The Perplexed (ex)Catholic (CatExPer henceforth) is going to publish a series of articles in InfoVaticana about the Charismatic Renewal. Great! It’s a fascinating and relevant topic. And very big.
I see that she doesn’t know the topic firsthand, and the author she turns to, the Canadian Kennedy Hall (author of Charismania, 2024), doesn’t know much about it either.
Hall says in his blog: «my experience in the Renewal was really just a brief two-year stint.» Then, Hall says, «at the end of 2017, I discovered the Catholic Tradition through sermons I found on the Internet,» and in another place he adds: «I gave up on being accepted in the mainstream of apologetics or authorship, and decided to join the ‘deplorables’ of the FSSPX and traditionalism in general.» (That was before the FSSPX said it was going to ordain bishops without the permission of the Vicar of Christ).
CatExPer quotes another author who knows much more than Hall about the Renewal: me.
I’ve been in the Renewal for 25 years (in different groups and cities) and for just as many I’ve been a journalist specialized in Religion. Thanks for the trust!
I want to keep collaborating, because I know nothing about gardens and cars, but this matter I know in detail and up close. InfoVaticana readers deserve it. Although she linked to an article of mine in Aleteia, my original article, more complete though now somewhat outdated, is in ReligionEnLibertad.
I warn the reader right away of one thing: if you are one of those who believes that in the Church there has been nothing, nothing, nothing good since 1965 (when Vatican II ended), you can stop reading here and do something useful with your time.
Also if you are one of those who believes there has been nothing good since 1789 (the French Revolution), 1700 (the Austrias die, the Bourbons arrive), the Renaissance (those innovative Jesuits, that printing press!) or the Gothic (that white Virgin who smiles!).
My thesis is that in those times, as in ours, wheat and weeds grow together, as Our Lord already said. Wait for both to grow to distinguish them well: let the wheat be gathered and the weeds burned. The RCC has existed for 6 decades: the harvest can already be examined. I believe that in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (RCC) 99% is wheat and there is 1% weeds; the percentage is small, but since it is such a large reality, you can gather quite a few anecdotes.
I’ll break down 10 ideas.
1) The RCC is very big, the biggest «movement»
Yes, the Charismatic Renewal is very big. The World Christian Database in 2020 calculated that there were 644 million charismatic and Pentecostal Christians of all denominations, mostly in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. They estimated that Catholic charismatics would be between 120 and 170 million. The Charis office in Rome also speaks of 120 million.
Let’s compare with the Neocatechumenal Way, which would have 1 million followers worldwide. Or even with the student body of the 3,200 Jesuit schools (I add those of Fe y Alegría and those of the Jesuit Service to Refugees), which are 1.7 million children. Very big realities… but the Renewal is larger in number and reach.
Jesus had Judas turn out badly, 8% of his apostolic college. And that even though Judas lived with the Lord and saw his miracles! But I don’t see 8% of the parishioners in a normal parish being dysfunctional. I do see 1%, among weirdos, crazies, or outright corrupt ones. A large parish, with a thousand parishioners attending, for example, would have to watch those 10 strange characters.
Well, among 120 million Catholic charismatics, it’s reasonable to expect 1% to be problematic: 1.2 million problematic ones. Normal: where there are people there are problems, if there are more people, there are more problems.
2) The RCC picks up «weird» people, and does well
The Charismatic Renewal is very welcoming, very kind, and especially patient with weirdos. Come to me, you who are weary and burdened… and those to whom strange things happen. The RCC picks up restless people who have been wandering through reiki, esotericism, and stranger places. It picks up many people damaged in their family, or by narcissistic clerics or aggressive Christians, perhaps decades ago.
It also welcomes immigrants who may have strange customs or express themselves more emotionally than usual in Zamora or Soria. To all, some very far from the faith, it receives them in its groups and invites them to Christian life. It’s good, but it’s not the quiet tea club of Miss Marple.
3) In the RCC, veterans and newcomers pray together
In a charismatic group, prayer is spontaneous, people speak out loud freely what they want, within a certain guidance. There is an order (welcome, praise, invocation of the Spirit…) but a newcomer doesn’t see it at first. They pray together, in the same meeting, veterans who have many years of Christian life and novice people who have just arrived, very confused. Many carry things in their chest that they couldn’t express for decades.
So, a visitor might see some peculiar person saying peculiar things.
Over time, veteran Christians sometimes take newcomers out for coffee and fraternally encourage them to improve their lives. «You should leave the reiki, your lover, and that criminal gang you’re in, we’ll help you, God will help you.» What they won’t say is: «until you leave those things you can’t come to our group.» No, in a charismatic group they encourage everyone to come. Even if you’re an atheist or Buddhist! «Come now, come every week to praise with us, just as you are now, and praise God, and God will open paths for you.» One doesn’t become a perfect Christian, and then praise. It’s the other way around, one praises God now, asks for the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit does his work, changes the person’s heart.
4) The RCC is not only big, it’s also veteran
In a few months, in February 2027, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (RCC) will turn 60. The young people who attended its first retreat in 1967 at age 22 will be 82. The RCC has been examined by St. Paul VI, St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Francis, and now Leo XIV. It’s not a modern experiment. It was born just before the Sexual Revolution.
It’s in all countries and cultures, in countless languages, among Norwegians (few) and Africans (many), among Basques, Andalusians, Canarians, Catalans, Colombians, Filipinos… And it has helped many people from many Catholic traditions. There are Dominican, Jesuit, Capuchin charismatics, nuns…
It’s no longer a weird experiment: it’s a proven formula with over a hundred million Catholics. It’s a formula proven over and over in all kinds of environments. And it works quite well.
5) The RCC is super decentralized
As a journalist specialized in Religion, I’m interested in the sectarian phenomenon. The thing is that since the Renewal is super-mega-ultra decentralized, it has no founder or guru or anything like that, it’s quite protected against sectarianism. Quite, but not entirely.
It’s a current like, I don’t know, romanticism. Or electricity. It flows. It has no world boss.
Pope Francis tried to add some coordination by creating the Charis office in Rome, but that’s an office with six or twelve generous people, underfunded, that tries to coordinate at a planetary or continental level movements, group platforms, schools of evangelization, covenant communities, and some other things, in a multitude of languages, with leaders who change continuously.
Grassroots charismatics know their group leaders, and sometimes some regional leader, but they usually don’t even know the names of the national leaders, who besides stay in office for four or five years. Not because of secrecy, it’s that it doesn’t affect them much. The RCC is the opposite of leader worship.
In charismatic groups, regular participation is encouraged, but there is no commitment or vow or anyone is pursued if they don’t attend. No dues or membership fees are usually paid. Whoever wants to goes.
Moreover, the groups have no economic resources or budgets. In Spain, the big national RCCE meeting is financed every year half by miracle, passing the collection among attendees.
There are no «Renewal parishes» or «Renewal schools.» It’s often said that Franciscan University of Steubenville is charismatic (or tradismatic, because they have traditional Mass and also Byzantine), but only because it «charismatized» and there are many charismatic groups there. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if there were charismatic schools, like there are schools of other movements, or traditionalists…
Since the RCC group platforms have no money or infrastructure, they don’t attract corrupt people or scammers. And the rules usually establish a brief term per group leader, maximum two. There’s hardly any room there for sectarian leadership. If there were a little sectarian boss in a small group, the little group would tend to self-isolate and dissolve, it wouldn’t spread.
There might be more danger if the local little boss is a parish priest, a cleric who draws people to himself and not to Jesus. But that’s not a specific risk of the Renewal, but of clericalism in general or the inaction of his bishop. It can happen with a non-charismatic parish priest.
6) A very specific case: covenant communities
Covenant communities are very scarce and anecdotal among Spanish charismatics, but it seems that Kennedy Hall had a bad experience in a covenant community in the US. It seems that the people who told him bad experiences also referred to covenant communities, especially in the 70s or 80s, when they were very novice, young, enthusiastic, and experimental realities.
In the US, when all the anti-Republicans were attacking the candidate for judge Amy Coney Barrett for being a pro-life Catholic, they started talking about her veteran covenant community, People of Praise. Hundreds of well-funded left-wing journalists sought scandals and only found some people saying «I tried it and it wasn’t for me.»
Praise communities usually have their own clergy and consecrated people. The two advisory bishops of the international Charis office are one from Oregon, from People of Praise, and another from France, from Chemin Neuf.
The Spanish bishops rightly said in their recent note on emotionalism that a faith with commitments and responsibilities and action and growing maturity in the faith, with service and generosity is needed. Well, covenant communities precisely insist on that, it’s that their members commit, train, pay tithes, do volunteer work, etc…
But with tithes in communities of a certain size come resources (money, premises, sometimes NGOs) that require management and leadership and structures. And through there, along with generous and dedicated Christians, corrupt or narcissistic leaders can sneak in. Just like a corrupt or narcissistic priest or a gambler who spends the parish funds can come to any parish! It’s supposed to be the bishop who supervises the communities in his diocese. It’s not a specifically charismatic problem.
7) And what do I know about the Charismatic Renewal?
I don’t want to make «ad hominem» arguments (against people), but I want to point out that when I talk about the Charismatic Renewal I do so with much more knowledge than Catholic ExPerplexed and Kennedy Hall with his two little years.
I don’t use a pseudonym, I write with my name, and I don’t mind telling from where I speak. I’m Pablo J. Ginés, I’m 51 years old, I’ve been paid as a journalist since 1996, I’m from Barcelona, I’ve lived in Madrid since 2008. I’ve gone to Sunday Mass almost every Sunday of my life, except some slip-up looking for Masses while traveling abroad.
Around 1997 I started reading more about religion and apologetics. My girlfriend was baptized at 25, and a couple of years later, in 2000, we got married. I was looking for things that would help her grow in her neophyte faith.
In 2001 we went to a meeting of young Catholics, among progressives and dissenters: they only dedicated themselves to criticizing the Church. What a disappointment, what sterility. The following week a parishioner invited us to go to the regional assembly of the Charismatic Renewal. Vicente Borragán was preaching, a Dominican with whom I don’t agree on everything, but he made you love the Bible! And praise, and psalms. Every little old person in that assembly was much more joyful, active, and full of life than all the young dissenters I had seen the week before.
So, in 2001 I started going weekly to the charismatic group in my parish in L’Hospitalet, Jesús Te Quiero. Other days I went to other groups: to Amor de Dios (little old people from a residence) and to Betania (they made songs that are still sung, evangelicals also came). I went to retreats with the Community of Emmanuel (to which Bishop Dominique Rey belongs, the largest of the French-origin charismatic communities) and with Civitas Dei, a community with groups in Colombia and Costa Rica. Also to some with the Ágape and Bonanova groups. I received evangelization training from Ministries of Mary (headquartered in Arizona and supported by a Spanish bishop, missionary in Peru). And I followed the international charismatic press, via Internet and subscribing to some magazine.
Since 2001 I’ve worked as a journalist on social and religious issues. I’ve spent 25 years exploring the current affairs of the Church in several languages and several countries.
Upon arriving in Madrid I went for a few weeks to the Elohim group (very well-known in the capital) and then to the weekly prayer with Comunidad Israel (formerly in Coslada, now in San Martín de la Vega). Without being a member of this tiny but persevering and joyful covenant community, I continue praying with them almost every week, for almost 15 years. In Boadilla I attended several weeks of meetings and prayers with Koinonía Juan Bautista.
I’ve collaborated in Life in the Spirit Seminars in Hospitalet, Barcelona, Madrid, Torrejón de Ardoz, Rivas, San Fernando de Henares, and San Martín de la Vega. I’ve visited groups also in Alcalá and Manresa. I look with interest at what the Fe y Vida community does. At meetings in Toulon, London, and Rome I spoke with charismatics of different styles and countries. In London I stayed at the Sion Community house, I saw healings in Cor et Lumen Christi and in HTB I interviewed Nicky Gumbel. My children have gone to children’s, teenagers’, and young adults’ retreats with the RCC of Spain. And I collaborate with Nuevo Pentecostés, the Charismatic Renewal magazine (unpaid), where very edifying stories and testimonies arrive.
In short: I know the matter up close, and also as a journalist.
Someone might say: «Ginés, you’re too involved to make an impartial judgment.»
On the contrary! I’ve been in many groups, helping, serving, or learning, without ever making a commitment of fidelity or obedience to anyone. In all with great freedom. I have an overview.
As a specialized journalist I’ve known many more ecclesial realities, I can compare. I have the suspicion that journalists have: I’ve seen many scandals in the Church of people who seemed good and I look at things with healthy skepticism.
My part of Aragonese and stubborn blood tends to a certain anarchism. I don’t like being told what I have to do. I’m quick to detect bossy people and leader worship. And I also know how to detect that complacency of «our little group is super special and super good»… especially among those who haven’t traveled or known anything outside their little group.
And with this I say that, sociologically, the Charismatic Renewal is very healthy and necessary. I say that if there are dysfunctions in such and such a specific group, it’s almost always because such and such a specific character has broken very basic rules and that some bishop, or parish priest, didn’t fulfill his duty of supervision and accompaniment.
The Renewal works very well where priests accompany closely but without claiming the spotlight.
8) On the relationship with the evangelical world
The article by the pseudonymous Perplexed asks if «the connection with Protestant Pentecostals of Catholic charismatics, which is the foundation of their spirituality, isn’t that a problem?» And then considers any ecumenism since 1965 and Vatican II bad.
I already said that whoever sees nothing good since 1965 wasn’t worth continuing to read.
That said, for the RCC ecumenism (sincere friendship with non-Catholic Christians, to grow in unity, and pray for unity) is key.
Spaniards, even Catholic charismatics, are not used to dealing with Protestants. But in other countries Protestants are your neighbors, colleagues, friends, and often pro-life activist companions, against poverty, peace builders… that is, Christians who love Christ and the Word. And real people, not internet abstractions.
Protestants are wrong on a series of things, like the erroneous Protestant doctrines of «Sola Fide» and «Sola Scriptura.» But that doesn’t mean they’re wrong about everything. They’re not wrong about reading the Bible, loving Christ, singing Psalms, warning of sin, announcing the kerygma, helping the poor, etc… All that is very good.
I’ve read, translated, and summarized hundreds of testimonies from Protestants converted to Catholicism: almost none came from a sectarian environment. Almost all said «I thank the Protestants who taught me the Word, how to pray, the lordship of Christ, Christian fraternity…»
9) Using things that existed outside Catholicism
The question is whether something that in its origin had a relationship with Protestants can be used.
It reminds me of the enemies of Pope Sylvester around the year 1000: they accused him of using Mohammedan numbers, instead of using Christian numbers, that is, Roman numerals! The thing is that today we all use those Arabic numerals (which were actually created in a Hindu environment). And Roman numerals were also pagan!
«Tuesday,» «Wednesday,» «Thursday,» are names of pagan gods (Mars, Mercury, Jupiter)… can we use these pagan words that invoke bloodthirsty gods? Many Christians died sacrificed to them in games in the Colosseum.
In the 19th century there were entire houses of Anglican female congregations (the Society of St Margaret, the Anglican Sisters of Charity) that became Catholic. In 2009 Benedict XVI created the Anglican Catholic ordinariates, for ex-Anglicans, who maintain customs and liturgy of Anglican origin. Protestant origin of communities that persevere as Catholic.
There have also been entire convents of Eastern Churches (Syriac, etc…) that became Catholic, maintaining their liturgy, customs, etc…
When you become Catholic, you’re Catholic! And the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is Catholic!
If a Protestant invented the electric light bulb and the megaphone, should Catholics stop using these tools because they are «Protestant things»? It’s obvious they can be used, even in the liturgy, although Tradition never said «you will use electricity in worship.»
The question-answer catechisms, to memorize doctrine, are a Lutheran invention from the 16th century! The Lutheran Johannes Brenz invented it in 1527, and Luther then made one for children and one for adults in 1529, and Calvin another in 1541 in Geneva. It’s linked to the printing press, to the ease of getting it to the laity.
When Protestants had been using memorize catechisms with question-answer for 30 years, the first Catholic catechism appeared, by St. Peter Canisius, Summarium christianae doctrinae (1555). He was Jesuit, Doctor of the Church, and is known as «the saint of the Catechism.» Do we scold him, Astete, and Ripalda for using a «Protestant method»?
Now in many Spanish parishes the Advent Wreath is lit. It’s a recently incorporated sign that comes from Scandinavian Lutheran churches, the most liturgical ones.
Another example that affects millions: the pedagogical system of the Boy Scouts, for teenagers, was launched in 1908 by the Anglican Lord Baden-Powell. The Catholic Church didn’t say «this is from Protestants.» Well, some grumblers did at first. But the Venerable Jacques Sevin (Jesuit, his heroic virtues are already recognized) went in 1913 to England to meet Baden-Powell in person, take notes, «examine everything and keep what is good.» Around 1918 he wrote Le scoutisme, étude documentaire et applications and founded the first «official» Catholic scouts in France. Scouts resemble the Renewal in their great growth, adaptation to many cultures, and decentralization. Catholic scouting has helped millions of Catholics in their faith and personal growth (another thing is that in such and such a place the true Catholic scouting is not applied).
So the answer to CatExPer is: yes, the Church has been incorporating some things that were born in other environments all its life.
10) The key to the RCC is asking for the Holy Spirit
CatExPer’s text says that «the foundation of the spirituality» charismatic is in contact with Protestants.
But it’s not true. The foundation is baptism, that is, the Holy Spirit received at baptism (also when baptized Orthodox, Coptic, or Protestant) and that can transform our lives today if again and again you invoke the Spirit and his gifts.
It was already done in the liturgy, but little, and outside the liturgy almost nothing, as St. Elena Guerra complained, the teacher of Gemma Galgani, writing to Leo XIII. St. Elena Guerra is known as «the grandmother of the Charismatic Renewal,» her predecessor.
The only essential thing in the Charismatic Renewal is the following: some baptized brothers ask the Holy Spirit for another baptized brother, so that God’s action as Holy Spirit may be ignited in him, with his gifts of conversion and his charisms.
Cardinal Cantalamessa, veteran charismatic Capuchin and biblist, lists the three elements involved: «brotherly love, laying on of hands, praying… they are non-sacramental elements, only ecclesial.»
And the experience of 60 years and millions of Catholics from all cultures is that God acts! Millions declare that after this «outpouring of the Spirit» they prayed more and better, changed their lives, the Bible fascinated them, God was always close, they could love and forgive, complaints and appearances no longer mattered to them, some even healed from illnesses and traumas.
To the interested reader, I simply encourage you to sign up for a Life in the Spirit Seminar, which have been held for almost 60 years. There are weekend ones and weekly sessions. It has nothing secret, everything is explained in videos on the Internet. You don’t need to be an intrepid investigative journalist. It’s open to anyone and you don’t have to join any movement.
CatExPer: you can too! Go to a Life in the Spirit Seminar, invoke the Holy Spirit, let them pray for you… and then tell us what happens to you. And that way you talk about what you’ve seen and heard in person!