During the 2003 Lenten season, Father Sharrett held weekly discussion meetings at Church each Sunday evening.  One Sunday he discussed New Age ideas, which permeate modern society and are not recognized as unchristian by most Catholics.  Astrology, contacts with spirits, certain forms of yoga, and elements of the Human Potential Movement are all aspects of New Age philosophy.

The New Age phenomenon does not have a central source of authority, nor are there specific beliefs that necessarily differentiate this movement from other religions, philosophies, or worldviews.  From a Catholic perspective, the New Age Movement denies the centrality of Jesus Christ as our Savior and the vital role of the Catholic Church in leading people to salvation.  

New Age beliefs tend to rely on the power of human beings to define and reach their own potential, rather than a dependence on God to give us the grace to achieve salvation.

For more information on the New Age Movement, please read "Jesus Christ:  The Bearer of the Water of Life," a Christian reflection on the "New Age," published by the Vatican in February, 2003.  The document is available on the Vatican Web site.