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Sharon's Favorite Links
Below are some of my favorite sites to visit.
This list will be updated periodically- any recommendations just send us an email to:
www.ewtn.com New Age Library
This link from the EWTN library provides lots of great articles on the dangers of many New Age, New Thought, and occult teachings and practices!
www.catholic.com
CATHOLIC ANSWERS is such blessing-anyone can call and ask any question, and get a real "Catholic Answer" from a trained Catholic Apologist. Also, you can visit the "Ask an Apologist forum" at forums.catholics.com -- Truly, they provide such a valuable service; you can call, for example, and get the Catholic viewpoint on many aspects of New Thought and New Age thinking-in other words, one may call and ask, "Is the zodiac and astrology really off limits? And why? It seems so harmless . . .", similarly, you can call with questions about reiki, or Jungian philosophy, or why women are not allowed to become priests- I'm sure they've answered many a question about yoga and different types of meditation (not all are beneficial, and some are definitely to be avoided!) But the beauty is, they will supply the reason WHY the Catholic Church has taken it's stance on any subject-at least to the best of their ability! That's what I love about our Catholic Faith-it IS God's True Word to us, and so, being Truth and Goodness, and Love, I have found, there's always a sound and healthy REASON why God has set certain boundaries in place. . . (Our Heavenly Father loves us, and knows what's truly best for us, and He only wants to keep us safe, and sound, and on the path back home to Him!) --In short, got a question? Call Catholic Answers!
http://www.catholic.com/radio.asp
Listen to hear great Catholic teaching on today's most important topics.
www.crossveil.org
This is Clare McGrath Merkle's website-- she's a faithful Catholic, and a great New Age denouncer-having been there herself! This website is awesome-it has MANY articles, notes, Church Documents, and much helpful information on all things New Age and New Thought... everything from reiki, yoga, the enneagram, centering prayer, A Course in Miracles, eastern forms of meditation... you name it. Clare echoes on this site, time and again, what most apologists and former New Agers say: that it truly is difficult to get those caught up in New Age / New Thought, to see its fallacy and danger, as most will no longer listen to "reason" or "rational thinking". At the end of her article, "Yoga, health or Stealth", (on her site) she explains why... and states again the general consensus, that INTERCESSORY PRAYER offers the most hope in drawing the victims out of New Age delusion. The next best tactic: she says that it also helps, of course, to arm yourself with knowledge of whatever New Age practice is being "delved into", so you can be prepared on your end of the dialogue, to reasonably point out it's errors or weak points-hence, her website, offering you a wealth of information. Truly a treasure.
www.LHLA.org
Johnette Benkovic is also expert at denouncing all things New Age, and her website offers you lots of helpful information on this topic. Many informative articles on New Age topics can be found there-along with pertinent Church documents to view, and many CDs and DVDs available, covering New Age practices and their contradiction of our Catholic Faith. (Reiki, yoga, crystals, spirit-guides- she did a great show, denouncing many of these practices with Claire Merkle-available on this site. I have read her book, The New Age Counterfeit and it is very helpful. It is designed so that it can be used as a "study guide" for anyone who wants to investigate these New Age topics with a group-- with "Reflections" and "Scripture Points" at the end of each section-as well as simply being a handy guide for personal use.
www.fathermitchpacwa.org
Fr. Mitch Pacwa is great at New Age de-bunking and exposing-- he had delved into New Age spiritual practices in his early years. His book is: "Catholics and the New Age--- How good Catholics are being Drawn into the Enneagram and Jungian Psychology" at the end of this book, he gives his suggestions for the best way to approach friends and family who've been drawn into New Age...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Groeschel
Fr. Benedict Groeschel has up-close and personal experience with A Course in Miracles-and he has publicly stated his opinion that The Course had undermined authentic Christianity more than any other work he could think of. He knew the medium who scribed it (Helen Schucman) personally-- was at her bedside when she was dying- and has stated that, by the end of her life, she was almost completely overcome by rage (against all things spiritual-especially the "Course in Miracles" which she used to curse!) and the blackest depression he had ever seen. In his book, "A Still Small Voice" and his other writings on the subject, I feel Fr. Groeschel does a good job of revealing some of the more unsavory, but eye-opening facts regarding Helen Schucman and the Course, in a very charitable way. The one time I met him, he took my hands in his, and asked me to pray for her soul. I still do, to this day.
http://www.vatican.va
The Vatican issued document warning about the New Age is called "Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life" This is so right on and covers so much. I love that they give the Catholic position and response-all of them brief and clear-- to each of the most common New Age Fallacies, (in one of the later chapters) so you can see at a glance, what the Truth is, about particular "New Age ideas" that you're hearing. Also helpful; the end section of that document lists many other Vatican issued documents regarding counter-Christian New Age spirituality
http://www.carringtonsteele.citymax.com
Another good book and website, from the Christian perspective, to arm us with information: Don't Drink the Kool-Aid by Carrington Steele. Lots of revealing clips on You Tube... She documents Oprah's descent into the New Age... and her book covers the deception of A Course in Miracles, and Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth... while I have not yet found anything "non-Catholic" nor any "Catholic Bashing" in any of her work, I offer this reminder again: whenever you're reading anything by a non-Catholic, remember that they may have views that differ from our Catholic Faith, so be alert to anything that seems to counter Catholic doctrine-there is so much of value out there, in all the information offered to help us fight against New Age deception, but there's also the possibility of confusion, when reading the good efforts of our separated Christian brothers and sisters who may hold some decidedly non-Catholic views. Fair enough?
www.st-joseph-foundation.org
People often ask me what they can do, when: a "New Age" (or any!) practice that contradicts our Catholic Faith is being taught within their parish-the issue has been properly addressed-and yet the problem persists! In these cases, the St. Joseph Foundation may be able to help. On their website they state the following: "The St. Joseph Foundation serves Catholics who seek to know and vindicate their rights within the Church-rights that the Church herself recognizes and protects. Whenever individuals or groups believe their rights are threatened or have been violated, the Foundation assists them in using the means established by the Church to obtain remedies. " As more and more New Age practices continue to seep into Catholic retreat houses, prayer groups, and Church organizations- resources like the St. Joseph Foundation are much appreciated.
www.StayCatholic.com
A wonderful source of helpful articles on many topics pertaining to New Age fallacy-including Séances, Psychics, mediums, the Enneagram, etc.
www.catholicculture.org
Great authentic Catholic teaching, library, articles galore! Find there, an online Catholic Dictionary, writings of the Church Fathers, "search Catechism" and lots more!
www.ignatiusinsight.com
"Online resources of Ignatius Press"
www.vocations-holyfamily.com
and:
www.holyfamilyinstitute.net
also:
www.hficoncord.com
I was overjoyed to become a novice of the Holy Family Institute in November of 2008! This institute is a new and wonderful gift for the faithful-born of God's great love for the family! The Holy Family Institute is Vatican approved, consecrated life for the married and widowed. Just as Priests, Brothers and Nuns consecrate themselves to God through their Vocations; now so can married and widowed persons in their everyday living. The Holy Family Institute is part of the Pauline Family, dedicated to Evangelization through the mass media. On these websites you can view Sharon's HFI testimony on becoming a novice, taped just minutes before the ceremony! Check out their websites for more info!
