Below are some passages from "An Exorcist: More Stories" in which Fr. Gabriele Amorth, the chief exorcist of Rome, points out the prominent role played by charismatics today in rolling back the work of the Evil One:
1. "In recent years, the charismatic renewal groups have providentially promoted and developed prayers of liberation. . . . I am especially grateful to the charismatic renewal prayer groups for their sensitivity to those who suffer from extraordinary demonic activity and the help they provide to those in need. Their work is all the meritorious since today we rarely find understanding in other quarters" (p. 95). In this same passage, Fr. Amorth points out that, because many of these groups lacked experience, the Church provided them with needed guidelines.
2. Fr. Amorth also notes that during prayers of liberation from demonic spirits "
praying in tongues is allowed, but always in an orderly manner, avoiding all appearance of excitement" (p. 97). If praying in tongues opened one to the demonic, then the chief exorcist of Rome would certainly not allow it when one is trying to fight the demonic.
3. Fr. Amorth also praises the pioneering work evident in the formation of "a spiritual and charismatic therapeutic team that handles deliverance from psychological or demonic ailments" by the charismatic Community of the Beatitudes (p. 118). Some of my readers will recognize that this charismatic Catholic community is the same one with which the great and lucid spiritual writer and retreat master Fr. Jacques Philippe is associated.
4. Fr. Amorth even reports the case of the healing of a possessed man by a Protestant Pentecostal group (pp. 123-25).
5. He also includes an account by a French psychiatrist who assists in exorcisms in which she reports becoming "familiar with prayers of healing and of deliverance and with exorcisms" in "a charismatic movement, Renewal in the Spirit" (p. 139). This same charismatic group is favorably mentioned again at page 182 in the context of a question posed to Fr. Amorth.
6. When it comes to the infestation of objects by demons, Fr. Amorth speaks about the need to use the services of charismatics (pp. 159-60). He even devotes significant space in his book to describing who qualifies as a charismatic (pp. 160-62). He concludes the discussion with these remarks:
Quote:
When an exorcist discovers a true charismatic, or is blessed with the aid of several charismatics who possess different but complementary charisms, he undoubtedly receives great help. I know several exorcists who openly acknowledge they receive valuable insights from a carefully selected group of individuals who support them with their prayer and their ministry.
7. Fr. Amorth also favorably mentions the work of the late charismatic Catholic Fr. Tardif: "I have often watched while victims [of demons] were delivered during Father Tardif's prayers of healing" (p. 192). Fr. Emiliano Tardif was a French Canadian missionary priest whose healing ministry was famous in Latin America; he passed away in 1999. The cardinal from the Dominican Republic, where Fr. Tardif was stationed, has announced the intent to seek his beatification.
Read again the Gospel passage quoted above, consider the position held by Fr. Amorth as chief exorcist for Rome, and consider the above excerpts from his more recent book. The conclusion is inescapable that
only the most irresponsible and ignorant (I assume no malice or influence by the Evil One, although that is certainly possible in the case of slander)
would associate the Catholic Charismatic Renewal with leading people toward demonic influence. The facts show that the Catholic Charismatic Renewal has been on the cutting edge of taking the offensive against the Evil One. So who gains when slanders against charismatics are repeated as urban myths? The answer is clear to me.
Postscript: Another exorcist famous for his writings is
Father Antonio Fortea of Spain. Here is an excerpt from his blog dated Dec. 18, 2006, describing a retreat in Spanish with my translation:
Today, at the end of the retreat, we have decided that we would bless one by one those in the chapel. All have passed through full of devotion and we have imposed hands on them while all sang and prayed. I am not from the Charismatic Renewal, but without a doubt many have received spiritual graces there.
Interestingly, in that same blog entry, he describes the manifest holiness of a particular priest whom I also know. This particular priest (I am virtually certain Fr. Fortea is describing the same priest I know, although the name is not given) made the same impression on me. It's nice to see corroboration. By the way, the priest I have in mind is a charismatic.
