During my late teens and much of my early adulthood I was involved with the "Catholic charismatic renewal" as a member of Mother of God Community. There were quite a few other groups like it throughout the United States. Many of these - including MOG - began to behave as cults. In the mid 1990s, much of that came to a halt. In 1997 the Washington Post magazine put out two issues that delved into the history. Normally I don't recommend anything by the Washington Post but I can vouch for the accuracy of this series - based on my own personal knowledge of events. During 1996 I ended my own official affiliation with MOG for many reasons. One of those reasons was my apprehension of their overemphasis on personal "experiences of God". I still count many of the other members of MOG - current and past - as close friends; they are sincere in their love for God and the Church.
Showing posts with label charismatic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charismatic. Show all posts
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Damian Stayne - Caveat Emptor
First, let me give a little personal background information in the interests of making clear my own first-hand knowledge of what I'm about to relate.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
The Pope's Remarks To Charismatics A Few Days Ago
First a word of "personal disclosure". For most of my young adulthood I was involved in the Catholic "charismatic renewal"; more specifically I was affiliated with Mother of God Community headquartered in Gaithersburg. I am now an "ex-charismatic", to coin a term, and some reasons will be made clear.
At an address to a charismatic convocation in St. Peter's Square a few days ago, the pope uttered this statement: "It is preferable that every service, even in the Church, come to an end. There should be no lifelong leader. This happens in some countries ruled by a dictatorship." IF he merely meant to refer to leadership as found in charismatic groups, I'll be the first to cry "AMEN!" Let me provide a little "history-refresher". During the mid 1990s, many of the charismatic groups, under leaders who firmly ensconced themselves into their positions, claiming divine unction in so doing, became cults (see right side-bar, to the bottom). They utilized thought-reform techniques on their members; most members, not being schooled in psychology, fell victim to these techniques. This was doubly true of younger members; I was among that number. But eventually some members snapped out of it and took matters up with their bishops and the press. This happened nationwide. For Mother of God Community, that saga was chronicled in a series of articles found at Washington Post. Normally I don't ascribe much credence to things proceeding from the Post, but I can attest to what was written therein based on my own 20+ years of first-hand experience. I urge its review, for those who refuse to learn from history will repeat it.
If you read the series, you'll see that the problems stemmed largely from a stubbornly-entrenched leadership. While our situation was playing out, so were several other situations across the country. I'd not be surprised if this happened world-wide. In this context, the pope's remarks are understandable. I do wonder about the "every service" part, for that language does encompass the papacy itself, regardless of intentions. Given past miscues, I'm not inclined to just write it off to sloppy verbal presentation. Was he utilizing a very real problem in recent history to undermine the life-long office of the Vicar of Christ?
We now move to another part of this address. Speaking of the murders of Christians in the mid-east, he says, "If the enemy unites us in death who are we not to be united in life?" First, our enemies don't "unite" us in anything. Their murderous acts do not arbitrate who is Christian and who isn't. What I just said is not intended as a judgment on those murdered, but merely to disavow us of the notion that muslim terrorist attacks determine our unity. Second, how does real unity come about? Through common belief in objective truth, namely, belief in the fullness of truth contained in the Roman Catholic Church. There is no "short-cut" when it comes to unity. We don't just decide to "be united" and lickety-split, there unity is. We Catholics must proclaim the truths of our faith and then others must accept them. Without that, there is no basis to even pretend at unity, muslim terrorists notwithstanding. By the way: in interests of "unity" and "ecumenism" we American Catholics backpedaled from preaching the fullness of our Faith to non-Catholic Americans. That is why abortion, contraception and homosexuality are running rampant through our culture at this very moment.
Pray and offer sacrifices for Holy Mother Church. Until she's set aright, I cannot see how there will be a channel for God's grace in a world that desperately needs Him.
At an address to a charismatic convocation in St. Peter's Square a few days ago, the pope uttered this statement: "It is preferable that every service, even in the Church, come to an end. There should be no lifelong leader. This happens in some countries ruled by a dictatorship." IF he merely meant to refer to leadership as found in charismatic groups, I'll be the first to cry "AMEN!" Let me provide a little "history-refresher". During the mid 1990s, many of the charismatic groups, under leaders who firmly ensconced themselves into their positions, claiming divine unction in so doing, became cults (see right side-bar, to the bottom). They utilized thought-reform techniques on their members; most members, not being schooled in psychology, fell victim to these techniques. This was doubly true of younger members; I was among that number. But eventually some members snapped out of it and took matters up with their bishops and the press. This happened nationwide. For Mother of God Community, that saga was chronicled in a series of articles found at Washington Post. Normally I don't ascribe much credence to things proceeding from the Post, but I can attest to what was written therein based on my own 20+ years of first-hand experience. I urge its review, for those who refuse to learn from history will repeat it.
If you read the series, you'll see that the problems stemmed largely from a stubbornly-entrenched leadership. While our situation was playing out, so were several other situations across the country. I'd not be surprised if this happened world-wide. In this context, the pope's remarks are understandable. I do wonder about the "every service" part, for that language does encompass the papacy itself, regardless of intentions. Given past miscues, I'm not inclined to just write it off to sloppy verbal presentation. Was he utilizing a very real problem in recent history to undermine the life-long office of the Vicar of Christ?
We now move to another part of this address. Speaking of the murders of Christians in the mid-east, he says, "If the enemy unites us in death who are we not to be united in life?" First, our enemies don't "unite" us in anything. Their murderous acts do not arbitrate who is Christian and who isn't. What I just said is not intended as a judgment on those murdered, but merely to disavow us of the notion that muslim terrorist attacks determine our unity. Second, how does real unity come about? Through common belief in objective truth, namely, belief in the fullness of truth contained in the Roman Catholic Church. There is no "short-cut" when it comes to unity. We don't just decide to "be united" and lickety-split, there unity is. We Catholics must proclaim the truths of our faith and then others must accept them. Without that, there is no basis to even pretend at unity, muslim terrorists notwithstanding. By the way: in interests of "unity" and "ecumenism" we American Catholics backpedaled from preaching the fullness of our Faith to non-Catholic Americans. That is why abortion, contraception and homosexuality are running rampant through our culture at this very moment.
Pray and offer sacrifices for Holy Mother Church. Until she's set aright, I cannot see how there will be a channel for God's grace in a world that desperately needs Him.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
New Catholic Outreaches - Due Diligence Required
Let me preface this post by saying that I'm a former member of Mother of God Community (MOG) in Gaithersburg, MD. I was a member for most of my young adulthood, up till the mid 1990s. It is part of a larger movement called the "Catholic charismatic renewal".
Some may recall the scrutiny by the Archdiocese of Washington that MOG underwent as evidence mounted that MOG was engaged in thought-reform. In fact, many other similar groups throughout the country were undergoing similar scrutinies as they too were discovered to be engaging in thought-reform. In 1997, the Washington Post magazine did a two-part series on MOG. I normally do not endorse much by the Washington Post, but based on my own first-hand experience, I'd have to say the Post's treatment was fair, even kind to MOG.
Shortly thereafter, I ended my own affiliation with MOG. Whether or not MOG, as a group, retains cultish characteristics, I've no way of knowing. I remain friends with many current MOG members.
I began to read many works about thought-reform in general, to get an idea of the dynamics to which I had been subjected. I read works by Robert Jay Lifton and Margaret Singer (not to be confused with Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger) and others found in the Cultic Studies Journal website. The information found in those works - and my own experiences - cause me to be rather vigilant to what I recognize as "warning signs" when I come across various organizations. The organizations may well not be cults, but I've learned to trust my instincts and do some "due diligence" - bringing me to the topic of this post.
Some may recall the scrutiny by the Archdiocese of Washington that MOG underwent as evidence mounted that MOG was engaged in thought-reform. In fact, many other similar groups throughout the country were undergoing similar scrutinies as they too were discovered to be engaging in thought-reform. In 1997, the Washington Post magazine did a two-part series on MOG. I normally do not endorse much by the Washington Post, but based on my own first-hand experience, I'd have to say the Post's treatment was fair, even kind to MOG.
Shortly thereafter, I ended my own affiliation with MOG. Whether or not MOG, as a group, retains cultish characteristics, I've no way of knowing. I remain friends with many current MOG members.
I began to read many works about thought-reform in general, to get an idea of the dynamics to which I had been subjected. I read works by Robert Jay Lifton and Margaret Singer (not to be confused with Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger) and others found in the Cultic Studies Journal website. The information found in those works - and my own experiences - cause me to be rather vigilant to what I recognize as "warning signs" when I come across various organizations. The organizations may well not be cults, but I've learned to trust my instincts and do some "due diligence" - bringing me to the topic of this post.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Pentecost Sunday Tidbit
Another discussion website that I look at from time to time had a question about "speaking in tongues", occasioned no doubt by the fact that today is Pentecost Sunday. For grins, here's what I posted. It's just my opinion, certainly open for debate, but here it is, if you're interested.
"I'm going to look at Acts 2:11 outside the "charismatic" box, as it were. The various Jews are admitting that they heard the Apostles in their own languages. Does it then necessarily follow that the Apostles were speaking those languages? No. In fact, given the probable crowd distribution, I think it highly improbable. For instance, let's say St Matthew was preaching to a group. That one group most likely was comprised of several nationalities. They most likely heard Matthew in their own languages - while he was speaking Aramatic! I contend there was a miracle indeed, but the miracle lay in the people's hearing in different languages, not in the Apostles speaking in different languages. By the way, as they recite the various nationalities, I count 16 groups - but there were only 12 Apostles. To me, that's another indication that the miracle lay in the hearing, not the speaking.
By the way - I'm a former charismatic. Been there, done that, won't do so again." (end of post)
"I'm going to look at Acts 2:11 outside the "charismatic" box, as it were. The various Jews are admitting that they heard the Apostles in their own languages. Does it then necessarily follow that the Apostles were speaking those languages? No. In fact, given the probable crowd distribution, I think it highly improbable. For instance, let's say St Matthew was preaching to a group. That one group most likely was comprised of several nationalities. They most likely heard Matthew in their own languages - while he was speaking Aramatic! I contend there was a miracle indeed, but the miracle lay in the people's hearing in different languages, not in the Apostles speaking in different languages. By the way, as they recite the various nationalities, I count 16 groups - but there were only 12 Apostles. To me, that's another indication that the miracle lay in the hearing, not the speaking.
By the way - I'm a former charismatic. Been there, done that, won't do so again." (end of post)
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