What about the Toronto 'prophets'? Do they "believe firmly in the teaching of our Holy Mother, the Roman Church"? No. They seem in fact to be working hard to establish a substitute 'universal' church at the expense of the Catholic Church. Their prayer leader, C. Peter Wagner, writes mockingly of the destruction of a statue of Mary during a procession in Argentina. He credits this to the Holy Spirit's action during a 'revival' there. Anyone who cares to research the genesis of the 'River' flowing through the Toronto Blessing and Brownsville Revival will find that the waters are said to spring from this ongoing 'revival' in Argentina.

The following is from a letter sent to me this past winter. This woman had just converted to Catholicism and was writing to tell me of her own experience with the TB:

"I became interested in the Toronto Blessing because of my work in the Anglican Church. The pastor there is Charismatic - in a fairly normal sense but he in turn does a lot of "ministry" in Britain where Toronto Blessing is all the buzz. Through work I have been introduced to it at least vicariously. The reason I went along to the Conference was I was asked by a friend who had been caught up in that sort of thing - to her spiritual determent (she is now a practising witch with her own coven). As a witch she has been going to a Toronto Blessing service here in Vancouver for over a year and claims that she can pray there with no problem and so likes it (she also reports to me on the extraordinary "manifestations that take place.) I went with her to see for myself.

"The article you sent sounds very much like the services that she has been attending. There are dogs barking, roosters crowing, lion's roaring, as well as (my particulary favourite) a man boxing (fisticuffs) in the spirit, people riding around on invisible white horses, people on the floor laughing, exorcisms left right and centre. Prophetic words - the whole nine yards. She loves it - and a part of me has always wondered why these "spiritually sensitive" types have never discerned a witch in their midst. O well!"

As for a possible prophetic implication of the animalistic behavior in vogue at some of these meetings, perhaps we should consider the account of Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel (Daniel 4:25-34). Because of his pride, King Nebuchadnezzar became as an animal and, "he ate grass like an ox, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle, and his nails like the claws of a bird." He lived in the fields like this for 7 years. Until he repented and looked to God, he remained in this wretched state. In our enlightenment, are we embracing this pattern of rebuke as a great gift from God? Seems to me not something we should rejoice in.

Another question I have concerning the 'prophetic' animal noises in these meetings: Why does God speak in clearly intelligible words through our Holy Father about profoundly crucial subjects, and yet He uses animal sounds to speak through these later day "apostles?" If this is such an effective method of communicating His intentions, then why doesn't God move John Paul II to crow like a rooster at his weekly audiences? He surely is as much a "pastors pastor" as the 'roaring' Chinese man John Arnott tells readers about in his book "The Father's Blessing". (Almost ironically, St. Peter tells us to "be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8) If Toronto clearly shows a better way, then why does the pope go through such great pains to speak to the people in their own language when he visits them? Again, I mean this as a serious question, not as a glib remark.

As to experiencing the "Blessing" first hand -- I did so while a Protestant. I found the pastoral council given simply elitist and the amount of control over the people frightening. We were told, "If you don't want what we've got, then leave right now." Those in the crowd, like good sheep, cheered wildly. The meeting went beyond the Charismatic worship I was used to and it seemed that we were trying to 'conjure' up the Holy Spirit through a mixture of music and motion. It reminded me of the Old Testament account (1 Kings 18) in which the prophets of Baal attempted to outdo Yahweh through wild machinations. In that case, Elijah challenged their god to do what our God can easily do. In this TB meeting however, it seemed that we were asking our God to do what the god of this age can do so well --titillate, amuse and excite us. (Parlor tricks compared with the process of sanctification leading to holiness He wishes us to enter into.) And we wanted it done fast! No years of quiet service, no growing in virtue -- change us instantly! I quit protesting and left the Protestant church not long after this meeting.

In my opinion, because of the great price God paid to redeem us from our decline into animalistic behavior, He will do ALL He can do to lift us from that state again. "In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a Son…" (Hebrews 1:1) He showed us His love and His hope for us through His Son. His Son gave the keys and the responsibility for the care of the Church to St. Peter and his successors, a fact that John Arnott and Rodney Howard-Browne deny. He restored man to the dignity of Sons and Daughters of God and gave them His word concerning His abiding presence among them. He gave us the awesome gift of the Eucharistic. He spoke very clearly about our responsibility to serve others.

Mother Teresa showed us just how clearly he spoke by demonstrating God's requirements for us through her life. She did not need the Toronto Blessing to see her part in God's plan. I have never read that she roared like a lion except in the boldness of her speech and dignity of her regal humility. In light of a witness like this, why are we waiting for a "new" word or experience from God? The truth is that we already know what we are to do, but want more excitement in the 'doing.' The expectations of this age have affected our expectations of God. Culture has hijacked the church. We are so used to having our emotions manipulated that we have lost the will to reason any longer.

Not all people associated with the Toronto Blessing are entirely charitable, so in return for my caution I have the following words from the 'godfather' of the Toronto Blessing to contemplate. A follower of the Toronto Blessing reported the following prophecy given by Rodney Howard-Browne at a meeting he attended.

"And RHB prophesied that there's coming a time when those who preach against the TB (and thus mock the Holy Spirit in regards to the salvation of souls) will literally drop dead in their pulpits. I've never known anyone who had such a passion for the salvation of souls as RHB has!!"

So much for the Church's teaching that the faithful are not required to believe in private revelation. Rodney Howard-Browne is the man whose 'anointing' has been sought and brought into the Catholic Church in order to "revive" Her. May God help His Church in this dangerous hour.