After our article on Yoga we
received many inquiries asking whether Acupuncture was also forbidden in the
Catholic Church. The following compendium addresses that issue.
FIRST, let’s reiterate the
teaching of the Church on the YOGA article, “Is It Possible to Practice Yoga as a Faithful Catholic?” previously
presented.
It’s Far from me to
quote anything coming from a “Vatican ll Pope” or the “New Catholic Church”. But
for those Novus Ordo Catholics that insist YOGA is, or should be permitted by
the Church, because as they say, “it’s harmless”, read what your “pope”,
Benedict XVl warned of in 1989 in a document issued by the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith. [at that time under Cardinal Ratzinger]…
“Practices like yoga and
meditation could ‘degenerate’ into a cult of the body…The love of God, the sole
object of Christian contemplation, is a reality which cannot be ‘mastered’ by
any method or technique.”
We would add: “No
Christian should do YOGA because YOGA is part of a Religious System that is not
compatible with Christianity and ‘blending’ the two is Syncretism.”
Yoga
cannot be Christian. It originates in Indian Religions, is considered part of
the NEW AGE movement and therefore is inconsistent with Christianity. The
concept of YOGA is to become self-enlightened and to attain self-salvation.
This does not come from God and is not in synch with His Will, and, shows
disrespect for the sovereignty of God.
CAN
CATHOLICS PARTICIPATE IN ACUPUNCTURE?
As for
Acupuncture, the origin is CHINESE TAOISM which is the philosophical system
that evolved from LAO-TZU and CHUANG-TZU that champions a life of complete simplicity,
naturalness, and non-interference with the course of natural events in order to
attain an existence in harmony with TAO, or life-force. It is closely related
to HSUAN CHAIO, which is a popular CHINESE RELIGION
that purports to be based on the doctrines of LAO-TZU, but which is, in
reality, highly heterogeneous (mixed) in nature and characterized by a pantheon
of MANY GODS, SUPERSTITIONS, THE PRACTICE OF ALCHEMY,
DIVINATION AND MAGIC.
The
important issue here is separation for the Christian from any and all practices
that would bring them danger of bondage to counterfeit religions. Ignorance of evil is a danger and the more we inform
ourselves as to the true origin of the Eastern philosophies and practices, the
more we see that they are rooted in superstition, occultism, and false
religions that are of men and in direct opposition to God’s Word.
The
Lord makes it clear… “Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art
a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but
the things that are of men.” (Matthew 16: 23)
The
philosophical thinking behind acupuncture comes from the concept of the yin and
yang, and of being at one with the forces in the universe through
meditation. The Irish Theological Commission
wrote in its document, “A Catholic
Response to the NEW AGE Phenomenon”:
“Christians
believe man is a union of body and soul, and that the soul is an essential
form—not an energy force. The belief that one can meditate and be at one with
the forces of the universe is based in pantheism, the belief that the universe,
God and nature are all equivalent.”
We
concur. All gods of different creeds and cults are not to be tolerated by
Christians. (1 Timothy 2: 5) sums it up perfectly: “For there is one God, and
one mediator of God and men, the man Jesus Christ.”
The
New Age movement has no difficulty with acupuncture because it accepts the
Eastern philosophy behind it. Those who are into the Chinese-god concept of
acupuncture talk about gods and energy levels. These people are “channeling”
(conveying thoughts or energy from a source believed to be outside the body or
conscience mind). The acupuncture needle becomes their channel from the source
of energy of the “gods” into that person.
REIKI
THERAPY
In
contemplation of inquiries concerning Reiki Therapy, we’ll discuss this subject
also.
The
U.S. Bishop’s Conference (Vatican ll) described REIKI Therapy as: “A spiritual kind of healing, with its own
ethical precepts or ‘way of life’” The Conference said:
“The
radical difference can be immediately seen in the fact that for the Reiki
practitioner the healing power is at human disposal. For Christians, they said
“access to divine healing is by prayer to Christ as Lord and Savior, while
Reiki is a technique passed from ‘master’ to pupil…”
The
document concludes, “Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either
Christian teachings or scientific evidence, it would not be appropriate for
Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy”.
NOTE:
The True Roman Catholic Church from its very
inception, up until Vatican ll, has condemned all things that are not in
accordance with Our Lord’s teaching. (The Vatican ll Church, not always
following Our Lord’s teachings, has in this particular Reiki matter, concurred).
Obviously, from what has now been presented, Yoga, Acupuncture and Reiki Therapy
fall into that category.
Pray
the Rosary, wear the Brown Scapular, and direct your prayers to the one and
only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
