Charism and Capitalism

Jennifer Shanahan speaks of her healing.

“Jennifer Shanahan believes God still heals through the touch of others.

She is confident that she experienced that kind of healing via prayer and a touch from Dr. Issam Nemeh, the Cleveland-area cardio-thoracic anesthesiologist who draws thousand to faith-healing services around the nation.

‘There were healings in the Bible, so why wouldn’t they be happening now?’ said Shanahan, 32, of Kent. ‘Miracles still happen and we are seeing some of those miracles happen through the prayers of Dr. Nemeh and his connectedness to God.’ ”

So begins the story in Friday’s Akron Beacon Journal, which was prompted by the upcoming appearance of Dr Nemah at Walsh University, a Catholic school in North Canton. The piece goes on to say that Dr Nemah has appeared on the 700 Club and Dr Oz, and that on the latter two people who had been healed by the doctor’s prayers were interviewed, as was a fellow physician, who testified to the genuineness of the cures.

Aside from the dubious TV shows it was all pretty impressive; after all I certainly believe in the gift of divine healing.

I became concerned, though, later in the article when it said that admission tickets were required. My concern turned to alarm when I read the price of the tickets.

So, how much are tickets to a healing service? Would you believe $95?

I always thought it odd when singer John Michael Talbot, who sees his songwriting as a ministry, charged admission to his concerts. And I thought it worse when a phony like Fr Caropi demanded high prices to hear him preach.

But for someone allegedly gifted with healing, charging prices that exclude all but the affluent?

Shameful.

Can you imagine Christ, or the apostles, or any saint in history doing such a thing? How can this man justify this?

And how can anyone fork over the dough for his services and not think it outrageous?

About these ads