Loss of Catholics Seeking a New Spirit

by Letters Editor · May 12, 2016

Isabella Kemp, Cape Town – In his letter (March 23), John Lee paints a sad picture of the Catholic Church losing many thousands of its members to the lively Pentecostal ministries, seeking a new spirit.

“We must not be surprised if thousands seek Jesus in other avenues of joy. They have not lost faith; they have found a renewal in their once-Catholic faith.” (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

He offers a number of statistics which, if taken to heart, speak of a terrifying leakage in quantity but not necessarily in quality of faith.

This is, surely, not surprising. It is happening in many regions of the world. Basically, the reason is ignorance of their Catholic faith based on poor catechesis, and the wrong emphasis in our dogmatic approach.

These thousands are seeking a live Jesus and the New Life he alone can offer. I do not believe that those bold statistics tell the whole story of those who seek Jesus in other assemblies where one can experience the Pentecostal spirit.

But that spirit is the essence of our Catholic faith — or should be! That is what Charismatic Renewal is all about. We are, in fact, the Pentecostal Church.

However, we know — but do not understand why — bishops and clergy have rejected Charismatic Renewal, although at least three recent popes have lauded this renewal.

We must not be surprised if thousands seek Jesus in other avenues of joy. They have not lost faith; they have found a renewal in their once-Catholic faith.

And one day they will come to realise that the Catholic Church has so much more to offer — but only if we “do not extinguish the Holy Spirit” says Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:9 and Ephesians 4:30).