one hand, one might
see a large, ornate church building with stained glass windows, filled with
still, quiet members. In the background
can be heard somber (and often creepy) Gregorian chanting. The church is highly ordered and ritualistic,
with members sometimes repeating the words of the priest in typical monotone
fashion. They receive a short sermon
from the priest and afterward they line up in orderly fashion to go up front to
receive Communion.
On the other hand, in a
church across town, one might find a radically different scene. Here, it is anything but still and quiet. There is
the thunder of loud, repetitive music by a group on a stage, perhaps not unlike
a rock concert. After the music, many,
if not most, of them are speaking in a strange language and praying with their
hands raised. Then there is a lengthy
sermon, which often includes shouts of approval from the congregation during
the sermon. Often, there are also people
getting a “touch from God,” creating obvious emotion in them, or they might be falling
backward onto the floor, being “slain in the Spirit.”
As one could possibly guess,
the first group above is having a typical Catholic Mass, while the second group
is typical of many Charismatic churches and events.
Two different churches that
are miles apart in the way they operate.
These are two totally different expressions of faith, yet there seem to
be certain members on either side who
are drawn to certain elements from the other side.
Favor With Rome
In fact, the Catholic
Charismatic Renewal (CCR) has been acknowledged and supported (or at least received positive mention) by Pope Paul VI, Pope John
Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.
Many Catholics think that the
Charismatic Movement is not only compatible with Catholicism, but it also helps
to strengthen them in their Catholicism!
According to Walter Martin’s Cult/Occultic Orthodox Christian Full
Apologetic & Expositional Studies, (online) Cardinal Manning of Los
Angeles is known to have said:
"Anyone who has become a
genuine Charismatic, to my knowledge, has become a better Catholic” (Charismatic Renewal for Catholics, 1976, p.
48).
See here:
“This then is the diagnosis
of those involved in the CRM [Charismatic Renewal Movement]… In practical terms
the benefits to the [Catholic] Church have already been immense in that
thousands of lukewarm Catholics, have been released of their spiritual paralysis
and have found new life and a deeper
appreciation of their faith [i.e., Catholicism]… Unanimously, people report
a greater appreciation of the sacraments,
especially the Mass, as meaningful encounters with Christ, the Real Presence
and the role of Mary.” John V. McHale, The
Charismatic Renewal Movement, pp. 262-263, The Furrow, Volume 24, May 1973 (Emphasis added).
The following five quotes are
all from Robert Hogan’s “Mary and the
Catholic Charismatic Renewal” (online):
“Another man, Audrey Guillet,
explained the effects of being baptized in the Spirit in his life: ‘Not only do
I have a tremendous new interest in Scripture but also my childhood devotion to Mary has returned, with the daily recitation of the rosary with my
parents.’” (p. 248 – Emphasis added)
“[George] Montague began by
directly confronting the ecumenical tension.
He explained that the Pentecostal experience among Catholics has seemed
to help in reviving Marian devotion.
(p. 307 – Emphasis added)
“[Vincent M.] Walsh mentioned
Lourdes and Fatima to help demonstrate that the Church has affirmed the
legitimacy of healing ministry. He also
noted how involvement in CCR reawakens an appreciation of traditional practices
such as the rosary.” (p. 254 – Emphasis
added)
Hogan speaks of a book, Power in Penance, written by priest
Michael Scanlon: “The book described how Scanlon’s experience in CCR helped him
to realize, in a deeper way than he had known before his involvement in CCR,
the power of God available for reconciling and bringing Christ’s healing to
people through the Sacrament of Penance.”
(p. 243 – Emphasis added)
Hogan also says of priest /
author Simon Tugwell, “His only other citation on Mary was to say that
involvement in CCR leads to an increased
devotion to Mary in many cases.” (p. 255 – Emphasis added)
Red Flags?
Ok, so according to these
quotes, the Charismatic Movement has helped many Catholics “become better
Catholics,” increased their devotion to the Sacraments, the Mass, and the Real
Presence,” “revived Marian devotion,” and has given them a “deeper
appreciation” for the Sacrament of Penance and the rosary.
My (Protestant) Charismatic
friends, does this not raise a red flag for you? Does this not bother you in the least? Are you not aware of the abundant errors of
the Catholic Church? Don’t you find it
strange that your own “biblical” teachings and your “Holy Spirit manifestations”
are causing Catholics to be “more Catholic”?
Where is the discernment? This
“spirit” which you both embrace is not the Holy Spirit of Scripture, but another spirit (2 Corinthians 11:4). We
also suspect that the Catholic Church is taking full advantage of this
opportunity to push the Ecumenical Movement, as well. They want to join with their “separated
brethren” in a one-world church (Revelation 13:8, 16-17).
Charismatic Issues
As most of our regular
readers already well know, I have strong issues concerning many of the Catholic
Church’s teachings. That’s why this blog
was created. But I also have some
serious issues with Protestant Charismatic groups, as well, at least with some of them. In fact, I just recently started a brand new
blog on this very topic to deal with those issues that I believe to be unscriptural
in the Charismatic Movement. The new
blog can be found here:
But I want to be clear that I
am not against all Charismatic
churches, since they don’t all teach the same things, or all operate in the
same way. But it is obvious that both
the Catholic Church and the Charismatic churches (in general) have some truth
and some hazards.
Conclusion
This article is intended to
be more of a rebuke toward Charismatics, rather than toward Catholics. The abuses in this group are a growing
problem. Not only are these harmful doctrines
and activities overflowing into the Catholic Church, but America seems to be
exporting these same corruptions to many other nations. In the Catholic Church alone, there were over
160 million members in 2013:
No doubt, that number is
greater today. So, with its growing
influence in mind, the Charismatic Movement, as a whole, has some serious issues,
which include encouraging and solidifying the errors of the Catholic Church.
This relationship between
these strange bedfellows is not good news.
In this union, they are not helping themselves, each other, or the
church of Jesus Christ, in general. So, Houston,
we have a problem… and the problem is not just
the Catholic Church.
