"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
(Matthew 15:8-9)
Return Ticket to Rome
For some little while, I've been trying to sound a warning here on this blog about the ecumenical movement, whose main umbrella organization in the UK is Churches Together, or CYTUN (Welsh for 'Agreed') as it presents itself here in Wales. The consequences for any church, no matter how theoretically independent, of aligning itself in agreement with these bodies are ultimately catastrophic!
In the interests of a supposed unity of Christian purpose, doctrinal differences are vigorously suppressed in favour of perceived common ground, and for the common good which is in reality the common bad! The common very bad indeed! There's only one ultimate destination for all who are journeying by the ecumenical road-map. As the old saying would have it, "all roads lead to Rome!"
I want to focus here, however, on something which while being very much joined at the hip to ecumenism, is a specific ecclesiastic movement within the Roman Catholic Church itself, having its own distinct identity, structure and leadership. That movement is:
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR)
Many, perhaps even a majority of evangelical Protestant Christians, will have never even heard of it. And if they have, there's a very good chance that they have absolutely no idea of just how large, powerful and influential this movement is, and on a truly international level. And it has massive implications for all of us who follow "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints," in these perilous Last Days as our Lord's return fast approaches!
The CCR in Wales
No corner of the vast global empire that is the Roman Catholic Church is untouched by this momentum-gathering movement. Looking first at Wales, which is my wont, it is evident that the CCR is indeed very active here, with a 'National Service Committee for Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Wales - Catholic Renewal In the Spirit of Pentecost.' This long-winded title is conveniently condensed to the acronym 'CRISP!'
CRISP oversees Diocesan Teams in all three of the Catholic dioceses having jurisdiction over Wales, these being Cardiff, Menevia and Wrexham. Additionally there are CCR prayer groups meeting in local RC churches in Cardiff, Carmarthen, Chepstow, Mumbles and Swansea. This month, they will be holding their 'Renewal Weekend Conference' in Carmarthen in a repeat of last year's get-together, from Friday 22nd. August to Sunday 24th. August. Another notable event of theirs back in May was 'Celebrate Wales 2014' in Cardiff, at which it might be well observed that Pastor Clyde Thomas of Victory Church in Cwmbran, scene of the sham "Welsh Outpouring" was a key speaker, which tells a whole sad story in itself!
It is important to note that the National Service Committee is at pains to stress that:
In other words, their activities have the thumbs-up from the highest ranking RC leaders in the land. If this surprises, it shouldn't, for the CCR as a whole has for quite some time operated with the blessing of the main man of Catholicism himself, the Bishop of Rome.
Origins and Endorsement of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal
It was actually as long ago as 1967 that the Charismatic Renewal was first evidenced in a Roman Catholic context. In Protestant circles, the equivalent movement had already begun several years earlier, but its embracing as a distinctly Catholic phenomenon can be traced to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following a retreat held in February 1967 by a number of faculty members and students. From there, the phenomenon spread to the University of Notre Dame near South Bend in Indiana. Leo Joseph Cardinal Suenens, one of four moderators of the Second Vatican Council, gave the CCR its first major endorsement from one of Catholicism's "top dogs." And it has marched forward triumphantly ever since.
Consider things like stigmata, weeping statues/paintings and Marian apparitions, of which things there have been reports aplenty.
Apparitions of Mary, of which the most (in)famous are probably those at Lourdes and Fatima, have been reported far and wide for centuries. A most significant current such occurrence is that at Medjugorje in Bosnia-Hercegovina. There, it is claimed, Mary appears DAILY to certain "visionaries" (who are six in number) and she has done so for nearly three decades! And these visitations are far from being the only supernatural events reported to occur at this location. There are spectacles like the fire that raged but consumed nothing, and the word MIR, which is Croation for PEACE, being written in the sky. There are many reports of seeing the sun spinning, and of rosaries turning gold. (A neat Catholic twist on Protestant Charismatics' amalgam fillings turning gold!)
Stigmata, i.e. the bearing of a duplication of the wounds of Christ on the Cross, have of course long been a mystical phenomenon associated with pious Roman Catholics. Francis of Assissi is credited with being the first stigmatic, and there have been countless examples ever since, most actually being women. The most well-known of modern-day stigmatics is probably Padre Pio (1887-1968), but a notable contemporary example is the Croatian priest, Father Zlatko Sudac.
We can refer also to the various claims of levitation amongst RC notables, a feat associated with the likes of Francis of Assissi and Padre Pio of stigmata fame, and the Franciscan mystic friar Joseph of Cupertino. Another noted RC mystic, the Spanish nun Teresa of Avila, is also said to have levitated, along with Saint Alphonsus Liguori who is also claimed to have exhibited bilocation. Being in two places at the same time is also attributed to fellow floater Saint Martin de Porres and, well, you might have guessed it... Padre Pio! Powers of bilocation, as well as the exhibition of stigmata and the gift of alleged prophecy, are also attributed to the aforementioned Zlatko Sudac .
The CCR in Wales
No corner of the vast global empire that is the Roman Catholic Church is untouched by this momentum-gathering movement. Looking first at Wales, which is my wont, it is evident that the CCR is indeed very active here, with a 'National Service Committee for Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Wales - Catholic Renewal In the Spirit of Pentecost.' This long-winded title is conveniently condensed to the acronym 'CRISP!'
CRISP's occultic inverted dove and sun rays symbol.
Ordo Templi Orientis' symbol. Shall we play 'Snap?'
It is important to note that the National Service Committee is at pains to stress that:
"All that we do, all that we support, all that we sponsor is under the authority of the Catholic Bishops of Wales."
Origins and Endorsement of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal
It was actually as long ago as 1967 that the Charismatic Renewal was first evidenced in a Roman Catholic context. In Protestant circles, the equivalent movement had already begun several years earlier, but its embracing as a distinctly Catholic phenomenon can be traced to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following a retreat held in February 1967 by a number of faculty members and students. From there, the phenomenon spread to the University of Notre Dame near South Bend in Indiana. Leo Joseph Cardinal Suenens, one of four moderators of the Second Vatican Council, gave the CCR its first major endorsement from one of Catholicism's "top dogs." And it has marched forward triumphantly ever since.
But let's pause for a moment, and carefully consider the fact that Roman Catholicism and "Signs and Wonders" have actually been intrinsically linked for centuries past. The Charismatic Renewal has in effect simply given a contemporary feel and expression to an age-old belief in mystical phenomena, which have been held in awe by generations of Roman Catholics the world over, right through to the present day.
Historical "Signs & Wonders" in Roman Catholicism
Jesus was definite and blunt in His own declaration about people's desire to see "signs" from God:
"But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas."
(Matthew 12:39)
Clear enough? Well, obviously not, if you are an integral part of such "an evil and adulterous generation" and trust to Rome's counterfeit Christianity!
If NO sign shall be given by God to just such a generation, then if "signs" are being perceived, who then is the originator of such things? Well, look no further than the one who still likes to appear as an angel of light, the 'father of lies' who uses every trick in his wicked book to deceive people into following a false lead, and adopting a totally illusory perception of what constitute the things of God.
Consider things like stigmata, weeping statues/paintings and Marian apparitions, of which things there have been reports aplenty.
Reported "weeping" Mary statue in Israel, 2/2014...
and another in Indiana, USA, 4/2014.
The noted Padre Pio's stigmata. (One slight problem, though... Jesus was nailed to the Cross through the wrists, not the palms... Artistic licence, perhaps?)
5 million pilgrims flock to Lourdes every year! A roaring trade in souvenir rosaries!
Apparitions of Mary, of which the most (in)famous are probably those at Lourdes and Fatima, have been reported far and wide for centuries. A most significant current such occurrence is that at Medjugorje in Bosnia-Hercegovina. There, it is claimed, Mary appears DAILY to certain "visionaries" (who are six in number) and she has done so for nearly three decades! And these visitations are far from being the only supernatural events reported to occur at this location. There are spectacles like the fire that raged but consumed nothing, and the word MIR, which is Croation for PEACE, being written in the sky. There are many reports of seeing the sun spinning, and of rosaries turning gold. (A neat Catholic twist on Protestant Charismatics' amalgam fillings turning gold!)
Stigmata, i.e. the bearing of a duplication of the wounds of Christ on the Cross, have of course long been a mystical phenomenon associated with pious Roman Catholics. Francis of Assissi is credited with being the first stigmatic, and there have been countless examples ever since, most actually being women. The most well-known of modern-day stigmatics is probably Padre Pio (1887-1968), but a notable contemporary example is the Croatian priest, Father Zlatko Sudac.
We can refer also to the various claims of levitation amongst RC notables, a feat associated with the likes of Francis of Assissi and Padre Pio of stigmata fame, and the Franciscan mystic friar Joseph of Cupertino. Another noted RC mystic, the Spanish nun Teresa of Avila, is also said to have levitated, along with Saint Alphonsus Liguori who is also claimed to have exhibited bilocation. Being in two places at the same time is also attributed to fellow floater Saint Martin de Porres and, well, you might have guessed it... Padre Pio! Powers of bilocation, as well as the exhibition of stigmata and the gift of alleged prophecy, are also attributed to the aforementioned Zlatko Sudac .
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Cupertino-man!
The essential point I'm making here is that for many centuries Roman Catholics have been primed to believe in and be in absolute and unquestioning awe of "signs" and of "wonders." In this 21st. century, things are really no different. It is very much a case of "same old, same old," just business as usual with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal: Signs & Wonders? Yep, bring 'em on! We just love 'em!
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal today
So just what is the current state of play as regards Charismania in the Catholic Church? The movement has made enormous strides since its small beginnings in American academia. It is now active in over 200 countries and has in excess of 120 million adherents, with Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and the current Pontiff, Pope Francis all having expressed their approval.
Indeed, on 1st. June 2014, Pope Francis addressed a vast crowd of over 50,000 Catholic Charismatics gathered in Rome's Olympic Stadium, at which event he told them that their movement was begun by the Holy Spirit as "a current of grace IN the Church and FOR the Church." He also used the occasion to invite "all of you, Charismatics from around the world, to celebrate your great jubilee with the Pope at Pentecost 2017 in St. Peter's Square." Hardly an insignificant utterance!
But something else he had to say had huge import for us all, when he proclaimed that "Catholic charismatics have a special role to play in healing divisions among Christians by exercising 'spiritual ecumenism' or praying with members of other Christian Churches and communities who share a belief in Jesus as Lord and Saviour."
There is only one underlying aim in all this, which is to carefully and cleverly create the right conditions that will allow for all Churches and groupings that call themselves Christian to be gathered into the Roman fold, and placed under the spiritual authority of the Pope, the greatest false shepherd of them all!
Bishop Tony Palmer and the Copeland Connection
On 14th. January 2014, Pope Francis met with Tony Palmer, a Bishop with the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (Celtic Anglican Tradition). Interestingly, Palmer's wife is a convert to Catholicism, and their children have been raised as Catholics. He had moved from the UK to South Africa in his teens, and there became involved with the Word-Faith movement via a Kenneth Hagin Bible study group. He then went on to study at Hagin's Rhema Bible College, and later worked for Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Copeland is, of course, like the late "Dad" Hagin before him, an utterly false teacher and one of the chief exponents of the heinous "Prosperity gospel."
When Palmer was invited to work alongside Matteo Calisi, a central leader of the CCR in Italy, teaching in the Catholic Church, it was Copeland who supported and helped fund his new role. Calisi had introduced Palmer to Pope Francis when he was Cardinal Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires in Argentina, the start of a personal friendship which directly led to the Pope's recording of a video message to Kenneth Copeland during this January meeting with Palmer. This was duly presented by Palmer at the 2014 annual Copeland Ministries Leaders' Meeting, where it was rapturously received.
A central reference in Palmer's presentation was to the 1999 signing of the Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification by the RC Church and the Lutheran Federation, which the Methodists also saw fit to sign in 2006. This Declaration proclaims that "we Roman Catholics and Protestants of the Lutheran church believe and confess that by grace alone, in faith in
Christ's saving works and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works."
NOTE WELL A MOST SIGNIFICANT OMISSION IN THIS JOINT DECLARATION. THERE IS NO MENTION WHATSOEVER OF REPENTANCE BEING A PREREQUISITE FOR SALVATION: WE ARE ACCEPTED BY GOD, IRRESPECTIVE OF A PERSONAL DEATH TO SELF. OH YES, WE ARE NOT ACCEPTED BY OUR MERIT, BUT NEITHER ARE WE CONDEMNED BY OUR SINFUL NATURE. THE ROMAN "GOSPEL" IS STILL, AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, FALSE AND DECEITFUL TO THE CORE!
Palmer gleefully announced that Luther's Reformation protest is over, and "we preach the same gospel now." Oh yes? What about transubstantiation (pagan god-eating)... Purgatory... confession to and absolution from a mere man (who blasphemously assumes the Father title as well as the power that is God's alone)... the Apocrypha-containing Bible... praying to statues (graven images)... veneration of relics (necromancy)... adoration of Mary... Papal infallibility... becoming a Christian at infant baptism... being filled with the Holy Spirit at Confirmation... etcetera... etcetera... etcetera... Oh yes, of course we preach the same Gospel now. NOT!!!!!
But this matter far from ends there. Palmer's vision? To "get a whole bunch of evangelical leaders to sign the 1999 Joint Declaration" and to have a formal world wide signing of this agreement in 2017, the 50th. anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. And as we have already noted, the Pope fully intends to preside over this occasion in the Vatican itself!
Any indications that this might indeed happen? Oh yes...
Indeed, on 1st. June 2014, Pope Francis addressed a vast crowd of over 50,000 Catholic Charismatics gathered in Rome's Olympic Stadium, at which event he told them that their movement was begun by the Holy Spirit as "a current of grace IN the Church and FOR the Church." He also used the occasion to invite "all of you, Charismatics from around the world, to celebrate your great jubilee with the Pope at Pentecost 2017 in St. Peter's Square." Hardly an insignificant utterance!
But something else he had to say had huge import for us all, when he proclaimed that "Catholic charismatics have a special role to play in healing divisions among Christians by exercising 'spiritual ecumenism' or praying with members of other Christian Churches and communities who share a belief in Jesus as Lord and Saviour."
* * * * * * *
Guess who was also attending this event? In a special ecumenical delegation was none other than JOEL OSTEEN, who met with the Pope personally three days later, and duly loudly sang his praises and made it clear that he is on board with Francis's message for unity!
* * * * * * *
There is only one underlying aim in all this, which is to carefully and cleverly create the right conditions that will allow for all Churches and groupings that call themselves Christian to be gathered into the Roman fold, and placed under the spiritual authority of the Pope, the greatest false shepherd of them all!
THE GREAT SUBTLETY OF THE SATANIC CHARISMATIC DECEPTION IS THIS: USING MAN'S WISDOM - WHICH, OF COURSE, IS FOOLISHNESS TO GOD - IF "GOD" IS NOW SEEN TO BE "BLESSING" AND "RENEWING" ROMAN CATHOLICS AND EVANGELICAL PROTESTANTS IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AND IN EQUAL MEASURE, WHAT IS TO KEEP THEM APART? THERE CAN BE NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM, CAN THERE? SO UNITY BECOMES NOT JUST A REMOTE POSSIBILITY, BUT AN EVENTUAL SURE-FIRE CERTAINTY!
Which brings us on to now look closely at something truly remarkable and quite unprecedented that happened just a few months ago, which really spelled out the Papal agenda in the context of a convergence of the different strands of "Christianity" into a single entity under Vatican jurisdiction.
Bishop Tony Palmer and the Copeland Connection
On 14th. January 2014, Pope Francis met with Tony Palmer, a Bishop with the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (Celtic Anglican Tradition). Interestingly, Palmer's wife is a convert to Catholicism, and their children have been raised as Catholics. He had moved from the UK to South Africa in his teens, and there became involved with the Word-Faith movement via a Kenneth Hagin Bible study group. He then went on to study at Hagin's Rhema Bible College, and later worked for Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Copeland is, of course, like the late "Dad" Hagin before him, an utterly false teacher and one of the chief exponents of the heinous "Prosperity gospel."
When Palmer was invited to work alongside Matteo Calisi, a central leader of the CCR in Italy, teaching in the Catholic Church, it was Copeland who supported and helped fund his new role. Calisi had introduced Palmer to Pope Francis when he was Cardinal Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires in Argentina, the start of a personal friendship which directly led to the Pope's recording of a video message to Kenneth Copeland during this January meeting with Palmer. This was duly presented by Palmer at the 2014 annual Copeland Ministries Leaders' Meeting, where it was rapturously received.
"The miracle of unity has begun!"
(Pope Francis)
Christ's saving works and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works."
NOTE WELL A MOST SIGNIFICANT OMISSION IN THIS JOINT DECLARATION. THERE IS NO MENTION WHATSOEVER OF REPENTANCE BEING A PREREQUISITE FOR SALVATION: WE ARE ACCEPTED BY GOD, IRRESPECTIVE OF A PERSONAL DEATH TO SELF. OH YES, WE ARE NOT ACCEPTED BY OUR MERIT, BUT NEITHER ARE WE CONDEMNED BY OUR SINFUL NATURE. THE ROMAN "GOSPEL" IS STILL, AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, FALSE AND DECEITFUL TO THE CORE!
Palmer gleefully announced that Luther's Reformation protest is over, and "we preach the same gospel now." Oh yes? What about transubstantiation (pagan god-eating)... Purgatory... confession to and absolution from a mere man (who blasphemously assumes the Father title as well as the power that is God's alone)... the Apocrypha-containing Bible... praying to statues (graven images)... veneration of relics (necromancy)... adoration of Mary... Papal infallibility... becoming a Christian at infant baptism... being filled with the Holy Spirit at Confirmation... etcetera... etcetera... etcetera... Oh yes, of course we preach the same Gospel now. NOT!!!!!
But this matter far from ends there. Palmer's vision? To "get a whole bunch of evangelical leaders to sign the 1999 Joint Declaration" and to have a formal world wide signing of this agreement in 2017, the 50th. anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. And as we have already noted, the Pope fully intends to preside over this occasion in the Vatican itself!
Any indications that this might indeed happen? Oh yes...
One big happy family... in the spirit of antichrist...
The Chemin-Neuf Community, which is a major organ of Catholic ecumenism, called him the "prophet of unity!" Sadly, the word 'prophet' should be prefaced with the word 'false.' In a shameless direct contradiction of Jesus' own teaching, Palmer once declared:
As a direct result of the Pope's message to Kenneth Copeland, a remarkable meeting occurred at the Vatican only a few weeks ago, and hot on the heels of Francis's 4th. June meeting with Osteen (who had been accompanied by the Mormon Utah Senator Mike Lee - Osteen of course believes that Mormons are truly Christians!)
With Tony Palmer again being the lynch-pin, a select group of North American "evangelical" high-fliers met with Francis on the 24th. June. This included "Prosperity" colossus Kenneth Copeland himself, his influential televangelist friend James Robinson, outgoing Worldwide Evangelical Alliance head Geoff Tunnicliffe, and John and Carol Arnott of "Toronto Blessing" infamy!
Back home at the Arnotts' 'Catch the (Hell)fire' Toronto base, they will be hosting a 'United in Christ Weekend' on 22nd./23rd. August, to "talk about reconciliation and unity in Christ between the Catholic and Protestant Churches." Special guest will be Matteo Calisi of the Italian CCR, who we mentioned earlier; also scheduled to attend was Tony Palmer - see the footnote below.
Back home at the Arnotts' 'Catch the (Hell)fire' Toronto base, they will be hosting a 'United in Christ Weekend' on 22nd./23rd. August, to "talk about reconciliation and unity in Christ between the Catholic and Protestant Churches." Special guest will be Matteo Calisi of the Italian CCR, who we mentioned earlier; also scheduled to attend was Tony Palmer - see the footnote below.
As Holmes might have remarked to Watson, "The game is afoot!"
* * * * * * *
Footnote: As this article was being researched and written, the news broke that Tony Palmer had died as a result of his motorbike colliding with a car on 20th. July. Bearing in mind that it is Satan's plan to cause this convergence of apostate "Christians," Copeland published this revealing tribute to his protege:
"We know the devil is responsible for the attack on Tony’s life! He tried to stop this worldwide move of coming together in Jesus as one. Too late, devil! THE BRIDGE IS ALREADY BUILT! IT’S A LOVE BRIDGE—A BRIDGE THAT WILL NEVER FAIL. And, Gloria and I, and all in this ministry, are thrilled to stand strong on THE BRIDGE that grace built—through Tony Palmer. We love and miss you, DEAR BOY."
The Chemin-Neuf Community, which is a major organ of Catholic ecumenism, called him the "prophet of unity!" Sadly, the word 'prophet' should be prefaced with the word 'false.' In a shameless direct contradiction of Jesus' own teaching, Palmer once declared:
"New wine in old wineskins...!"... It is possible, as long as the old wineskin is willing to be renewed and stretch a little."
(Source: Eurochurch.net)
* * * * * * *
I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THE ENORMOUS SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WHORE OF ROME FLUTTERING HER EYELASHES AT THE LIKES OF KENNETH COPELAND, JOEL OSTEEN AND THE ARNOTTS, AND WHISPERING SEDUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS INTO THEIR EAGER, APOSTATE EARS. IT IS A UNION FORGED IN HELL, THIS UNHOLY CONVERGENCE OF ALL THAT IS WORST IN ALL THAT PASSES FOR "CHRISTIANITY" TODAY... ROME IN BED WITH WORD-FAITH "PROSPERITY" PEDLARS AND TORONTO "SIGNS & WONDERS" HAWKERS ALIKE!
AS WORLD "CHRISTIAN" LEADERS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS APPLAUD THE GREAT FALLING AWAY FROM TRUTH, WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING WITH OUR OWN EYES AND EARS - AT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT IN HISTORY - IS NOTHING LESS THAN THE GLOBAL, ALL-EMBRACING, 'NEW WORLD ORDER' CHURCH OF THE ANTICHRIST IN THE MAKING!
"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."
(2 Thessalonians 2:8-11)
