What is the official Vatican view point on Private Revelation like those of Christina Gallagher and/or Barnabas Nwoye? I know several people who believe in the revelations and recite special prayers.
I have reviewed the prayers like the Chaplets of Precious Blood and it seems to be harmless. The material that I have read also seems harmless; however, the prayer houses of Christina Gallagher seems a little odd. Why would Jesus have people go to a special prayer house for salvation and not a Catholic Church.
On the defense of the prayer houses the mass and confessions are is done by Priest that are in good standing with the Church.
Any comments.
People like Christina Gallagher and/or Barnabas Nwoye should be thoroughly researched before getting involved with them:
Go to
catholicplanet.com/apparitions/false02.htm and read a skeptics view of Christina Gallagher…then go to:
catholicplanet.com/apparitions/false33.htm and read a review on Nwoye.
Whether you agree with Catholic Planet or not the reviews point out areas where the claims of both of these "
seers"conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Church. You can then verify if any of the criticisms by checking with your priest, the CCC, etc. Keep in mind God cannot be wrong and cannot lie so anything these people say that conflict with accepted Church teachings means they are not from God. After reading the reviews I am skeptical. Assuming they have accurately represented what these two “seers” claim it is quite apparent they are not from God. In fact, they should be selling snake oil.
My parish recently brought in the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King founded by Ann a lay apostle. Ann claims that after she and her daughter visited Medugore she began to receive messages from Mary and Jesus. And like Christina she began to publish these messages in the ‘first person’. Ann claims to be in daily contact with Jesus and Mary and writes messages on just about everything. They are light spiritual messages about praying etc. etc. I was invited to join a discussion group centered on her writings. So I read one of her books. After doing so I was very skeptical, I simply did not accept that the Lord or Mary would speak in the manner represented so I declined to join the group.
When the Parish decided to bring in her representatives to put on a week end about her Lay Apostolate I decided to take another look. I read her pamphlet on Purgatory. She claims Jesus has taken her to Purgatory several times and it is a wonderful place. Writing in the first person of Jesus Christ the pamphlet claims there will be no physical suffering in Purgatory. This is just plain false. I did research on Ann and what the Church, saints etc. teach on Purgatory. In St. Thomas’ Summa Theologica he makes it plain the those who go to Purgatory will suffer pain of the loss and pain of the senses. Pain of loss because we desire the Beatific Vision but are denied it while in purgatory and pain of the senses through fire. This view is held by many many other saints, the CCC, the Purgatory Museum of Rome and the many priests and advisors I asked. So the bottom like is this…Since Jesus cannot err or lie then it stands that Ann must be doing one, the other or both. The Church teaches that we are not obligated to believe private revelation and the Church will only rule that apparitions e.g. Fatima, Lourdes etc. are worthy of belief. They make this ruling only after conducting a full investigation.
Here’s some other information I learned about Ann:
Her real name is Catherine Anne Clark.
She is from Chicago, Illinois.
She has a degree in Criminal Justice and Counseling
She is once divorced.
She claims to have been an abused wife.
She wrote a book called “The Unbreakable Vow” regarding abusive marital relationships.
She began a 'Domestic Violance Prevention"
She remarried and moved to County Cavan in Ireland.
She has 6 children, one by her first husband and 5 by her second husband.
She began receiving messages from Jesus and Mary after visiting Medjugorje.
Her messages are very similary to those from the Medjugorje “seers”.
Her work and writings have not been approved by the church.
Her writings are unremarkable as they contain no prophesy, no warnings, etc.
The only imprimatur she has was given by a 75 year old Bishop in the Phillipines.
Her ordinary in Ireland only says of her works, “In so far as I am able to judge, she is orthodox in her writings and teaching. Her spirituality and the spiritual path that she proposes to those who wish to accept it are in conformity with the teachings of the Church and of the great spiritual writers of the past and present.”
As you can see from the above there are many questions about Ann and until they are answered people should be cautious.
Interestingly enough Catholic Planet found Ann to be reliable and trustworthy which I do not accept based upon the above. Go to
catholicplanet.com/apparitions/true16.htm for their write up. I disagree with Catholic Planet because I believe her writings on Purgatory are false and conflict with Church teaching.
The fact that priests are involved in these movements is not proof they are worthy of belief. Keep in mind that there has been substantial controversy someof the priests involved in Medjugorje and that Medjugorje is not approved by the Church as worthy of belief.
I will remain separate from these kind of people until the Church speaks on them. I frankly doubt that Medjugorje, Ann a lay apostle, Christina or Barnabus will find Church approval. I will instead focus on approved sites which are numerous. Recently the Church approved the appearances of Our Lady at Champion, Wisconsin, I plan to visit Champion next year.
God Bless,
Mike Malone
is I now do not believe in Christina Gallagher, Joe Cole, and quite a few other unmentionables.
does God do partial healings.