This is a papal fidelity site. Loyal and Obedient to the Current Pope and to the Magisterium United With Him. Distinctives that Make Us Unique from Other Apostolates and Ministries The commitment to excellence and to obedience to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church in the teaching of spiritual warriorship and in the informing of the Faithful of the dangers of the occult and demonic philosophies has set aside the St. Padre Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling (SPCDC) in a place of distinction. The following five points outline the distinctions that set the SPCDC apart from many other apostolates working on the occult and spiritual warfare issue:
A Consistent and Obedient Theological Approach The St. Padre Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling and its parent organization, the Order of the Legion of St. Michael fully submit to the authentic teaching authority of the Pope and Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Additionally, each of our staff must affirm Loyalty to that authentic teaching authority as a condition of joining our Team. ( Click Here to see our Statement of Fidelity and Loyalty). Therefore, whenever we publish any form of writing, give any speech or talk, conduct any workshop or seminar or other teaching presentation, offer any advice or counseling, moderate any chatroom, mail list, discussion group, or any other interacvtive service on the Internet, the SPCDC and its representatives seek to express only official teachings on subjects for which an official teaching exists — submitting all personal opinions to that official teaching. In other areas, where latitude of opinion is allowed, every attempt is made to offer opinions that are in full accord with the general spiritual principles and teachings of the Church, Sacred Scriptures, Sacred Tradition, the insights from the Saints, and the Catholic worldview. The SPCDC's commitment to the Church leads it to an obedience that not only affirms and expounds the great fundamentals of the Catholic Faith, but provides a sound, rational, biblical approach and belief about the theology of Spiritual Warfare, demonology, and the various issues of the occult within the larger context of the Sacred Tradition of the Catholic Faith.

A Sacred Tradition (oral & written) Centered Approach The study of the entire Bible, not just portions of it, and of the great writings of the Church and her saints, is a central characteristic of our approach to understanding the nature of Satan, the character of Spiritual Warfare, and the ways that we as Christians are to participate in the Warfare to the glory of God.

A Dynamic Spiritual Emphasis The Padre Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling accepts only staff and volunteers who are baptized and confirmed Catholics in good standing. A staff member must also be living and walking the Christ-life in the fullness, fellowship, and gifts of the Spirit and be willing to be taught and lead by the Holy Spirit. This is especially important in a Spiritual Warfare apostolate. As a Spiritual Warrior, the cultivation of the spiritual life is inseparably fused with the scholarly and clinical study of occult issues and behaviors, demonic philosophies, biblical theology, and Church teaching on the issues of demonology and spiritual counseling. A Warrior, however, must be more than a scholar or counselor or teacher or clinician. He must also be filled with the Spirit and be walking with the Armor of God. Only with the Spirit's filling and leading can one be effective in Spiritual Warfare and to conduct that warfare within the will of God. The staff of the SPCDC are trained and prepared to communicate the Word of God in the power of the Spirit of God. Satan will not listen to anything other than the Power of the Word (written and oral) presented by those under obedience to the Church. Without the Spirit of God — the Holy Spirit — within and working through us, and without our personal obedience to the Church in all matters, we can have no lasting success in Spiritual Warfare.

A Strong Commitment to Evangelism & Discipleship The St. Padre Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling firmly believes that the only genuine deliverance from occultism, demonic philosophies, and Satan is the saving, living, and healing grace of Jesus Christ through the Sacraments of His Church. Because of this fundamental belief, the SPCDC is primarily an evangelistic, healing, and apologetic apostolate. Evangelism and apologetics, and even healing, are not enough however. Matthew 28 not only instructs us to go to every nation and to all people to proclaim the Good News of salvation and healing of Jesus Christ, but also to disciple them, to teach them the ways of Christian living and faith. Evangelization and apologetics cannot be genuinely performed, and healing is to no avail, we believe, without the corresponding encouragement for all the Faithful to be Disciples for our Lord Jesus Christ. Without this emphasis Satan will only deflect into carnality those of whom we inform and teach. Evangelism, healing, and apologetics without discipleship allow Satan to rob the Faithful their victory in Christ, which ultimately can lead into a defeated life. Discipling is especially important when counseling with occult victims. Those who are demonized or who are otherwise entrapped by occultic activity or philosophies will not find deliverance and healing except in Christ. Thus, if a person is not a Christian, he must accept Christ in a profession of Faith and the Sacrament of Baptism in order to find healing. In the case of a baptized person, only a rededication to Christ (such as a prodigal come home) and participation in the Sacraments will result in healing. Once delivered from the bonds of darkness they must cling to Christ to remain free from bondage. The delivered person must follow through on their decision for Christ by living the Christ-life, frequent participation in the Sacraments, and daily wearing the Armor of God. To fail to follow through in the Christ-life allows Satan to have his opportunity once again. As one old Baptist preacher said one time, The best way to keep Satan out, is to keep God in. There is no substitute for Christ. No magical formulas or prayer forms, nor devotions or sacramentals, will in themselves, bring deliverance and healing. It is only through a personal and living relationship with Jesus Christ through the Church and the Sacraments that can truly deliver and heal. It is because of these truths that we say that our Apostolate is one of evangelism, healing, apologetics, and Discipling rather than one of mere deliverance. In the process of proclaiming the Good New of Christ, in the process of teaching the historic Catholic Faith and the principles of Scripture and Sacred Tradition, if one comes forward with a spiritual affliction, we shall try to help, as we are able.

An Understanding of the Big Picture We offer an unique perspective that deliverance work should not be done in isolation of other ministries. Thus the SPCDC is not an isolated activity in our Community of the Order of the Legion of St. Michael, but an integrated outreach within the larger mission of ministering to the Faithful and to unbelievers about the glories and the Good News of Jesus Christ our Lord. The SPCDC is also unique in our balanced approach to diagnosis and therapy. We understand the larger context of medical, psychological, and psychiatric aspects that play an integral role in assessing spiritual warfare problems. We thus approach our apostolate with this understanding knowing that medical, psychological, and psychiatric issues must be addressed by those respective disciplines. We thus make every effort to discern the differences between genuine spiritual or demonological issues and those issues or symptoms of a medical, psychological, or psychiatric nature and make referrals whenever necessary. We believe that by approaching a Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance ministry in this balanced and thoughtful way will give both us the spiritual and temporal protection we need as counselors and will give the client the best help available to help him with his concerns and problems.