Healing Touch & Holistic Theology

[AccountDeleted]

I am in an email dialogue with a woman who is starting a new religious community in the Philippines. She says she has B.A. in Biblical Studies, an M.A. in Pastoral Counseling, an M.Div. (seminary degree) and a Ph.D.in Holistic Theology and is a certified Healing Touch Practitioner.

She says that before she does healing, she prays to her guardian angels (plural), her patron saints and to Jesus, so that makes it ok. She also says that she is teaching at the seminary in Cebu, so her degrees are obviously acceptable to the Church.

My question is whether holistic theology and/or healing touch are included in the Vatican's cautions against New Age therapies and philosphies or not? Her new community is going to offer therapy to women on retreat, and I guess I am wondering whether this is all in line with Rome or not? When I tried to ask her about this, she said I was persecuting her and acting like the Inquisition, so warning flags went up in my head. I didn't want to ask any more questions in case I really got her upset, so I thought I would ask here what is known or understood about these things.

I know that Jesus healed and that the charismatic movement is involved in healing, and that is ok, but I am just wondering how we tell what is New Age healing from what is acceptable? As long as someone prays to Jesus first, is any healing good?

And what exactly is holistic theology - is it like liberation theology and is it ok? Thanks so much in advance.

[Theoketos]

What she is doing sounds very dangerous.

In the states our Bishops have commented on something similar.

http://www.usccb.org/dpp/Evaluation_Guidelines_finaltext_2009-03.pdf

Remember to dialogue with love.

[CatherineM]

The Philippines have a lot of healers doing "psychic surgery." They view that kind of thing differently there than we do here, so they may be quite protective. I agree to handle with care.