Francis MacNutt

Francis MacNutt
Born 1925
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Education B.A., Harvard University;
M.A. in speech and drama, The Catholic University of America, Washington;
Ph.D. in Theology
Occupation Healing Prayer
Religion Roman Catholic
Spouse(s) Judith Carole (Sewell) MacNutt
Children Rachel, and David
Ordained Dominican Order of the Roman Catholic church
Writings Healing,
The Healing Reawakening,
Deliverance from Evil Spirits,
The Practice of Healing Prayer: A How-To Guide for Catholics,
The Healing Reawakening: Reclaiming Our Lost Inheritance,
The Healing Touch: A Guide to Healing Prayer for Yourself and Those You Love,
The Prayer That Heals: Praying for Healing in the Family,
Can Homosexuality Be Healed?,
Overcome by the Spirit
Offices held
 Surgical technician, United States Army,
Roman Catholic priest, Merton House, St. Louis, Missouri,
Founder of the Association of Christian Therapists,
Co-founder of Christian Healing Ministries, Jacksonville, Florida
Title Doctor
Website
www.christianhealingmin.org

Francis Scott MacNutt (born 1925[1]) is an American former Roman Catholic priest. Associated with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal[1] he is an author of books on healing prayer, including Healing, The Healing Reawakening and Deliverance from Evil Spirits.

MacNutt grew up in St. Louis, Missouri.[2] He earned a B.A. degree from Harvard University in 1948, and a M.A. degree in speech and drama from The Catholic University of America, Washington.[3] In 1950, MacNutt joined the Dominican Order and was ordained to the priesthood in 1956.[2][1] He has a Ph.D. degree in theology.[4] He taught at a seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, for several years before moving back to St Louis in 1966 to become executive director of the National Catholic Preaching Conference.[3]

MacNutt learned of the charismatic movement through Pentecostal Protestant friends.[5] As a young Roman Catholic priest, he was prominent and influential in the charismatic renewal in the 1960s,[6] and during the 1970s he became associated with the practices of speaking in tongues and faith healing and appeared on television with Ruth Carter Stapleton, the sister of President Carter.[3] In the late 1970s he was director of the Thomas Merton Foundation in St. Louis.[7]

He left the Dominicans to marry his wife, Judith Carole Sewell, a psychologist, in February 1980 and they settled in Clearwater, Florida, where they established Christian Healing Ministries[8] that same year.[1] His decision to marry was controversial in the Catholic charismatic movement and due to a requirement of clerical celibacy it resulted in automatic excommunication.[9] Since the beginning of their marriage, the MacNutts have traveled widely, speaking and ministering together. In 1987, at the invitation of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, they moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and expanded Christian Healing Ministries into a healing center for prayer ministry and teaching.[2]

In 1993 MacNutt received a dispensation from church authorities and their marriage was celebrated with a ceremony officiated by the Most Reverend John Snyder, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine, at Marywood Retreat Center in Jacksonville. MacNutt and his wife have two grown children, Rachel and David.[10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Balmer, Randall Herbert (2002). Encyclopedia of evangelicalism. Westminster John Knox Press. p. 351. ISBN 0-664-22409-1.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 About christianhealingmin.org, accessed 4 July 2009
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Charismatic priest asks for release". The Southeast Missourian. 3 February 1980. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  4. ↑ "World expects to see a difference in way you live, charismatics told". St. Petersburg Times. 2 September 1978. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  5. ↑ Kim, Joyce (1 January 1973). "Catholic Pentecostal Service Alive in Clearwater". St Petersburg Times. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  6. ↑ Wakefield, Gordon S. (2003). The SCM dictionary of Christian spirituality. Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd. p. 86. ISBN 0-334-02955-4.
  7. ↑ "Augusta to Host Charismatic Meet". Waycross Journal-Herald. 25 March 1978. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  8. ↑ Todd, Mark (24 March 1984). "Ex-Priest Out to Revive Healing Services". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  9. ↑ "Priest's Marriage Jars Charismatic Followers". Palm Beach Post. 19 July 1980. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  10. ↑ "Francis S. MacNutt, Ph.D.". Retrieved 2 November 2012.

External links