Catholic mystics pray on the most vulnerable

The controversial House of Prayer was founded on Achill Island by Mayo woman Christina Gallagher after she claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary in 1988.
Christina Gallagher came to the public's attention 20 years ago when she claimed she saw visions of the Virgin Mary and receives regular messages from her. Since then she has built up an empire of House of Prayer "churches" in America and Mexico as well as the original House of Prayer on Achill Island.
The Co Mayo centre now pulls in busloads of pilgrims, many from America, despite not having official Church status, and no longer has charitable status. The Revenue Commissioners removed the House of Prayer's charitable status two years ago.

Christina Gallagher claims to receive regular messages from the Virgin Mary and to suffer from unexplained stigmata.
However, Mrs Gallagher has become the focus of a number of reports in the Sunday World newspaper, which published details of her considerable wealth, her multi-million euro property portfolio, and use of luxury cars. The claims have been disputed by her supporters.
Irish Community Images

The 4 million Euro house at Abington, in Malahide's, and indeed some would say Dublin's, most upmarket housing estate
The €4m home, No 2 Abington, is set on 1.2 acres in the luxurious private estate set on manicured lawns with plush water fountains and sculptures. Well-heeled neighbours include former Boyzone star Ronan Keating and pop star Nicky Byrne of Westlife.
The two-page newspaper feature, complete with photographs of a BMW, a sprawling mansion and pictures showing Ms Gallagher leaving a local DIY shop with a trolley full of household goods, claims she is living a life of luxury with a multi-million euro property portfolio and top-of-the-range luxury cars, despite not having any visible means of support or income.

In January of this year RTE denied gagging Liveline over comments on visionary Christina Gallagher.
This came after callers were warned to tone it down on the popular phone-in programme on RTE radio after they spoke out against the woman, who claims to suffer stigmata, and her self-styled House of Prayer.
Liveline host Joe Duffy said callers would have to be careful what they said or risk being the subject of a lawsuit after several people rang the programme yesterday and spoke of their personal experiences with the self-styled prophet.

This week Primetime has been looking closer at the movement. Questions why the Roman Catholic church in Ireland has taken so long to attempt detachment from the works of the House of Prayer. Serving priest, Fr Gerard McGinnity who some claim is the promoter of the House of Prayer is also subject of the investigation.
Cardinal Brady has had talks with Fr Gerard McGinnity of Knockbridge about the parish priest's involvement with the House of Prayer centre. It is believed the Cardinal has been having ongoing discussions with Fr McGinnity about his role as spiritual director to Christina Gallagher, founder of the House of Prayer.
Cardinal Brady was asked to intervene by a number of former supporters of Ms Gallagher's, who wrote to him in recent weeks expressing concern over Fr McGinnity's endorsement of the House of Prayer.

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Catholic mystics pray on the most vulnerable