Recently, a visionary/mystic from the Philippines visited St. Anthony Parish in Tamuning Guam. She gave a talk and held a healing service during which she laid hands on and prayed over people.
This may seem quite nice, but, for Catholics, it's problematic and even dangerous. Fr. Chad Ripperger, a well-known exorcist, explains:
Lay people can pray for you, teach you to pray, encourage you to pray, and pray with you but they should never be praying over (laying hands) because that implies authority that they don't have. Imposition of hand is actually a manifestation of authority that is why we discourage lay faithful to imposing hand over faithful. (Some lay people find a degree of success but since they don't have the authority, they are getting attacked, retaliation from demons because they are protected, most of the time the demon will afflict the person's family) ~Fr. Chad Ripperger (Exorcist)
And also here.
And this from Msgr. Charles Pope:
"It is certainly permissible and encouraged for laypeople to pray for one another. Indeed, the charism to bring physical or spiritual healing and consolation to others is not exclusive to the clergy. When praying, however, the laity should not use priestly gestures such as the laying of hands upon a person’s head or making the sign of the cross over them similar to the gesture of priests when giving a blessing. If hands are imposed when praying with someone, it is better to place them upon the shoulders."
And this also goes for people raising their hands, usually after Mass and at the priest's invitation, to pray for or bless someone (on their birthday or some other special occasion).
