April 8, 2009 - Michael Prabhu

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NEW WEBSITE: www.ephesians-511.net
JULY 2009 THE SANGAM INTEGRAL FORMATION AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE, GOA
AN ORGANIZATION PROMOTED BY LEADERS OF THE CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL
SANGAM PROMOTES NEW AGE SPIRITUALITY
[AN ARTICLE IN THE COUNSELING/PSYCHOLOGY SERIES] I. CERTIFICATE COURSE IN PERSONAL COUNSELLING
This was conducted at Sangam over a period of five weekends from October
18, 2008 to December 14, 2008.
The course was conducted by Mr. Clifford DeSilva [contents of the course
unknown. See page 43 - Michael] II. INTEGRAL CATHOLIC FAITH FORMATION COURSE
"Organized by the Pilar Theological College and SANGAM Integral Formation
and Spirituality Centre, with recognition from the Papal Seminary in Pune,
Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth (JDV)," "the Course consists of 25 credits, and
would be completed in two years, starting from 18th January 2009,"
according to the Sangam newsletter volume II, No. 1 of January 2009. The
contact telephone numbers are: 2541188, 2540616, 9370015289, 9890172696.
MY COMMENTS: I cannot say what exactly the contents of this course were.
But, the spirituality of the priests of the Pilar-Goa and JDV-Pune
seminaries is not exactly charismatic or even compatible with Word of God-
based, Holy Spirit-centered spirituality of the Catholic Charismatic
Renewal movement. If anything, they are diametrically opposed to each
other.
Admittedly, one might expect to find good, traditional priests in those
seminaries as everywhere in the Church, priests who do not participate in
the New Age practices and do not accept the liberal and modernistic
teachings for which these seminaries are notorious. If so, where are their
prophetic voices protesting against the errors of these institutions?
What errors? The priests of the Pilar seminary teach yoga, vipassana,
chanting of the "Om" mantra, admit that people who attend their prayer
sessions "do not pray to any specific God," believe that all gods are the
same so "let a Hindu be a good Hindu" etc. See these two documents:
http://ephesians-511.net/documents/PILAR-SEMINARY-GOA.doc and "India: The
Lotus and the Cross": http://ephesians-511.net/documents/INDIA-THE-LOTUS-
AND-THE-CROSS.doc.
For the Papal Seminary/JDV read: http://www.ephesians-
511.net/documents/PAPAL SEMINARY_NCB.doc.
Quoting from the above report, "the Papal Seminary and its
priests/theologians and their associates are actively engaged in the
propagation of New Age philosophies and practices including eastern
meditational systems and alternative holistic therapies which have been
denounced by Rome in two Documents... consequently Catholics cannot trust
anything that is proposed or explained by these theologians of the Papal
Seminary/JDV/De Nobili College and their associates [ashram leaders or
sympathizers]."
Fr. Kurien Kunnumpuram, SJ., theologian of the JDV, was one of the more
vocal defenders of the erroneous St. Pauls June 2008 New Community Bible
that has references to Hindu deities, includes religious texts from Hindu
scriptures and says, among other things, that the appearance of the
archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary was not a historical reality.
The priests of this seminary insist that "the Catholic clergy must
incorporate Hindu practices like performing aarti during mass." Note that
they said "Hindu" and not "Indian" practices. [The Pilar seminary is no
different.]
The above link also provides evidence that the JDV seminary supports the
seditious Catholic Ashrams movement.
So much for the two seminaries with which Sangam is closely associated.
And finally, from the details available about the two other Sangam courses,
see below, "The God in the Now retreat" and "Healing the Inner Child," I am
even more greatly concerned because of the overt New Age connections. III. THE GOD IN THE NOW RETREAT
A Unique Invitation To Integrate your Prayer and Your Life
Dates: Four Consecutive Saturdays starting On 20th June, 2009 3-30 P.M. to
7.30 P.M.
Venue: Sangam Spirituality Center, Miraton Gardens, Airport Road, Chicalim,
Goa
Retreat Experiences: Living in the Present Moment, Spiritual Accompaniment
and Journaling, Individual and Group Lectio Divina*, Centering Prayer,
Praying your Everyday Experiences, Welcoming Prayer, The New Universe Story
*page 58
Resource Persons: Br. Mark DaCosta, Mr. Francisco Dias, Dr. Noemia
Mascarenhas
Charges for the Retreat: Rs. 600. For registration contact: Tel Nos.
2541188/ 09370015208/09890172696
NOTE: SEE INDEX OF
CONTENTS ON PAGE 61
I wonder who among the above the resource person for Centering Prayer is.
On learning about this proposed programme I wrote to Merwyn Rodrigues, CCR
National Service Team [NST] member who represents Goa, two days before the
advertised commencement of the four-Saturday course:
From: prabhu To: merwynrod@hotmail.com Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:16
AM
Subject: The God in the Now retreat
Dear Merwyn, My name is Michael Prabhu and I am writing to you from
Chennai.
I came to learn about the above-titled retreat to be conducted at the
Sangam Spirituality Centre in Chicalim, Goa.
I also understand that you are one of the organizers of the programme and
associated with Sangam.
There are concerns that one of the components of the programme is Centering
Prayer, which is a New Age technique.
As you are a member of the National Service Team of the CCR, you may be
aware that there have been articles by reputed priests in the now-defunct
New Covenant [Charismatic Renewal-USA] magazine explaining the New Age
errors of Centering Prayer.
I write this in the hope that my information about the Centering Prayer
retreat -- with which senior priests and leaders of the CCR in Goa are
reportedly associated -- is incorrect.
I look forward to your early response. At your service in Jesus' Name,
Michael www.ephesians-511.net
I received this response after four days, which was AFTER the first session
of the course was held:
From: Merwyn Rodrigues To: prabhu Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 10:26 AM
Subject: Re: The God in the Now retreat
Dear Michael, Thanks for your mail and the concern you have expressed. I
have noted what you have pointed out and have already forwarded your
message to the other members of Sangam and will personally take up the
matter at our next meeting. Thanks and God Bless Merwyn
From: prabhu To: Merwyn Rodrigues Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 3:45 PM
Subject: Re: The God in the Now retreat
Thanks, Merwyn. God bless you too. I will be happy to be appraised of your
decision. Love, Michael
There was no further communication from Merwyn Rodrigues. See page 19. CENTERING PRAYER
MY COMMENTS: At present there is no article on Centering Prayer on this
ministry's website because it has no real presence in India. Or so I
thought, because I had not come across anyone promoting it in Catholic
circles. But, seeing that the Catholic Charismatic Renewal has taken the
initiative to introduce it in this country, I am hurriedly putting together
a report on the subject from information that I have already saved in my
computer*. Meanwhile, here are a few excerpts from the report on Centering
Prayer:
In 'The Danger of Centering Prayer', Fr. John Dreher, in Catholic Answers,
says "Its techniques are neither Christian nor prayer... It is essentially
a form of self-hypnosis... The technique is not only futile, but
objectively sinful" and involves "the danger of opening oneself to evil
spirits." (This Rock, November 1997).
Catholic New Age expert Susan Beckworth agrees, "The Centering Prayer
empties the mind through repetition of a mantra: it is neither Catholic nor
prayer... Centering Prayer is typical of New Age meditative practices."
Margaret Feaster in The Cross and the Veil [Ignatius Press] and
catholicculture.org:
"In my research on the New Age which I did for the past ten years, I found
that it is not Christian contemplation and that this type of prayer is not
recommended by Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Ratzinger, The Catechism of the
Catholic Church, or St. Teresa of Avila. There have also been warnings from
Johnnette Benkovic on EWTN (Mother Angelica's Network). Johnnette has a
program called "Living His Life Abundantly", and has had a series on the
New Age. She has also written a book called, The New Age Counterfeit, and
devotes one chapter to the problems of Centering Prayer (CP). She
identifies it as being the same as Transcendental Meditation (TM) which is
tied to Hinduism."
Says Catholic writer R.J. Grigaitis, S.F.O., "It seems that Centering
Prayer is really Transcendental Meditation disguised with Christian
language. Transcendental Meditation, by the way, is Hinduism adapted by the
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for use in a Western society, and is not compatible
with Christianity."
Writing in Catholic Insight, John Shea says that Centering Prayer "confuses
the psychological and the spiritual, is consistent with gnostic
panentheism, delusions produced by self-hypnosis, and a Gnostic Pelagian
belief that one can reach salvation by one's own efforts unaided by Grace." In 'Centering Prayer: A Pastoral Perspective'', Fr. Emile Lafranz SJ.,
asserts, "It comes from Hinduism. And it is an attempt to reach an altered
state of consciousness. It is simply Transcendental Meditation in a
Christian dress".
"A.S.Cs are induced either by drugs or by various mind-expanding
techniques, particularly in the context of 'transpersonal psychology*'"
(#2.2.3, Vatican Document on the New Age). *see
pages 54 to 58
So, Centering Prayer is clearly not Christian; it comes from Hinduism and
it is New Age.
Fr. John Dreher says, "I know of an incident where several thousand people
attending a charismatic conference were brought into centering prayer,
again without explanation or choice. This incident was particularly
objectionable, because the priest who was leading