What is reiki to the Catholic Church? Is it evil?

-- Trish A. Scarborough (TScarbo@msn.com), August 13, 2003

Answers

Jmj
Hello, Trish.

Reiki is part of New Age paganism, an (at least attempted) use of occult powers, adopted from a strand of Eastern Asian non-Christian religon. Thus, informed Catholics reject it and stay away from it. (Unfortunately, their are many UNinformed Catholics who have fallen for reiki, even "women religious.")

Note the following from the Catechism.

"2117. All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others -- even if this were for the sake of restoring their health -- are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity."

You can listen to an expert on reiki by getting tapes of her being interviewed on Catholic TV.

You can also read this past discussion thread. Note info at bottom on how to listen to Father Mitchell Pacwa speak on reiki.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 13, 2003.

great comments,John! You {and the catechism of course} are absolutely right. Jesus is our healing, and the Holy Spirit is our comfort,no need to put ourselves under anyone else's powers. Theresa

-- Theresa Huether (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), August 16, 2003.

At ease! I have found truth! I am no longer practicing reiki.

-- Trish A. Scarborough (TScarbo@msn.com), August 17, 2003.

Thanks for the good words, Theresa!

Thanks for the good news, Trish!

JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 17, 2003.

I have been battling a woman who is into Reiki. She has attacked me and told me I was not spiritual enough because I did not allow her to teach me reiki .This battle is going on in my bible study and some of the women have paid her fee to go to her class. I have seen this woman in anger and not very christian like when a fellow christian asked her why she wanted to show us this prayer and she would not explain it to us. She got very angry and I know I could feel something disturbing in her. I fear that it has penetrated our bible study where it may not be able to be fix but I also believe satan wants to happen and We have to fight back but I don't know how or shouls I leave this bible study there are 11 in this group but 7 of us do not believe in this reiki. I do ask for prayers. Thank you

-- Dot (dave_wolver@yahoo.com), October 18, 2003.