A friend sent the following screen shot from the "Dianas" blog. (I call it the "Dianas" blog since it is group thing.)
The rest of the post copies the first 11 positive points I made about the NCW in 2008 - and of course the Dianas do not list the following 6 negative points I made about the NCW. You can read my full 2008 post here.
As you can see on the right side bar (on themassneverends blog), the post is ranked #3 under Popular Posts. And it has pretty much remained in the top 3 every since I first posted it in 2008. It seems there are a lot of people searching for information about the NCW.
I'm actually glad the Dianas posted it. Of course the intent was to show what an ogre I've become about the NCW versus my 2008 position. But for the intelligent, it shows that I was originally very supportive of the NCW and actually never had a negative thing to say about it until July 2013 when Archbishop Apuron was given the order by his neo-masters to can Fr. Paul. And I probably would not have had much to say about it even after that had there not been the "Dianas", oh, and the Zoltans.
For the record, I am very friendly with several people who are in the Neocatechumenal Way, and I make sure that they know that my issues with the Dianas and the Kikos have nothing to do with them. The people who have been helped through their experience in the NCW have completely valid experiences and I am supportive of the improvements in their lives the same way I am supportive of the experiences of even people who have left the Catholic Church and have improved their lives.
I can do that (be supportive of positive experiences) without necessarily being supportive of the their decision to depart from the Church, or in the case of neos, their departure from Catholic Church doctrine and liturgical norms. Most of the time they don't even know it. In fact, I have yet to meet a member of the NCW who has read the NCW Statute, at least as thoroughly as I have.
We shouldn't be surprised that most Neo's haven't read the Statute. Where would they find it? Try this.
Go to www.aganaarch.org. Click on NEW EVANGELIZATION. Click on NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY. You are now at the official website of the Neocatechumenal Way. Now click on STATUTES. Now click on DEFINITIVE STATUE (2008). You will see several links, all celebrating the NCW. But we are looking for the Statute so click on STATUTE OF THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY. You get THIS:
...but NO Statute! (The 2008 version is on the site but you have to figure out how to find it. See comment below.)
At first you think you might have missed something or there is a hidden link somewhere. So you click all over again. Nothing. The VERY DOCUMENT which makes the Neocatechumenal Way Catholic IS NOT VISIBLE ON THE OFFICIAL NCW WEBSITE.
But what IS visible? Let's look. Go back to the STATUTES BUTTON. Click on it. Ah, we see the link to AD EXPERIMENTUM STATUTE (2002). We click on it. Another long list of self-congratulating links, but at the top of the pile is TEXT OF THE STATUTE. We click on it. Voila! The actual text of the Statute.
Ummm, but it's the WRONG ONE. It is the version of the Statute which was NOT approved. It is the 2002 Statute which was the working document which was used for the 5 year ad experimentum period ordered by St. Pope John Paul II. It is NOT the statute which was amended and corrected and rewritten into the Statute which received definitive approval in 2008.
Just an oversight? Hmmm. This is the OFFICIAL web page for the worldwide Neocatechumenal Way. So hardly an oversight especially given how much work these people do to validate themselves. So why is the 2008 Statute NOT visible and the 2002 Statute IS?
The regular obedient neos are not going to ask questions. They will see the text of the 2002 Statute and then they will see the 2008 link saying "Definitive Approval". And not knowing any better, they will think that the only text they can see, the 2002 Statute, is what received Definitive Approval in 2008. IT DID NOT.
Now, let's see why the big shots at the Neo Headquarters are officially deceiving us by examining Article 13 of both versions of the Statute. Article 13 is about the Celebration of the Eucharist, which has been and remains at the heart of our division.
Let us examine this article, in both versions, section by section. Keep in mind that the definitely approved 2008 Statute wipes out the 2002 "ad experimentum" statute. It was only valid for the "experimentum" period, and ceased to be valid upon the definitive approval of the 2008 Statute. Thus, it should NOT even be posted on the NCW website, other than for research or reference purposes. Yet, the 2002 Statute is the only version is visible on the official NCW website.
Art. 13
[Eucharist]
2008 Statute§ 1. The Eucharist is essential to the Neocatechumenate, since this is a post baptismal catechumenate lived in small communities. In fact, the Eucharist completes Christian initiation.
2002 Statute§ 1. The Eucharist is essential to the Neocatechumenate since the Neocatechumenate is a post-baptismal catechumenate, lived in small communities. Indeed, the Eucharist completes Christian initiation.
Okay, nothing big here, just some improvements in the language. But now watch!
2008 Statute§ 2. The neocatechumens celebrate the Sunday Eucharist in the small community after the first Vespers of Sunday. This celebration takes place according to the dispositions of the diocesan bishop. The celebrations of the Eucharist of the neocatechumenal communities on Saturday evening are part of the Sunday liturgical pastoral work of the parish and are open also to other faithful.
2002 Statute§ 2. The neocatechumens celebrate the Eucharist in the small community in order to be gradually initiated into full, conscious and active participation in the divine mysteries, according also to the example of Christ, who, in the multiplication of loaves, made the people sit down “in groups of fifty” (Lk 9:14). This custom, consolidated in the more than thirty-year old praxis of the Way, has born rich fruit.
As you can see, the 2002 Statute, written by Kiko, makes the case for sitting while receiving. The 2008 Statute, the one which received definitive approval after Rome's overhaul, completely eliminates this, but yet, it is all the visitor can see. It also emphasizes that the celebrations of the Eucharist are to be a "part of the Sunday liturgical pastoral work of the parish" whereas Kiko makes no mention of the parish.
2008 Statute§ 3. For the celebration of the Eucharist in the small communities the approved liturgical books of the Roman Rite are followed, with the exception of the explicit concessions from the Holy See. Regarding the distribution of Holy Communion under the two species, the neocatechumens receive it standing, remaining at their place.
2002 Statute§ 3. In consideration also “of specific formative and pastoral needs, taking account of the good of individuals or groups, and especially of the fruits which may be derived from them for the entire Christian community”, the small neocatechumenal community, with the authorization of the diocesan Bishop, celebrates the Dominical Eucharist after first Vespers open also to other faithful.
In the 2008 Statute, the Holy See EXPLICITLY DEMANDS that in the celebration of the Eucharist "the approved liturgical books of the Roman Rite are followed." Kiko's 2002 Statute says nothing about the approved liturgical books.
2008 Statute§ 4. The celebration of the Eucharist in the small community is prepared under the guidance of the presbyter, by a group of the neocatechumenal community, in turn, which prepares brief monitions to the readings, chooses the songs, provides the bread, the wine, the flowers, and takes care of the decorum and dignity of the liturgical signs.
2002 Statute§ 4. Each celebration of the Eucharist is prepared, when possible under the guidance of the Presbyter, by a group of the neocatechumenal community, in turn, which prepares brief monitions to the readings, chooses the songs, provides the bread, the wine, the flowers, and takes care of the decorum and dignity of the liturgical signs.
Only small language changes.
As we can all see, the heart of the matter, the different way Holy Communion is celebrated and distributed and the bone of contention from the beginning with this group, is falsely but cleverly validated on the official NCW website by hiding the access to the 2008 version of the Statute and making prominent the invalid 2002 version.
This kind of deception is what our Archbishop is promoting in this archdiocese by buying hook, line, and sinker whatever his neo-masters, Pius and Giuseppe, say. The Neocatechumenal Way, even at its most official level (this website), is misleading people, especially its own followers. All we can say is "come out of her." (Rev. 18:4)
Here's a side by side comparison of the two version of Article 13.
Yes, and here's another "official deception". We all know that the letter of Card. Arinze is included in foortnote 49 of the approved statutes. You won't find that letter on the official site either (not really surprising I guess) but you will find Mr Gennarini's very desperate response to the Cardinal's letter - in which he basically misrepresents the Pope and the Church.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I notice that if you right-click on the "Camino Neocatecumenale" picture to which you refer (on the official website) you can open the 2008 Statutes in a new page (browser permitting)
Yes. The file is on the site which is how I was able to download the 2008 version, but it is specifically inaccessible unless you do as you indicate. Whereas the 2002 Statute is plainly accessible. Obviously they couldn't get rid of the 2008 version altogether or it would be too obvious what they are trying to do. By hiding it behind the logo and making it accessible for only those who can figure out how to find it, they can cover themselves by saying that it's there. The 2002 version should NOT be on the site at all. Yet it is featured just as prominently as the 2008 link and it remains the only version immediately accessible.
DeleteMy friend just pointed out that there is another significant difference between the two versions of the Statutes, namely that in paragraph 4 of the Approved Statutes (2008) an amendment to the previous version has been made requiring that "The celebration of the Eucharist in the small community is prepared *under the guidance of the presbyter*". In the 2002 ad experimentum version, this same paragraph reads "when possible under the guidance of the Presbyter". Evidently, the Vatican decided that it was important that the "presbyter" be necessarily involved in the preparation of the celebration of the Eucharist. According to my friend, who ought to know, this very rarely occurs.
DeleteGood work, Tim. I know it would be like the search for the Holy Grail....but just a few tidbits from the Volumes of Catechesis would be enlightening! Is it possible? or NOT
DeleteBoth sets of Statutes say others are able to attend. Would be a good show if about 1000 of us showed up. Just sayin.
DeleteVery good point! NeoCats try to neutralize the priest, even calling him "presbyter", by prearranging their Saturday evening seances. This means they are cutting out the priest, the consecrated person from the arrangement of the seance. Then the presiding priest has to comply with whatever novelties the "catechists" force on the meeting. This is overriding the priestly authority, so characteristic of the NeoCats. They think their catechists are more important than the consecrated person.
DeleteIt's painfully clear why they dislike this blog site so much. The truth hurts, yet it must be told. Thanks Tim. I hope and pray the Vatican/Rome and the people of Guam are paying attention to this deception being played out by the NCW. It's only a matter of time before the NCW gets rid of the non-NCW priests. Now I see why they're cranking out RMS formed prysbeters so fast.
ReplyDeleteYou don't even have to read this blog to discover the departure from their own statutes, let alone from the Roman Rite. Attending the Saturday service is evidence enough.
ReplyDeleteIt angers me how they viciously attack people who question the way. Its like they are showing the whole world not to mess with their propaganda less they suffer severe consequences.
ReplyDeleteOh, Diana famously fumbled again on the issue of the extraordinary ministers. What this lady says just does not add up. She seems so ignorant, the same time overly arrogant and authoritative. This is the way of the NeoCats? The simple minded rules? Wow, what a pity!
ReplyDeleteDiana is so spiteful about women, this makes me wonder if she is a self-loather... Her explanations reveal a strange segregationist view of NeoCats, when the role of women is simply to serve with humble heart the man of power, might and authority. Ouch! Like in the dark Middle Ages.
Diana parrots back a teaching probably from Arguello himself that women are inferior because they are open to temptation by Satan. Wow... This is such a primitive reading of the story of Adam and Eve that I cannot find words to comment on. As if Adam did not eat the apple with pleasure. But the fact is he did! He approved the snare of the snake with his male authority.
This Kiko guy is surely a strange pie to eat for Catholics. Even stranger that his army of ladies worship him as an incarnation of Biblical truth degrading themselves to a humiliating level of blind obedience. Hey NeoCats! You have to obey the Lord, the Bible and the Church, not self-made cultists who turn your sweet oranges into self-loathing sour lemons! Lol!
ReplyDeleteYou can almost feel the evil from this cult operating in our community.
12:55... What do you mean ALMOST?
ReplyDeleteWe all CERTAINLY ALREADY feel the most evil of presence from this Neo Cult along with their Neo Bishop and Neo leaders! !! No doubt about that!!!
Comparing §4 from 2002 to 2008 we see why the Archbishop demanded three Filipino priests to serve the Neocatechumenal Way and why since 2008, the RMS has been ordaining priests in record time. At around this time (2008) at least two southern parishes did not have a priest. Those three Filipino priests could have been a blessing to those parishes. Yet the Archbishop felt it more important to find or ordain more "presbyters" so that they can follow the 2008 statues which states "The celebration of the Eucharist in the small community is prepared under the guidance of the presbyter ..". It's as if the "communities" were more important than the parishes. Very sad!
ReplyDeleteThe Catholic Church is an institution made up of fallible people. Jesus said, "let anyone who is without sin cast the first stone." I have seen and experienced the fallibility of Catholics and Priests over the 60 years of my life. I left the Church as a young man for 20 years because of the imperfections of the members of the Church. It was an unplanned contact with a N.C.Priest that led me back to the Church. Now I don't expect parishioners or priests to be perfect, as I clearly see my own imperfections.
ReplyDeleteAs the holder of a Bachelor of Theology, I was taught in a Catholic University that I experience the action of God in the ordinary events of my life. The N.C.Way has helped me to understand this theology in a very concrete way.
I have seen liturgical and other abuses within the parishes I have attended over the years by parishioners and Priests of the Diocese and of the Way. Do I think a the Priests and Catechists are infallible? No! Am I blindly obedient to the Church or the Way? No!
I question, I discern, and I seek advice from those I consider to be wise.
The Catholic Church is made up of many people in Charisms, Communities and Movements... there is room for us all. God has called me to the Neo-catechumenal Way through significant events in my life. My experience has been a very positive and life changing one. We all need to discern our lives and where God is leading us and through whom and what way he is leading us to conversion and relationship with him. The Church would be a much healthier place if we all focused on this and not on what other members are doing ot not doing. Thanks for reading (listening).
I do wish they wouldn't make us take the body in our hands, (especially in the form of unleavened bread) or make us all stand during the consecration and eliminate the powerful gesture of kneeling entirely...
Delete