Friday, February 25, 2005
HEALING SERVICE IN CLEVELAND
Amy has a blog up at Open Book about the healing service in Cleveland. A reader sent me a link to another news report on it.
Trapper Jack is a rather well-known radio personality. I did not know that he is blind. Ted Henry is Cleveland's version of Dan Rather (before his fall from grace). I don't know the priest, the nun, or the couple.
Healing services at my mother-in-law's parish have been going on for years, though this may be something entirely different from what happens there. She used to attend regularly, but has become somewhat skeptical. Apparently there are some odd activities that include speaking in tongues and being slain in the spirit. She doesn't like to talk about it.
I'm not sure what to think about this new report. There was a program on one of the TV news magazines recently about a faith healer who performed psychic surgery. John of God. Apparently sometimes he is successful, though not always. He was not invoking the Trinitarian God, but claimed that he was just an instrument. Instrument of what?
CCC 2116 indicates that "All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others--even if this were for the sake of restoring their health--are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion."
Does that also include recource to God? This team of four people seem to be seeking the action of the Trinitarian God to accomplish these healings, but the passage in the CCC indicates that other sources can effect a healing as well. I would like to believe that the God we know and love is active in this healing team, but I've read enough to be skeptical. Does God need a channel or medium to work a miracle? This could easily open the door to other aspects of the occult world.
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
