February 28, 2000 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The Charismatic movement continues to grow within the Roman Catholic Church. A report by the Charisma News Service for Feb. 17, 2000, noted that more than 1,000 charismatic Catholics attend 55 prayer groups in the Buffalo, New York area. "The renewal is supported by local Catholic leaders, with the bishop of Buffalo celebrating a special Mass with charismatics each Pentecost Sunday."

Since 1967, when the first Catholics in America began speaking in "tongues" and experiencing other charismatic phenomena, the so-called Catholic "renewal" has grown rapidly and has spread throughout the world. It is clear, though, that this "renewal" is not a revival of biblical truth, but is a renewal of devotion to Catholic error. The Catholic charismatic movement is not leading people to the truth, but into a deeper, more dedicated relationship with the errors of Rome. Consider some statements by influential leaders in the "renewal" movement:

"Unanimously, people [Roman Catholics who have had Charismatic experiences] report A GREATER APPRECIATION OF THE SACRAMENTS, especially the Mass as meaningful encounters with Christ, the Real Presence [in the Mass] and the role of Mary" (John V. McHale, The Furrow, May 1973).

"Catholic charismatics are placing more emphasis on their church identity and heritage than ever before. Wherever I go ... CATHOLIC CHARISMATICS ARE REDISCOVERING THE MEANING OF TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC BELIEFS AND PRACTICES, including the sacraments, the Rosary, the Virgin Mary and the saints. ... For years I’ve been telling Pentecostals that the Catholic Church was de-emphasizing devotion to Mary. Now I hear it’s all coming back, with the charismatics leading the way" (Nick Cavnar, "Why Are Catholic Charismatics Getting So Catholic?" Charisma, April 1985; Cavnar is executive editor of the Catholic publication New Covenant).

"Anyone who has become a genuine Charismatic, to my knowledge, HAS BECOME A BETTER CATHOLIC" (Cardinal Manning of Los Angeles, quoted by Priest Finbarr Devine, Charismatic Renewal for Catholics, 1976, p. 48).

"[Charismatic Catholics] HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES DRAWN MORE DEEPLY INTO THEIR CATHOLIC FAITH AND PRACTICE. The Mass and the sacraments have become more meaningful and fruitful. Quite simply, THEY HAVE BECOME MORE CATHOLIC (Derek Lance, "The Dilemma of Being a Catholic Charismatic," Chariscenter USA Newsletter, March-April 1990; Lance is a Catholic priest of Northampton, England).

"Since I have had this [charismatic] experience, MY ALLEGIANCE TO THE HOLY FATHER AS THE VICAR OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD HAS BEEN HEIGHTENED AND STRENGTHENED. My appreciation for Mary as the co-redemptress and mediatoress of my salvation has been assured. My appreciation of the Mass as the sacrifice of Christ has now been heightened" (Cardinal Joseph Suenens, "Charismatic Ecumenism: The Road to Rome," by Michael McCoskey).

Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Suenens (1905-1996) was accepted by Charismatic leaders as a genuine Spirit-filled Christian, but it is obvious that he was not. He bestowed upon the Pope and Mary titles that belong exclusively to the Lord Jesus Christ. He denied the once-for-all eternal sufficiency of the Atonement by claiming that Christ is sacrificed repeatedly upon Roman Catholic altars. This is gross apostasy. Yet, Suenens stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Charismatic leaders for decades. In a show of ecumenical unity, he stood before the 50,000 gathered for Kansas City ‘77 with Assemblies of God General Superintendent Thomas Zimmerman, J.O. Patterson of the Church of God in Christ, and Anglican Archbishop Bill Burnett. Pentecostal Vinson Synan worked closely with Suenens in organizing ecumenical rallies across the United States and in other parts of the world, including England and India. In 1979, over 250,000 people attended these rallies in the United States alone.

These Roman Catholic leaders should be rebuked for their abominable practices and false doctrines. They should be exposed and condemned for leading multitudes to eternal Hell through their sacramental gospel. What does Jesus Christ think of these false teachers? His scathing sermon in Matthew 23 to the tradition-bound, works-salvationist Pharisees leaves no question about what He thinks. Instead of dealing with these wolves as Christ did, though, the gullible Charismatic crowd treats them as Spirit-filled men of God, just because they claim to have had some charismatic experience and have learned to use evangelical terminology. This is a great and terrible evil.

The Full Gospel Business Men’s Association published a booklet entitled Roman Catholics and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It contains testimonies of priests, nuns, and laity telling how they received the "baptism of the Holy Spirit." The result? Now they attend Mass more regularly, ARE MORE DEVOTED CATHOLICS, and appreciate the liturgy [Roman Catholic rituals] more fully (The Catholic Gospel, Vol. 14, No. 1, p. 4).

Another example of the attitude commonly held by charismatic Catholics toward Rome’s dogmas was revealed in an interview Light of Life conducted in Bombay, India. Light of Life is India’s most influential Evangelical magazine. When the "renewed" Catholics were asked if their views of Mary had changed, they responded as follows:

"Nothing has happened to the great Mother of God. SHE STILL REMAINS QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, RESPECTED, LOVED AND VENERATED. But we have a deeper understanding of her position in regard to God and to us" (Light of Life, June 1979).

My friends, the biblical Mary is NOT the Queen of Heaven, nor is she the Mother of God, nor is she to be venerated in any sense whatsoever. "Venerate" is defined as "to solicit the goodwill of a god, worship, revere" (Random House Webster’s College Dictionary). We don’t know what spirit is dealing with these people but it is not the Spirit of Truth. Catholic apologists often warn that it is an error to say that Catholics worship Mary. In so doing they are playing a deceptive semantics game. To worship and to venerate are the same thing, and the Catholic Church admits that it venerates Mary! Nowhere in the Bible are we taught to venerate Mary or to pray to her. That is gross idolatry. God alone can hear and answer prayer.

The Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of Truth" (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 4:6), and it is evident that the spirit leading the Charismatic movement into fellowship with Roman Catholicism is NOT the Holy Spirit.

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The book EVANGELICALS AND ROME: THE ECUMENICAL ONE-WORLD "CHURCH" (D.W. CLOUD) [ISBN 1-58318-058-3] is a diligently researched volume which traces the journey to Rome by Evangelical Christianity. Nothing more plainly demonstrates the ongoing fulfillment of prophecies pertaining to end-time apostasy and the formation of a world-world harlot "church." The Introduction extensively documents the history and apostasy of Evangelicalism since the 1940s. Part 1 answers the question "Is the Roman Catholic Church Changing?" It includes a study from official Vatican II documents as well as from the New Catholic Catechism proving that the RCC has not changed its heretical position on such things as the mass, the papacy, Mary, purgatory, the priesthood, prayers to the dead, and the sacraments. The author also shows that Vatican II and the New Catechism affirm the blasphemous declarations of the Council of Trent. Part II covers "Billy Graham and Rome," documenting Billy Graham's relationship with the Roman Catholic Church from 1950 to present. Part III covers "Other Influential Evangelical Leaders and Organizations and Rome," documenting dozens of popular evangelical leaders and organizations, including Bill Bright and Campus Crusade, Tony Campolo, Christianity Today, Christian Research Institute, James Dobson, Chuck Colson, Elizabeth Elliot, Jerry Falwell, Fuller Seminary, Franklin Graham, Carl Henry, Bill Hybels, Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, D. James Kennedy, J.I. Packer, Luis Palau, Robert Schuller, John R. Stott, Thomas Nelson, United Bible Societies, Jack Van Impe, Wheaton College, World Magazine, World Vision, Wycliffe Bible Translators, and Youth for Christ. Part IV deals with "The Southern Baptist Convention and Rome." Part V deals with "The Charismatics and Rome." Dozens of influential Charismatic leaders and organizations are documented, including 100 Huntley Street, 700 Club, AGLOW, Assemblies of God, Jamie Buckingham, Morris Cerullo, David Yonggi Cho, Paul Crouch, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship, Kenneth Hagin, Michael Harper, Jack Hayford, Benny Hinn, Rodney Howard-Browne, Rex Humbard, Kathryn Kuhlman, David Mainse, Melodyland Christian Center, Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson, James Robison, Vinson Synan, Trinity Broadcasting Network, Ralph Wilkerson, John Wimber, and Youth with a Mission. Part VI deals with "Promise Keepers and Rome." Part VII deals with "Contemporary Christian Music and Rome." Part VIII deals with the subject of "Evangelical Catholics." This section looks at the phenomenon of so-called evangelical Catholicism and charismatic Catholics. The book "Evangelical Catholics" by Keith Fournier (foreword by Chuck Colson) is reviewed and refuted from Scripture. Part IX looks at the many ways "Rome Denies Salvation by Grace Alone." Part X deals with the recent agreement between "Lutherans and Catholics on the Doctrine of Salvation by Grace." Part XI looks at Evangelicals and Catholics Together II. Part XII answers the question "Was Mother Teresa a True Christian?" Did she teach the people under her care the true Gospel? This study contains an interview with a nun who works with Mother Teresa’s Sisters of Charity. Read this amazing interview and learn what this Calcutta-trained nun does to prepare Hindus for death. Part XIII examines the charge that we don’t understand the Catholic Church. 352 pages, 7X8, perfect bound. $19.95 + $4 S/H. Way of Life Literature, 1701 Harns Rd., Oak Harbor, WA 98277. 360-675-8311 (voice), fbns@wayoflife.org (e-mail).