Thousands of Catholics in the Archdiocese of Nairobi are unhappy with a decision by Cardinal John Njue to suspend activities of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement in unclear circumstances. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a global movement within the Catholic Church that seeks to foster an awareness of the gift of God's Spirit and to help believers develop a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Sources told CISA that Cardinal Njue announced his decision three months ago on February 20 during a meeting with some 200 officials of the movement from the archdiocese.The movement had spread to about half of the archdiocese's 100 parishes.
The immediate former archbishop of Nairobi, Raphael Ndingi mwana 'a Nzeki, had assigned it a chaplain.
Fr. John Muindi, the chaplain, told CISA that "His Eminence said they [members of the movement] should no longer have any public activities." The priest said he did not know why the cardinal made that decision.
Fr Muindi said he did not want to discuss the issue further as "all movements have their own challenges". He would be seeing Cardinal Njue "one of these days to find out his final decision."
Cardinal Njue reportedly told officials of the Charismatic movement that he was suspending their activities for a short time to investigate the movement.
A Catholic Charismatic Renewal official described the ban as "a sad situation," adding that the cardinal did not consult the officials of the movement. "It was a one man decision."
He further said members of the movement did not want to disobey the cardinal but they had become impatient as the ban entered its fourth month. "Members have been calling me to find out the way forward," he said.
A long-time member of the movement described the ban as "present-day persecution of those who want to worship God differently." She wondered why the cardinal did not talk to the movement's chaplain or its officials before taking his decision.
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement is thought to have been born out of a retreat at an American Catholic university run by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in February 1967.
Many of the students at the retreat claimed to have been "baptized in the Holy Spirit." The movement began to spread out and by the 1990s counted a membership of over 100 million Catholics worldwide.
The movement is based on the belief in certain charisms or gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit such as ability to speak in tongues, heal and cast out demons, which Christians believe existed in the early Church as described in the New Testament.
Three popes have acknowledged the movement: Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI. John Paul II stated that the movement was integral to the renewal of the entire Catholic Church.
In March 1992, John Paul II stated: "At this moment in the Church's history, the Charismatic Renewal can play a significant role in promoting the much-needed defence of Christian life in societies where secularism and materialism have weakened many people's ability to respond to the Spirit and to discern God's loving call."
Early this month when some 20,000 members of the Italian chapter of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal gathered for their 32nd national assembly, Pope Benedict sent a letter to them expressing his hopes for "an abundant outpouring of the fruits of the Paraclete [Holy Spirit]" on the gathering.
He also spoke of his desire that the meeting would "enkindle a renewed adherence to the crucified and risen Christ, a deep fraternal communion and a joyous evangelical witness."
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