When TheresaCaput, star of the reality show Long
Island Medium came to the Bismarck, North Dakota’s Events Center recently,
there was a small group of people across the street praying against her work. It’s unlikely that she knew we were
there. Neither did the many hundreds who
walked past us on their way to the show pay us any heed.
I expected
that I would be the lone Catholic in the prayer group but saw a woman wearing a
sweatshirt with the word “Catholic” emblazoned on it. I later learned that she
just came into the Church two years ago while seeking help to escape the
occult. (Stay tuned for a future article.)
that I would be the lone Catholic in the prayer group but saw a woman wearing a
sweatshirt with the word “Catholic” emblazoned on it. I later learned that she
just came into the Church two years ago while seeking help to escape the
occult. (Stay tuned for a future article.)
We had come
to quietly pray against darkness masquerading as light. For the price of a
ticket–$39 to $89—around 3,000 had come to see Theresa Caputo, the medium whose
claim to TV fame is her supposed psychic ability to communicate with the
dead. She often gives “readings” which
means she talks to the dead and gives messages to their loved ones still on
earth.
The
TV Show
TV Show
I watched a
few episodes on the Internet to see who Theresa Caputo is.
few episodes on the Internet to see who Theresa Caputo is.
Her personality
and accent shouts “New York!” and the carefully coiffured blonde hair and meticulous
manicure is the image I expected. Viewers
to the Long Island Medium see a woman
who makes people happy and changes lives. In one episode, Theresa brought an
older woman to tears telling her enough personal details about the deceased
husband to instill confidence. Then, Theresa exclaimed that the husband had
chosen the unusual path of waiting for his wife to join him before he continued
his eternal journey. In the meantime,
the widow was to enjoy life and know that he was watching over her.
and accent shouts “New York!” and the carefully coiffured blonde hair and meticulous
manicure is the image I expected. Viewers
to the Long Island Medium see a woman
who makes people happy and changes lives. In one episode, Theresa brought an
older woman to tears telling her enough personal details about the deceased
husband to instill confidence. Then, Theresa exclaimed that the husband had
chosen the unusual path of waiting for his wife to join him before he continued
his eternal journey. In the meantime,
the widow was to enjoy life and know that he was watching over her.
In another
episode, Theresa reluctantly got up early in the morning to join a friend at a
zumba exercise class. Luckily, the TV
cameras went along, because suddenly, mid-zumba, Theresa received messages for
the woman next to her whose father had died in an accident 56 years earlier.
She was told that her father whom she had lost at the young age of 17, was
still looking out for her. After a few
more messages, the zumba instructor got impatient and clapped the class back to
order. Episode over.
episode, Theresa reluctantly got up early in the morning to join a friend at a
zumba exercise class. Luckily, the TV
cameras went along, because suddenly, mid-zumba, Theresa received messages for
the woman next to her whose father had died in an accident 56 years earlier.
She was told that her father whom she had lost at the young age of 17, was
still looking out for her. After a few
more messages, the zumba instructor got impatient and clapped the class back to
order. Episode over.
Theresa
explained to the camera that most spirits will say “I’m guiding you from the
other side,” but whatever they say, she claims it’s all about communicating
messages from the dead to their loved ones here on earth.
explained to the camera that most spirits will say “I’m guiding you from the
other side,” but whatever they say, she claims it’s all about communicating
messages from the dead to their loved ones here on earth.
Not Harmless
Are people
against psychics just a bunch of party poopers?
What’s the problem with sharing kind and loving messages?
against psychics just a bunch of party poopers?
What’s the problem with sharing kind and loving messages?
The first
reason to stay far away from psychics is the First Commandment. “I am the Lord
thy God. Thou shalt not have any gods before me.” Ah, but I’m not
replacing God, you say, she is simply using a gift given to her by God.
reason to stay far away from psychics is the First Commandment. “I am the Lord
thy God. Thou shalt not have any gods before me.” Ah, but I’m not
replacing God, you say, she is simply using a gift given to her by God.
To try to discover the future or to seek communication
with the dead is putting something else in front of God. The Old Testament did
not mince words against the occult. Here
is one passage: “Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son
or daughter in the fire, nor a fortuneteller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or
caster of spells, nor one who consults ghosts and spirits or seeks oracles from
the dead. Anyone who does such things is an abomination to the Lord…”
(Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
with the dead is putting something else in front of God. The Old Testament did
not mince words against the occult. Here
is one passage: “Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son
or daughter in the fire, nor a fortuneteller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or
caster of spells, nor one who consults ghosts and spirits or seeks oracles from
the dead. Anyone who does such things is an abomination to the Lord…”
(Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
St. Paul condemned
Elymas, the magician, calling him “son of Satan and enemy of all that is right”
(Acts 13:8). We are also taught: “But
the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral,
those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be
consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation
21:8).
Elymas, the magician, calling him “son of Satan and enemy of all that is right”
(Acts 13:8). We are also taught: “But
the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral,
those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be
consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation
21:8).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “All forms of
divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up
the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future.
Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and
lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a
desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human
beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict
the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone” (#2116).
divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up
the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future.
Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and
lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a
desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human
beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict
the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone” (#2116).
Messages Misdirect Us
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, (John
14:6). The devil uses psychics to tempt us discreetly away from Jesus. On the surface, the psychic shares seemingly
beneficial messages from deceased loved ones who are always living “in the
light” and are very happy as they wait for their family.
14:6). The devil uses psychics to tempt us discreetly away from Jesus. On the surface, the psychic shares seemingly
beneficial messages from deceased loved ones who are always living “in the
light” and are very happy as they wait for their family.
It seems everyone is happy, regardless of what their lives on earth were
like and their advice is how their loved ones can increase their happiness.
I’ve never heard a message directing someone to read the Bible and go to church
or repent of their sins and embrace the Gospel messages. Does a
psychic ever channel a message that tells someone to sell all they have and
give to the poor and then go and follow Jesus?
Or to get out of their sinful lifestyle?
like and their advice is how their loved ones can increase their happiness.
I’ve never heard a message directing someone to read the Bible and go to church
or repent of their sins and embrace the Gospel messages. Does a
psychic ever channel a message that tells someone to sell all they have and
give to the poor and then go and follow Jesus?
Or to get out of their sinful lifestyle?
People refer to mediums as having a gift from God, yet they never promote God’s
message of sacrificial love or rejecting sin. The devil is taking faith and
placing it into shallow, distorted messages.
message of sacrificial love or rejecting sin. The devil is taking faith and
placing it into shallow, distorted messages.
For a previous article warning
against the occult, I interviewed Fr. Patrick, an exorcist for his diocese and also a parish priest who needs
to remain anonymous. “God is infinitely
more powerful, but no one should flirt with evil,” he said. Over the
years, he has had people come to him after experiencing problems stemming after
dabbling in the occult. His advice is for them to repent and go to the
sacrament of confession in order to be forgiven and renew their relationship
with God.
against the occult, I interviewed Fr. Patrick, an exorcist for his diocese and also a parish priest who needs
to remain anonymous. “God is infinitely
more powerful, but no one should flirt with evil,” he said. Over the
years, he has had people come to him after experiencing problems stemming after
dabbling in the occult. His advice is for them to repent and go to the
sacrament of confession in order to be forgiven and renew their relationship
with God.
“God warns us against it [the
occult] in the Bible,” Fr. Patrick said. “There’s nothing good that ever comes
from it,” he said. “It’s a dimension you have no control over. Evil
wants to convince you that you will have control over it, but you won’t.
It’s always a mistake.”
occult] in the Bible,” Fr. Patrick said. “There’s nothing good that ever comes
from it,” he said. “It’s a dimension you have no control over. Evil
wants to convince you that you will have control over it, but you won’t.
It’s always a mistake.”
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