Catholics lusting for Pentecostal power was not restricted to the DuQuesne experimentation. Catholics began to consulting Pentecostals how to get laid in the spirit. In a few years the movement spread throughout the States, Canada and Europe. I wanted what they had said John Hampsch CMF, best selling author and world-wide lecturer. Fr Hampsch got his first anointing at a small Pentecostal sect. I was terrified. Here I was a Catholic priest going down to a basement for anointing. (You think?) You too can have Power! POWER! - hollered Fr Hampsch at the 1989 Catholic Charismatic Conference in Kamloops. But don’t bother with his website; you have to actually buy some of his stuff to get to the good parts. Things like, how he observed raising the dead among Pentecostals. After buying some of his tapes I received his “Dear Hampsch-ters” news letters for several years.
But Fr Hampsch was not the only one. There were scores of Catholic priests and religious running around seeking Pentecostal power. There were laymen too, Ralph Martin, Bill Story, Steve Clark, Ralph Keiffer; they all got turned on by Pentecostal sects. Then in turn they cris-crossed the continent baptizing others, including many priests and religious. The Protestant influence may not be evident with superfluous observation, but as soon as you dig or submerge yourself into the Charismatic Movement this becomes clear beyond any conceivable doubt.
"Ranaghan recounted that in the early days, in order to "grow in the spirit", he and his friend sought spiritual advice from a Protestant prayer-group: "In the beginning the contact with Pentecostals of our area helped us to grow in an understanding and experience of the charisms.
We met in the home of the representative of the Full-Gospel Businessmen. And when he heard that a group of Catholics was coming, he rallied the troops, and brought in several Pentecostal ministers and a room full of prayer warriors to engage in what they were sure would be a hard-fought battle. What they found was the most shockingly easy prayer-time they had ever known. We claimed that we had already been baptized in the Holy Spirit, which they found hard to believe because, after all, we were Catholics." (The audience broke into great laughter, in joyful mockery of the "exclusive salvation" doctrines of the Catholic Church). He continued, "We said that we just wanted their help and advice on yielding to and using the gifts. They laid hands on us, and one by one the whole roomful of us started to pray and sing in tongues. No battle, just a victory celebration." (thunderous applause) "Praise God for the old-time Pentecostals and for the independent charismatics God sent our way in those days ... Yes, from the beginning, it was an ecumenical celebration." John Vennari, “A "Catholic" Charismatic Extravaganza”
Pentecostalism was eventually revamped for Catholic tastes. Its true origin underplayed or even denied, it was presented as an authentic movement of the Holy Spirit. By calling it Catholic Charismatic Renewal there was no room left to question its catholicity. An elaborate charismatic theology was developed to authenticate it. Were Cardinal Suenens and his cronies successful turning what was essentially a Protestant movement into a Catholic one? Was the Church victorious transforming Pentecostalism and at the same time integrating Pentecostal precepts? A Leopard Can't Change His Spots.
