#CharlieCharlieChallenge: Don’t Stand for It–FIGHT BACK

If this doesn’t raise the hairs on the back of your neck, it should.

According to an article in the National Catholic Register, the “Charlie Charlie Challenge” is a divination game in which players balance pencils over the words “yes” and “no,” calling on “Charlie”–a demon–to answer their questions.

Apparently it’s a trendy game for teens, at the moment, so Father Stephen McCarthy, a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, has spoken out against the practice in an open letter to Catholic school students, warning them of the spiritual dangers:

“I want to remind you all there is no such thing as ‘innocently playing with demons,”’ Father McCarthy told the students. “The problem with opening yourself up to demonic activity is that it opens a window of possibilities which is not easily closed.”

Joan Desmond reports:

The Devil is nothing to be trifled with. As an exorcist in Rome once told me: In a genuine case of demonic possession, the victim is fully enslaved by Satan — never liberated or empowered… Today, as social research traces the decline of formal affiliation with organized Christian churches, which are more likely to educate believers about the reality of the Devil and to help them resist the temptation to harness his power, there has been a concurrent surge in practices that call forth Satan and his minions. Read more.

I was particularly struck by the relationship between the drop in church attendance and the rise in involvement with occult games and practices. The devil rushes in to fill the void when God’s children wander away from the practice of their faith.

The secular press is rolling its eyes and calling those who object to demonic pass-times “superstitious.” But it’s critical that we understand the spiritual gauntlet that has been thrown down at our feet. These games are extremely dangerous. Exorcists are unanimously opposed to Ouija boards, séances, tarot cards, psychics, or anything else that seeks to harness spiritual forces that are not of God. And with good reason. Spiritual obsession or possession almost always happens through a direct invitation.

We are not supposed to fear evil, but neither are we wise to invite it into our lives by engaging in New Age or Occult practices. To do so is tantamount to spiritual suicide. Our children may not understand this, and perhaps we aren’t well enough informed, ourselves. But we are at war, and the enemy thrives when we ignore him or pretend he doesn’t exist.

It’s time to fight back.

One way, of course, is through education. Our shepherds need to speak out regularly and consistently against such practices and explain the very real dangers involved. Catechists and ministry leaders must follow suit. If we say nothing while our children are falling headlong into the dark world of demons, we are fools of the worst sort. Check out the catechism (2115, 2116) and look for solid resources from Catholic authors, clergy, and ministry leaders.

Lighthouse Catholic Media has a DVD called, “Interview With an Exorcist,” that will help you to understand the reality of spiritual danger and explain it to others, as well as a 4-CD set by a former Chief Exorcist of Rome, Father Gabriele Amorth, “An Exorcist Tells His Story,” and a book called, “A Message of Hope: Confessions of an Ex-Satanist.”

Neal Lozano, Johnnette Benkovic, and Moira Noonan have all written excellent books on this topic, and Father James Reynolds has a terrific website that answers many common questions about New Age and Occult practices–and the dangers they present to our souls.

Another way is to amend our lives, so that we bear radiant witness to the love of God that is active in our souls. We cannot be passive about this, and we should all be taking up arms to do battle. And that means growing in holiness in a deliberate, methodical way, with a ferocious desire to abandon our lives completely to God’s mercy for the sake of souls.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux said that fasting and praying were her two “invincible arms.” Small sacrifices go a long way, so we should examine our lives for the habits that keep us from being in fighting form, spiritually–and sacrifice them, joining our efforts to the holy sacrifice of the Cross.

Here’s a quick diagnostic:

Are we overeating, drinking too much, using bad language, watching or listening to media that is profane or obscene? Do we dabble in horoscopes, Eastern meditation techniques, psychics, or paganism? Our culture encourages all of these practices and worse, so we have to be counter-cultural and make the choice–in humility (the fast-lane to wisdom)–to detach ourselves from any influence that is not of God, bit by bit and day by day. We can’t do it alone, and it won’t happen overnight. We need the sacraments of Eucharist and reconciliation on a regular basis. We need the maternal care and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And we need to trust God with our lives, calling throughout the day on the holy name of Jesus Christ, while we practice gentle acceptance and understanding with those we love who might not be on the same page.

Let’s beg God every day to help us to do the following things: increase in the virtues of humility, chastity, and obedience; forgive absolutely everyone who has ever hurt us or our loved ones; perform every mundane task or duty with love and offer it to God in a spirit of victory and thanksgiving; and rest in God’s holy peace.

There is nothing to be afraid of unless we fail to face this problem and fight back. Growing in knowledge, virtue, and love will arm us for the battle.

Our children are depending on us.

“Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)