www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Matthew Kelly on "LIght of the East"

Father Loya's interview of Matthew Kelly was broadcast this morning on 820 AM. It will be on the website by tomorrow evening November 8. Matthew Kelly will also be at our Church in December. Mark your calendars. Go to www.byzantinecatholic.com [byzantinecatholic.com] "radio" and click on November 7.

Dan L

Dan,

Who is Matthew Kelly? Based on a quick search, I find that there is a somewhat prolific Catholic author, whose works look to be in the make your life a success genre, by that name (the alternatives would be a DJ or a British TV personality). If it's the author, I'm curious as to what his particular relevance is to the East.

Many years,

Neil

There's a Matthew Kelly who had "visions" of the Virgin Mary in Austraila in the early 1990's. The name is fairly common so I assume it's not the same guy. Although if it is the same guy, I'm pretty disappointed that he was allowed on Light of the East.

I know nothing of Matthew Kelly.

Does having visions of the Virgin Mary discredit someone?

Having "visions" of the Virgin Mary that are not approved by the local bishop are more than enough to discredit someone. Good pious Roman Catholics have been prayed upon by these 'vultures' long enough. Do you know how much evil has been done in the name of Medjugorje?

What did the local bishop say about Matthew Kelly?

Let's be clear that we don't know for sure if it's the same guy.

The link doesn't mention what the bishop said, just that it's been discouraged by the bishop.

http://www.arulnathan.com/mother.html

Thanks for the link.

Jennifer,

While I still don't know which of a multitude of Matthew Kellys was the guest, I would not rely on that particular website to which you linked. After reviewing a couple of those indicating as having episcopal approval or that the local bishop doesn't object to internet postings on same, I followed links to:

a webpage that indicates active discouragement by the diocesan bishop;

a webpage that indicates the "seer's" pastor and his spiritual director (both unnamed) think he is "well-balanced" and "a good Catholic";

a webpage that contains a poorly written and/or badly typed and undated letter, purportedly from an Auxiliary Bishop of the "seer's" diocese, which contained no reference to the "visions", merely commenting on the woman's spiritual activities and that she "causes not difficulty for the Church." (note that wording is supposedly from a letter by an American diocesan auxiliary, a native English speaker, and someone whom I have heard speak; none of which suggests to me that he authored the letter).

So, while I can't say I have any faith in the gentleman's apparition, I wouldn't cite this particular site as authority with regard to any apparition.

Many years,

Neil

Here's the proper Matthew Kelly of whom I speak. I'll investigate further. But at least we can all start from the same point.

http://www.matthewkelly.com/

Dan L

All I could find was that it has not been encouraged by a bishop. Does that mean the same thing as "discouraged" or does it mean "no opinion"? Isn't it quite common for many Roman Catholic faithful to have all sorts of visions about which a bishop makes no comment?

Someone asked "What does Matthew Kelly have to do with Eastern Catholicism?" I can't speak directly for Father Loya but I would think he might say "While appiritions aren't part of our tradition Matthew Kelly's strong faith as a RC acts as a bridge between East and West. Beidge building is at the heart of our mission in the world." In any event I've never heard Kelly speak on the matter, I don't recall him mentioning it in his books, and he was only 20 when he had this vision. The Porteguese girls were much younger than that. Sometimes we see more when we are young than when we are old. While I as a somewhat "old man" "dream dreams" isn't it expected that young men like Kelly "shall see visions"? (Acts 2:17)

Dan L

I think that a vision that isn't encouraged is different than a vision that the bishop hasn't commented on. If it isn't encouraged, that means that bishop investigated it and decided it wasn't encouraged.

Regardless, the Roman Catholic world has been plagued (I guess I should temper this by saying this is only my opinion) by vultures claiming to have had these visions. Medjugore (again in my opinion) is downright evil and has destroyed lives.

I think that anyone involved in the whole marian 'apparitions' industry (again in my opinion) is a charleton (sp?). It's not a matter of giving people the benefit of the doubt. Too many people have been hurt by this industry. Anyone who is a part of it should be automatically distrusted.

I doubt it's the same guy. Surely someone would have made the connection if it was the same guy. Because of the Medjugore fraud and the scandal with that english priest who molested kids, EWTN and that 'genre' (which I assume Matthew Kelly is a part of) is gunshy about the marian "apparitions" industry. I think that if it was the same man, they would have figured it out.

Jennifer,

I don't judge the value of appiritions. Perhaps you are right about them constituting an industry that fleeces people. I don't know. You are first RC I've ever run across who has had such a strongly negative opinion on the subject. I know that many Protestants would agree with you. I think most EC's would shrug their shoulders and simply say, "we have no opinion one way or the other." That's pretty much my opinion.

In any event you are probably right. Since no mention has been made of it the appirition Kelly is probably not the Matthew Kelly we know. Even if it is he seems to have not put much reliance upon it.

Dan L

My dad was into Medjugore for a while. My father had good sense because he is a very prayerful person but some of his acquaintances went off the deep end.

After seeing how some of these people went crazy (became obsessed with the "visions" and thought the world was coming to and end), I did some investigating of my own and came to the conclusion that Medjugore is downright evil. There was an excellent article in Crisis from the 1990's that exposed Medjugore for what it was.

Medjuogre is the rot at the root of all of these "apparitions."

Some of them could be authentic but we don't have to believe in them and the whole industry has done more harm than good (in my opinion, of course).

Jennifer:

I think you are going overboard in your assessments of things Roman Catholic.

The Medjugorje (I believe that's how it is spelled) apparitions are NOT patently evil. Although the Church has not approved of the apparitions, they have not been condemned to be false either.

The judgment of the local Bishop and that of the Bishops' Conference (in the former Yugoslavia) stand: that there is no credible proof, as yet, that the visions and/or apparitions are of supernatural in nature.

Unofficial pilgrimages are allowed to the site.

In like manner, Matthew Kelly's "visions" he claims to have experienced in New South Wales, Australia have not been condemned by the Church nor have they been approved either.

Considering his ministry over the years (starting when he was merely 19), Matthew Kelly seems to be doing alright. He has written numerous books and has been invited to speak before millions worldwide.

I recall that last year, he was invited twice as guest over at Relevant Radio, from whence the connection to Fr. Loya might be traced.

Definitely, Matthew Kelly is not a "charlatan.!"

Amado