Augusto's wife and children are in the Neocatechumenal Way and he isn't. They encouraged her to try to have kids at great risk of miscarriage. His wife kicked him out of the house with the help and support of the NeoCatechists. Even non-Neocat clergy wouldn't help him, and told him he was wasting his time fighting them. One bishop said he'd never publicly denounce the Way and the situation was a lot more serious than Augusto thought. Augusto's wife refused to be with him when his mother died; his son tried to strangle him for opposing the Neocatechumenate. Faustini went on a hunger strike to protest what the Way did to his wife and children, who do not even call him "Daddy" to show their spite for his opposition to their sect. Members are obligated to marry within the group after some time. The Way thinks you should love it instead of your partner.
A successful psychiatrist, Alberto was kicked out of the house by his mother, who was ordered by the NeoCatechists. His father was not a member and was separated from the mother until his death. Picano notices the breakup of the family, not only when one partner is not a member, but also within the group. The Way members do not show special attachments to their spouses and children, but to the group as a whole. He notices most members are weak, have low self esteem, and are depressed. Though he hasn't seen a suicide case, he has seen much despair from former members of the Way. He says no one with strong faith joins the Way.
Sex and money-related guilt were the tools of Neocatechumenal control, says Kevin. He was in the group for only five years, yet it took him two years to regain his life and he almost had a breakdown. He was psychologically abused for being homosexual, and group leaders asked personal questions of members during the scrutinies. Kevin was told his male partner was the devil and that he must leave him. It destroyed his faith in Catholicism.
"The NC preys on vulnerable Catholics - ex-prostitutes, people who have been sexually abused as children, homosexuals, even former convicts."
Madeleine Bunting writes of various members being abused by the Way. It is grim, with emphasis on negativity, sin. Every personal decision is referred back to a catechist, including private ones, after some time in the group. 80% of members broke down and cried at the Second Scrutiny, according to one member. They asked people about their sexual orientation and how often they masturbated. One man was blamed for his alcoholic mother's death. In Rome Catholicism is deteriorating rapidly and the only religion people have is with the NC Way, which can turn members who get a bad experience from it away from the religion altogether. It doesn't allow natural family planning. The NC Way is creeping into parishes all over the place.
Franca Passoni's brother was forced to give up his violin, since catechists thought his music was an "idol". Her brother ignored the family and when he was sent on a mission in Australia he neglected to call the mother. He does not refer to Franca and her sister Anna as "sisters", and reserves the title only for his friends of the Neocatechumenate.