Pope Rafael Otieno Adika was a baptized Roman Catholic by
1954. According an article published in the Catholic World Report, on May 15th
2011, this is what he told journalist Travis Kavulla about his conversion to
Legion Maria.
“I became severely
ill in the 1970s and went to several hospitals but could not be healed. And
then, when I heard of his powers, I went to Baba Messiah himself. He laid his
hands on me and said a prayer, and I was healed all at once.”
And when asked to classify Legion Maria as either
Pentecostal or Catholic, this is what the Holy pontiff said:
“We have not Pentecostalized
Catholicism. Our church is a return to the original way of preaching the word
of God, which emphasized the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially praying to
the sick to heal their ailments and casting out demons. We heal those ailments
that hospitals do not treat. In terms of Catholicism, we are still in Vatican
I. We are not Vatican II.”
“We do not preach
like Pentecostals, who go out in crusades. We do not go out in streets, but
just preach in our missions.”
Indeed, in many ways, Legion Maria still resembles
pre-conciliar Catholicism. Before parishioners can receive communion, they
kneel down and hold their tongues. Priests live a life that is almost monastic,
spending their time in missions engaged in intercessory prayers on behalf of
their congregations.
The most essential
difference between Legion Maria and Roman Catholicism has been a matter of
emphasis on spiritual power and gifts. Legio takes seriously the role of the
priests as conduits of the Holy Spirit, just as the apostles did in the book of
Acts.
In contrast, modern
Catholic Church has followed in the decrees of the Second Vatican Council which
tended to deemphasize certain religious rituals in her traditions, including
exorcisms, relics and the High Mass. And marginalizing these areas, the
post-Vatican II Catholic Church tended to fall short of the expectations of
some of her followers in Africa. In Africa, congregations expect their
religious leaders to be powerful and expect priests to be gifted and capable of
healing and exorcism.