Dead Men Tell No Tales

 The names continue to grow: John Edward, Theresa Caputo, and Tyler Henry. These are the "mediums" on American television claiming to "contact the dead." I was amazed at how many members of the Vatican II sect watch these shows; they don't think there is anything wrong with watching them and their clergy say nothing against these mediums either. There's a lot wrong with necromancy (i.e. communication with the dead) as anyone who knows Traditionalist Catholic theology could tell you. I will set out the problems with these "psychic mediums," explain their attraction for many people, and warn against use of the so-called Ouija board.

The "Psychic Mediums"

John Edward McGee, Jr. (b. 1969) is known by his stage name of "John Edward." Born in New York, and raised in the Vatican II sect, he stopped being a practicing member, and claims that "belief in God" is the driving "force" behind him.  "It's the energy from that force [sic] that I think allows us to create this energy [a reference to being a "psychic medium"]." Edward has been criticized by many (including Leon Jaroff in Time magazine) for using mentalist tricks to dupe people. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks here in NYC, Edward taped a show with people who had lost loved ones in that tragedy so he could "contact them on the other side." Outrage over such exploitation resulted in that episode being cancelled. He wrote a book about his alleged abilities in 1998 entitled One Last Time.

Theresa Caputo (nee Brigandi) (b. 1966) is popularly known as the "Long Island Medium." A member of the Vatican II sect, she claims to talk to the dead. Ron Tebo, a private investigator, has declared her a fraud. "For her more on-point readings, Tebo believes Caputo may arrive fully prepared: He suspects her assistants run a background check or even eavesdrop on certain audience members outside the theater to guarantee a catch." (See RadarOnline, 6/4/14). She has published two books, the latest entitled, You Can't Make This Stuff Up : Life Changing Lessons From Heaven (2014).

Tyler Henry Koelewyn (b. 1995) is known by his stage name of "Tyler Henry." Referred to as the "Hollywood Medium," he "discovered" his alleged "gift" while in high school. He was studying in college to be a hospice nurse when a TV producer thought he would be a great new telegenic star. He has been subjected to the same claims of fraud as both Edward and Caputo. He is an open and practicing sodomite. 

The Problems with Mediums

• As I've written before, mediums are condemned by both the Bible and Church teaching. "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you." (See Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Emphasis mine.) According to theologian Jone, "Spiritism claims to be able to communicate with the spirit world and endeavors to establish such commerce with it. Although spiritism is for the most part fraud, still the intention alone to enter into communication with spirits is gravely sinful. Therefore, it is mortally sinful to conduct a spiritistic seance or to act as a medium." (See Moral Theology, pg. 100; Emphasis mine). 

• The contradiction of Church teaching in other areas is ever-present. All of the mediums will tell the grieving person who has lost someone that the deceased are "fine and happy." Of course, this is what we would all like to hear, but how is it possible that all people died as a member of the True Church in the state of sanctifying grace? Hell and damnation are never even considered as possibilities.On the rare occasion when it is mentioned in popular culture, false ideas are still thrown in. For example, in the 1990 blockbuster movie Ghost, starring Demi Moore and the late Patrick Swayze, the souls of the villains are seen being taken by demons to Hell at the moment of death. "They didn't repent," laments Swayze's character, Sam Wheat. The problem is, neither did Sam Wheat repent of living in mortal sin with his girlfriend Molly Jensen (played by Moore). Furthermore, Jensen is aided by a (you guessed it) medium named Oda Mae Brown (played by Whoopi Goldberg). The film clearly teaches that fornication and the use of mediums are morally permissible. Let us also not forget that Tyler Henry is a sodomite; one of the Four Sins That Scream To Heaven For Vengeance. 

• "And no wonder: for Satan himself transformeth himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11: 14-15). While denying and distorting Church teaching, these mediums seek to appear "holy." John Edward has Vatican II sect "priests" and nuns as "clients," and says in his book that he prays the Rosary (!) before doing "spirit contact."

• These mediums are doing the work of Satan. When it's human chicanery, they are ghouls whom make a profit by being a false prophet. It's a lie and takes advantage of those in mourning who are willing to believe anything to stop their pain. When such information may be true, it comes from the demonic. In both cases souls are deceived and led into mortal sin. This is the work of the Father of Lies.

Ouija Board: It's Not A Harmless Game

 I would like to warn my readers about the Ouija board, as many people are drawn into the occult by it. Those who can't afford to see "mediums" can get this game rather inexpensively to try and contact the dead. As a matter of fact, there is a version of the Ouija board played by children called "Charlie, Charlie." They call upon a demon named Charlie for answers to questions. (For more on "Charlie, Charlie," see my post of 8/24/15, "Entertaining Demons Unaware."). 

 Manufactured by Parker Brothers and sold with other children's games, such as Monopoly and Clue, the Ouija board is anything but harmless fun for kids. It has its wicked origins in the 19th century, when "table rapping" was the way occultists attempted to contact the dead during a seance. Those who participate would ask questions and wait for the table to "rap" out a prearranged number of times to spell out words using the alphabet (e.g. one rap for the letter "a," two raps for "b," etc.). In 1853, an occultist named M. Planchette, invented the triangular object (now named the planchette) which has three legs. One of its three legs had a pencil to spell out answers on the board posed by a person who was touching the planchette. The modern board has the letters of the alphabet to make the process of contacting the dead easier; the planchette simply points to each letter. The board also has the words yes and no as well as goodbye. 

 This modern Ouija board got its start in the United States with inventor Elijah Bond who filed for a patent in 1890. William Fuld bought the rights to it in 1892. According to Fuld, the board itself told him to patent it under the name "Ouija" which comes from the French "oui" and German "ja" both of which mean "yes." It is an invitation to let spirits (demons) in. The board told Fuld to manufacturer it, and he became wealthy as the game caught on. Ironically, Fuld died in 1927, falling off the roof of a building  the board instructed him to build. 

Parker Brothers bought the rights in 1966, and by 1976 it was the #1 selling board game in the United States. I remember the Christmas commercial for it which asked, "It's only a game--or is it?" There are WAY too many stories associated with the Ouija board and "Charlie, Charlie" to be dismissed. I personally knew a woman several years ago, who told me that in college, she and her sister used a Ouija board. She said it was fun and it "really worked." Things she had never told anyone were spelled out on the board in response to her questions. Then, one night, while asking another question to see how much the board knew about her past, the planchette spelled out, "I saw you naked in the shower." (She had just come out of the shower). After two more "answers" involving her naked body, she screamed and ran out of her dorm room. She warned her sister never to use it, and they gave it away to someone they knew, requesting they never mention it or bring it back. 

Inviting this kind of demonic activity into your life is dangerous beyond description.

  What's the Attraction?

 Why do people go to mediums and Ouija boards? There are several reasons:

• The desire to feel special with esoteric knowledge

• The need to feel closure and cope with grieving the loss of a loved one

• Hell and right/wrong are effectively denied, so they don't need to follow the Commandments 

• The Vatican II sect does not speak against such things, leading people to think it is ok 

The results of the above are most serious. There have been people who commit suicide to "see the wonders of the other side," and people defrauded of large amounts of money when doing as allegedly directed from someone they knew "on the other side" when told so by the medium. 

Conclusion

Don't fall for the necromancy trap. Be strong in the Faith. Warn others of the dangers and don't watch any such shows with "mediums."  Remember Isaiah 8:19, "When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?"