Looking for information about
a movement called the Neocathecumenate Way.
THE
NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY: PRELIMINARY ENQUIRY
Submitted for your
consideration is our lengthy report relating to the presence of the
Neocatechumenal Way at three Parishes of the Clifton Diocese, Great Britain :
St Nicholas of Tolentino in Bristol, St Peter in Gloucester and Sacred Hearts
at Chariton Kings in Cheltenham.
This report was compiled by
Paul Anthony Melanson .
Paul is the coordinator
of www.FaithfulVoice.com New Hampshire , USA
You may contact Paul at cleghornboy@juno.com
Paul can be reached at http://LasaletteJourney.Blogspot.com
What is the Neo-Catechumenal Way?
I am looking for information about a movement called the Neocathecumenate Way. I only read the article of Father Enricco Zofolli.He wrote about it and it was nothing good.It sounded like a cult.Could you please help me with that?
Letters and info will be offered as the following.
Tom
Dear Tom,
I discovered
two more links on the NCW which may be of interest:
http://www.christianorder.com/features/features_1995/features_Apr95.html
and:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/6919/E_med102.htm
These articles
allude to doctrinal errors within the NCW
Paul
(PLEASE NOTE: This Web
version of the Report still has a number of errors and is not yet finished
being processed, but is an interim attempt to get the information to more
people. It is released on the anniversary of the Report's Publication and an
improved online version is hoped for this Winter.)
presence and activities of the
Clifton , Great Britain
1 November 1996 Bishop Alexander
Canon 212:
St Nicholas of Tolentino; St Peter and Sacred Hearts
THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY: PRELIMINARY ENQUIRY
Submitted for your consideration is our
lengthy report relating to the presence of the Neocatechumenal Way at three
Parishes of the Clifton Diocese, Great Britain : St Nicholas of Tolentino in
Bristol, St Peter in Gloucester and Sacred Hearts at Chariton Kings in
Cheltenham.
Appointed for the Enquiry at the beginning of
the year, each member of the Panel knew nothing or very little about the
Neocatechumenal Way. We looked on this start situation as very advantageous to
all the 'participants', simply because the Panel had no preconceived ideas. In
this way, we would be able more readily to assess all the representations
(written and oral) with an open mind without a prejudiced attitude so that the
Enquiry would be perceived by all as fair, open and reasonable. We still hope
that this has proved to be the case; we believe that it has.
Given our starting position, the Panel has
experienced a 'learning curve' about the Neocatechumenal Way. This has
necessarily taken time but could not be avoided: we felt this to be necessary m
order to understand the expressed views. As you know, two members of the Panel
are unfamiliar with an investigation process of this kind; this has been
another learning curve. Time will tell whether the experience has been
beneficial.
As the Chairman, my role has necessarily been
at the front but this does not mean that Valerie and Fr Barnaby merely added to
the Panel in appearance. Their assistance has been invaluable, not just to
bolster but to provide words of counsel; I appreciate this. I am most grateful
for their unstinting assistance and sense of humour shown at just the right
time. The investigating experience for Fr Barnaby is not made easier because
fellow priests from the Diocese are part of the Enquiry process. I would ask
that this be remembered.
We have met and worked as a team very
regularly, more regularly during the report formulation period. At the
beginning and end of our meetings, we prayed for guidance knowing also that
others in the parishes had and were praying for the Panel We are most grateful
for such necessary support and the co-operation of people either in writing or
at the meetings. We wish to thank each priest: Canon O'Brien, Canon English and
Fr Trafford for their help.
Finally, the Panel wishes to thank you for
your co-operation by answering our questions some of which might have been
difficult.
Valerie James Tom Millington Fr Barnaby
Dowling
Father all powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give
you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through Christ you bring us to the
knowledge of
your truth,
that we may be united by one faith and one
baptism
to become his body.
Through Christ you have given the Holy
Spirit to
all peoples.
How wonderful are the works of the Spirit,
revealed in so many gifts!
Yet how marvellous is the unity
the Spirit creates from their diversity,
as he dwells in the hearts of your
children,
filling the whole Church with his presence
and guiding it with his wisdom.
[Preface of Christian Unity]
PART 1
1 THE ENQUIRY
2 PAPAL SUPPORT FOR THE NC; PANEL APPRAISAL
3 THE NC WAY; PANEL APPRAISAL
PART 2 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
A. THE ENQUIRY; VIEWS AND EXPECTATIONS
B. PERCEIVED PAPAL ATTITUDES TO THE NC WAY
C. INITIAL INTRODUCTION OF THE
NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY TO THE CITY OF BRISTOL
D. SUBSEQUENT NC INTRODUCTION TO PARISHES
AND DISCONTINUANCE
E. PARISHES WITH THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY:
i. ST NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO
ii. ST PETER
iii. SACRED HEARTS
F. PARISH CLERGY AND ATTITUDES TO NC
G. BISHOP ALEXANDER AND THE NC
H. ATTITUDES OF VICARS GENERAL TO NC
I. NC CATECHESIS AND NC COMMUNITIES IN THE
PARISHES
3. PERCEIVED PERSONAL BENEFITS OF NC WAY
K. THE LITURGY OF THE NEO-CATECHUMENATE
L. VULNERABILITY AND ADVERSE PERSONAL
EFFECTS OF NC
M. ADVERSE REACTIONS TO NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY
N. THE SITUATION JUST BEFORE AND AFTER
MARCH 1994
0. DECLINING MASS ATTENDANCES
P. ADULT CONVERSION; ROLES OF RCIA AND NC
WAY
Q. SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION PROGRAMMES
R. EDUCATION AND YOUTH PILGRIMAGES
S. SECRETIVENESS AND EXCLUSIVENESS
T. NC 'AUTHORITY' AND 'CONTROL'
U. POSSIBLE FUTURE SOLUTIONS
V. CONCLUSIONS; CANON 212 AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Part 1
1 THE ENQUIRY
1.1
At the beginning of January 1996, the Right Reverend Mervyn Alexander, Bishop
of
Clifton, established a Panel of Enquiry to consider the claim
made by some parishioners
in at least three parishes in the Diocese that their parishes
have suffered harm and neglect
through the presence and activities of the Neo-Catechumenate.
These views were made
known to Bishop Alexander in accord with Canon 212.
-- 1.2 Canon 212 states:
i. Christ's faithful, conscious of their own responsibility,
are bound to show
Christian obedience to what the sacred Pastors, who represent
Christ,
declares as teachers of the faith and prescribe as rulers of
the Church.
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ii. Christ's faithful are at liberty to make known their needs, especially
their
spiritual needs, and their wishes to the Pastors of the
Church.
iii. They have the right, indeed at times the duty, in
keeping with their
knowledge, competence and position, to manifest to the sacred
Pastors
their
views on matters which concern the good of the Church. They have
the right also to make their views known to others of
Christ's faithful, but
in doing so they must always respect the integrity of faith
and morals,
show due reverence to the Pastors, and take into account both
the
common good and the dignity of individuals.
1.3 The Enquiry sought information from those who are members
of the Neocatechumenal
Way, from parishioners of the three parishes who are not
members and from persons
outside
of the parishes or outside of the Clifton Diocese who wished to offer their
views.
1.4 The Panel appointed for the Enquiry is: Mr Tom Millington
(chair) a Member of the Lord
Chancellor's Panel of Independent Inspectors assisted by Mrs
Valerie James, a Member
of the Diocesan Trustees and a former National President of
the Union of Catholic
Mothers and by Fr Barnaby Dowling, Parish Priest of Wells.
1.5
After
considering different enquiry methods, it was decided by the Panel to invite
written
representations in answer to the question:
"what
has the Neo-Catechumenate done for you and your Parish?"
1.6 Following the consideration by the Panel
of the written responses received over a period
-
of months from the parishes, public meetings were held on a separate basis for
members
of the Neocatechumenal Way and for non-members. These
meetings took place:
1. The Parish of St Nicholas of Tolentino in Bristol: for NC
members on 27
April at the Dunstan Centre and for non-NC on 28 April at the
Apostle
Room, Clifton Cathedral;
ii. The Parish of St Peters in Gloucester: for NC members on
8 June at the
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1