Church hits New Age thought

Catholic bishops fear that a growing number of Catholic youth are joining the New Age Movement, which they described as "incompatible" with the teachings of Christianity.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has identified Jaime Licauco and Alex Orbito as among those propagating the New Age belief on occult practices.

"The New Age is present and increasingly active in the Philippines," read a CBCP primer on the New Age Movement.

"Jaime Licauco, probably the most widely known New Age personality in the country today, has authored many widely distributed books and writes widely read articles in leading periodicals. He also maintains an Internet website."

The CBCP said several years ago, Orbito, founder and leader of the the Philippine Spiritual Help Foundation, opened the Pyramid of Asia in Manaog, Pangasinan.

"Occult practices aim to enable humans to know, activate, and control the hidden forces and influences outside them, and the potentialities or energies that lie dormant in their own selves," read the CBCP primer.

Many New Age ideas have originated from Gnosticism, as well as Eastern religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism, the CBCP primer added.

Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, CBCP president, said Catholic bishops are concerned about the New Age Movement’s view of God and the human person.

"As our pastors, we are particulalry and strongly concerned about the religious belief of the New Age Movement, such as view of God, Christ, the world, the human person, salvation, redemption, resurrection, religious experience, etc." he said.

"Its re-interpretation of Christianity and use of Christian religious symbols, including language, to explain its religious and philosophical beliefs lure many Catholics into erroneously thinking that New Age is compatible with the Christian faith." the archbishop said.

"Given the present generally uninformed and merely ritualistic quality of our Filipino Christian faith, our pastoral concern for adequate catechesis to meet the challenge of New Age becomes even more urgent," Quevedo added. – Sandy Araneta