Lynn, you have stumbled onto an intra-Catholic argument about certain liturgical and devotional practices that are commonly dubbed “The Charismatic Movement.” You have a right to feel confused as the issues involved are complicated and there is likely to be partisanship and some dishonesty from at least some of the people on both sides of this argument.
Briefly:
The Charismatic Movement is a broad series of faith initiatives started by Catholics who are seeking a deeper and more powerful experience of the presence and work of God in their real and daily lives. It’s emphasis is strongly on devotion to God the Holy Spirit and the exercise of the various mystical gifts (such as speaking in tounges) that are associated with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disicples at Pentecost, as recorded in the Book of Acts. In some ways it is paralell to the Protestant movement of Pentecostalism, but in theory it seeks to retain allegiance to Catholic doctrine and practice. The laity tend to have a strong role here, although bishops, priests, and deacons can also be found in reputable Charismatic groups.
The Traditional movement, on the other hand, is a series of reactions carried out by those Catholics who believe that the contemporary “way” of being Catholic, as developed in and after Vatican II, is somehow inadequate or even defective. Traditionalists emphasize heavily frequent Confession and Communion, and they also place great value on the performance of customary devotions such as the Rosary or the Stations of the Cross, or the devotions to the Sacred Heart. Traditionalism is opposed to all forms of Protestantism and is a much more hierarchical and formalized religion approach, as opposed to Charismaticism, which emphasizes direct experience. Traditionalism is strongly centered on clerical leadership as distinct from lay leadership.
In the case of the allexperts webpage you linked to, the person asking the question is concerned because he sees the religious practices of the Charismatics he is dealing with mutating further and further from Catholic truth in the name of conforming to false standards the Charismatics find to be more to their spiritual liking, and that empahsize spiritual pride rather than Christian charity for God and neighbor. IF that is an accurate assement of what is happening in that Charismatic group then there is a big problem and he needs to leave before he succumbs to the disease infecting it. Once again, IF.
The person answering the question, however, the so-called “FrMichael”, is a self-apointed “expert” with no proof that he is a real priest, an expert on theology, or even a Catholic layman, and the opinion he is promoting is highly partisan and distorted. He is attempting to paint with a broad brush many different spiritual movements of many many thousands of Catholics, as if they all shared the same sins and failures of some members of the Charismatic movement. This is both dishonest and uncharitable. He is also dragging in a series of outside matters, e.g. the Liturgy of the Hours, which is the sequence of prayers Catholic clergy are supposed to say daily, and which is not related to the Charismatics.
My advice: forget that you read anything from “FrMichael” and don’t worry about the Charismatic movement or Traditionalism until you have a stronger foundation in Catholicism. Work on your understanding of the essence of the faith and your daily adherence to the Law of God and frequent reception of His Sacraments; later, you can take a look at more advanced issues.
God bless.
