MURKY BEGINNINGS

Today’s Catholics have been led to believe the Charismatic Renewal is a movement of the Holy Spirit. They failed to grasp that this so called renewal is nothing more than catholicized Pentecostalism.

There are Catholics who are unaware of Pentecostal history or that it began with heretical sects. Or they may have heard about "Azusa Street" or about the so called "Pentecostal contribution", but after a while the information gets normalized, particularly when the movement is endorsed by the Catholic clergy. And even though these same people would be scandalized by the goings on at Protestant Pentecostal services, they would not make the connection between Protestant Pentecostals and Catholic charismatics.

But Protestant Pentecostalism is where the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) got its jumpstart. Even though, the CCR has been catholicized and Catholic charismatics maintain some of their Catholic practices, (going to Mass and Eucharistic Adorations, etc) they mix it with distinctive Pentecostal style of worship. Worship styles of course are based on theology, so the differences go far deeper than mere posture, prayer or practice. And even though Catholic charismatics are less outrageous then their Protestant counterparts, charismatic Catholics have still greater affinity with Pentecostals than with Catholics. The outlandish Pentecostal practices may not be the norm in Catholic circles, but they do go on. It might not be perceptible to outsiders, but renewal people are familiar with it.

Even in its mildest forms, charismatism never strays too far from its murky beginnings; the outlandish behavior, the superstition and the bad theology are all inherent components of it. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is not all that different from its Pentecostal daddy; as no apple falls far from its tree. Ask yourself: is this how a Catholic worships God?