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Raleigh bishop allows pagan prayer ritual in Catholic church
LifeSite News ^ | October 2, 2026 | Emily Mangiaracina

Posted on 10/02/2026 10:23:44 AM PDT by ebb tide

Raleigh bishop allows pagan prayer ritual in Catholic church

A pagan 'smudging' ceremony and 'prayer in the four directions' took place in a Catholic Church under the watch of the bishop of Raleigh during a celebration of 'multiculturalism.'

The bishop of Raleigh, North Carolina presided over a shamanistic “smudging” ceremony to celebrate St. Catherine “Kateri” Tekakwitha, who rejected her native Mohawk religion.

Pascua Taqui tribe member Richard Duran led the congregation of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Durham in a “smudging” ceremony in July, according to an archived page of North Carolina Catholics, a diocesan publication. Smudging is a shamanic ritual that involves burning herbs and resins to “cleanse” a space of negative energy and “brin(g) in good spirits,” according to a Native American site. The smoke is “shared with people as an act of prayer and spiritual connection,” NC Catholics reported.

“Father David Miller, who is chaplain to the Native American Catholic Community in the diocese and has ancestral ties to the Shawnee, Lenape and Cherokee tribes of his home state of Oklahoma, offered a traditional prayer in the four directions,” the report stated.

The prayer in the four directions is a pagan prayer traditionally understood to be directed to the Creator but also calls upon “spirits” associated with the North, South, East and West.

Ryan Dial of the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina also introduced three Native traditional dances, performed by his wife, his sister, and another Native American. After lunch, Dial delivered a presentation on “colonization, false dichotomies, native religion and how to become an ally.”

Renée Fisher, African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization Network (AAMEN) and Native American Church (NAC) administrative assistant, reflected on the meaning of the inculturation and encouraged people to embrace the whole world that surrounds them while also treating traditions with reverence and remaining attuned, for example, to both the Church and Indigenous peoples.

Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama of Raleigh earlier addressed the attendees, joking that he would dance “with his heart and not his body” during the celebration, NC Catholics said.

A flyer for the “multicultural celebration” reads “Sacred Earth, Sacred Unity: Walking Together with St. Kateri Tekakwitha,” and features an image of the saint superimposed on a cross.

Developing…


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events
KEYWORDS: davidmiller; luisrafaelzarama; pachamama; paganism; synodalbishop; synodalchurch
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1 posted on 10/02/2026 10:23:44 AM PDT by ebb tide
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To: Al Hitan; Fedora; irishjuggler; Jaded; kalee; markomalley; miele man; Mrs. Don-o; ...

Ping


2 posted on 10/02/2026 10:24:13 AM PDT by ebb tide (Bergoglio's synodal "church" is not the Catholic Church.)
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To: ebb tide

Past starting downhill.


3 posted on 10/02/2026 10:28:37 AM PDT by Colt1851Navy (@!@)
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To: ebb tide
Ebb tide, you are posting sensationalized headlines no better than the MSM.

Here are the factual and theological realities of what occurred in Raleigh:

1. This was Inculturation not "Paganism"
Ever since the Apostles Christians have been taking neutral cultural symbols and directing them toward the True God. Using burning sage or incense as a symbol of purification and prayer rising to Heaven is a biblical concept (Psalm 141:2; Rev 8:3-4). To claim burning plant herbs while directing prayers to Our Christian God is as the article says inherently "pagan" would be them claiming the Old Testament Temple worship pagan as well.

2. The event was held in honor of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, a canonized saint who was native American
. Native American Christians noring a Native American saint using indigenous cultural expressions is not "pagan prayer"; it is a Christian celebration.

Labeling Native American cultural expressions as "shamanism" while accepting European cultural adaptations is an arbitrary double standard, unless you want us all to dress as 1st century Jews.

Reading clickbait articles designed to provoke outrage is not a substitute for understanding theology.

4 posted on 10/02/2026 10:42:11 AM PDT by Cronos (Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.)
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To: Cronos

So now you’re defending paganism.

You’re going downhill fast.


5 posted on 10/02/2026 10:44:58 AM PDT by ebb tide (Bergoglio's synodal "church" is not the Catholic Church.)
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To: ebb tide

Bishop must be drinking too much altar wine.


6 posted on 10/02/2026 10:45:46 AM PDT by chopperk (,)
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To: Cronos

Good to see a real Catholic countering ebb turd and his/their constant slandering.
We appreciate you, keep up the good fight, knowing that there’s quite a few praying for you!


7 posted on 10/02/2026 10:47:33 AM PDT by SavannahWonderer (First do no harm)
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To: ebb tide

Doesn’t surprise me. It’s Raleigh.


8 posted on 10/02/2026 10:52:27 AM PDT by Hyman Roth
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To: Cronos

My first thought was to wonder how different smudging is from incense in church...


9 posted on 10/02/2026 10:53:04 AM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: ebb tide
Remember this?:

NY Archdiocese denounces transgender activist's funeral, holds Mass of Reparation

The funeral of a renowned transgender activist in a New York cathedral elicited a denunciation of the event by a senior church official, who called the mass a scandal within one of the preeminent houses of worship in U.S. Catholicism.

(snip)

The cathedral held a Mass of Reparation following the funeral at the direction of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, Salvo said.

(snip)

“Except on Easter Sunday we don’t really have a crowd that is this well turned out,” said Father Edward Dougherty, who presided over the mass.

Conservative group CatholicVote condemned fellow “Pose" actor Billy Porter, whose singing performance during the funeral was characterized by the group as a mockery of the “Our Father” prayer. “This is just unbelievable and sick,” CatholicVote said on X.

10 posted on 10/02/2026 11:05:14 AM PDT by Tench_Coxe (The woke were surprised by the reaction to the Bud Light fiasco. May there be many more surprises)
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To: ebb tide

The Catholic Cult has been a Pagan Cult for over 1600 years, so it only makes sense.


11 posted on 10/02/2026 11:16:27 AM PDT by TonyM (Score Event)
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To: Jamestown1630

“wonder how different smudging is from incense in church...”

Imho if they are directing it at Our Triune God...


12 posted on 10/02/2026 11:19:57 AM PDT by Cronos (Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.)
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To: TonyM

Tony, your posts make so little sense, they seem to be blabbing. Please do read a bit before commenting erroneously ok?


13 posted on 10/02/2026 11:20:54 AM PDT by Cronos (Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.)
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To: SavannahWonderer

Thank you for the prayers.

I really wonder what he is trying to do.

The incredible part is that if one just scratches the surface one can see the errors in his posts


14 posted on 10/02/2026 11:22:55 AM PDT by Cronos (Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.)
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To: TonyM; ebb tide

——>The Catholic Cult has been a Pagan Cult for over 1600 years, so it only makes sense.

100% correct. Whether they admit it or not, Catholics profess Christ but follow Satan. They are deeply intrenched in “baptized paganism.”


15 posted on 10/02/2026 11:23:54 AM PDT by Philsworld
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To: Jamestown1630

I’m far from an expert on native American customs but I think smudges uses dried herbs bound in a bundle or burned in a shell.

Afaik this is directed solely toward the Holy Trinity, serving as a cultural symbol of purification before God


16 posted on 10/02/2026 11:28:54 AM PDT by Cronos (Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.)
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To: Philsworld

Nah, phil, paganism is following the false prophetess Ellen G white who had numerous failed prophecies.

Btw, isn’t it true that your founders alongside Ellen were anti-Trinitarians?

And you Seventh day Adventists believe

1. That Jesus is the angel Michael?
2. That Satan takes on the sins of the world?
3. That Jesus entered the holy of holies only in 1844?
4. That Ellen and others claimed that the door to heaven was shut in 1844? An early title the Millerites or Sabbatarian Adventists (who would become the Seventh-day Adventist Church) used for themselves was the “Sabbath and Shut Door Adventists.
Ellen White early on in her ministry supported the belief in the Shut door as most Millerites. Despite her earlier belief, beginning in November 1848, she had a vision in which she saw the Three Angels’ Messages “like streams of light... clear round the world.” As the Millerite movement had not been significantly multinational, her vision clearly showed that new converts could be made to the movement.

In an 1849 vision, White heard Christ tell her that the door that had been shut was the door to the Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary.


Btw if anyone thinks these are made up, well they aren’t, those are core Seventh day Adventist beliefs you can look up fir yourself from official Adventist sites. I can post thise links to SDA official sites if anyone wants


17 posted on 10/02/2026 11:35:21 AM PDT by Cronos (Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.)
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To: ebb tide

A DISGRACE TO OUR FATHER GOD!


18 posted on 10/02/2026 11:44:45 AM PDT by high info voter (Delivery )
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To: Cronos

——>Nah, phil, paganism is following the false prophetess Ellen G white who had numerous failed prophecies.

Catholic disinformation protocol specialists (DIPS) like yourself aren’t fooling anyone. The Catholic Church comes straight out of Paganism, and 80% of your priests are flaming homosexuals.


19 posted on 10/02/2026 11:46:11 AM PDT by Philsworld
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To: Cronos

powwows.com says:

“Smudging is a Native American ritual that links smoke with spirituality in remarkable ways. This is a common ceremonial ritual among indigenous people, held closely within these cultures to purify, spiritually cleanse, rid physical spaces of negative energy, and bless.”

AI Overview says:

“Incense is used in Catholic Mass to symbolize prayers rising to heaven and to sanctify the altar, Gospel, offerings, and people, a practice rooted in Scripture such as Exodus 30 and Psalm 141.
Core Reasons for Using Incense
Symbol of prayers rising to God
The rising smoke visually represents the faithful’s prayers ascending to heaven, echoing Psalm 141: “Let my prayer come like incense before you.”

Sanctification and purification
Incense signifies the holiness of the altar, Gospel book, offerings, priest, and congregation. It marks them as set apart for God.

Biblical foundation
God commanded incense use in worship (Exodus 30), and Revelation depicts heavenly worship surrounded by incense offered with the prayers of the saints.

Connection to heavenly worship
Incense creates an atmosphere reflecting the worship of angels and saints, linking the earthly liturgy to the heavenly one.

Engaging the senses
Catholic worship involves the whole person—body and soul. Incense engages smell and sight to deepen reverence and solemnity.”

Seems to be little difference; like many other things, it depends on intention and what is in the heart.


20 posted on 10/02/2026 11:48:56 AM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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