Opinions on Neal Lozano?

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So apparently there is a guy named Neal Lozano who has been around for some years, has a degree in theology from Villanova (a Catholic university), is a cousin of the late Fr. Michael Scanlan who is associated with Franciscan Univ of Steubenville, runs Heart of the Father Ministries and has written books like “Unbound”, which was adapted into a deliverance course which has both Protestant and Catholic versions. (The Catholic Unbound conferences are so popular in Philadelpha archdiocese that they actually sell out.) Apparently Neal Lozano does lots of interdenominational ministry. My impression is that he is not Catholic although I cannot seem to find a website stating exactly what religion he espouses beyond being “Christian”.
Edited to add, we established further down the thread that Neal Lozano is in fact Catholic although he doesn’t seem to announce it very loudly.

I am writing here because someone left a copy of his book “Abba’s Heart: Finding our Way Back to the Father’s Delight” in the Adoration chapel. I read some of it. It was basically about getting to know God the Father better and in a more loving way, and that part of it was fine, except then I ran into a couple statements about Mary that let’s just say did not reflect Catholic teaching. I wanted to remove the book from the Adoration chapel but as someone was actively reading it and had left a bookmark in it with a note to please not remove bookmark, I felt I should not be taking it out of the chapel, so I left it there. The statements about Mary were the type that the average Joe Catholic who doesn’t spend time on CAF and doesn’t think a lot about Mariology would probably just miss or skip right over or think were all right, but I didn’t think they were all right.

I would add that the book in question had a forward and a glowing endorsement from some Jesuit. Can’t say I was too surprised. I don’t hate the Jesuits but they sure endorse the publishing of a lot of strange stuff.

Why do we need this Lozano guy and his writings and why are priests of the Church so enamored of him when he is not teaching Church doctrine?
 
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I don’t know anything about the dude other than what you just said. First time I have heard of him.
 
There is a 2008 thread about him on here but it doesn’t say too much.
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Neal Lozano prayer ministry Spirituality
Hi…not sure if this is the place to post this. I’m brand new to CAF. I have read Neal Lozano’s book, Unbound, and have gotten great hope from it. I am looking to connect with others who are familiar with his work, especially anyone who has attended his conferences. Neal is the cousin of Fr Michael Scanlon of Franciscan University. Neal lives in the Philadelphia area. +JMJ+ The Lilymaid
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I don’t know enough about him to answer your question, but from what I remember, he frequently was a guest pastor at the Baptist megachurch that I attended before my conversion to the Catholic faith.
 
I cannot figure out why we don’t have enough apologists in the Catholic church that we don’t have to be importing material from megachurch preachers. Even if they are related to Fr. Scanlon.
 
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If it is still there next Blessed Hour, slip a note into it about the odd comments regarding the “woman” who Christ created to be His mother.

I call frequently to mind the fact that the serpent is the most subtle of all creatures.
 
Can’t comment on the gentleman personally.

Wrttb, do you know who is in charge of the roster, or if there is a library of books which can be borrowed for adorers time during Adoration - whoever looks after the library? Would you be able to contact this person/s to advise them of your concerns?

I guess if none of the above applies, then you are left with contacting the priest responsible for the adoration chapel.

A thought - the book might belong to the person whom you saw reading it? Then I don’t advise removing it. But perhaps hiding it in some obscure place, if possible?

I came across a condemned book years ago in an adoration chapel too. And as you say, not everyone is aware of all CC teachings, well formed in the Faith, are simply too trusting considering it is in an adoration chapel after all - I think your concerns are justified.
 
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It was definitely a donated book because there was a sticker in the front asking people to pray for the person who donated it.

This chapel is very small and has maybe one or two volunteers overseeing it. It has a very small number of books there at any one time, not a big library.

Is anyone aware of any good Catholic books about learning about God as a loving father, not a stern taskmaster? It might be good to replace it with something else similar that is truly Catholic, if I did seek to remove it later on. Just reading on this forum I can see people struggling with this concept of God the Father being loving, so I can understand the interest in such a book.
 
I like this suggestion, something like “I really liked what this book says about xxx, but I’m concerned about yyy not being in line with Catholic Church teaching.
A book that really helped me was “zzz”. You may want to look into it.”
 
There’s also the possibility I overreacted to the statements in the book, which were a very small part of the book, because I was tired. They could possibly be read in view of Catholic teaching on Mary. They were however vague.
I suspect this was on purpose as Lozano went to a Catholic university and obtained an advanced theology degree. He would try to write something that all Christian faiths could use - sells more books that way.
 
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Learning to see God as loving Father article was written by FATHER ROBERT MCTEIGUE, SJ - but it does mention two books - Fathered by God and The Furious Longing of God.

Or perhaps - A Father Who Keeps His Promises: God’s Covenant Love in Scripture by Scott Hahn.

Haven’t read any of these personally, but the overall general reviews are positive - Amazon/Goodreads.

On my to read list is a book by Peter Kreeft someone else on CAF recommended in the past called The God Who Loves You.
 
I’ve come across his books in the Catholic bookstore that I go to in my diocese. I’ve never read it, so I have no opinion on him.
 
Dr Scott Hahn is a good Catholic writer whose basic theological point is covenantal theology. I have several of his books. Fine author and in line with Church teaching.
 
My wife is a big fan of his… well, not a raving fan, but she and some friends of hers do “unbound prayer” together. She also went to a conference that he gave at Christ the King in Ann Arbor some years ago.

I believe he is Catholic, and, if I remember correctly, he even recommends Catholics make use of the Sacrament of Confession while doing unbound prayer.

That’s really about all I know.
 
If he’s Catholic, I would have a concern about him promoting Protestant deliverance ministry through his Unbound program, because they are calling out demons without the help of a priest.

There is a Catholic version of Unbound that involves use of a priest and so forth.

My impression was that he’s Evangelical. I could be wrong though. I’m also confused as to why it’s so hard to find out what religion he is. Usually it’s stated clearly in the book or on a website or something and it seems obscure here.
 
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My question would be is: Why would Adoration Chapels and Catholic bookstores carry books written by Evangelicals doing Protestant type stuff? What IS Unbound prayer exactly?
 
Neal Lozano is Catholic. He’s just adapted some of his Catholic writings for Evangelicals and other Protestants. That seems to be a trend among a handful of prominent Catholic authors these days.
 
After Googling some more, Women of Grace blog, which apparently knows him personally, says he’s a “Catholic author” to someone else who posted a question asking if he is okay to read. So I guess I had a wrong impression, and he is Catholic.

I was confused because as I said his author bios and book promo materials seem to say nothing about him being Catholic, only that he and his wife run an “interdenominational ministry”. I’m still kind of confused but at least it makes it more okay for his book to be in the chapel.
 
Thanks, Rolfes.

I find it interesting that he does interdenominational ministry; but how can a Catholic author in good conscience teach prayer that directly calls out demons? Even if he’s addressing a Protestant audience. Seems that he should keep in mind what the Church teaches; even when he’s talking to Protestants.
 
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I also noticed that Lozano is age 70, which falls squarely in the middle of the generation that seemed to emphasize ecumenism over Catholic doctrine more often than not.
 
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