Excerpts from: A Pastoral Statement on the Catholic Charismatic

Renewal
A statement of the Bishops Liaison Committee with the Catholic
Charismatic Renewal
March 1984
I - Pastoral Observations
1. As a movement within the Church, the charismatic renewal is rooted in the
witness of the gospel tradition: Jesus is Lord by the power of the Spirit to the
glory of the Father
Papal Encouragement
2. The Episcopal Committee endeavors to assist each bishop in his pastoral
responsibility "not to extinguish the Spirit, but to test all things and hold fast to
that which is good" (1 Tm 5:19; Lumen Gentium 12) Since our statements
about the charismatic renewal in 1969 and 1975, we note with joy that two
popes have spoken encouragingly about it. Pope Paul VI said: "How would it
be possible that this spiritual renewal not be a chance for the Church and the
world?" (Address of May 19, 1975). Pope John Paul II said that he sees the
future of the Church lying in spiritual renewal movements and groups.
Speaking specifically of the charismatic renewal, he said he made his own
the words of St. Paul to the Philippians: "I give thanks to God every time I
think of you" (Phil 1:3). Referring to the words of Pope Paul VI concerning
what the renewal offers for the Church and the world, John Paul II said that
the six years which have passed since his predecessor uttered those words
"have borne out the hope that inspired his vision" (May 7, 1981). The Pope
has himself taken the initiative, both privately and publicly, to meet with leader
of the charismatic renewal. In doing so he has provided a mode. Bishops and
pastors who exercise the same kind of initiative find such meetings with
leaders in the renewal fruitful for the local Church.
3. ... Clearly the charismatic renewal is in and for the Church, not alongside
the Church. It has repeatedly shown its commitment to the Church, asking the
bishops and the Pope for pastoral guidance, and supporting them by their
prayers.
The Experience of the Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts
7. Past statements of the United States bishops committees, as well as
statements of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, have commended the
Catholic Charismatic Renewal for the fruit of holiness and good works born in
the lives of those who become involved in this movement. These people say
the transformation in their lives is a result of repentance, turning to Jesus

Christ and receiving an influx of the Holy Spirit. They generally term this
experience of the Holy Spirit being baptized in the Holy Spirit, and say it
usually results in the receiving of such spiritual gifts as prayer in tongues,
prophecy and healing. In fact it must be recognized that these spiritual
realities do occur in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, however they may be
labeled or theologically analyzed. As the Untied States Bishops Committee
on Doctrine observed in 1969, "It would be difficult to inhibit the working of the
Spirit which manifested itself so abundantly in the early Church." We should
be grateful to God for pouring out in our time those gifts and graces with
which he blessed the Church at its very beginning.
Mature Lay Life
8. The charismatic renewal is a movement which seeks to be completely
open to the Holy Spirit as it contributes to the ongoing effort to renew the
whole Church. Though the Catholic charismatic renewal has influenced many
bishops, priests and religious personally, it has contributed in an even more
profound way to the realization of the role of the laity in the mission of the
Church. From its beginnings on university campuses, to the formation of
thousands of parish prayer groups, it has been largely led, taught, discerned
and participated in by lay people. In a way not known in recent history, lay
men and women are engaged in evangelization and the proclamation of the
Lordship of Jesus, in programs of spiritual formation and spiritual direction.
Clearly the charismatic renewal has as its goal the transformation of all the
members of the People of God.
9. In the charismatic renewal, the charisms have had, and will continue to
have, and important role. As it matures, this movement sees the charisms not
as isolated gifts given to certain individuals, but rather as gifts for the
community. The community is seen as entirely ministerial (1 Cor 12), with no
members who are merely ministered to. Every member is called to build up
the Body of Christ through the particular charism which he or she has
received. Thus the community constitutes a web of mutually supporting
ministries (1 Cor 12). New appreciation of the role of the prophetic charisms
does not signal undue attention to what is peripheral. Rather, it represents
due attention to what is foundational. Speaking of the apostles and New
Testament prophets, St. Paul refers to the Church as "built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the
cornerstone" (Eph 2:20). It is recognized that all charisms are not equally
important; on the contrary, their dignity is determined by how immediately
they are related to the common good of the body. The gifts are charisms of
ministry and are not to be confused with ecclesiastical office. Nor is their
exercise to be seen as expressing only emotional content.
Renewal of Family

10. All renewal begins at the source of the Churchs life. In that context the
charismatic renewal lays particular stress on personal conversion, a gift which
quickly touches relationships, primarily the family.
Parish Prayer Groups
12. Because the charismatic renewal is at the heart of the Church, it also has
a role in parish renewal. As one of many forms of new yeast giving leaven tot
he whole mass, the prayer group, parochial and inter-parochial, has
contributed significantly to the revitalization of parish life in the areas of
liturgy, music, evangelization, Scripture, prayer and youth outreach. It also
provides the kind of Christian environment in which many are hearing the call
of the Lord to serve the Church as servant leaders. The broad charismatic
renewal sees itself as intimately bound to diocesan and parish goals and
subject to the authority of the diocesan bishop.
19. Large numbers have benefited from Life in the Spirit seminars and other
formation programs which are regularly offered in most charismatic groups.
We would encourage those who present programs for a fuller life in the Spirit
not to be discouraged but to persist in the apostolic ministry, even though
many who have been through these seminars, whose lives have been
touched and change, do not remain in formal contact with the charismatic
renewal. Seeds have been sown and lives have been redirected. Many are
thus enabled to serve the Church and pursue the full Christian life in the
Church. These instructional programs are very helpful in the preparation for
the sacraments of initiation where the young discover with a sense of
expectancy the meaning of a full life in the Spirit, and adults, some for the first
time, experience the joy of living out their sacramental commitments.
37. Echoing the words of Pope John Paul II, we commend the charismatic
renewal to the priests of the United States: The priest, for his part, cannot
exercise his service on behalf of the renewal unless and until he adopts a
welcoming attitude toward it, based on the desire he shares with every
Christian by baptism to grow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit (May 7, 1981). The
priests responsibility to give pastoral guidance remains, even though an
individual priest may not be a participant in the renewal.
Conclusion: Commendation of the Charismatic Renewal
39. We wish those in the charismatic renewal to know that we make our own
the view of Yves Congar: "The charismatic renewal is a grace for the
Church." We assure those in the charismatic renewal of the support they
enjoy from the bishops of the United States, and we encourage them in their
efforts to renew the life of the Church.