Well, though our pastor doesn't seem to "endorse" Charismatic agendas, he has allowed some rather interesting abuses to continue until the bishop intervened. I fear that my complaint via email may have provoked the investigation across the wider diocese. Either that or coincidentally someone else complained enough to provoke the research of EMHCs "blessing" communicants that do not receive - if that makes sense. I am an EMHC, not because I'm comfortable with doing it completely, but because of my reverence for the Eucharist and understanding of the intent behind their use. I get it, but I don't get it when EMHCs unecessarily try to draw attention with these enormously exagerated postures of raising the Eucharist above their head and saying with profound dramatic voice inflections "Thheeeee BODdddddyyy of CHriiiiiiiissssssst!". This along with other similar abuses really crawls under my skin. My personal belief, of my own authority
, lends to my huge question: "if we are so short of priest needing help communing the faithful, then why not ordain more deacons or allowed married priests. If the standards were elevated, as they should, then why not allow orthodox Catholic married men to study for the priesthood? I used to beleive it would prevent all of these abuses because an experienced father would have a little sanity about him after raising his own children... hopefully. It was a couple of Orthodox priests that lectured me, more like mentored me, into the errors of my thinking. So I conceded to continue in the Latin Rite, and accept the teachings without dissent. I am seeing evidence that even the bishops of the so called Roman Catholic Church are revealing the possibility of Catholics historically "over interpretting" actions and intentions... similar to the VCII "spirit of Vatican II" experience.
Example: Hearing converts discuss more deeply the issues they had helped me to understand more of the objections I had towards the OHCAC. Infant baptism, celibate only priesthood, confession/absolution, confirmation, grace/faith/works debate, hierarchy, symbol/icon/statue use, rosary, Theotokos, New Adam/New Eve, original sin, real presence, etc. Many of these issues I can just feel the rejection. But I'd argue that those that cringe at things like "original sin" really don't understand the actual teaching on the subject. I think that many priests in the past were more concerned at showing off their ability to engage in flamboyant theological discussions, but failed miserably at conveying the real meaning of such subjects.
Most all of the "Charismatic" priests I've known are no longer practicing priests. The irony is that Carry Landry's music is still included in mass. No offense, but even though I grew up on his music, I loath it in the context of mass. I have pics of him from charismatic renewal retreats at Franciscan University in my youth. He was a pastor in a college campus parish where I attended. My aunt knew him pretty well. She's still charismatic. She also attends an Assemblies of God church as well as Catholic Church. I know other charismatics that have also dissented into such illicit behavior. One of those charismatic priest presided over my father and stepmother's illicit wedding cerimony, thus really messing my father up even more. Not having grown up Catholic I didn't understand what happened until I grew up. It seemed to me that a collection of priests who were all cousins were quite committed to doing illicit things. Only one remains a priest and hasn't returned my messages. He probably lives in fear now that he knows I turned in his other cousin that made a pass on me.
I don't want to dump the entire priest scandal on the Charismatic movement. But since it's all I knew about Catholicism growing up, it just draws conclusions towards that concept. I haven't heard one scandal yet from the Orthodoxy Church. I'm sure there's dirt in there somewhere because of human nature. But with the illicit dissent in the Catholic Church taking place, the sexual scandals just pop out of the pages of the paper much worst. Either that or there is an effective campaign going on that makes the issue seem much less than it could be. I don't know.
My personal experience with the Charismatic Movement is that it is a false expression of Christ - my opinion. But, I wouldn't publicly come out of the pews to take such a stance knowing the possible character assassinations that would follow. Been there. I've seen too many people fake tongues and falling on the ground. Those that engaged in it are mostly now fallen away completely, living sexually immoral lifestyles, or practicing dual religions. Most. Only a few have let go of the past to engage in more orthodox beliefs. With all of the massive confusion my hope is that God has mercy on us all as we all deserve death.
