Ask a Question - or - Return to the Spiritual Warfare Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Ralph Sachie's Book: "Beware the Night"	Doug	Saturday, August 7, 2004
Question: Hello, I recently found a book titled "Beware The Night" by Ralph Sarchie. His is a Catholic New York cop who assists with exorcisms and investigations into demonic happenings in his spare time. The book is about the cased he has incountered and helped with, some of which are quite frightening. He promotes the Sacraments, devotion to our Blessed Mother, and the Rosary, and infact has a chapter on how to say the Rosary at the end of the book, as well as the St. Louis DeMonfort prayer for Concecration to Mary. A bishop he speaks highly of and whom he has assisted in exorcisms with, is Bishop Robert McKenna, who I believe is a Traditionalist. Mr. Sarchie was also very good friends with Fr. Malachi Martin and speaks very highly of him. He is associated with the Warren couple however. They were an influence on him and he learned from them. One thing that bothers me that I've read in the book is the fact that sometimes he will bring a psychic seminarian with him on investigations. Mr. Sarchie seems to be a very devoted Catholic, and seems to do very good work with these investigations, but this part of it makes me uncomfortable. The book is very interesting - these are real life cases, and a lot can be learned from it aside from the Warrens and the psychic seminarian. Have you read this book or heard of Mr. Sarchie? Is the book okay to read, if one knows Mr. Sarchie is making a big mistake with the psychic part of things? Thanks and God Bless, Doug
Question Answered by Mr. Joe Meineke Dear Doug: Thank you for your question. I am very familiar with Mr. Sarchie's book, "Beware the Night" and cannot recommend it for numerous reasons. In fact, one of the things on my "to do" list is to write a refutation of this book. I plan on titling the essay, "Beware the Book Beware the Night." The book is full of anti-Catholic teachings and principles that are in direct contradiction to how we, as Catholics, should conduct Spiritual Warfare. The problems with the book are systemic and it is not salvageable under any conditions. Consider the following, but be prepared. My review of this book and of the sources of Mr. Sarchie's training and endorsements is very hard-hitting and pull no punches, and are not just mere opinion, but can be substantiated: 1. Beware the Night promotes disobedience to the authority of Rome and to the Magisterium of the Holy Catholic Church by denouncing the disciplinary authority of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's 1985 ruling, INDE AB ALIQUOT ANNIS (On The Current Norms Governing Exorcisms). 2. Beware the Night implicitly promotes schism and heresy by it's support of Sede Vacantist and Ultra-Traditionalist groups and agenda. Sede Vacantists do not recognize the authority of Rome and, by that fact, are either schismatic, or proximate to schism. Schism incurs an auto-excommunication. At the very least these people are no longer in communion with the Church. Mr. Sarchie, later on in the book, states that he too has converted and has become a "Traditionalist" (read schismatic). 3. Beware the Night includes a worldview drawn heavily from New Age language and ideas in its teaching and philosophy (Chakra Points, Auras, "Magical Whisperings", "Psychic Assessment," "Telepathic Hypnosis," "Psychic this" and "Psychic that" for anything that cannot be explained, etc.,) and occasionally makes a poor attempt to marry such nonsense to Catholic teaching. For example, the "Chakra Points" are where your "Aura" flows. If your soul is in a state of grace, your "Aura" is strong and intact.; if you are in a state of sin, your "Aura" is weak and blah blah blah... I'm sorry, Mr. Sarchie, but from where in the 2000 year history of the Church does this doctrine and this phraseology come? 4. *In Beware the Night* , Mr. Sarchie implicitly presents as "fact" ideas and principles that are at best nothing more than conjecture and speculation. For example, Mr. Sarchie at one point in his book makes the statement, "When you are in a small or enclosed area during a house exorcism, psychic energy can build up and affect you in all sorts of extremely disagreeable ways" (p. 176), and "..9:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. are considered the 'Psychic Hours,' because that's when supernatural energy is at it's peak" (p. 104). Perhaps if he had said something like, "One theory is that... " or, "My opinion is... " or "Some people believe that...," it may have made the book a little more readable and more credible. This approach is not a rare thing. Rather, Mr. Sarchie seems to be in the habit of pontificating such things as fact. The list could go on and on.... A word should be made about Mr. Sarchie's endorsements and training background: 1) Bishop Robert McKenna is reportedly a Sede Vacantist (Sede Vacantist's believe that Pope John Paul II is an anti-pope). He was consecrated a bishop by the schismatic and sede vacantist archbishop Ngo-Dinh-Thuc of Vietnam. Bishop McKenna is with the Orthodox Roman Catholic Movement, which is not in communion with Rome. To say the least Bishop McKenna is not in communion with the Church. Thus the fact that he works with Mr. Sarchie is hardly a feather of credibility in Mr. Sarchie's cap. 2) Malachi Martin was a laicized priest who illegally said Mass and illegally performed exorcisms. He considered Pope John Paul II to be leading the Church into Hell (so to speak), though he couched his words so as to obscure this unless one listened to him in full context. Mr. Martin damaged the faith of millions due to his ultra-traditionalist views and the spreading of rumor and distrust of the Holy See. Thus his working relationship with Mr. Sarchie is also hardly a feather of credibility in Mr. Sarchie's cap. 3) The Warrens is where Mr. Sarchie received some, but not all of, his "training". The fact that Mr. Sarchie still holds the views of the Warrens and is a devotee of the Warrens is also not a feather of credibility in his cap. In thier "investigations," the Warrens, who profess Catholicism, have no problems using psychics, seances, and various other methodologies that are not in concert with Catholic teaching, and will utilize anyone who will help them, even schismatic clergy. In addition, some of the Warrens operational theories on paranormal phenomena are far-fetched and contaminated by an occultic and new age cosmology and demonology. Thier teachings are the source of some, but not all of, the nonsense in Mr. Sarchie's book. Mr. Sarchie's Intentions:** With all this said, I personally believe that Mr. Sarchie's intentions are good and that his motive is truly to help those in need. However, the ends do not justify the means and in this case, Mr. Sarchie's intentions do not justify the irrefutable errors that are exposed not only by basic scientific method, phenomenology, and logic, but also by the light of the Truths of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. God bless you, Joe Meineke Deliverance Counselor, SPCDC For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Ralph Sachie's Book: "Beware the Night"

Doug

Saturday, August 7, 2004

Question:

Hello,

I recently found a book titled "Beware The Night" by Ralph Sarchie. His is a Catholic New York cop who assists with exorcisms and investigations into demonic happenings in his spare time. The book is about the cased he has incountered and helped with, some of which are quite frightening.

He promotes the Sacraments, devotion to our Blessed Mother, and the Rosary, and infact has a chapter on how to say the Rosary at the end of the book, as well as the St. Louis DeMonfort prayer for Concecration to Mary.

A bishop he speaks highly of and whom he has assisted in exorcisms with, is Bishop Robert McKenna, who I believe is a Traditionalist. Mr. Sarchie was also very good friends with Fr. Malachi Martin and speaks very highly of him.

He is associated with the Warren couple however. They were an influence on him and he learned from them. One thing that bothers me that I've read in the book is the fact that sometimes he will bring a psychic seminarian with him on investigations. Mr. Sarchie seems to be a very devoted Catholic, and seems to do very good work with these investigations, but this part of it makes me uncomfortable.

The book is very interesting - these are real life cases, and a lot can be learned from it aside from the Warrens and the psychic seminarian. Have you read this book or heard of Mr. Sarchie? Is the book okay to read, if one knows Mr. Sarchie is making a big mistake with the psychic part of things?

Thanks and God Bless,
Doug

Question Answered by Mr. Joe Meineke

Dear Doug:

Thank you for your question.

I am very familiar with Mr. Sarchie's book, "Beware the Night" and cannot recommend it for numerous reasons. In fact, one of the things on my "to do" list is to write a refutation of this book. I plan on titling the essay, "Beware the Book Beware the Night." The book is full of anti-Catholic teachings and principles that are in direct contradiction to how we, as Catholics, should conduct Spiritual Warfare. The problems with the book are systemic and it is not salvageable under any conditions.

Consider the following, but be prepared. My review of this book and of the sources of Mr. Sarchie's training and endorsements is very hard-hitting and pull no punches, and are not just mere opinion, but can be substantiated:

1. Beware the Night promotes disobedience to the authority of Rome and to the Magisterium of the Holy Catholic Church by denouncing the disciplinary authority of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's 1985 ruling, INDE AB ALIQUOT ANNIS (On The Current Norms Governing Exorcisms).

2. Beware the Night implicitly promotes schism and heresy by it's support of Sede Vacantist and Ultra-Traditionalist groups and agenda. Sede Vacantists do not recognize the authority of Rome and, by that fact, are either schismatic, or proximate to schism. Schism incurs an auto-excommunication. At the very least these people are no longer in communion with the Church. Mr. Sarchie, later on in the book, states that he too has converted and has become a "Traditionalist" (read schismatic).

3. Beware the Night includes a worldview drawn heavily from New Age language and ideas in its teaching and philosophy (Chakra Points, Auras, "Magical Whisperings", "Psychic Assessment," "Telepathic Hypnosis," "Psychic this" and "Psychic that" for anything that cannot be explained, etc.,) and occasionally makes a poor attempt to marry such nonsense to Catholic teaching. For example, the "Chakra Points" are where your "Aura" flows. If your soul is in a state of grace, your "Aura" is strong and intact.; if you are in a state of sin, your "Aura" is weak and blah blah blah... I'm sorry, Mr. Sarchie, but from where in the 2000 year history of the Church does this doctrine and this phraseology come?

4. In Beware the Night , Mr. Sarchie implicitly presents as "fact" ideas and principles that are at best nothing more than conjecture and speculation. For example, Mr. Sarchie at one point in his book makes the statement, "When you are in a small or enclosed area during a house exorcism, psychic energy can build up and affect you in all sorts of extremely disagreeable ways" (p. 176), and "..9:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. are considered the 'Psychic Hours,' because that's when supernatural energy is at it's peak" (p. 104).

Perhaps if he had said something like, "One theory is that... " or, "My opinion is... " or "Some people believe that...," it may have made the book a little more readable and more credible. This approach is not a rare thing. Rather, Mr. Sarchie seems to be in the habit of pontificating such things as fact.

The list could go on and on....

A word should be made about Mr. Sarchie's endorsements and training background:

1) Bishop Robert McKenna is reportedly a Sede Vacantist (Sede Vacantist's believe that Pope John Paul II is an anti-pope). He was consecrated a bishop by the schismatic and sede vacantist archbishop Ngo-Dinh-Thuc of Vietnam. Bishop McKenna is with the Orthodox Roman Catholic Movement, which is not in communion with Rome. To say the least Bishop McKenna is not in communion with the Church. Thus the fact that he works with Mr. Sarchie is hardly a feather of credibility in Mr. Sarchie's cap.

2) Malachi Martin was a laicized priest who illegally said Mass and illegally performed exorcisms. He considered Pope John Paul II to be leading the Church into Hell (so to speak), though he couched his words so as to obscure this unless one listened to him in full context. Mr. Martin damaged the faith of millions due to his ultra-traditionalist views and the spreading of rumor and distrust of the Holy See. Thus his working relationship with Mr. Sarchie is also hardly a feather of credibility in Mr. Sarchie's cap.

3) The Warrens is where Mr. Sarchie received some, but not all of, his "training". The fact that Mr. Sarchie still holds the views of the Warrens and is a devotee of the Warrens is also not a feather of credibility in his cap. In thier "investigations," the Warrens, who profess Catholicism, have no problems using psychics, seances, and various other methodologies that are not in concert with Catholic teaching, and will utilize anyone who will help them, even schismatic clergy. In addition, some of the Warrens operational theories on paranormal phenomena are far-fetched and contaminated by an occultic and new age cosmology and demonology. Thier teachings are the source of some, but not all of, the nonsense in Mr. Sarchie's book.

Mr. Sarchie's Intentions:

With all this said, I personally believe that Mr. Sarchie's intentions are good and that his motive is truly to help those in need. However, the ends do not justify the means and in this case, Mr. Sarchie's intentions do not justify the irrefutable errors that are exposed not only by basic scientific method, phenomenology, and logic, but also by the light of the Truths of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

God bless you,

Joe Meineke
Deliverance Counselor, SPCDC

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.