Hundreds of students at Cabrini College just outside Philadelphia had their fortunes told at “Psychic Night” earlier this month, according to the student newspaper The Loquitur.
Students’ fortunes were told by professional tarot card readers at “Psychic Night” on Thursday Jan. 19, said the student newspaper. This is the second annual “Psychic Night” at Cabrini hosted by the Campus Activities Programming Board which brought the tarot card readers to campus.
CAP hired Tarot Card reader Marilyn Sukonick-Zeff for this event. The Cardinal Newman Society spoke with Sukonick-Zeff who confirmed the event although she insisted she’s not a psychic but a Tarot card reader.
According to her Facebook page, however, she says she sometimes channels the deceased:
I can create numerology profiles, handwriting analysis, voice and dream analysis, as well as personality profiles based on photographs presented during a reading, and of course, in depth Tarot Card readings. On occasion, information is presented to me from those who are deceased, known as channeling.
She said she typically begins events this way:
Everyone picks a small envelope prior to entering the venue, or the envelopes are taped under their chairs. Inside the envelopes ultimately reveal what is, or what will transpire in their lives due to the Tarot Card placed inside the envelope.
She said that “instinct” makes it impossible to pull the wrong card due to our being guided to choose the appropriate cards.
Sukonick-Zeff said the crowd at Cabrini was “overflowing.” She said she received a lot of questions about careers, relationships and improving communication with parents.
While waiting in line, students were invited to watch the movie “Animal House.”
Students seemed taken with the event, even though the Catechism of the Catholic Church states clearly: “All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future.Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.”
According to the student newspaper, students had a lot of reactions:
“Initially, I didn’t believe in tarot cards and psychics, but after she read my palm I started to think that she knew what she was talking about,” Brandon Mincer, junior social work major, said.
“I do believe in tarot cards,” Sean O’Neil, sophomore psychology major, said. “The fortune teller knew what my major was, how I’ve been lately and knew my personal problems. I was amazed at how he knew so much about me and how accurate he was with my facts.”
“I’m not sure if I believe in tarot cards or not,” Lauren Morano, junior marketing major, said. “It was my first experience with them. I’ve been to a psychic once before but it was totally different than this. He didn’t use tarot cards or read palms.”
“I believe in tarot cards because I believe it’s fate in what you pick and the psychics are just there to interpret what they mean for you,” Samantha Smith, junior math and secondary education major, said…
Those who attended the event expressed their satisfaction.“I loved the event,” O’Neil said. “It was a great experience. I enjoyed hearing what my future has in store for me. I can’t wait until we have another event like this.”
Sukonick-Zeff said she saw no difficulty in Cabrini being a Catholic college and hosting a tarot card reader, but the students’ statements reveal significant harm. Cabrini College did not respond to questions. But this we know: leaders of a Catholic college cannot plead ignorance when called to account for endangering students’ souls.
Adam Wilson
CNS Staff
Matthew Archbold
Charlotte Hays
61 Comments
What’s the Bishop’s response? Sounds like the college needs an exorcism now.
Utterly appalling
Is it not clear that Cabrini has lost not only the Catholic faith but its mind?!?!?!
Suspicious way of getting your social security number. Hope that the students didn’t fall for that one.
Catholic kids should know before they get to college what our Catholic catechism teaches. Sadly, they can go from Catholic pre-school through Catholic graduate school and never learn the basics. Most don’t even know it’s a mortal sin to intentionally miss mass on Sunday (or Saturday p.m.). Many parents don’t know, either. The college is seriously in error but so is our whole Catholic education and parish religion teaching system. We need to get back to the fundamentals.
These students need to learn their faith! Jesus forbids such things for a reason-it opens a ‘crack’ to allow satanic activity to enter one’s life.
I wish they would read the book “Ransomed From Darkness” by Moira Noonen. Moira was formerly involved in such dangerous activity, but thank God she finally saw the light.
This cant be true. This must be an Onion article.
“I believe in fate, and I know it’s true because [insert syllogism or silly logic here]”
How sad.
I am so proud of the members of the Cardinal Newman Society who have truthfully indicated this AFFRONT to our God that pushes aside the teachings of our Holy Catholic Church..AND the Judeo principles handed down to us through Moses in the 10 Commandments. To know what the future holds one MUST turn to our God, as is written in Jeremiah 29:11-14. He is our Maker…Read Psalm 139! God will not be mocked.
Dabbling with tarot card readings is playing with fire…the very fire of HELL. Yes, these students received “correct” information, BUT it was through the unholy spirit, NOT God’s Holy Spirit. With the naivete expressed by the above students, it becomes more imperative that the leaders of this Catholic college realize that THEY will be held accountable to God for this grave omission. Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini loved Jesus. May St. Frances Cabrini intercede powerfully before the throne of God for the entire staff, the student body and even for Sukonick-Zeff for conversion of their hearts…that all may come into the saving knowledge that JESUS CHRIST is Lord! May all REPENT of this grave SIN and ask our God for His MERCY. Jesus Himself said, “I have come that you may have life and have it in abundance.” John 10:10 Choosing tarot card and palm readings is choosing death not life. May the Lord Himself fill each of you with His His healing Light and Love…Elaine
Whaaa……..????
Seriously, THIS is happening at a Catholic university. No wonder Cabrini isn’t on the Newman Guide
Shut down the college.
I’m getting so tired and it wears my spirit down to see our church sponsored school systems either teaching or allowing pro choice materials or witchcraft materials into these schools we send our children.
When will the bishops come out and demand catechism based practices in Catholic educational system?
We all know who gives power out to these mediums (and it’s not God). To think they are now practicing it on the campus grounds is reprehensible. The whole chain of leadership there needs to be changed out.
If I could speak with the students and leaders involved with this event, I would tell them that they are playing with fire. God our Father will not stand by while even one of his children is playing near the cliff’s edge, much less a large number in a Catholic college. He may very well allow Satan to oppress the errant soul. He may allow Satan to manifest himself in subtle or obvious ways. It is very ugly, frightening and dark. When God allows such things, it may be an effort to save souls. Satan is on a leash but God gives slack to the leash as He chooses for reasons we cannot scrutinize.
I speak from experience. I began seeing a psychic while in my 20s. Ten or 12 years later, I consulted a tarot card reader. Little did I recognize that Satan had been manifesting himself for most of those years. It was not until my family (children and husband) were being affected that I was persuaded to read the book ‘An Exorcist Tells His Story’. Because of this new information, that fit so accurately with what my family and I were experiencing, I contacted a very good, humble and devout Franciscan Frier. It took months of special prayers, conversion, faithful reception of the Sacraments and humble confessions to end a very bad thing. The only way to know if Satan was responsible for the manifestations, events, and circumstances, was in retrospect. There was a turning point and from there everything changed. We continued for some time though, to be sure it was gone. Father M. was confident, in retrospect, that we had indeed been oppressed. He warned us that if one devil is cast out, seven more would return if we were not vigilant.
Please know that Satan enters through that open door of the psychic. God our Father warned us in Scripture, Holy Mother Church warns us in the Catechism; Trust God. The reading may seem fun, harmless, intriguing. It is poison.
If you ever need assistance in this area, read the book I mentioned, seek out a holy priest and heed his advice.
Disgusting.
May God have mercy on their souls.
Well, I considered attending this college for graduate studies, but I think I’ll pass on it. That’s an understatement. Running the other way is closer to my opinion now.
Whoever is in charge…. FIRE THEM NOW!
Shut down the entire college and have it exorcised.
Then have every single student attend confession individually.
REVERSE this demonic act and turn it into a glorious one for Christ.
Bring back St Michael’s statue and blessed crucifixes in the classroom or on campus.
You are blind if you cannot see the ATTACK that is going on in the midst of you.
It’s about time the heavyweights of the church started cleaning house.
My first impulse is to bewail the presence of such goings-on at a Catholic institution; the second is to admit that this is what occurs when we Catholics are afraid to be laughed at or labeled naive if we speak out against that which our faith condemns. Satan’s laughter must be frightening, indeed. We let one thing in the door, then another, and receive praise from other dupes who let their fear control their witness, and pretty soon the whole elephant is under the tent, and doing what elephants do.
I’m surprised these so-called intelligent students aren’t aware that they are dealing with the likes of Satan.
One time, a radio station announced that they would have a psychic on who would predict the day that the would die and how they would die. I didn’t call and I’m glad I did, because you are dealing with Satanic forces when you call or visit a psychic. Let’s stand up to this idea by exorcising Cabrini College. Mother Cabrini, ora pro nobis!
For the Campus Activities Programming Board To sanction this satanic activity in a Catholic College is quite shocking.
Serious questions must be asked about the Catholic integrity of this Board and why they should be allowed to remain in their positions.
They must be told that they are endangering the souls of their students in allowing behaviour of this kind to take place and if they do not stop Diabolical activities like this, then they should be dismissed.
My words for this Board are:
Stand up for Christ and His Church, and take responsibility for the important position that all of you have been given.
I agree. Clean house. We don’t allow that
in our Catholic homes and yet we pay to expose
our children to this garbage????
The devil is alive and sick.
l. Words of Jesus Christ- Book of Mark Chapter 9 Verse 42…………”But it would be better if anyone who leads astray one of these simple believers were to be plunged in the sea with a great millstone fastened around his neck.”
—————–
1. “Let there not be fouond amoung you anyone who immolates his son or daughter in the fire, nor a fortuneteller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or caster of spells, nor one who consults ghosts and spirits or seeks oracles from the dead. Anyone who does such things is an abomination to the LORD, and because of such abominations the LORD, your GOD, is driving these nations out of your way. You, however, must be altogether sincere toward the LORD, your GOD. Though these nations whom you are to dispossess listen to their soothsayers and fortuneteller, the LORD, your GOD, will not permit you to do so.” Book of Deuteromony Chapter 18 Verses 10 – 14
—————
3. Also Book of
alachi Chapter 3 Verse 5
TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER.
Divine Will Be Done as Divine Will is Perfection
Our Ladies FIAT -Let it be done according to THY WORD. (That’s what our Lady Said)
***
It is written above.
Thank you,
Pat
Prevention……
I believe this type of education starts at home. It is the parents responsibility to inform their children the about the dangers of this type.
This doesn’t excuse Cabrini College what so ever, for its willingness to expose their charges to these dangers.
God have mercy on their souls.
Pray for the poor misguided students left to flounder without shepherds. Call to accountability the entire leadership of Cabrini College. Pat’s post on this site sums it up perfectly. WHERE IS THE CATHOLIC LEADERSHIP AND WHY ARE THEY ALLOWING THIS ABOMINATION TO HAPPEN??????????????
May God’s mercy be on these folks….as they are following divination over the True Gospel….Jesus told us not to believe in pagan fools!
Stop this now!
lja/JMJ
It’s pretty straightforward teaching in the CCC 2116:
“All forms of divination are to be rejected; recourse to satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to “unveil” the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.”
So is the college Catholic or not?
…and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is rolling in her grave. O Saint, pray for us and help our prayers come to His Majesty. We are sorry for having so sullied your good name, saint.
Just goes to show how modern living constantly resurrects the demonic smut from the ancient world. Ungodly practices will not die as long as the demon wanders and encourages us in our sinfulness. We constantly turn from God and fashion golden calves…and dance around them like fools!
Channeled spirits are DEMONS.
Didn’t this same thing happen within the last year at another northeast school?
Sorry, was not Fordham, was St. Bonaventure. Thomas Merton, if you are in a position to pray for these college students, please help our prayers!
St Frances Xavier Cabrini PRAY FOR US!! IN JESUS NAME AMEN!!
As a Catholic MIddle School teacher it is imperative that we teach our students about these types of tactics that Satan uses, and sadly, some “Catholic” colleges embrace. By the time they attend college, they will be fully equipped to fight against such atrocities. For the past ten years I have been teaching my students about these abuses and the names of the so-called “Catholic” Colleges that no longer follow the truths of Christ.
Shame on our so called “Catholic Colleges and schools that allow this evil to step foot on the property.
The devil is amonst us and runs rampent
Lord have Mercy
I wish you would have included the email address of someone in charge at the college. That way, all of us readers could flood their in boxes. Maybe some public pressure will get them to realize their foolishness is being noticed by others. Don’t they have a priest on staff who responds to this?
Dear moac,
Here, from their website, are the name and email address of the President of Cabrini College, and the Director of Campus Ministry:
Dr. Marie George
marie.a.george@cabrini.edu
Fr. Carl Janicki
mailto:carl.janicki@cabrini.edu
I agree, moac – flood their mailboxes and remind them of their responsibility to teach and not trash the Catholic faith, especially Fr. Janicki, who appears to be the only priest on staff or in residence, though there are a few women religious.
The website’s official message from the college’s president, Marie Angelella George, Ph.D., mentions only once that the college is Catholic. The emphasis is on the intellectual aspect of education, and only a vague nod in the direction of an ambivalent ‘spirituality.’
A quote from the President’s message…
“Cabrini is guided by the College’s core values of respect, vision, community and dedication to excellence—values which are brought to life through academic excellence, social justice, ambition and a commitment to using talents and skills to improve the world. ”
…does not mention Catholicism as their primary core value. The rest of the message
Thank God for Cardinal Newman Society, the watchdogs of Catholic education!
Dr. George is a caring and amazing lady who truly loves Cabrini. I’m shocked that people of God could be so harsh and judgmental. You’re insulting God and yourselves, not Cabrini.
Dear Cabrini Student,
I commend you spirit for defending your College President though it seems misguided. If Dr. George is a practicing Catholic and is in full communinion with the Catholic Church and following the guidelines set forth by the Majestaium, she would not have allowed this type of, as your fellow students called it, “fun and enjoyable entertianment” on your campus. Remember part of her charge is to ensure your spiritual protection. I’m sure she is an amazing lady but if she truly, truly loves Cabrini she would not allow this type of entertainment on you campus. I’m sorry if this seem harsh, she is in a position of leadership, power and guidance. She is held to a lot higher standard, as she should be, your souls are at stake.
Is this a wake up call to all of us who believe Jesus Christ is Lord just how far our nation has drifted from God. I pray this nation will drop on it’s knees and know that God is who he says He is and He can do what He says He can do. I pray we once again become a nation after God. Maybe God have mercy on each of us.
Amen
Good idea giving us her e mail. I e mailed her that I have a high school senior with a near perfect SAT score and we are seeking a Catholic college but have removed Cabrini from the list. This website is definitely useful. Thank you
You may have a hard time finding a suitable place. You can’t unearth every detail of every institution. I do regret that Cabrini will not be the benefactor of a talent such as your daughter’s. I wish you well on your search, but based on my first comment recommend revisiting the Cabrini. It is a great school and a great time in my life, great teachers, student. Good Luck Mary Arnold!!
You CAN find a suitable Catholic college (not in name only) for your daughter. The Cardinal Newman Society can help with that. Wish we knew before we sent my daughter off. Her college (I won’t mention it) is Catholic “in name only”. It is outside of San Francisco. Need I say more?
Please do if you wouldn’t mind. I’m not sure what connection you are trying to make when you mention San Francisco followed by “need i say more”. Thank you for your time.
i’m a cabrini student…
please come visit our campus, i’ll treat you to a rice krispie in jazzmans,next to grace hall where the event was held!
sometimes we hold bingo nights where we give away prizes, does this make you angry as well?
peace be with you.
http://theloquitur.com/?p=28357
There is no devil, and the students are of age, they can pick and choose what events they want to attend. Its a fun event for people to mess around and enjoy. I went there, I’m not catholic, it just happens to be a catholic school that accepts all walks of faith, race, and such. The school doesn’t cater to just catholics. I want to inform you the school allows homosexuals as well…just food for thought
I meant to say allows homosexuals to attend.
one last note, its a liberal arts college as well. What they preach at Cabrini is being open minded and accepting, but I guess a night of good clean fun is enough to destroy the culture of charity and goodwill for the ideaologues.
As a Cabrini College student, I do not see the “Satanic worship” that has been insinuated in the comments that ensue the slanderous article against the college I take pride in. A night of entertainment should not be criticized with such vehemence. Most comments state that they will “pray for our souls” and we appreciate any prayer dedicated to us. We are not “devil worshipers’, but as hard working students (me being a double major), we have a right to be entertained and not have stones cast at us for attending the school’s various activities. We are simply enjoying the company of our friends in a safe and pleasant environment. I personally did not attend this event, but I do have a right to defend my school and the people I call my friends.
There are symbols of our faith and love of God in every building, around campus, and as well as our beautiful campus ministry. I personally know Father Carl and several others who are involved in mission projects in Swaziland, Guatemala, and other various places around the world. There is plenty reason in this article that may persuade one to believe the student body is “satanic”, but there is no mention of the beneficial things our school has done. Point of view is a major influence in article writing, and this one definitely achieves a negative, dishonest interpretation of Cabrini College.
This is a wake-up call to those who believe the youth of the nation is going to Hell. Please do not judge our school or the activities we so choose to attend. Cabrini College is not a school that promotes “satanic worship’ but a loving environment for a student like me to grow as an individual, as an academic scholar, and as well as spiritual being. Neither the campus ministry nor our staff deserves such negative criticism. Do not cast stones, do not condemn, and do not shun.
Please understand that it is these types of events that people are led astray. I personally was involved with psychic readings, talking with mediums, playing with tarot cards, etc… for a long time. It is a really subtle, but powerful way to be deceived. If you have been paying attention, you know that the biggest deceiver of them all is Satan. He loves it when we put our trust in psychic readings, tarot card interpretations and so forth rather than in GOD. Please understand that this is not an over-reaction and this IS serious. I don’t have enough room to post, but from experience, I beg you to encourage all the other students to AVOID these events. Don’t go and don’t blindly support it either. Please!! I care what happens to each of you students. The priests leading this school know better and should do a better of job of helping each of you protect your immortal soul. There is a reason there is an increase in the number of exorcisms around the world. It is scary.
The event was an an innocent way to have fun and get students at the college together. Just a thought, maybe you should concentrate on all the good Cabrini does instead of being so judgmental. Through Cabrini I have done so much community service and reaching out to others that I never even thought to do before. Start looking at the good, instead of being so ignorant.
Your own ignorance of this issue puts you in peril. You are an easy target with your mind set. Judgment is ok, it helps us determine right from wrong. We live in an “anything goes” society and at our peril. This isn’t pyschic/medium bashing. This is simply telling the leaders of a Catholic school to NOT to allow activities when they are clearly leading people to do things directly opposed to church teaching. Also, works alone won’t save and faith without works is a dead faith. Cabrini student, you need the FAITH part too, not just doing community service. If you don’t follow the true teachings of the church, you are being led astray. I say this out of Christian love for you, not to condemn. It is a work of mercy to inform the ignorant (see Catechism). Learn more about Divine Mercy and St. Faustina, please. It is a wonderful devotion. Read her diary, you will be amazed.
Sean said it perfectly. Also, Cabrini accepts multiple faiths… not everyone who went, was Roman Catholic.
Yes, anyone can attend a Catholic college because Catholic colleges do not discriminate against anyone —-even atheists. However, Catholic colleges should not cater to atheists. The foundations of a Catholic college must be maintained.
They should cater to all students, you’re asking them to accept their tuition but treat them like they are the less equal pigs in animal farm. You can’t say they don’t discriminate and in the next sentence say to discriminate, unless you want to contradict yourself.
You obviously don’t know the difference between discriminate and cater. All I am saying is that a Catholic college should have higher standards in moral guidance. Anyone can go to a college that “lowers the bar” for immoral entertainment.
Let me make myself clear since you find I am having trouble between catering and discriminating….When you cater to one group and not the other, you are discriminating, that is what I may have failed to convey to you. What I found disturbing was your advocating the discrimination against atheists. I don’t think the incident that occurred that night was a display of low moral guidance. When I think of morality, I think of how I treat other people and how I live my life, like a good Humanist. It is a shock to me that a psychic reading, meant for entertainment purposes has anything to do with morality.
Hello, Sean T….
Did you not know this was a Catholic College?
Founded by Catholics to teach Catholicism. Yes, all students are welcome, but don’t expect your atheistic beliefs to trump those of the Catholic church. If your calling that discrimination then you should seek a non Catholic College. Find your College’s mission statement and read it carefully.
Silly stone throwers… How dare your judge an institution based on a single form of entertainment?
Were you there to watch the “hundreds” of robed candle holding students venerating the entertainers?
Fanaticism is what drives the youth from the church.
Stop your silly judgments and preach love and forgiveness. I pray that God can forgive you for judging others falsely.
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft…
- Deuteronomy 18:9-11
Perhaps they are inviting the “Terot Card” reader to share the true faith in return, or even to perform an exorcism as St. Paul showed to be appropriate. (Acts 16:16-18)
I agree with your first statement and to finish it “or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.”
I do not find humor in your second. Exposing young souls to this darkness is not the way to share our faith. Exorcism is serious business. God gave specific powers to the apostles to dispel demons. I don’t believe anyone on that campus is experienced with the dangers of exorcising a demon.
@Tony (Posted February 13, 2012 at 11:58 pm)I agree with you that this is serious business. My wry, sarcastic remark perhaps detracted from our pointed responsibility to “Admonish the sinner” – a Spiritual Work of Mercy, as Jesus taught in Matthew 18:15. As we are called to provide ‘medicinal rebuke’, as St. Augustine wrote, without final judgement which belongs to God. (http://www.tldm.org/News6/judging.htm)Sometime I attempt to use humor to make a point, in hopes of a bit of healing power of humor or at least illustrating an irony. Furthermore we understand that we are all also called to ‘Preach the Good News of salvation always, even unto the ends of the earth’ (we are all admonished) in Mark 16:15! Thanks for finishing the verse to Deuteronomy 18:9-11! Terot cards, Oiji boards, Palm readers, etc… are often portals to demonic influence.
For those of you who are defending this event you truly don’t understand what you are dealing with.
You may not know any better but your Leaders do.
Convincing yourselves this is only for entertainment. That is exactly how the Devil works. These Tarot readers are operating in the Devils playground/backyard.
You have all missed the points.
The College is not bad it is the leaders making Bad Decisions.
I, as a Catholic father of 7, would not want any of my children going to a school where the leaders allow these kind of Dark forces, disguised as harmless entertainment, on campus.
Again you all do not realize the gravity of what is at stake. The Devil doesn’t play to have fun, he plays for keeps, your souls. He is crafty and smart, he has you all believing this is Innocent fun.
You are the Innocents and it is the Duty of the Leaders of your College to prevent this type of CLOAKED fun from occurring.
You all have to remember this is First and Foremost a Catholic College and it is required to teach and hold true to the Tenants of our Catholic faith and protect the Innocents. Allowing the dark forces on your campus is a breach of that trust.
@Tony (Posted February 13, 2012 at 11:58 pm)I agree with you that this is serious business. My wry, sarcastic remark perhaps detracted from our pointed responsibility to “Admonish the sinner” – a Spiritual Work of Mercy, as Jesus taught in Matthew 18:15 It was intended to provide ‘medicinal rebuke’ according to St. Augustine, without final judgement which belongs to God. (http://www.tldm.org/News6/judging.htm) Sometime I attempt to use a bit of the healing power of humor to make a point, or at least to illustrate the irony of a situation. Furthermore we understand that we are all also called to ‘Preach the Good News of salvation always, even unto the ends of the earth’, as we are all admonished in Mark 16:15! Thanks for finishing the verse to Deuteronomy 18:9-11! Tarot cards, Ouija boards, Palm readers, etc… are often portals to demonic influence.