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.