Catholic and Protestant prayer group...Is that wise?
QUESTION? / COMMENT!
My wife is insisting that I attend a prayer group with her where lay people (2 Catholics and 2 Protestants) would pray over me for deliverance from evil spirits she believes are attacking our marriage. They have prayed over her several times. She also wants to have them bless our house to remove the spirits that she can feel are in our home. After listening to your videos and Fr. Ripperger’s teachings on this subject, I have serious reservations about receiving this kind of prayer from laypeople and having them perform a house blessing. I would greatly appreciate your advice on whether I should participate in this. My wife's perspective is this:
My Wife’s Perspective:
My wife has been attending a prayer group with devout Catholics and Protestants who are well-versed in the Bible. She insists that these four people clearly have the gift of the Holy Spirit because they pray in tongues over you. She keeps sending me message emphasizing that anyone can have the gifts of the Holy Spirit, not just priests, and that anyone can receive these gifts and have the power to heal. She has shared numerous Bible verses with me, including Luke 10:18.
My wife also talks about Encounter, where they have healing masses and that is is supported by the Catholic Church. Encounter uses lay people praying over people in their heeling masses.
I have great respect for the four people in this prayer group and know they have sincere intentions. However, based on your teachings and those of Fr. Ripperger about praying over and deliverance, I remain very concerned about this approach.
I’m torn between honoring my wife’s request and following what I understand to be proper Catholic teaching on deliverance and spiritual authority. Should I participate in this lay-led prayer session and house blessing, or are my concerns justified?
ANSWER! / COMMENT!
I was part of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal for many years, I have fond memories of those early years, however, I did discover practices that were not based on Catholic norms and principles and so I left active participation in this movement about 15 to 20 years ago.
I co-authoried a book answering these questions (and many more about charismatic practices). The book is called 'SPIRITUAL WARFARE Q & A for Priest & Laity.' https://jesseromero.com/store/spiritual-warfare-q
Your question is answered on page 5, chapter 1.
Page 159; question 8 and 9.
Page 168, question 13
Page 174, question 14
All of chapter 5.
If you want to know what assessment of Encounter ministries and Unbound, go to a search engine and type in 'Jesse Romero's blog Encounter Ministries.' Also type in 'Jesse Romero's blog 'Unbound ministries' and 'Jesse Romero blog charismatic renewal.
I have a new show on youtube, called 'The Jesse Romero Show.' https://www.youtube.com/@JesseRomeroShow I post daily, I will be answering all these questions on my shows.