Cathal BarryCall for Church’s doctrinal watchdog to investigate Ms Gallagher for alleged heresy
The Church should excommunicate controversial Achill House of Prayer founder Christina Gallagher, a former devotee of the self-proclaimed visionary has said.
Mick Power, a former member of the controversial movement, has called on the Church’s doctrinal watchdog to investigate Ms Gallagher for alleged heresy and unverified claims of miracles.
Mr Power became involved with the House of Prayer with his wife Paula in 1998, after the death of their only child, Tommy.
The 39-year-old described Ms Gallagher’s alleged divine messages as “appalling” and “all about chastisements and the end of the world.
“She was always talking about the Antichrist and the wrath of the beast,” according to the Irish Independent.
Pro-active
There have also been calls for the Archdiocese of Armagh to take a more pro-active stance on the House of Prayer’s spiritual director, Fr Gerard McGinnity, who is parish priest in Knockbridge in Co Louth, in the Armagh diocese.
A group of concerned relatives of devotees and ex-members have called on Cardinal Seán Brady to stand over his agreement to meet cult expert and the director of Dialogue Ireland, Mike Garde, to answer questions about the priest.
It is reported, however, that Cardinal Brady, who is no longer Archbishop of Armagh following the acceptance of his resignation by Pope Francis on September 8, has declined such an invitation.
Christina Gallagher founded the House of Prayer on Achill Island, in Co Mayo, in 1993.
According to reports, at the end of 2012, the centre was sitting on accumulated profits of €1.66m.
Approval
Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam has insisted the centre does not have Church approval.
“While wishing to entirely respect the reputations of all involved, the Archdiocese cannot but recall that sincere and well-ordered attempts on the part of the diocesan authorities to integrate this work into the life of the local Church here met with a disappointing lack of success,” a December 2009 diocesan statement said.
“Accordingly, while welcoming any and all sincere attempts to promote orthodox Catholic faith and piety, the Archdiocese cannot lend its approval to this work as matters stand and is obliged to note that the same work is entirely of a private nature and carries no ecclesiastical approval whatever.
“The Archbishop would call on all persons of good will involved in the situation to reflect on what is best for the Church at large and to exercise the greatest responsibility and charity in the matter,” the statement concluded.
Requests to the Catholic Communications Office for comment went unanswered as The Irish Catholic went to press this week.