Anti-Neocat Articles
"Leaks confirm ambivalence about Neocatechumenal Way"
"Both a brand new Vatican leak, and one contained in the avalanche of secret documents already published by an Italian journalist, depict deep ambivalence among the pope’s most senior aides about the controversial lay movement the Neocatechumenal Way."
One pro-Neocat comment at the bottom.
"That Strange Mass the Pope Doesn't Like"
"It is the Mass according to the rite of the Neocatechumenal Way. Benedict XVI has ordered the congregation for the doctrine of the faith to examine it thoroughly. Its condemnation appears to be sealed."
"Placet" or "Non placet"? The wager of Carmen and Kiko"
"The founders of the Neocatechumenal Way aim to obtain definitive Vatican approval for their "convivial" way of celebrating the Mass. The document is ready. But it could be modified or blocked in extremis. The verdict on January 20."
"Vatican Diary / The Neocatechumenals get their diploma. But not the one they were expecting"
"The Holy See has approved the rites that mark the stages of their catechism. But the particularities with which they celebrate their Masses still remain under observation. Some of them are permitted. Others not."
"Vatican approval for Neocatechumenal Way only applies to non-liturgical teachings"
"Vatican City, Jan 21, 2012 / 05:15 pm (CNA).- The Vatican’s approval of the Neocatechumenal Way’s forms of “celebration” only applies to non-liturgical prayers within their catechesis and not to the Mass or other liturgies of the Church."
18 comments at bottom. A few pro Neocat comments, and a few anti-Neocat comments (about liturgical/technical abuses).
"Japan's bishops want Neocatechumenal Way to leave for five years"
"Vatican City, Dec 16, 2010 / 07:32 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Citing years of “trouble,” Japan’s Catholic bishops have asked the Neocatechumenal Way to cease activities in the country for the next five years."
21 comments. Many commenter against the Way's liturgy, and a few defenders. One commenter says Neocat kids neglected at Way events.
"Introduction - Heresies in the Neocatechumenal Way"
"The webmaster presents a translation of the introduction to an italian book (translation by permission of the publisher) published by Edizioni Segno, which talks about doctrinal errors in a (foundational) catechism booklet of the Neo-Catechumenal movement abroad, showing in a theological way the errors of the basis of that movement."
There appear to be seven pages to this piece.
"Directions for running Introductory Catechesis sessions"
"excerpts of secret instructions from the founder Kiko Arguello...
(translation, punctuation and emphasis are from the English typescript for N-C catechists)"
"How Legit Is the NeoCatechumenal Way?"
"Confusion about the Neocatechumenal Way (aka “neocats”) abounds, and for good reason. Since its founding in 1963, the group has been cautioned by the Vatican for inserting various novel practices into its Masses such as lay preaching, standing during the Consecration, receiving Communion while sitting down, and passing the Precious Blood from person to person."
One comment; commenter found them welcoming but didn't get what they were about, thought them directionless.
"Is the Neocatechumenal Way Catholic?"
"We considered it useful to translate progressively into English the documents of this website, in order to make them available to all those who want to know more about this phenomenon."
"Neocatechumenal “Misleading Advertisement”
"Letter from the catholic Bishops of the Holy land and neocatechumenal “misleading advertisement” to emphasize its activity from the Wikipedia’s English website."
"Letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze"
"Neocatechumenal-Mass - Letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments"
"ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO MEMBERS OF THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY"
"The Neocatechumenal Way- A Fearful Danger to the Faith"
Liturgical errors.
http://www.christianorder.com/features/features_1995/features_apr95.html
Same article as above.
" Statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way: The serious consequences of an anomalous ratification"
"In the opening catechesis I had several negative sensations, which were amplified by the final sharing. Reading these pages, I noticed that many people shared my feelings, that were so grim as to make me believe that the Antichrist will enter the Church by this way. After reading that the Vatican ratified the Statutes of the Neocathecumenal Way, I would like to ask you: How is it possible that nobody seems to notice something that is easily perceivable, not even the Holy Father?"
Liturgical errors.
"Shocking: Kiko’s Holy Card"
"Dear Brothers, we offer to you this image with our deep wishes for you to pray with us: for me, for Carmen and for Father Mario.
We are surprised and at the same times concerned by what is happening with the Jews. Is it that the Messiah, Who is present in us, wants to approach His people? We cannot know. What’s important is that we need your support, your love, and above all your prayers. Pray for me.
Kiko"
Kiko inflates his ego and thinks himself special.
"[Kiko's Mass] Doesn't Seem to be Coherent with the Liturgical Magisterium of the Pope"
"It’s a very soft way to say that the Neocatechumenals go against the Pope. It’s something that arises ‘concerns’ among Bishops. Also, these are maneuvers carried out—as everybody knows— ‘without the Pope’s knowledge.’"
A cardinal doesn't believe Kiko's Way follows the Pope.
"Neocatechumenal Way: another approval. There’s always something wrong, though."
"On the one hand we have the traditional, usual confusion about the exact content of the decrees granted by the Holy See...On the other hand we have the question...of the publication of the “Catechetical Directory”: although its new revised version...has been approved, it’s still actually a confidential text, used only by the catechists of the Way. "
Although the Neocatechumenal Way has enjoyed approvals, there are still controversies about whether or not it follows the Church and its rituals.
"An arbitrary and blasphemous use of a Sacred Image"
"This image seems blasphemous to us or at least it shows that, while the Church of Christ is based on the Holy Trinity, Kiko’s conception of the Trinity is a human construction based on three distinct, not equal, persons. We cannot help highlighting...Kiko’s defacing the stupendous artwork of Rublëv, substituting the three Angels representing the three divine Persons with the images of the three leaders of the NCW..."
Kiko's style and images are self-congratulatory and do not represent the views of the Church, in that they split up the entities of the Holy Trinity.
"Is the “New Aesthetic” of the NC Way Catholic?"
"How is it possible that a lay, Kiko, has had the power to “impose” over the Church this changes that have nothing to do with Catholic tradition?"
Kiko's style and painting and symbolism aren't Catholic.
"Psychological underpinnings in the Neocatechumenate community"
"For twenty years, my mother has been a member of the Neocatechumenal Way, but my father didn't become a member. For this reason they were totally separated up until his death. I suffered tremendously and I have found it impossible to accept many of the things that have happened because they were things that go against my Faith...I had been told by a catechist and by a psychiatrist in the Movement these very words: "We have bound your mother to obey and we have ordered her to throw you out of the house." A cloud of pain came down upon me and I left in grief."
Alberto Picano's experience with the Neocatechumenal Way, which absorbed his mother and nearly ruined his psychological health.
"Excerpts from the videotape transcription of a debate/seminar"
"One of the most unbelievable things happened when my mother died. I was crying and I asked my wife to pray with me that evening; I asked her to not leave me alone in my grief. She replied that she had to go pray with her brothers and sisters at the community and that they were her true family in Christ. Something else unbelievable happened with my oldest son. He believed that the Neocatechumenate was sent forth by Christ and once he ascertained my aversion to the Neocatechumenate, he tried to kill me by suffocation (I have here the medical records to prove it). My eldest and my secondborn son haven't called me "Daddy" for all this time. It's their way of punishing me for having always tried to go against their organization. My second son is still very young, yet he already has two daughters. He has been made into a recruiter of prospective Neocatechumens. He hasn't even let me see my second grandchild."
Transcriptions from various sources, including both theological and secular complaints against the Way.
"Is the Neocatechumenal Way catholic?"
Link to bunch of translated articles about the Way, from Italian into English.
"Neocatechumenal Rite and Catholic Eucarist"
"The Neocatechumenal doctrine asserts that the passion and death of Jesus Christ wasn’t a true sacrifice offered to the Father to amend our sins and redeem humanity; still, human beings inexorably remain sinners (that is true, but the effect of Grace is not considered). As a result, to enjoy the fruits of His work, it’s sufficient for the believer to admit to be a sinner and believe in the power of the resurrected Christ (which—as an evident echo of Lutheran doctrine—totally eliminates personal response and responsibility)."
The Neocatechumenal Way differs from true Catholicism
"Neocatechumenals, Sense of Sin and Confession"
"“You‘re a slave of Evil: You’re a slave of the Devil and obey to his concupiscence and his orders.”
“This is the reality of man: He wants to do good, but he can’t. Marxism would say that he can’t because he’s alienated by the structures … Psychology … because of his complexes. That doesn’t convince me. Christianity says another thing: God revealed the reality of man in this way: MAN CANNOT DO GOOD BECAUSE HE SEPARATED HIMSELF FROM GOD, BECAUSE HE SINNED AND REMAINED RADICALLY IMPOTENT AND INCAPABLE, AT THE MERCY OF THE DEMONS. HE TURNED INTO A SLAVE OF THE DEVIL. THE DEVIL IS HIS LORD. (That’s why demanding suggestions and sermons are useless. Man cannot do good.)”
The Neocatechumenal Way has a very negative view of mankind which negates the Grace of God and the ability to overcome sin and error.
"The obscure sides of the statute of the Neocatechumenal Way"
"Therapists (Neocatechumenal catechists certainly doesn’t have their qualification, nor can they be spiritual leaders) are not supposed to clearing people’s minds from the false conceptions of the Self. They are not supposed to fill them with the false theories of a cheap guru. They are supposed to induce people to think they’re hideous, filthy worms, to make them believe that it’s just thanks to Neocatechumenal techniques they will become better persons."
Neocat teachings are psychologically and spiritually damaging and do not lead towards healthy conceptions of self.
"The Misuse of Jewish Symbols"
"The founder of the NCW insists on dredging the ancient contents of Christian religion and the symbols he calls “signs” because they must have a strong semantical recognizability for the believers. From a strictly theological point of view, we should point out that those symbols are extrapolated by their ancient context to be placed in a modern reality, that is completely different since a specific historical event: The birth of Jesus Christ and His Redemptive Work. Kiko is forging an irrational eclecticism between different faiths, even if they have a common historical and spiritual background."
Kiko tries to force a connection between Judaism and Christianity.
"The Neocatechumenal Seminars ‘Redemptoris Mater’: Incongruities and Mystifications"
"There’s no doubt that the priests who have been trained in the ‘Redemptoris Mater’ seminars are controlled by Kiko through his catechists."
"The Psychological mechanisms of mental conditioning inside the Neocatechumenate Community"
"The members of the community become inculcated that they are part of a privileged elite in the church; they are destined to bring salvation to the people they work with, to their families, or even in missionary work abroad which we see in the case of "itinerant catechists". As is written elsewhere, the people often hear the catechists' typical phrases, "The Lord has chosen you and has invited you and no one else". This and other similar phrases let the people believe that they have been "specially elected". This unconsciously satisfies their own frustrated sense of self."
"The problem with Takamatsu diocese"
"The biggest problems with the Way are (1) that they mistake their homemade rituals for charisms, and (2) that they have a chain of command that is entirely disconnected from the local bishop. Also, (3) they take problems that ought to be solved within the diocese and bring them off to Rome, where they try to get their own way by using the influence of Rome to coerce the local Church to fall in line."
"Circular 2011/38: Neo Catechumenal Communities"
"In my letter to you on Pentecost Sunday this year entitled “SEEKING COMMUNION IN CHARITY: Pastoral Instructions on the Neo Catechumenal Way”, I laid out some pastoral guidelines to insure that the members of the Catholic faithful who have taken the Way may find themselves always integrated with the parish community life."
"Heading the wrong Way for Japan"
"Over about the past 20 years, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan (CBCJ) has expended great time and energy on problems concerning the Neocatechumenal Way (which I refer to hereafter as simply ‘the Way’). To our extreme disappointment, these efforts have not improved the situation. Of the passion and good intentions of the people of the Way, I have not the slightest doubt. Nevertheless, the Way’s activities over the past 30 years can in no way be called a success."
"Bishop speaks out on Neo-Cats"
"Bishop Osamu Mizobe of Takamatsu today issued a New Year pastoral letter titled “The Neocatechumenal Way” that described a visit by Japanese bishops to Rome to discuss problems that have arisen in connection with that movement in Japan.
The bishop announced that, “until we have received the visit of the special Envoy of the Holy Father all activities of the Neocatechumenal Way will be suspended in this diocese.”"
"New Year pastoral letter of Bishop Osamu Mizobe"
"At the meeting in Rome the four Bishops from Japan emphasized that this problem is concerned with the disciplinary laws of the diocese and as such is under the jurisdiction of the local ordinary. We emphasized that the fact that the Neocatechumenal Way has been approved by Rome does not automatically imply that a local diocese must accept them."
"THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LINGAYEN-DAGUPAN"
"It has profoundly changed many lukewarm lives. It has rebuilt many wounded families and has yielded many religious and priestly vocations for the vineyard of the Lord. Yet, despite its positive effects such as those mentioned above, there are certain concerns about the direction the Neocatechumenate is leading to."
"Letter from the catholic Bishops of the Holy land and neocatechumenal “misleading advertisement”"
"The bishops of the Holy Land reprimanded the Neocatechumenals for making themselves a group apart, for celebrating the Mass separately from the parishes, for not observing the liturgical rites, for remaining aloof from the language and culture of the local people."
"Neocatechumenal Way Presents Holocaustian Symphony"
"Literally every religious claim below is rubbish intended to create false commonality between Jesus, the Bible, the Israelites and today's talmudic 'Jews' where there is in fact complete opposition. Jesus never prayed to "Hashem," a ridiculous, tribal, exclusivist contrivance which translates as "The Name." But this is the kind of madness that one would expect from 'Catholics' who call the rabbis of Talmud and Kabbalah "fathers in the faith.""
The author is critical of Kiko's Zionist chauvinism.
"Rabbi Papal Knight David Rosen Honored at Boston Neocatechumenal Way Seminary Event"
"After the rabbi spoke, the seminarians of Redemptoris Mater sang "Shema Israel," a song based on one of the most important [rabbinic] prayers [which in rabbinic Judaism denotes rejection of Christianity in general and the doctrines of the Trinity and Divinity of Christ in particular]."
"Neocatechumenal Way"
"More of a question that a post. Does anyone have any personal contact with the Neocatechumenal Way? I never heard of them before, but I learned today that the Bishops of Japan have been trying to ban them from their entire country. The Wikipedia article is lengthy, but shows signs of having been edited by a partisan. According to Wikipedia, they have 250 communities in the US.The idea of the movement sounds intriguing, but I noticed that its constitutions appoint leaders for life, which seems unhealthy."
"The psychological mechanisms of mental conditioning inside the neocatechumenate community"
"Some people, whether they are lay or ecclesiastical, see the Way as being a blessing of the Spirit. Other individuals, of likewise importance, consider the Way to be dangerous in doctrine and methodology; they have compared it to a sect, having come to call it "a church within the Church"."
"The Neocatechumenal Way"
"Problems with The Neocatechumenal Way A Brief Summary
*The Neocatechumenal Way don’t believe the Mass is a sacrifice, hence they use the term presbyter instead of priest.
* They have a secret manual, which contains their catechesis.
* At certain stages members are required to confess their sins publicly.
* Members are required to give 10% of their income to the NCWay. They publish no accounts. None of this money goes to the parish.
* To complete their entire program takes about 20 years, and people at a particular level have no idea what lies ahead in future levels."
"The Holy See did NOT approve NeoCat liturgical variants for Mass"
"Vatican City, Jan 21, 2012 / 05:15 pm (CNA).- The Vatican’s approval of the Neo-Catechumenal Way’s forms of “celebration” only applies to non-liturgical prayers within their catechesis and not to the Mass or other liturgies of the Church."
"Neocatechumenal Way on the fast track"
"Benedict XVI received [last] Saturday morning, in private audience, Spaniards Kiko Argüello and Carmen Hernández and Italian priest Mario Pezzi, the group responsible for the Neocatechumenal Way at the international level."
"Have you heard of the "Neocatechumenal Way"?"
Forum posts.
"Avoid the Neocatechumenal Way"
"The Neocatechumenal Way or Neocatechumenate is a "Post Baptismal Catechumenate" i.e. a Christian initiation process within the Roman Catholic Church that is dedicated to adult faith formation. However, as part of their regular celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass the Way performs numerous liturgical abuses and engages in teachings that are, at their core, not Catholic."
"How the Neocatechumenal Way defended their liturgy in 2004"
"The book is an open apology for the Neocatechumenal Way, in response to the criticisms advanced up to now, even by authoritative bishops and cardinals, before and after the approval of the statutes...But there is one point upon which this apology remains weak. And it regards the liturgical practice of the Way..."
"Where do Rome and the Neo-Catechumenal Way Stand In 2006?"
"The NeoCatechumenal Way is one of the largest and most powerful of the “New Ecclesial Movements” that have sprung up in the Church over the last 40 years. Mark Alessio had been a member of “the Way” for seven years, and gives a true picture of the doctrinal heresy and bizarre practices that are constitutive elements of this group. Mr. Alessio also explains that the reported “Vatican crackdown” on “the Way” is nothing more than a slap on the wrist that leaves the doctrinal aberrations and other strange practices of “the Way” untouched."
"The Growing Neocatechumenal Controversy and Chasm in the Catholic Church"
"I recently received a phone call from a close friend in Guam. I grew up there and so I was getting the usual run down on the latest news and updates from the island. Part way through the discussion , my friend started telling me about his frustration about a group in the Catholic Church that are causing issues there..."
"Neocatechumenal way, Coming to a church near you"
Forum posts, mostly opposed to the Way.
"Neocatechumenal Way"
Blog comments, mostly anti-Way.
"An Experience Of The Neo-Catechumenal Way"
"This short paper has focused on some of the more negative aspects of the NC Way. There are, however, some positive things that can be said about the NC Way, which is shown by the great number of people who have flocked to its ranks in recent years and by the many conversions that have taken place."
"Vatican approval coming slowly for the Neocatechumenal Way"
"The Catholic lay movement’s statutes were approved on an ad experimentum basis, for a period of five years, six years ago. But questions about the Neocatechumenal Way- and particularly the group's liturgical practices- have persisted, slowing the progress toward full acceptance."
"Problems with the NeoCats? Are changes in the Neocatechumenal Way coming, too???"
"Problems with the Neocatechumenal Way? There seems to be problems with the NeoCats with some of the bishops in Japan to the point that mediator is being appointed."
Japanese have problems with the Neocats because the Neocats are trying to have their own way.
"Neocat Material"
Collection of articles about the Way from an opposed site.
"THE LAST TROJAN HORSE?"
"The Way To Lutheranism
...How can I be so sure of this when the Holy Father himself has now legitimised the Way? Because, quite simply, I count myself among the reported 80% of adults in these Isles whose literacy level is above that of a 10-year-old. Consequently, I am able to read and comprehend the blatant heresy systematically laid out in the NC Orientation guide, a 373 page typed volume which gathers together an instruction course for "Catechists" held in Madrid in February 1972 by NC founders Kiko Arguello and Carmen Hernandez. Photocopied and circulated as a formative textbook for new apostles but kept secret from both the public and neophytes of the Way alike, it forms the basis of NC catechesis."
"Neocat slander and persecution"
Title says all.
"Kiko, the Wrath of God"
Bio of Kiko.
"Not a Catholic"
"Ralph has recently returned to St Vincent's after an absence of many weeks following a particularly unpleasant encounter with the Neocat clergy in which Clesio Mendes told him in no uncertain terms that he was not a Catholic, and that he was allowing himself to be led astray by the community. This was not the first time that a member of the community has been attacked in this manner."
"Kiko's Kooks"
Neocat jokes.
"Major row averted"
"A major row was averted at the Christmas Mass when Tom Hammerton stepped up to the altar to prevent a figurine of a black Mary and Child being smashed to the floor by parish priest Gerry Prindiville."
"Neocatechumenal Way Will Not Be Suspended in Japan"
"De Juana explained that "the Holy See has made a series of decisions," which were revealed in Cardinal Bertone's letter.
"The first indicates that the suspension of the Neocatechumenal Way in Japan for five years -- as attempted by the country's Episcopal Conference -- is not admissible," he said."
"St James Catholic Church"
Reviews of a church that was taken over by the Neocat Way. Some are positive and others are negative, saying the new Neocat priest is judgmental and divisive.
"Is "The Way" leading Catholics astray?"
"...By this time I'd met many other Neo-Cat families but all had the same degree of caginess about talking their community. I found this odd -- I genuinely wanted to know more about them from them not from a secondary source. Also, most Catholics I know who are keen on their faith, are also eager to share - to evangelise. If you have a great parish, don't you invite people to Mass with you? If you're onto a good thing - and a good thing in this situation can save souls - don't you want to share it? In the case of the NeoCats I met - apparently not. Apparently this isn't uncommon - the NCM recruits from outside the Church, not from within."
"Vatican approval coming slowly for the Neocatechumenal Way"
"Vatican, Apr. 11, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Bishop Josef Clemens, has said that a definitive approval of the statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way will take some time, the online Italian news agency Petrus reports."
"A Reluctant Sinner"
"...it seems that one of the only letters used by La Repubblica to prove the existence of ‘warring factions’ within the Vatican, is quite interesting...because it shows how concerned both the Pope and the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, Cardinal Raymond Burke (pictured), are with the liturgical abuses rife in that modern ecclesiastical movement known as the Neocatechumenal Way. Known colloquially as the NeoCats, this movement - referred to by some commentators as the ‘Protestant cuckoo in the Catholic nest’ - has been a cause for concern amongst traditional Catholics for several decades."
"Neocatechumenal Ways and Means"
Various comments both for and against the Way.
"VICTIM'S STORY"
"'There was brainwashing. There was emphasis on money and sex; these were the sticks they beat us with'
KEVIN Woodhouse was a member of the NeoCatechumenate for five years before he was kicked out. It took him two years to recover from the experience which, he believes, left him on the verge of a nervous breakdown."
"Is the path néocatéchuménal a sect???"
Large collection of articles from a French psychologist's site, translated into English.
"Testimony of Anna and Franca Passoni"
"My grandfather at the age of ninety years was reversed by one car and carried to S. Martino in Genoa in the coma. He/it remained at the hospital for more of one month. His/her/its grandson Pierluigi didn't surrender to find it because there was a half convivence néocatéchuménale and only thereafter, after my mother's umpteenth sermon, he/it went to hospital to contrec.ur. But the thing who is distressed the more was and is the clean sensation that his/her/its grandfather him didn't import and us either because we were not néocatéchumènes. Only the néocatéchumènes was for him of the people, the other only of the beasts, of the animals, but certainly not of God's sons. His/her/its attitude was cruel, detached and indifferent, it himself ridiculed my sentimentalism, while telling to me that the only resulted from it pathetic and of the melodramatic. Him in his/her/its corner he/it never demonstrated of gestures of affection and shown a feeling, only coldness, detachment, and contempt."
Translated into English. Not perfect, but readable.
"NÉOCATÉCHUMÈNES"
"Why did you leave?
M: The fundamental reason is that we perceived that there was an incredible pressure exercised of the outside on our personal life, summon, that it was exposed before all. My matrimonial life, my economic situation, all was submitted to the judgment."
"THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF THE MENTAL CONDITIONING TO THE INSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY NÉOCATÉCHUMÉNALE"
"The couples that suivent" the Path concentrates together more on the adherence of their children. Since the children, as the catechists teach it, must be another example of our " idoleses ", they must be let home in the evening with the guard, or the big parents, or someone else if the parents. in one moment of pity. decide to save the children of the long evenings without cuts of the celebrations!"
Translated from French to English, but still somewhat readable.
"The path neocatechumenal fills it the ten criterias of the parliamentary commission who define a dangerous sect?"
Cult checklist.
"News published on the bulletin n° 9 of February 4, 2002"
"Even held secret, the massive diffusion of the speech néocatéchuménale made so that their content is now amply known. And they are not few those that believe that the content of these catéchèses spreads the fact that the Movement is far from the Catholic official doctrine."
"Désinformer"
"Does the path continue his/her/its disinformation while letting suppose that the seminaries of the path would be of the diocesan seminaries, is this for as much exact ? Here is Michel's answer after having made his/her/its investigatings by the bishops of Strasbourg, Paris and Marseille."
"Analysis critical of a part of the interview that kiko gave to the newspaper Catholic 30 days in November 1997"
Interview with Kiko.
"Techniques used in the path néocatéchuménal, permitting to maintain people under mental manipulation."
Sort of a cult checklist, an article about the way cults control people psychologically. Poor French translation, but somewhat readable.
"The path néocatéchuménal: a sectarian movement?"
"J'ai myself been accused to be judas or the devil. My friend who came out of the movement has been accused of having made the pain has the community, and to be the devil in person, because the one that attacks the path is always the devil. It is precisely what happens in the sects, without counting the psychological pressure put by the catechists and the community on the people who would be tempted to come out of the movement."
"Testimonies sent by Friedrich GRIESS"
"My impressions are that there are a lot of sectarian elements in the path néocatéchuménal. In first the model Manichaean noir/blanc, the fact to think to be the elite, "you are lost if you leave the group." Then the artificial language that person has the outside cannot understand. And a very undemocratic style. I had the impression that they were all of the "zombies.""
"NEO-CATECHUMENAL PATH."
Testimony of bad Neocat experience.
"These "sects" and these "gurus" in the pope's shade"
Three articles translated from French.
"The path néocatéchuménal: the trouble game of Vatican"
"The communities of the neocatéchuménal Path swarmed all over the world. They have a centralised structure and efficient to the dizzy growth rate. But until now, these communities seem to have succeeded in convincing Vatican that their organization didn't exist as such! What didn't yet prevent their catéchèse qualified of heretic by number of experts to be approved by the highest ecclesiastic processes."
"When Kiko, the guru of the path sells his movement to the bishops""Anxious to facilitate the progress of the pope's favorite organization, Vatican went extremely far to promote the neo-catéchuménal Path from all over the world by the bishops."
"These movements "laymen" who prepare the clerks of tomorrow...(solely the part concerning the nc)"
"The neocatéchuménal Path Although like the other movements, the thousands of parish priests became members of the neocatéchuménal Path, the movement begins to make order priests his/her/its own members. The foundation of several seminaries of the neocatéchuménal Path, of which the one Rome Redemptoris Mater, contributed very extensively to put this aspect in evidence."
"Jesus Christ Est La Response A Ta Vie"
Letter in French.
"Kiko Advertisement Card- French"
"The Pope's armada"
Book buying link for the Pope's Armada book by Gordon Urquhart.
"THE CANVAS OF THE SPIDER PSYCHOLOGICAL BEWITCHMENT IN THE PATH NÉOCATÉCHUMÉNAL"
"On the occasion of my mother's death (arrived October 1°, 1992) I asked my wife néocatéchuménale uselessly to pray with me. His/her/its answer remained: "I only pray with my brothers of community, who are my true and only family in Christ!." Fanaticism carries them to say and to believe that really this organization emanates Christ directly."
Translation- to English from French- of Augusto Faustini's ordeal.
"I REMAINED DISAPPOINTED OF THE NÉOCATÉCHUMÈNES"
"There is in the path a lugubrious spirituality, pessimist, who reaches a true psychological terrorism in some cases."
"16/01/03 in testimony concerning the path néocatéchuménal"
"The authoritative tone of some catechists didn't please and when one has the announcements of Easter by Kiko and carmen me I am told that these people took it indeed for Jesus........."
"Conjoined former catechists of the Path"
"When one confided documents of the kind to the Catechists and to the accountable persons or in the meetings one spoke itself of the "method" to follow, he/it was recommended the biggest secret. To this secret we were bound like to family's secrets!""
"Shattering testimony of Christelle"
Testimony of a Way member, originally in French, translated to English.
"TESTIMONY OF AN EX - NÉOCATÉCHUMÈNE "NOSTALGIQUE""
"When I think about this episode he/it comes me to the mind that in the Path the catechist is like a father and the Community like a protective mother. Every adherent remains bound always to his/her/its umbilical cord, well anchored to the father catechist."
"Testimony of augusto faustini"
"Without speaking when the competition is with liabilities of survey, or social, artistic, sporty, of love, politics or the "culture hated!"The Catechists tell us: These are "IDOLS! ""
"LE NEO-CATÉCHUMÉNALS PATH"
"This doctrine contains the mistakes that have been denounced time and again by bishops, of the priests and theologians from all over the world. It is not my goal of to disparage people but to demonstrate that the enseignement spilled by this movement wanders on many of points, especially when one compares it to the teachings of the Magistery of the Catholic church."
"IN THE FIRST COMMUNITY OF CO-ODILE OF QUEBEC"
"Avant to adopt this attitude, we had asked the catéchètes if they could make one pause in the middle of the catéchèse because we were very tired to listen to them on bad chairs of sheet metal during sometimes more than two hours. On that, they told us coldly, what has us nevertheless frustrated a few, the brother wants to rise, that the brother rises, if the brother wants to leave, that the brother leaves, but we won't change our manner to function."
"Testimony of Rose Ellen Caminer"
"The Christ's obedience towards the father is put in equation with our obedience to the catechists. The silence of the christ owing his/her/its condemnation died is put in equation with our silence facing the tests that the catechists decided to impose us."
Another Link:
http://www.psychologue-clinicien.com/anglais/usa.htm
Contact Site Owner of Psychologue-Clinicien
"THE PATH AS IT DEFINES ITSELF"
Overview of the Neocatechumenal Way, translated from French to English.
"Néocatéchuménal path"
Point-by-point list of Neocatechumenal Way traits, translated from French to English.
"THE NÉOCATÉCHUMÈNES AND THEIR APPROVAL"
Translated from French to English.
"Theologian of Family Christian"
Translated from French to English.
"RED LIGHT FOR THE "PATH": A ROMAN PARISH REVOLTS AGAINST THE NEO-CATÉCHUMÈNESS"
Translated from French to English.
"ARCHDIOCESE OF CATANIA"
"I would not like to speak of the public confessions either... But who can allow a style that the church, in his/her/its wisdom and in his/her/its maternal prudence, abolished since centuries?"
"LETTER IN KIKO ARGUËLLO"
"One presents them as the only and unique ecclesiastic communities. And it is frequent to meet the contempt towards the non apostolic other communities of basis and to join sometimes to this attitude of exclusion same aggressive the conscience not to be able to work pastorally in other types of communities."
"The Path néocatéchuménal"
"Inside the community of the "Path" there is the risk of an excessive, advanced uniformity sometimes until in the least details, especially in the liturgy."
"Of the New spiritual communities: The impulses for the pastoral work"
"The fact, that this celebration eucharistique is not generally accessible, is justified with it that protected by it before possible inconveniences and should be encouraged the mind of the community. 'The texts of the songs, that one sings in the communities neokatechumenalenes, are the AT and the NT. In the book of song, they are in a neat manner of the e after the phases, in which they are sung every time. The songs are sung by heart what makes impossible to a layman that the involvement has been allowed the celebration eucharistique under the interview with the respective chief the makes to sing in unison. "
Poor German translation.
"The Neukatechumenat"
"We come "of our view to the evaluation according to the Neukatechumenats:
1. The Neukatechumenat comes, like it himself here represents, in the proximity dangerous of a sect.
2. The introduction of the Neukatechumenats in a township 'living' is to refuse: to, he/it leads inevitably as him 'path of the township' to the division of the township."
Another bad German translation.
"MY EXPERIENCEIN SAINT-AGNÈS, DONNACONA"
"No smile on their face. They didn't seem of people that lived the joy of the presence of the Resuscitated. I could not imagine holy Paul with such a face.
- They produced us, by heart, their catéchèse. One felt that, for most, it was the recitation. Sometimes, they had whites of memory and it was laborious for the audience. Then the catéchètes made a "caucus" and the catéchète designated took his/her/its narration.
- They interrogated people personally and the answer that one gave was always false and one told us: "Listen to the catéchèse." According to them, what one had taught us before and that had made us live was improper or false."
Collection of Articles from Era of Peace Site
"Era of Peace is a catholic site from Malta. The Era of Peace is promised by Our Lady, in various messages, locutions and apparitions, as well as by Jesus Christ Himself in the Bible. The purpose of the site is not to make you fear something, or to offend somebody. I'm talking about beliefs, the beliefs of the Catholic Church. Some ask are we in the end-times? Please read the messages of Our Lady for an answer."
"The Neocatechumenal way has a 400page book revealing the reality of their association, reserved to the catechists of the Movement and nobody else can acquire it. It became public due to an indiscretion. They say in their 'catechism' book: 'Don't tell this to anyone else.. If people knew about this, they would go away quickly...' - it's more like Freemasonry rather than anything Catholic.How long can man flout their disobedience to the Church and to God?"
"The Neocatechumenal Way and the Catholic Church"
"Christianity for Kiko is "disgusting" (Catechism of Kiko, p 283). He says that common people (NOT the Neocatechumenals) "believe that we are all sons of God... (but) ...Thanks God that today things are changing: there are Marxist people who do not call themselves Christians because with this Christianity nothing good has been obtained... We were not Christians, we knew nothing of Christianity, we are prechristians..." To Kiko only some who complete the Neocatechumenal steps are Christians and sons of God. On the other hand a Catholic (according to the CCC) should believe that we are all sons of God."
"THE MOVEMENTS, SEED OF VOCATIONS IN WEST "
Positive testimony of a Neocat who was called to be a priest.
"THE NEO-CATECHUMENAL PATH :A lived parochial"
"This time lasts 2 months at the rate of 2 meetings per week. A certain number of participants quit with the progression of this stage because they were shocked by the impossibility to converse, to emit the reserves, to express a disagreement."
"Neo-Catechumenal path"
"PASCH is a group of worried parishioners that felt the promises and problems dregs to the path neocatechumenal in the Catholic church."
Collection of articles.
"Neo-Catechumenals teachings: Barabbas' Parabola"
"The following teaching was in succession sensible two years, to the catechèses initials of the Neo-Catechumenal path:
Let's say that a woman suffers. His/her/its husband spends all his/her/its money and his/her/its time with the drugs and the drink. When he/it is home, he/it beats it. He/it doesn't take care of his/its children. He/it is neglectful about his/her/its family. How does the woman answer? She/it is treated very badly. Does she/it answer in struggle? No. She/it answers in silence. When does he/it look for the affection in bed, does she/it turn him the back to wound it some? Does she/it divert herself/itself from him to give him a lesson and to wound it in return? Does she/it provoke it in a subtle way? --- either--- does she/it choose JESUS? If she/it had acted on the injustice That she/it had received, she/it would be just as Barabbas. None... she/it chooses Jesus therefore... she/it carries her/its husband's sin."
Neocatechumenal Way teaches victims to suck it up and accept abuse, and here insinuate that if a woman doesn't want to have sex with her husband it's because she's punishing him, and not because she is hurt by his behavior and doesn't' desire it.
"LE NEO-CATÉCHUMÉNALS PATH are HIM COMPATIBLE WITH THE RELIGIOUS LIFE?"
"First, the Path, in practice in a famous general way several of the features enumerated higher of the sects. For example, he/it asks for a total and blind engagement of his/her/its members and a submissiveness to the authority of his/her/its promoters, he/it is elitist and is frequently source of division in the parishes. The Path asks for an excessive time of involvement of the prêtres/religieux and/or it acts customarily without reference to the existing parochial structures."
"Diocese of Clifton - investigation on the path neocatechumenal"
"Eminence Mervyn Alexander, Bishop of Clifton, established the jury of enqête to consider the accusation made by some parishioners in at least three parishes in the diocese that their parishes endured because of the presence and of the activities of the path neocatechumenal."
"The Neo-Catechumenat has Westminster"
"The Cardinal has the high esteem for these students but he is informed very of the difficulty to incorporate in the diocesan priesthood those that will remain priests of the Neo-Catechumenal movement."
"Report on the presence and the activities of the Neo-Catechumenal path in the Diocese of Clifton."
'The presence of the Path Néocatéchuménal to St Nicolas of Tolentino, to St, Peter and to Sacred Hearts didn't bring a new vitality to enliven these parishes. It was even rather the opposite that occurred. These parishes lack unit and declined "pastorally", as the Community of Parish in the Diocese of Clifton since the introduction of the Path NC;"
"FINDINGS; CANNON 212 AND RECOMMENDATIONS"
"the entry of the Néocatéchuménal path within these parishes doesn't make visible the signs the missionary church. On the contrary, he/it drags a strong dissension. The communities brought people undoubtedly in the church for the first time, helped other people and renewed the faith of others, but the jury notices that the Parish suffered therefore in his/her/its whole;"
"MERVYN BISHOP OF CLIFTON"
"After having studied with care the findings of this investigation and a consultation spread with the Council Diocésain of Priests and other advisers, I concluded that the methodology and the spirituality of the NeoCatechumenal path were the reason of a serious dissension and a spiritual pain among certain Faithful of the Christ,"
"Open letter of Karen Anderson to the communities local Neocatechumenaleses "
"The message that I heard and learned through the Neocatechumenal path is written under.
3. You brought us has feel us uncertain about our engagement in the faith.
5. We are incapable to make the good - the sin is eminent.
6. If one doesn't agree with the Neocatechumenat that is because Satan closes our ears.
9. Even though one thinks that life is rich and pleasant - it is indeed empty, full of suffering and is without significance.
11. If someone wants to take advantage of you, let make it - you will show him the love of God and the forgiveness.
12. We add miserable sinners. The Christ died for us and we are forgiven. We must try to make what God wants - but of course indeed we are not able to because we are guilty."
"Open letter of Ronald Haynes to the communities local Neocatechumenaleses "
"Open letter to the Neocatechumenales communities. . .Dear Sisters and Brothers in The Christ,
I write you with concern on what I saw and entendu(témoignages) concerning your meetings and liturgies. Know by advance that it is not easy for me to write this letter and I also suppose that it won't be easy for you of the lira. Let's accept the mutually. I am not even convinced that 'The Path' of which you speak is made of it against the church and his/her/its teachers, but I am sadly on that your approach and a lot of your messages are contrary to the mind of the church and have the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have the firm hope that it occurred without mischief or bad intentions of your part, nevertheless, I counsel you briskly to consider the harmful consequences of your actions in, and outside, of the communities."
"Letter of Louis & Mary Beasley-Suffolk to the jury of investigation diocesan on the path neocatechumenal "
"After the introduction by our priest of parish, the meeting was controled by the prelate in visit, Fr. José Guzman that during the 40 minutes that followed accused the parishioners to be:· without faith
· afraid by the death
· not to have the Holy spirit
· lacking humility
· Not to take in account St. Paul who says that the faith comes of monitoring"
"The Way: Another Dose of Spanish Religious Fascism"
"Arguello really means we're all going to heaven if we do it his way. His way involves all the usual cultic trappings: the turning over of wealth from members, secrecy, coercive instruction in the statutes by catechetical 'overseers' and secrecy, the insistence on obedience to superiors as the prime indicator of the strength of one's faith, the practice of ostracism and secrecy, the perception that the leader is a living saint and that he stands in direct contrast to the workings of Satan and his assertions that this is true, aggressive evangelising, the subverting of clergy, the takeover of parishes, and the grooming, educating and infantilizing of it's own seminarians."
"On The Neo-Catechumenate"
"The author of this blog is a Catholic of traditionalist tendencies, who spends his professional life as a schoolmaster, in a Catholic, boys' boarding school."
"charismatic heresy"
"They will explain that man cannot avoid committing sin, in the same way as he can neither accomplish good nor acquire merits for himself. They will tell you that Jesus did not liberate man from his faults or reconciled him with God. And finally they will teach you that the mass is not a 'sacrifice', that the Church does not offer to God any Victim on the altar and that the Altar is a “table”."
"Neocatechumenal Way"
Catholic Forum post
"Neocatechumenal Way statutes definitively approved by the Pope?"
"The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, has in fact decided to approve the Statutes of the Way only 'ad experimentum', that is, temporarily and not in a definitive way, until 2015"
"Bugnini and the Neocatechumenal Way"
"It was precisely Bugnini, at the beginning of the 1970's, who congratulated himself over the way in which the first communities founded by Kiko and Carmen celebrated the Mass...And it was again him, together with the cofounders, who decided to call the newborn movement "Neocatechumenal Way.""
"Kiko Argüello’s Neocatechumenal Way, also known as the Neocatechumenate or the Neocats, is smugly and grandiosely self-styled “The Way”"
"The person facing the second scrutiny is required to sit in the middle of the room with a crucifix in front of him. A panel of "scrutineers" are facing him, this panel might typically include a priest (sorry "presbyter")....He is then bombarded with questions from the panel of scrutineers designed to draw out details of his past life, with a particular emphasis on sins below the belt."
"Neocatechumenal Way statutes definitively approved by the Pope?"
"i was in the "way" for almost 2 years. i didn't like it from the start. it did seem cultish to me. you never knew what was going on. everything was secret."
"Neocatechumenal Rite approved? Let us call it the New Liturgical Way"
"A moment ago, the Decree was read with the approval of the celebrations present in the "Catechetical Directory of the Neocatechumenal Way", which are not strictly liturgical, but are part of the itinerary of growth in the faith."
"Is there a way of putting "The Way" back into the box?"
"The field of liturgical experimentation has not ceased to amaze faithful Catholics since the days of the fateful Council, but few have been as bold, as consistent and as resilient as those novelties promoted by the Neocatechumenal Way."
"Another boost for the Neocatechumenal Way"
"Against the backdrop of a highlypublic brawl with the Japanese bishops- who tried to ban them from the country but were overruled by the Holy See in recent weeks- in another rare coup, the Neocatechumenal Way is set to hold a prominent Vatican celebration led by the Pope himself."
"Japan's bishops want Neocatechumenal Way to leave for five years"
"Citing years of "trouble," Japan’s Catholic bishops have asked the Neocatechumenal Way to cease activities in the country for the next five years."
"Who are the Neo-Cats?"
"Another priest who did not want to be named said this authoritarianism sometimes spilt over into coercion. "They are told that it is their duty as good Catholics to be open to life. For the women this can mean having a baby every year, which clearly goes beyond the teaching of the Church", he said."
"neocatechumenal way, Coming to a church near you"
Forum Posts
"Neocatechumenal Way?"
Forum Posts
"Benedict XVI: Neocatechumenal Way is "a particular gift aroused by the Holy Spirit""
Comments below against the Way.
"A fresh triumph for the Neocatechumenal Way?"
"MADRID, Spain, JAN. 7, 2011 (Zenit.org).- The Neocatechumenal Way will not be suspended in Japan for five years, as was previously announced by the country's episcopal conference, reports the lay movement."
Comments below against the Way.
"Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?"
Comments below against the Way.
"Neocatechumenal Update: It’s Still Spin"
"You write that you were surprised by my hostile attitude. Actually, I feel no hostility toward you or the Neocatechumenal Way. I would characterize my attitude not as hostile but as shocked, for your interview with Zenit completely miscaracteritized the text of Cardinal Arinze’s letter to the leaders of your movement. "
"Neocatechumenal Update: So Much For The “Private Letter” Argument"
Some comments below for and against the Way.
"Neocatechetical Spin Update"
"A few days ago I published a post on an interview given to Zenit by Mr. Guiseppe Gennarini of the Neocatechumenal Way. The interview concerned a letter sent by Cardinal Arinze of the Congregation for DivineWorship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to the leaders of the Neocatechumenal Way. In my blog post I stated that Mr. Gennarini was either grossly misinformed regarding what the letter said or that he was in denial, because the interview he gave ammounted to pure spin."
"Neocatechumenal Update: New Arinze Interview"
"The Cardinal presents the matter in a very kind, facesaving way, but he is clear on the points (which had been disputed by some Neocatechumenal spokesmen) that these directives are not a complete vindication of the NW’s liturgical practice and that the directives ARE to be followed"
"Neocatechumenal Spin"
"While Church leaders, including the previous and current popes, have said positive things about the NW, they have also insisted on changes in the way that the movement operates."
"NeoCatechumenal Responses.."
To Jimmy Akin's article.
"Neocatechumenal Rite approved? Let us call it the New Liturgical Way"
"The hermeneutic of continuity"
"I pray that the neocatechumenate will be able to preserve its powerful charism for the Church while dropping the liturgical aberrations, and that other movements will also wake up and smell the coffee."
"Archive for the ‘Neocatechumenal Way’ Category"
"‘Traditional Catholics’ are wont to criticize the Neocatechumenal Way for its liturgical absurdities. Let us see what they have to say (nothing?) about this theologically and symbolically loaded symphony of race exultation in which Jesus’ mother is made to cry with ‘Jews’ of the Talmud (which teaches that her Son deserved to be executed) and “affirm” the “Shema Yisrael” which for centuries has connotated rejection of Christianity in general and specifically the Christian doctrines of the Trinity and Divinity of Christ."
From Maurice Pinay's site.
"Neocatechumenal Way Presents Holocaustian Symphony of Homage to Talmudic "Fathers in the Faith""
"Dear traditionalist reader, what we have here, consistent with the modern Catholic mockery of Auschwitz replacing Calvary, is Mary crying with ‘The Jews’ at the foot of the ‘gas chambers’ instead of crying for Jesus at the foot of the cross. Are you in ‘full communion’ with this outrageous mockery?"
"Neocatechumenal Way Receives Papal Approval"
"One day, Rome frees the Latin Mass, and the next day it blesses an elitist heretical cult that denies the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. What are we to think?"
"Benedict XVI versus the "call to disobedience" as well as the "fossilization of traditions""
Commenters think the Way is heretical and cultish.
"Another confirmation that NeoCats must follow official liturgical books for Mass""Rome, Italy, Jan 25, 2012 / 01:56 pm (CNA).- Father Ricardo Reyes Castillo, a member of the Neocatechumenal Way, said Pope Benedict XVI’s approval of the movement’s non-liturgical celebrations “has changed absolutely nothing.”
The Panamanian priest told CNA on Jan. 23 that the papal approval of the celebrations contained in the Neocatechumenal Catechetical Directory means “simply that the Church has confirmed that the rites used in the different stages of formation in the Neocatechumenal Way are in accord with the tradition of the Church.”"
"Neocatechumenal Way Receives Papal Approval"
"It is of interest to the Latin Mass community that Pope Benedict has granted canonical approval to group that holds heretical views on the sacrificial nature of the Holy Mass."
"The Neocatechumenal Way"
"Children are idols that must be renounced. Parents spoil their children. Why? “We are anxious about our children because we are constantly thinking of death. I would ask this question: Why are we thinking of our child’s death? I would say: BECAUSE IN YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS YOU DESIRE IT.”"
"Church Revolution in Pictures"
"Above we see a priest of the Neocatechumenal Way saying a Mass in Southern Italy. He wears the vestments of a rabbi. Below, he poses with a small group of attendees. We can see that he covered his head with a prayershawl like the ones rabbis wear, and he also placed a seven branchedmenorah candelabra in the center of the table."
"Pope: The Neocatechumenal Way Is a ‘Special Gift of the Holy Spirit’ "
"It promotes Luther’s teaching on justification: “Man is not saved by good works … Jesus Christ did not come to give us a model of life, an example. … The Holy Spirit does not lead us to perfection, to good works … God freely forgives the sins of those who believe that Jesus is the Savior.”"
"Neocat violation - open letter to Prindiville"
"Four times in the church and in front of the altar I was abused by your Neocat people. I was told “fuck you”, (I lost count after hearing this outburst four times) “how dare you do this (light the candle)”, “get out of this church” and “you are fucking disgusting”."
"Neocat assault"
"In response to the community’s outburst, Prindiville retreated from the lectern to where community member Len was standing, making a photographic record of the meeting. He proceeded to try to seize Len’s camera, demanding that no pictures be taken in the church. There was a brief struggle, with Len warning that he would “sue the collar off” Prindiville if he damaged the camera, and demanding that the “miserable wretch” stop the assault. Immediately several Neocats surrounded Len, including GianPietro and Sudla who, apropos of God knows what, chimed in with “you needn’t talk – look at your hand”. (Len’s right hand was damaged in a school accident over 40 years ago.) Sudla has on many occasions demonstrated a capacity for base and cowardly behaviour especially towards women of the community – it appears now anyone with a bit of a disability is fair game as well."
"Vibrant youth Mass"
"As I made my way out of the church at the end of mass I wondered in awe at the Neocat magnetism that has the capacity to attract such crowds."
"Is the Neo-Catechumenate Way Compatible with Religious Life?"
"There is no doubting the sincerity of members of the Way nor that many people may experience profound conversion to Jesus Christ through this movement. However, I and many others in the field have strong reservations about the theology and pastoral methods of the Way."
"Open Letter to the local Neocatechumenate communities at St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Bristol, England"
"I don't believe that Satan is closing my ears to God's message through the Neocatechumenate. I realise that Satan does tempt us. If my misunderstandings are indeed from temptation I believe it is because Satan is trying through the Neocatechumenate to encourage me not to trust in Christ's love as I know it."
"NEOCATECHUMEN INFILTRATION - Testimonial from members of the Good Shepherd Parish in Kelmscott Perth Western Australia"
"Attendees were told …”You have been chosen by the Holy Spirit and are not here of your own accord” .The insinuation being that those not attending have been overlooked by God. What was more disconcerting was the mention to people that they should be prepared for criticism from “Those people (pointing to the church) will criticize you and as such you will need to make a decision”.
Alarmingly, the following is also told: “You have been invited by Jesus Christ to walk in this Neo-catechumen way and if you refuse YOU ARE GOING TO HELL.”"
"MIRRABOOKA PARISH - The Neocats' Australian "jewel in the crown" in Perth Western Australia"
"The fact that some members of the hierarchy extol the activities of this evangelizing movement does not excuse the groups’ unholy and arrogant manner when speaking to the converted, especially women. Let them feel free to exercise their zeal elsewhere and leave us to pray the Rosary in peace and grant us a Parish Priest who can preach the Gospel as Christ intended from His sermon on the mount."
"Leaks confirm ambivalence about Neocatechumenal Way"
"Both a brand new Vatican leak, and one contained in the avalanche of secret documents already published by an Italian journalist, depict deep ambivalence among the pope’s most senior aides about the controversial lay movement the Neocatechumenal Way."
One pro-Neocat comment at the bottom.
"That Strange Mass the Pope Doesn't Like"
"It is the Mass according to the rite of the Neocatechumenal Way. Benedict XVI has ordered the congregation for the doctrine of the faith to examine it thoroughly. Its condemnation appears to be sealed."
"Placet" or "Non placet"? The wager of Carmen and Kiko"
"The founders of the Neocatechumenal Way aim to obtain definitive Vatican approval for their "convivial" way of celebrating the Mass. The document is ready. But it could be modified or blocked in extremis. The verdict on January 20."
"Vatican Diary / The Neocatechumenals get their diploma. But not the one they were expecting"
"The Holy See has approved the rites that mark the stages of their catechism. But the particularities with which they celebrate their Masses still remain under observation. Some of them are permitted. Others not."
"Vatican approval for Neocatechumenal Way only applies to non-liturgical teachings"
"Vatican City, Jan 21, 2012 / 05:15 pm (CNA).- The Vatican’s approval of the Neocatechumenal Way’s forms of “celebration” only applies to non-liturgical prayers within their catechesis and not to the Mass or other liturgies of the Church."
18 comments at bottom. A few pro Neocat comments, and a few anti-Neocat comments (about liturgical/technical abuses).
"Japan's bishops want Neocatechumenal Way to leave for five years"
"Vatican City, Dec 16, 2010 / 07:32 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Citing years of “trouble,” Japan’s Catholic bishops have asked the Neocatechumenal Way to cease activities in the country for the next five years."
21 comments. Many commenter against the Way's liturgy, and a few defenders. One commenter says Neocat kids neglected at Way events.
"Introduction - Heresies in the Neocatechumenal Way"
"The webmaster presents a translation of the introduction to an italian book (translation by permission of the publisher) published by Edizioni Segno, which talks about doctrinal errors in a (foundational) catechism booklet of the Neo-Catechumenal movement abroad, showing in a theological way the errors of the basis of that movement."
There appear to be seven pages to this piece.
"Directions for running Introductory Catechesis sessions"
"excerpts of secret instructions from the founder Kiko Arguello...
(translation, punctuation and emphasis are from the English typescript for N-C catechists)"
"How Legit Is the NeoCatechumenal Way?"
"Confusion about the Neocatechumenal Way (aka “neocats”) abounds, and for good reason. Since its founding in 1963, the group has been cautioned by the Vatican for inserting various novel practices into its Masses such as lay preaching, standing during the Consecration, receiving Communion while sitting down, and passing the Precious Blood from person to person."
One comment; commenter found them welcoming but didn't get what they were about, thought them directionless.
"Is the Neocatechumenal Way Catholic?"
"We considered it useful to translate progressively into English the documents of this website, in order to make them available to all those who want to know more about this phenomenon."
"Neocatechumenal “Misleading Advertisement”
"Letter from the catholic Bishops of the Holy land and neocatechumenal “misleading advertisement” to emphasize its activity from the Wikipedia’s English website."
"Letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze"
"Neocatechumenal-Mass - Letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments"
"ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO MEMBERS OF THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY"
"The Neocatechumenal Way- A Fearful Danger to the Faith"
Liturgical errors.
http://www.christianorder.com/features/features_1995/features_apr95.html
Same article as above.
" Statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way: The serious consequences of an anomalous ratification"
"In the opening catechesis I had several negative sensations, which were amplified by the final sharing. Reading these pages, I noticed that many people shared my feelings, that were so grim as to make me believe that the Antichrist will enter the Church by this way. After reading that the Vatican ratified the Statutes of the Neocathecumenal Way, I would like to ask you: How is it possible that nobody seems to notice something that is easily perceivable, not even the Holy Father?"
Liturgical errors.
"Shocking: Kiko’s Holy Card"
"Dear Brothers, we offer to you this image with our deep wishes for you to pray with us: for me, for Carmen and for Father Mario.
We are surprised and at the same times concerned by what is happening with the Jews. Is it that the Messiah, Who is present in us, wants to approach His people? We cannot know. What’s important is that we need your support, your love, and above all your prayers. Pray for me.
Kiko"
Kiko inflates his ego and thinks himself special.
"[Kiko's Mass] Doesn't Seem to be Coherent with the Liturgical Magisterium of the Pope"
"It’s a very soft way to say that the Neocatechumenals go against the Pope. It’s something that arises ‘concerns’ among Bishops. Also, these are maneuvers carried out—as everybody knows— ‘without the Pope’s knowledge.’"
A cardinal doesn't believe Kiko's Way follows the Pope.
"Neocatechumenal Way: another approval. There’s always something wrong, though."
"On the one hand we have the traditional, usual confusion about the exact content of the decrees granted by the Holy See...On the other hand we have the question...of the publication of the “Catechetical Directory”: although its new revised version...has been approved, it’s still actually a confidential text, used only by the catechists of the Way. "
Although the Neocatechumenal Way has enjoyed approvals, there are still controversies about whether or not it follows the Church and its rituals.
"An arbitrary and blasphemous use of a Sacred Image"
"This image seems blasphemous to us or at least it shows that, while the Church of Christ is based on the Holy Trinity, Kiko’s conception of the Trinity is a human construction based on three distinct, not equal, persons. We cannot help highlighting...Kiko’s defacing the stupendous artwork of Rublëv, substituting the three Angels representing the three divine Persons with the images of the three leaders of the NCW..."
Kiko's style and images are self-congratulatory and do not represent the views of the Church, in that they split up the entities of the Holy Trinity.
"Is the “New Aesthetic” of the NC Way Catholic?"
"How is it possible that a lay, Kiko, has had the power to “impose” over the Church this changes that have nothing to do with Catholic tradition?"
Kiko's style and painting and symbolism aren't Catholic.
"Psychological underpinnings in the Neocatechumenate community"
"For twenty years, my mother has been a member of the Neocatechumenal Way, but my father didn't become a member. For this reason they were totally separated up until his death. I suffered tremendously and I have found it impossible to accept many of the things that have happened because they were things that go against my Faith...I had been told by a catechist and by a psychiatrist in the Movement these very words: "We have bound your mother to obey and we have ordered her to throw you out of the house." A cloud of pain came down upon me and I left in grief."
Alberto Picano's experience with the Neocatechumenal Way, which absorbed his mother and nearly ruined his psychological health.
"Excerpts from the videotape transcription of a debate/seminar"
"One of the most unbelievable things happened when my mother died. I was crying and I asked my wife to pray with me that evening; I asked her to not leave me alone in my grief. She replied that she had to go pray with her brothers and sisters at the community and that they were her true family in Christ. Something else unbelievable happened with my oldest son. He believed that the Neocatechumenate was sent forth by Christ and once he ascertained my aversion to the Neocatechumenate, he tried to kill me by suffocation (I have here the medical records to prove it). My eldest and my secondborn son haven't called me "Daddy" for all this time. It's their way of punishing me for having always tried to go against their organization. My second son is still very young, yet he already has two daughters. He has been made into a recruiter of prospective Neocatechumens. He hasn't even let me see my second grandchild."
Transcriptions from various sources, including both theological and secular complaints against the Way.
"Is the Neocatechumenal Way catholic?"
Link to bunch of translated articles about the Way, from Italian into English.
"Neocatechumenal Rite and Catholic Eucarist"
"The Neocatechumenal doctrine asserts that the passion and death of Jesus Christ wasn’t a true sacrifice offered to the Father to amend our sins and redeem humanity; still, human beings inexorably remain sinners (that is true, but the effect of Grace is not considered). As a result, to enjoy the fruits of His work, it’s sufficient for the believer to admit to be a sinner and believe in the power of the resurrected Christ (which—as an evident echo of Lutheran doctrine—totally eliminates personal response and responsibility)."
The Neocatechumenal Way differs from true Catholicism
"Neocatechumenals, Sense of Sin and Confession"
"“You‘re a slave of Evil: You’re a slave of the Devil and obey to his concupiscence and his orders.”
“This is the reality of man: He wants to do good, but he can’t. Marxism would say that he can’t because he’s alienated by the structures … Psychology … because of his complexes. That doesn’t convince me. Christianity says another thing: God revealed the reality of man in this way: MAN CANNOT DO GOOD BECAUSE HE SEPARATED HIMSELF FROM GOD, BECAUSE HE SINNED AND REMAINED RADICALLY IMPOTENT AND INCAPABLE, AT THE MERCY OF THE DEMONS. HE TURNED INTO A SLAVE OF THE DEVIL. THE DEVIL IS HIS LORD. (That’s why demanding suggestions and sermons are useless. Man cannot do good.)”
The Neocatechumenal Way has a very negative view of mankind which negates the Grace of God and the ability to overcome sin and error.
"The obscure sides of the statute of the Neocatechumenal Way"
"Therapists (Neocatechumenal catechists certainly doesn’t have their qualification, nor can they be spiritual leaders) are not supposed to clearing people’s minds from the false conceptions of the Self. They are not supposed to fill them with the false theories of a cheap guru. They are supposed to induce people to think they’re hideous, filthy worms, to make them believe that it’s just thanks to Neocatechumenal techniques they will become better persons."
Neocat teachings are psychologically and spiritually damaging and do not lead towards healthy conceptions of self.
"The Misuse of Jewish Symbols"
"The founder of the NCW insists on dredging the ancient contents of Christian religion and the symbols he calls “signs” because they must have a strong semantical recognizability for the believers. From a strictly theological point of view, we should point out that those symbols are extrapolated by their ancient context to be placed in a modern reality, that is completely different since a specific historical event: The birth of Jesus Christ and His Redemptive Work. Kiko is forging an irrational eclecticism between different faiths, even if they have a common historical and spiritual background."
Kiko tries to force a connection between Judaism and Christianity.
"The Neocatechumenal Seminars ‘Redemptoris Mater’: Incongruities and Mystifications"
"There’s no doubt that the priests who have been trained in the ‘Redemptoris Mater’ seminars are controlled by Kiko through his catechists."
"The Psychological mechanisms of mental conditioning inside the Neocatechumenate Community"
"The members of the community become inculcated that they are part of a privileged elite in the church; they are destined to bring salvation to the people they work with, to their families, or even in missionary work abroad which we see in the case of "itinerant catechists". As is written elsewhere, the people often hear the catechists' typical phrases, "The Lord has chosen you and has invited you and no one else". This and other similar phrases let the people believe that they have been "specially elected". This unconsciously satisfies their own frustrated sense of self."
"The problem with Takamatsu diocese"
"The biggest problems with the Way are (1) that they mistake their homemade rituals for charisms, and (2) that they have a chain of command that is entirely disconnected from the local bishop. Also, (3) they take problems that ought to be solved within the diocese and bring them off to Rome, where they try to get their own way by using the influence of Rome to coerce the local Church to fall in line."
"Circular 2011/38: Neo Catechumenal Communities"
"In my letter to you on Pentecost Sunday this year entitled “SEEKING COMMUNION IN CHARITY: Pastoral Instructions on the Neo Catechumenal Way”, I laid out some pastoral guidelines to insure that the members of the Catholic faithful who have taken the Way may find themselves always integrated with the parish community life."
"Heading the wrong Way for Japan"
"Over about the past 20 years, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan (CBCJ) has expended great time and energy on problems concerning the Neocatechumenal Way (which I refer to hereafter as simply ‘the Way’). To our extreme disappointment, these efforts have not improved the situation. Of the passion and good intentions of the people of the Way, I have not the slightest doubt. Nevertheless, the Way’s activities over the past 30 years can in no way be called a success."
"Bishop speaks out on Neo-Cats"
"Bishop Osamu Mizobe of Takamatsu today issued a New Year pastoral letter titled “The Neocatechumenal Way” that described a visit by Japanese bishops to Rome to discuss problems that have arisen in connection with that movement in Japan.
The bishop announced that, “until we have received the visit of the special Envoy of the Holy Father all activities of the Neocatechumenal Way will be suspended in this diocese.”"
"New Year pastoral letter of Bishop Osamu Mizobe"
"At the meeting in Rome the four Bishops from Japan emphasized that this problem is concerned with the disciplinary laws of the diocese and as such is under the jurisdiction of the local ordinary. We emphasized that the fact that the Neocatechumenal Way has been approved by Rome does not automatically imply that a local diocese must accept them."
"THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LINGAYEN-DAGUPAN"
"It has profoundly changed many lukewarm lives. It has rebuilt many wounded families and has yielded many religious and priestly vocations for the vineyard of the Lord. Yet, despite its positive effects such as those mentioned above, there are certain concerns about the direction the Neocatechumenate is leading to."
"Letter from the catholic Bishops of the Holy land and neocatechumenal “misleading advertisement”"
"The bishops of the Holy Land reprimanded the Neocatechumenals for making themselves a group apart, for celebrating the Mass separately from the parishes, for not observing the liturgical rites, for remaining aloof from the language and culture of the local people."
"Neocatechumenal Way Presents Holocaustian Symphony"
"Literally every religious claim below is rubbish intended to create false commonality between Jesus, the Bible, the Israelites and today's talmudic 'Jews' where there is in fact complete opposition. Jesus never prayed to "Hashem," a ridiculous, tribal, exclusivist contrivance which translates as "The Name." But this is the kind of madness that one would expect from 'Catholics' who call the rabbis of Talmud and Kabbalah "fathers in the faith.""
The author is critical of Kiko's Zionist chauvinism.
"Rabbi Papal Knight David Rosen Honored at Boston Neocatechumenal Way Seminary Event"
"After the rabbi spoke, the seminarians of Redemptoris Mater sang "Shema Israel," a song based on one of the most important [rabbinic] prayers [which in rabbinic Judaism denotes rejection of Christianity in general and the doctrines of the Trinity and Divinity of Christ in particular]."
"Neocatechumenal Way"
"More of a question that a post. Does anyone have any personal contact with the Neocatechumenal Way? I never heard of them before, but I learned today that the Bishops of Japan have been trying to ban them from their entire country. The Wikipedia article is lengthy, but shows signs of having been edited by a partisan. According to Wikipedia, they have 250 communities in the US.The idea of the movement sounds intriguing, but I noticed that its constitutions appoint leaders for life, which seems unhealthy."
"The psychological mechanisms of mental conditioning inside the neocatechumenate community"
"Some people, whether they are lay or ecclesiastical, see the Way as being a blessing of the Spirit. Other individuals, of likewise importance, consider the Way to be dangerous in doctrine and methodology; they have compared it to a sect, having come to call it "a church within the Church"."
"The Neocatechumenal Way"
"Problems with The Neocatechumenal Way A Brief Summary
*The Neocatechumenal Way don’t believe the Mass is a sacrifice, hence they use the term presbyter instead of priest.
* They have a secret manual, which contains their catechesis.
* At certain stages members are required to confess their sins publicly.
* Members are required to give 10% of their income to the NCWay. They publish no accounts. None of this money goes to the parish.
* To complete their entire program takes about 20 years, and people at a particular level have no idea what lies ahead in future levels."
"The Holy See did NOT approve NeoCat liturgical variants for Mass"
"Vatican City, Jan 21, 2012 / 05:15 pm (CNA).- The Vatican’s approval of the Neo-Catechumenal Way’s forms of “celebration” only applies to non-liturgical prayers within their catechesis and not to the Mass or other liturgies of the Church."
"Neocatechumenal Way on the fast track"
"Benedict XVI received [last] Saturday morning, in private audience, Spaniards Kiko Argüello and Carmen Hernández and Italian priest Mario Pezzi, the group responsible for the Neocatechumenal Way at the international level."
"Have you heard of the "Neocatechumenal Way"?"
Forum posts.
"Avoid the Neocatechumenal Way"
"The Neocatechumenal Way or Neocatechumenate is a "Post Baptismal Catechumenate" i.e. a Christian initiation process within the Roman Catholic Church that is dedicated to adult faith formation. However, as part of their regular celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass the Way performs numerous liturgical abuses and engages in teachings that are, at their core, not Catholic."
"How the Neocatechumenal Way defended their liturgy in 2004"
"The book is an open apology for the Neocatechumenal Way, in response to the criticisms advanced up to now, even by authoritative bishops and cardinals, before and after the approval of the statutes...But there is one point upon which this apology remains weak. And it regards the liturgical practice of the Way..."
"Where do Rome and the Neo-Catechumenal Way Stand In 2006?"
"The NeoCatechumenal Way is one of the largest and most powerful of the “New Ecclesial Movements” that have sprung up in the Church over the last 40 years. Mark Alessio had been a member of “the Way” for seven years, and gives a true picture of the doctrinal heresy and bizarre practices that are constitutive elements of this group. Mr. Alessio also explains that the reported “Vatican crackdown” on “the Way” is nothing more than a slap on the wrist that leaves the doctrinal aberrations and other strange practices of “the Way” untouched."
"The Growing Neocatechumenal Controversy and Chasm in the Catholic Church"
"I recently received a phone call from a close friend in Guam. I grew up there and so I was getting the usual run down on the latest news and updates from the island. Part way through the discussion , my friend started telling me about his frustration about a group in the Catholic Church that are causing issues there..."
"Neocatechumenal way, Coming to a church near you"
Forum posts, mostly opposed to the Way.
"Neocatechumenal Way"
Blog comments, mostly anti-Way.
"An Experience Of The Neo-Catechumenal Way"
"This short paper has focused on some of the more negative aspects of the NC Way. There are, however, some positive things that can be said about the NC Way, which is shown by the great number of people who have flocked to its ranks in recent years and by the many conversions that have taken place."
"Vatican approval coming slowly for the Neocatechumenal Way"
"The Catholic lay movement’s statutes were approved on an ad experimentum basis, for a period of five years, six years ago. But questions about the Neocatechumenal Way- and particularly the group's liturgical practices- have persisted, slowing the progress toward full acceptance."
"Problems with the NeoCats? Are changes in the Neocatechumenal Way coming, too???"
"Problems with the Neocatechumenal Way? There seems to be problems with the NeoCats with some of the bishops in Japan to the point that mediator is being appointed."
Japanese have problems with the Neocats because the Neocats are trying to have their own way.
"Neocat Material"
Collection of articles about the Way from an opposed site.
"THE LAST TROJAN HORSE?"
"The Way To Lutheranism
...How can I be so sure of this when the Holy Father himself has now legitimised the Way? Because, quite simply, I count myself among the reported 80% of adults in these Isles whose literacy level is above that of a 10-year-old. Consequently, I am able to read and comprehend the blatant heresy systematically laid out in the NC Orientation guide, a 373 page typed volume which gathers together an instruction course for "Catechists" held in Madrid in February 1972 by NC founders Kiko Arguello and Carmen Hernandez. Photocopied and circulated as a formative textbook for new apostles but kept secret from both the public and neophytes of the Way alike, it forms the basis of NC catechesis."
"Neocat slander and persecution"
Title says all.
"Kiko, the Wrath of God"
Bio of Kiko.
"Not a Catholic"
"Ralph has recently returned to St Vincent's after an absence of many weeks following a particularly unpleasant encounter with the Neocat clergy in which Clesio Mendes told him in no uncertain terms that he was not a Catholic, and that he was allowing himself to be led astray by the community. This was not the first time that a member of the community has been attacked in this manner."
"Kiko's Kooks"
Neocat jokes.
"Major row averted"
"A major row was averted at the Christmas Mass when Tom Hammerton stepped up to the altar to prevent a figurine of a black Mary and Child being smashed to the floor by parish priest Gerry Prindiville."
"Neocatechumenal Way Will Not Be Suspended in Japan"
"De Juana explained that "the Holy See has made a series of decisions," which were revealed in Cardinal Bertone's letter.
"The first indicates that the suspension of the Neocatechumenal Way in Japan for five years -- as attempted by the country's Episcopal Conference -- is not admissible," he said."
"St James Catholic Church"
Reviews of a church that was taken over by the Neocat Way. Some are positive and others are negative, saying the new Neocat priest is judgmental and divisive.
"Is "The Way" leading Catholics astray?"
"...By this time I'd met many other Neo-Cat families but all had the same degree of caginess about talking their community. I found this odd -- I genuinely wanted to know more about them from them not from a secondary source. Also, most Catholics I know who are keen on their faith, are also eager to share - to evangelise. If you have a great parish, don't you invite people to Mass with you? If you're onto a good thing - and a good thing in this situation can save souls - don't you want to share it? In the case of the NeoCats I met - apparently not. Apparently this isn't uncommon - the NCM recruits from outside the Church, not from within."
"Vatican approval coming slowly for the Neocatechumenal Way"
"Vatican, Apr. 11, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Bishop Josef Clemens, has said that a definitive approval of the statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way will take some time, the online Italian news agency Petrus reports."
"A Reluctant Sinner"
"...it seems that one of the only letters used by La Repubblica to prove the existence of ‘warring factions’ within the Vatican, is quite interesting...because it shows how concerned both the Pope and the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, Cardinal Raymond Burke (pictured), are with the liturgical abuses rife in that modern ecclesiastical movement known as the Neocatechumenal Way. Known colloquially as the NeoCats, this movement - referred to by some commentators as the ‘Protestant cuckoo in the Catholic nest’ - has been a cause for concern amongst traditional Catholics for several decades."
"Neocatechumenal Ways and Means"
Various comments both for and against the Way.
"VICTIM'S STORY"
"'There was brainwashing. There was emphasis on money and sex; these were the sticks they beat us with'
KEVIN Woodhouse was a member of the NeoCatechumenate for five years before he was kicked out. It took him two years to recover from the experience which, he believes, left him on the verge of a nervous breakdown."
"Is the path néocatéchuménal a sect???"
Large collection of articles from a French psychologist's site, translated into English.
"Testimony of Anna and Franca Passoni"
"My grandfather at the age of ninety years was reversed by one car and carried to S. Martino in Genoa in the coma. He/it remained at the hospital for more of one month. His/her/its grandson Pierluigi didn't surrender to find it because there was a half convivence néocatéchuménale and only thereafter, after my mother's umpteenth sermon, he/it went to hospital to contrec.ur. But the thing who is distressed the more was and is the clean sensation that his/her/its grandfather him didn't import and us either because we were not néocatéchumènes. Only the néocatéchumènes was for him of the people, the other only of the beasts, of the animals, but certainly not of God's sons. His/her/its attitude was cruel, detached and indifferent, it himself ridiculed my sentimentalism, while telling to me that the only resulted from it pathetic and of the melodramatic. Him in his/her/its corner he/it never demonstrated of gestures of affection and shown a feeling, only coldness, detachment, and contempt."
Translated into English. Not perfect, but readable.
"NÉOCATÉCHUMÈNES"
"Why did you leave?
M: The fundamental reason is that we perceived that there was an incredible pressure exercised of the outside on our personal life, summon, that it was exposed before all. My matrimonial life, my economic situation, all was submitted to the judgment."
"THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF THE MENTAL CONDITIONING TO THE INSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY NÉOCATÉCHUMÉNALE"
"The couples that suivent" the Path concentrates together more on the adherence of their children. Since the children, as the catechists teach it, must be another example of our " idoleses ", they must be let home in the evening with the guard, or the big parents, or someone else if the parents. in one moment of pity. decide to save the children of the long evenings without cuts of the celebrations!"
Translated from French to English, but still somewhat readable.
"The path neocatechumenal fills it the ten criterias of the parliamentary commission who define a dangerous sect?"
Cult checklist.
"News published on the bulletin n° 9 of February 4, 2002"
"Even held secret, the massive diffusion of the speech néocatéchuménale made so that their content is now amply known. And they are not few those that believe that the content of these catéchèses spreads the fact that the Movement is far from the Catholic official doctrine."
"Désinformer"
"Does the path continue his/her/its disinformation while letting suppose that the seminaries of the path would be of the diocesan seminaries, is this for as much exact ? Here is Michel's answer after having made his/her/its investigatings by the bishops of Strasbourg, Paris and Marseille."
"Analysis critical of a part of the interview that kiko gave to the newspaper Catholic 30 days in November 1997"
Interview with Kiko.
"Techniques used in the path néocatéchuménal, permitting to maintain people under mental manipulation."
Sort of a cult checklist, an article about the way cults control people psychologically. Poor French translation, but somewhat readable.
"The path néocatéchuménal: a sectarian movement?"
"J'ai myself been accused to be judas or the devil. My friend who came out of the movement has been accused of having made the pain has the community, and to be the devil in person, because the one that attacks the path is always the devil. It is precisely what happens in the sects, without counting the psychological pressure put by the catechists and the community on the people who would be tempted to come out of the movement."
"Testimonies sent by Friedrich GRIESS"
"My impressions are that there are a lot of sectarian elements in the path néocatéchuménal. In first the model Manichaean noir/blanc, the fact to think to be the elite, "you are lost if you leave the group." Then the artificial language that person has the outside cannot understand. And a very undemocratic style. I had the impression that they were all of the "zombies.""
"NEO-CATECHUMENAL PATH."
Testimony of bad Neocat experience.
"These "sects" and these "gurus" in the pope's shade"
Three articles translated from French.
"The path néocatéchuménal: the trouble game of Vatican"
"The communities of the neocatéchuménal Path swarmed all over the world. They have a centralised structure and efficient to the dizzy growth rate. But until now, these communities seem to have succeeded in convincing Vatican that their organization didn't exist as such! What didn't yet prevent their catéchèse qualified of heretic by number of experts to be approved by the highest ecclesiastic processes."
"When Kiko, the guru of the path sells his movement to the bishops""Anxious to facilitate the progress of the pope's favorite organization, Vatican went extremely far to promote the neo-catéchuménal Path from all over the world by the bishops."
"These movements "laymen" who prepare the clerks of tomorrow...(solely the part concerning the nc)"
"The neocatéchuménal Path Although like the other movements, the thousands of parish priests became members of the neocatéchuménal Path, the movement begins to make order priests his/her/its own members. The foundation of several seminaries of the neocatéchuménal Path, of which the one Rome Redemptoris Mater, contributed very extensively to put this aspect in evidence."
"Jesus Christ Est La Response A Ta Vie"
Letter in French.
"Kiko Advertisement Card- French"
"The Pope's armada"
Book buying link for the Pope's Armada book by Gordon Urquhart.
"THE CANVAS OF THE SPIDER PSYCHOLOGICAL BEWITCHMENT IN THE PATH NÉOCATÉCHUMÉNAL"
"On the occasion of my mother's death (arrived October 1°, 1992) I asked my wife néocatéchuménale uselessly to pray with me. His/her/its answer remained: "I only pray with my brothers of community, who are my true and only family in Christ!." Fanaticism carries them to say and to believe that really this organization emanates Christ directly."
Translation- to English from French- of Augusto Faustini's ordeal.
"I REMAINED DISAPPOINTED OF THE NÉOCATÉCHUMÈNES"
"There is in the path a lugubrious spirituality, pessimist, who reaches a true psychological terrorism in some cases."
"16/01/03 in testimony concerning the path néocatéchuménal"
"The authoritative tone of some catechists didn't please and when one has the announcements of Easter by Kiko and carmen me I am told that these people took it indeed for Jesus........."
"Conjoined former catechists of the Path"
"When one confided documents of the kind to the Catechists and to the accountable persons or in the meetings one spoke itself of the "method" to follow, he/it was recommended the biggest secret. To this secret we were bound like to family's secrets!""
"Shattering testimony of Christelle"
Testimony of a Way member, originally in French, translated to English.
"TESTIMONY OF AN EX - NÉOCATÉCHUMÈNE "NOSTALGIQUE""
"When I think about this episode he/it comes me to the mind that in the Path the catechist is like a father and the Community like a protective mother. Every adherent remains bound always to his/her/its umbilical cord, well anchored to the father catechist."
"Testimony of augusto faustini"
"Without speaking when the competition is with liabilities of survey, or social, artistic, sporty, of love, politics or the "culture hated!"The Catechists tell us: These are "IDOLS! ""
"LE NEO-CATÉCHUMÉNALS PATH"
"This doctrine contains the mistakes that have been denounced time and again by bishops, of the priests and theologians from all over the world. It is not my goal of to disparage people but to demonstrate that the enseignement spilled by this movement wanders on many of points, especially when one compares it to the teachings of the Magistery of the Catholic church."
"IN THE FIRST COMMUNITY OF CO-ODILE OF QUEBEC"
"Avant to adopt this attitude, we had asked the catéchètes if they could make one pause in the middle of the catéchèse because we were very tired to listen to them on bad chairs of sheet metal during sometimes more than two hours. On that, they told us coldly, what has us nevertheless frustrated a few, the brother wants to rise, that the brother rises, if the brother wants to leave, that the brother leaves, but we won't change our manner to function."
"Testimony of Rose Ellen Caminer"
"The Christ's obedience towards the father is put in equation with our obedience to the catechists. The silence of the christ owing his/her/its condemnation died is put in equation with our silence facing the tests that the catechists decided to impose us."
Another Link:
http://www.psychologue-clinicien.com/anglais/usa.htm
Contact Site Owner of Psychologue-Clinicien
"THE PATH AS IT DEFINES ITSELF"
Overview of the Neocatechumenal Way, translated from French to English.
"Néocatéchuménal path"
Point-by-point list of Neocatechumenal Way traits, translated from French to English.
"THE NÉOCATÉCHUMÈNES AND THEIR APPROVAL"
Translated from French to English.
"Theologian of Family Christian"
Translated from French to English.
"RED LIGHT FOR THE "PATH": A ROMAN PARISH REVOLTS AGAINST THE NEO-CATÉCHUMÈNESS"
Translated from French to English.
"ARCHDIOCESE OF CATANIA"
"I would not like to speak of the public confessions either... But who can allow a style that the church, in his/her/its wisdom and in his/her/its maternal prudence, abolished since centuries?"
"LETTER IN KIKO ARGUËLLO"
"One presents them as the only and unique ecclesiastic communities. And it is frequent to meet the contempt towards the non apostolic other communities of basis and to join sometimes to this attitude of exclusion same aggressive the conscience not to be able to work pastorally in other types of communities."
"The Path néocatéchuménal"
"Inside the community of the "Path" there is the risk of an excessive, advanced uniformity sometimes until in the least details, especially in the liturgy."
"Of the New spiritual communities: The impulses for the pastoral work"
"The fact, that this celebration eucharistique is not generally accessible, is justified with it that protected by it before possible inconveniences and should be encouraged the mind of the community. 'The texts of the songs, that one sings in the communities neokatechumenalenes, are the AT and the NT. In the book of song, they are in a neat manner of the e after the phases, in which they are sung every time. The songs are sung by heart what makes impossible to a layman that the involvement has been allowed the celebration eucharistique under the interview with the respective chief the makes to sing in unison. "
Poor German translation.
"The Neukatechumenat"
"We come "of our view to the evaluation according to the Neukatechumenats:
1. The Neukatechumenat comes, like it himself here represents, in the proximity dangerous of a sect.
2. The introduction of the Neukatechumenats in a township 'living' is to refuse: to, he/it leads inevitably as him 'path of the township' to the division of the township."
Another bad German translation.
"MY EXPERIENCEIN SAINT-AGNÈS, DONNACONA"
"No smile on their face. They didn't seem of people that lived the joy of the presence of the Resuscitated. I could not imagine holy Paul with such a face.
- They produced us, by heart, their catéchèse. One felt that, for most, it was the recitation. Sometimes, they had whites of memory and it was laborious for the audience. Then the catéchètes made a "caucus" and the catéchète designated took his/her/its narration.
- They interrogated people personally and the answer that one gave was always false and one told us: "Listen to the catéchèse." According to them, what one had taught us before and that had made us live was improper or false."
Collection of Articles from Era of Peace Site
"Era of Peace is a catholic site from Malta. The Era of Peace is promised by Our Lady, in various messages, locutions and apparitions, as well as by Jesus Christ Himself in the Bible. The purpose of the site is not to make you fear something, or to offend somebody. I'm talking about beliefs, the beliefs of the Catholic Church. Some ask are we in the end-times? Please read the messages of Our Lady for an answer."
"The Neocatechumenal way has a 400page book revealing the reality of their association, reserved to the catechists of the Movement and nobody else can acquire it. It became public due to an indiscretion. They say in their 'catechism' book: 'Don't tell this to anyone else.. If people knew about this, they would go away quickly...' - it's more like Freemasonry rather than anything Catholic.How long can man flout their disobedience to the Church and to God?"
"The Neocatechumenal Way and the Catholic Church"
"Christianity for Kiko is "disgusting" (Catechism of Kiko, p 283). He says that common people (NOT the Neocatechumenals) "believe that we are all sons of God... (but) ...Thanks God that today things are changing: there are Marxist people who do not call themselves Christians because with this Christianity nothing good has been obtained... We were not Christians, we knew nothing of Christianity, we are prechristians..." To Kiko only some who complete the Neocatechumenal steps are Christians and sons of God. On the other hand a Catholic (according to the CCC) should believe that we are all sons of God."
"THE MOVEMENTS, SEED OF VOCATIONS IN WEST "
Positive testimony of a Neocat who was called to be a priest.
"THE NEO-CATECHUMENAL PATH :A lived parochial"
"This time lasts 2 months at the rate of 2 meetings per week. A certain number of participants quit with the progression of this stage because they were shocked by the impossibility to converse, to emit the reserves, to express a disagreement."
"Neo-Catechumenal path"
"PASCH is a group of worried parishioners that felt the promises and problems dregs to the path neocatechumenal in the Catholic church."
Collection of articles.
"Neo-Catechumenals teachings: Barabbas' Parabola"
"The following teaching was in succession sensible two years, to the catechèses initials of the Neo-Catechumenal path:
Let's say that a woman suffers. His/her/its husband spends all his/her/its money and his/her/its time with the drugs and the drink. When he/it is home, he/it beats it. He/it doesn't take care of his/its children. He/it is neglectful about his/her/its family. How does the woman answer? She/it is treated very badly. Does she/it answer in struggle? No. She/it answers in silence. When does he/it look for the affection in bed, does she/it turn him the back to wound it some? Does she/it divert herself/itself from him to give him a lesson and to wound it in return? Does she/it provoke it in a subtle way? --- either--- does she/it choose JESUS? If she/it had acted on the injustice That she/it had received, she/it would be just as Barabbas. None... she/it chooses Jesus therefore... she/it carries her/its husband's sin."
Neocatechumenal Way teaches victims to suck it up and accept abuse, and here insinuate that if a woman doesn't want to have sex with her husband it's because she's punishing him, and not because she is hurt by his behavior and doesn't' desire it.
"LE NEO-CATÉCHUMÉNALS PATH are HIM COMPATIBLE WITH THE RELIGIOUS LIFE?"
"First, the Path, in practice in a famous general way several of the features enumerated higher of the sects. For example, he/it asks for a total and blind engagement of his/her/its members and a submissiveness to the authority of his/her/its promoters, he/it is elitist and is frequently source of division in the parishes. The Path asks for an excessive time of involvement of the prêtres/religieux and/or it acts customarily without reference to the existing parochial structures."
"Diocese of Clifton - investigation on the path neocatechumenal"
"Eminence Mervyn Alexander, Bishop of Clifton, established the jury of enqête to consider the accusation made by some parishioners in at least three parishes in the diocese that their parishes endured because of the presence and of the activities of the path neocatechumenal."
"The Neo-Catechumenat has Westminster"
"The Cardinal has the high esteem for these students but he is informed very of the difficulty to incorporate in the diocesan priesthood those that will remain priests of the Neo-Catechumenal movement."
"Report on the presence and the activities of the Neo-Catechumenal path in the Diocese of Clifton."
'The presence of the Path Néocatéchuménal to St Nicolas of Tolentino, to St, Peter and to Sacred Hearts didn't bring a new vitality to enliven these parishes. It was even rather the opposite that occurred. These parishes lack unit and declined "pastorally", as the Community of Parish in the Diocese of Clifton since the introduction of the Path NC;"
"FINDINGS; CANNON 212 AND RECOMMENDATIONS"
"the entry of the Néocatéchuménal path within these parishes doesn't make visible the signs the missionary church. On the contrary, he/it drags a strong dissension. The communities brought people undoubtedly in the church for the first time, helped other people and renewed the faith of others, but the jury notices that the Parish suffered therefore in his/her/its whole;"
"MERVYN BISHOP OF CLIFTON"
"After having studied with care the findings of this investigation and a consultation spread with the Council Diocésain of Priests and other advisers, I concluded that the methodology and the spirituality of the NeoCatechumenal path were the reason of a serious dissension and a spiritual pain among certain Faithful of the Christ,"
"Open letter of Karen Anderson to the communities local Neocatechumenaleses "
"The message that I heard and learned through the Neocatechumenal path is written under.
3. You brought us has feel us uncertain about our engagement in the faith.
5. We are incapable to make the good - the sin is eminent.
6. If one doesn't agree with the Neocatechumenat that is because Satan closes our ears.
9. Even though one thinks that life is rich and pleasant - it is indeed empty, full of suffering and is without significance.
11. If someone wants to take advantage of you, let make it - you will show him the love of God and the forgiveness.
12. We add miserable sinners. The Christ died for us and we are forgiven. We must try to make what God wants - but of course indeed we are not able to because we are guilty."
"Open letter of Ronald Haynes to the communities local Neocatechumenaleses "
"Open letter to the Neocatechumenales communities. . .Dear Sisters and Brothers in The Christ,
I write you with concern on what I saw and entendu(témoignages) concerning your meetings and liturgies. Know by advance that it is not easy for me to write this letter and I also suppose that it won't be easy for you of the lira. Let's accept the mutually. I am not even convinced that 'The Path' of which you speak is made of it against the church and his/her/its teachers, but I am sadly on that your approach and a lot of your messages are contrary to the mind of the church and have the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have the firm hope that it occurred without mischief or bad intentions of your part, nevertheless, I counsel you briskly to consider the harmful consequences of your actions in, and outside, of the communities."
"Letter of Louis & Mary Beasley-Suffolk to the jury of investigation diocesan on the path neocatechumenal "
"After the introduction by our priest of parish, the meeting was controled by the prelate in visit, Fr. José Guzman that during the 40 minutes that followed accused the parishioners to be:· without faith
· afraid by the death
· not to have the Holy spirit
· lacking humility
· Not to take in account St. Paul who says that the faith comes of monitoring"
"The Way: Another Dose of Spanish Religious Fascism"
"Arguello really means we're all going to heaven if we do it his way. His way involves all the usual cultic trappings: the turning over of wealth from members, secrecy, coercive instruction in the statutes by catechetical 'overseers' and secrecy, the insistence on obedience to superiors as the prime indicator of the strength of one's faith, the practice of ostracism and secrecy, the perception that the leader is a living saint and that he stands in direct contrast to the workings of Satan and his assertions that this is true, aggressive evangelising, the subverting of clergy, the takeover of parishes, and the grooming, educating and infantilizing of it's own seminarians."
"On The Neo-Catechumenate"
"The author of this blog is a Catholic of traditionalist tendencies, who spends his professional life as a schoolmaster, in a Catholic, boys' boarding school."
"charismatic heresy"
"They will explain that man cannot avoid committing sin, in the same way as he can neither accomplish good nor acquire merits for himself. They will tell you that Jesus did not liberate man from his faults or reconciled him with God. And finally they will teach you that the mass is not a 'sacrifice', that the Church does not offer to God any Victim on the altar and that the Altar is a “table”."
"Neocatechumenal Way"
Catholic Forum post
"Neocatechumenal Way statutes definitively approved by the Pope?"
"The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, has in fact decided to approve the Statutes of the Way only 'ad experimentum', that is, temporarily and not in a definitive way, until 2015"
"Bugnini and the Neocatechumenal Way"
"It was precisely Bugnini, at the beginning of the 1970's, who congratulated himself over the way in which the first communities founded by Kiko and Carmen celebrated the Mass...And it was again him, together with the cofounders, who decided to call the newborn movement "Neocatechumenal Way.""
"Kiko Argüello’s Neocatechumenal Way, also known as the Neocatechumenate or the Neocats, is smugly and grandiosely self-styled “The Way”"
"The person facing the second scrutiny is required to sit in the middle of the room with a crucifix in front of him. A panel of "scrutineers" are facing him, this panel might typically include a priest (sorry "presbyter")....He is then bombarded with questions from the panel of scrutineers designed to draw out details of his past life, with a particular emphasis on sins below the belt."
"Neocatechumenal Way statutes definitively approved by the Pope?"
"i was in the "way" for almost 2 years. i didn't like it from the start. it did seem cultish to me. you never knew what was going on. everything was secret."
"Neocatechumenal Rite approved? Let us call it the New Liturgical Way"
"A moment ago, the Decree was read with the approval of the celebrations present in the "Catechetical Directory of the Neocatechumenal Way", which are not strictly liturgical, but are part of the itinerary of growth in the faith."
"Is there a way of putting "The Way" back into the box?"
"The field of liturgical experimentation has not ceased to amaze faithful Catholics since the days of the fateful Council, but few have been as bold, as consistent and as resilient as those novelties promoted by the Neocatechumenal Way."
"Another boost for the Neocatechumenal Way"
"Against the backdrop of a highlypublic brawl with the Japanese bishops- who tried to ban them from the country but were overruled by the Holy See in recent weeks- in another rare coup, the Neocatechumenal Way is set to hold a prominent Vatican celebration led by the Pope himself."
"Japan's bishops want Neocatechumenal Way to leave for five years"
"Citing years of "trouble," Japan’s Catholic bishops have asked the Neocatechumenal Way to cease activities in the country for the next five years."
"Who are the Neo-Cats?"
"Another priest who did not want to be named said this authoritarianism sometimes spilt over into coercion. "They are told that it is their duty as good Catholics to be open to life. For the women this can mean having a baby every year, which clearly goes beyond the teaching of the Church", he said."
"neocatechumenal way, Coming to a church near you"
Forum Posts
"Neocatechumenal Way?"
Forum Posts
"Benedict XVI: Neocatechumenal Way is "a particular gift aroused by the Holy Spirit""
Comments below against the Way.
"A fresh triumph for the Neocatechumenal Way?"
"MADRID, Spain, JAN. 7, 2011 (Zenit.org).- The Neocatechumenal Way will not be suspended in Japan for five years, as was previously announced by the country's episcopal conference, reports the lay movement."
Comments below against the Way.
"Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?"
Comments below against the Way.
"Neocatechumenal Update: It’s Still Spin"
"You write that you were surprised by my hostile attitude. Actually, I feel no hostility toward you or the Neocatechumenal Way. I would characterize my attitude not as hostile but as shocked, for your interview with Zenit completely miscaracteritized the text of Cardinal Arinze’s letter to the leaders of your movement. "
"Neocatechumenal Update: So Much For The “Private Letter” Argument"
Some comments below for and against the Way.
"Neocatechetical Spin Update"
"A few days ago I published a post on an interview given to Zenit by Mr. Guiseppe Gennarini of the Neocatechumenal Way. The interview concerned a letter sent by Cardinal Arinze of the Congregation for DivineWorship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to the leaders of the Neocatechumenal Way. In my blog post I stated that Mr. Gennarini was either grossly misinformed regarding what the letter said or that he was in denial, because the interview he gave ammounted to pure spin."
"Neocatechumenal Update: New Arinze Interview"
"The Cardinal presents the matter in a very kind, facesaving way, but he is clear on the points (which had been disputed by some Neocatechumenal spokesmen) that these directives are not a complete vindication of the NW’s liturgical practice and that the directives ARE to be followed"
"Neocatechumenal Spin"
"While Church leaders, including the previous and current popes, have said positive things about the NW, they have also insisted on changes in the way that the movement operates."
"NeoCatechumenal Responses.."
To Jimmy Akin's article.
"Neocatechumenal Rite approved? Let us call it the New Liturgical Way"
"The hermeneutic of continuity"
"I pray that the neocatechumenate will be able to preserve its powerful charism for the Church while dropping the liturgical aberrations, and that other movements will also wake up and smell the coffee."
"Archive for the ‘Neocatechumenal Way’ Category"
"‘Traditional Catholics’ are wont to criticize the Neocatechumenal Way for its liturgical absurdities. Let us see what they have to say (nothing?) about this theologically and symbolically loaded symphony of race exultation in which Jesus’ mother is made to cry with ‘Jews’ of the Talmud (which teaches that her Son deserved to be executed) and “affirm” the “Shema Yisrael” which for centuries has connotated rejection of Christianity in general and specifically the Christian doctrines of the Trinity and Divinity of Christ."
From Maurice Pinay's site.
"Neocatechumenal Way Presents Holocaustian Symphony of Homage to Talmudic "Fathers in the Faith""
"Dear traditionalist reader, what we have here, consistent with the modern Catholic mockery of Auschwitz replacing Calvary, is Mary crying with ‘The Jews’ at the foot of the ‘gas chambers’ instead of crying for Jesus at the foot of the cross. Are you in ‘full communion’ with this outrageous mockery?"
"Neocatechumenal Way Receives Papal Approval"
"One day, Rome frees the Latin Mass, and the next day it blesses an elitist heretical cult that denies the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. What are we to think?"
"Benedict XVI versus the "call to disobedience" as well as the "fossilization of traditions""
Commenters think the Way is heretical and cultish.
"Another confirmation that NeoCats must follow official liturgical books for Mass""Rome, Italy, Jan 25, 2012 / 01:56 pm (CNA).- Father Ricardo Reyes Castillo, a member of the Neocatechumenal Way, said Pope Benedict XVI’s approval of the movement’s non-liturgical celebrations “has changed absolutely nothing.”
The Panamanian priest told CNA on Jan. 23 that the papal approval of the celebrations contained in the Neocatechumenal Catechetical Directory means “simply that the Church has confirmed that the rites used in the different stages of formation in the Neocatechumenal Way are in accord with the tradition of the Church.”"
"Neocatechumenal Way Receives Papal Approval"
"It is of interest to the Latin Mass community that Pope Benedict has granted canonical approval to group that holds heretical views on the sacrificial nature of the Holy Mass."
"The Neocatechumenal Way"
"Children are idols that must be renounced. Parents spoil their children. Why? “We are anxious about our children because we are constantly thinking of death. I would ask this question: Why are we thinking of our child’s death? I would say: BECAUSE IN YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS YOU DESIRE IT.”"
"Church Revolution in Pictures"
"Above we see a priest of the Neocatechumenal Way saying a Mass in Southern Italy. He wears the vestments of a rabbi. Below, he poses with a small group of attendees. We can see that he covered his head with a prayershawl like the ones rabbis wear, and he also placed a seven branchedmenorah candelabra in the center of the table."
"Pope: The Neocatechumenal Way Is a ‘Special Gift of the Holy Spirit’ "
"It promotes Luther’s teaching on justification: “Man is not saved by good works … Jesus Christ did not come to give us a model of life, an example. … The Holy Spirit does not lead us to perfection, to good works … God freely forgives the sins of those who believe that Jesus is the Savior.”"
"Neocat violation - open letter to Prindiville"
"Four times in the church and in front of the altar I was abused by your Neocat people. I was told “fuck you”, (I lost count after hearing this outburst four times) “how dare you do this (light the candle)”, “get out of this church” and “you are fucking disgusting”."
"Neocat assault"
"In response to the community’s outburst, Prindiville retreated from the lectern to where community member Len was standing, making a photographic record of the meeting. He proceeded to try to seize Len’s camera, demanding that no pictures be taken in the church. There was a brief struggle, with Len warning that he would “sue the collar off” Prindiville if he damaged the camera, and demanding that the “miserable wretch” stop the assault. Immediately several Neocats surrounded Len, including GianPietro and Sudla who, apropos of God knows what, chimed in with “you needn’t talk – look at your hand”. (Len’s right hand was damaged in a school accident over 40 years ago.) Sudla has on many occasions demonstrated a capacity for base and cowardly behaviour especially towards women of the community – it appears now anyone with a bit of a disability is fair game as well."
"Vibrant youth Mass"
"As I made my way out of the church at the end of mass I wondered in awe at the Neocat magnetism that has the capacity to attract such crowds."
"Is the Neo-Catechumenate Way Compatible with Religious Life?"
"There is no doubting the sincerity of members of the Way nor that many people may experience profound conversion to Jesus Christ through this movement. However, I and many others in the field have strong reservations about the theology and pastoral methods of the Way."
"Open Letter to the local Neocatechumenate communities at St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Bristol, England"
"I don't believe that Satan is closing my ears to God's message through the Neocatechumenate. I realise that Satan does tempt us. If my misunderstandings are indeed from temptation I believe it is because Satan is trying through the Neocatechumenate to encourage me not to trust in Christ's love as I know it."
"NEOCATECHUMEN INFILTRATION - Testimonial from members of the Good Shepherd Parish in Kelmscott Perth Western Australia"
"Attendees were told …”You have been chosen by the Holy Spirit and are not here of your own accord” .The insinuation being that those not attending have been overlooked by God. What was more disconcerting was the mention to people that they should be prepared for criticism from “Those people (pointing to the church) will criticize you and as such you will need to make a decision”.
Alarmingly, the following is also told: “You have been invited by Jesus Christ to walk in this Neo-catechumen way and if you refuse YOU ARE GOING TO HELL.”"
"MIRRABOOKA PARISH - The Neocats' Australian "jewel in the crown" in Perth Western Australia"
"The fact that some members of the hierarchy extol the activities of this evangelizing movement does not excuse the groups’ unholy and arrogant manner when speaking to the converted, especially women. Let them feel free to exercise their zeal elsewhere and leave us to pray the Rosary in peace and grant us a Parish Priest who can preach the Gospel as Christ intended from His sermon on the mount."