www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Neo-Catecumenal heresy?

Last week I came across a Catholic parish where they had a reunion outside and I sat there to listen. The talk was about practices in the primitive church and how many people did not know Christ was God until they "discovered" it from personal experience.

It was a thing called "Neo-Cathecumenal Way" invented by a Spanish couple which now has members all around the world. It sees itself as the attempt to rediscover Christianity in the primitive Church.

Since at that time there were no defined sacraments or anything like that, but just the "Paschal Spirit" and praise to God. It's not necessary to believe in a visible Church so anyone can be a member: Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox.

In their services or "masses" (are they real "valid" eucgarists?) they have songs but not the Nicene Creed because it was an innovation, for example. And they re-create caves and all that stuff like primitive Christians.

The sacrificial character of the Eucharist ws for them a more recent innovation brought by a Pagan mentality, which did not exist in primitive Christianity and opposes the Paschal spirit. Jesus is only contained in a spiritual way just as the Calvinists view the Eucharist.

Their founders also deny the reality of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ as shown in a book destined for the cathechists of this "movement":

"The memorial Jesus left us in His resurrected Spirit from the dead. How did the Apostles see Jesus Christ resurrected? In themselves, made a vivifying spirit.�

Incredibly, the group and its activities are now approved by the pope himself. I am reported that in Russia and Ukraine, there are now "Ecumenical" branches working among the Orthodox. In india, the Malabar Rite Church and their Orthodox or Nestorian counterparts have Neo-Cathecumenal groups working with them.

Any thoughts?

This group seems to be opposed to the basic aspects of the Christian faith, the graceful character of the mysteries as believed by Orthodox and Catholics, hierarchical priesthood, etc. How can a Pope approve such a thing like that?

Oh well. It's sad, but it's okay. No one escapes the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Yes, Mexican, by the way, there's a plethora of heresies in this kind of thinking.

Logos Teen

I have no direct experience with that group myself (perhaps the bishops in my area have not invited them in) but I have heard of these before.

Your complaints sound a great deal like the kind of criticism I have heard before. Especially due to the kind of start they had, years ago in Spain. The Neo-Cats are known for their infectious spirituality which some carry into their everyday lives.

If I may speculate, it seems that they have generated a lot of vocations where they are functioning. I think that fact has won them supporters.

I know that they should be observed closely, I find it hard to believe that Rome would approve of something heretical, perhaps the leadership professes orthodoxy but the message hasn't reached everyone in the remote areas they function.

I am suspicious of them but I wonder if the charges made against the Neo-Catechumenal Way are exaggerated?

All,

Rather than accept things from word-of-mouth (which I never do) I took some time out to visit the Neo-Cathecumenal Way webpages and learn more about them myself. I hope you all do the same. Our Roman Catholic Church is always on top of heresy and I doubt claims that this movement poses serious heretical beliefs and violations of our faith. There may be isolated incidents in which such things occur, but this happens in every movement and every religion in the world. And we should all try to remedy those situations.
But as a whole I see no heresy in the movement.

Below are several websites dedicated to the movement which I invite everyone to visit.

Neo-Catechumenal Way Official Web Site [camminoneocatecumenale.it]

Christus Rex Neo-Catechumenal Web Site [christusrex.org]

God Bless,

ProCatholico

There is information on the Vatican website regarding the Neocatechumenal Way.
It sounds to me as though this particular described group is supposed to be working inside the Church, not outside the Church. Of course there may be more Ways than one.
Sounds like this particular Way has been around more than 30 years. Hmmm. Never heard of it here in Byzantium.

Sam

This is heretical, of course. Perhaps Mexican accidentally misinterpreted their beliefs. I surely hope so.

Logos Teen

Dear Friends,

The Pope's approval of the Neocatechuminate Way seems to require fidelity to the local Bishop.

As we all know, many baptized "Christians" never go to Church. If we are to be "fishers of men", we have get them "hooked" before we can reel them in.

John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck

This group's existence and nature troubled me for a while.

Nevertheless, they do have Masses. They are active in this (Arlington) Diocese, and I attended one. This was a commemoration-type Mass, celebrated by the local Bishop.

As it was a weekday Mass, it did not include the Creed. The "homily" section included the sharing of a number of people's personal experiences as well as some comments by the Bishop. And it contained two deviations from the norms in this diocese: standing throughout the eucharistic prayer and the use of a large piece of what appeared to be unleaven pizza-dough to become the Body of Our Lord.

It does seem to be experiential, and works outside the direct diocesan hierarchy. Nevertheless, each "community" has a priest assigned to guide it. In this diocese it seems to be mostly hispanic, as well.

Here's one more, unofficial site:

http://home.att.net/~stefanobenigni/Main.htm

Despite my concerns, I don't see anything inherently heretical in this. It certainly is not for me, but I wish them well and hope they can bring more people to Christ.

This? In the Diocese of Arlington? Zheesh.

Logos Teen

I cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports, or the spirit in which they were given, but I have had these links for a while.

http://www.rickross.com/reference/general/general324.html
http://members.lycos.co.uk/jloughnan/append4.htm

I suppose it will be necessary for each individual to make up their own mind about this, since the Holy Father has approved the organization and I have no direct knowledge of them myself. I for one intend to keep my distance from them for the time being. I have similar misgivings about Opus Dei although the two groups seem 180 degrees apart.

Since I am heading east anyway my only real interest in groups like these is what they can teach me about evangelizing the ordinary people on the street. If we could do so and maintain theological and liturgical integrity, perhaps we could learn something from them.

Michael

Teen:

The Arlington Diocese is not the bastion of "conservativism" people think it is. Even the number the EWTN watching, Catholic Answers reading so-called "neo-catholic" types is fairly small. There are schools here that seem sort of dissenting, and the local parish elementary school still has Hans Kung hidden on the shelf. Nor does the religious education program teach about the Saints in an organized manner, even though it is quite happy to talk about Martin Luther King and social justice.

Moreover, my fellow traditional Mass attendees almost universally consider the Bishop a "monster" [to say nothing of the Holy Father], especially since he refuses to allow an Indult mass here. [for the record, I go to a legit. indult mass 20 min. away in the next diocese, I have no judgment on the Bishop, and am saddened that my friends think the way they do]

No one can conceive their "perfect" Church and find something resembling it anywhere that's 100% free of "dissent", lukewarmness, and liturgical abuse. Arlington may have tabernacles in the correct place in the Church, and forbid female altar servers. Nevertheless, you still find people going to Mass in what are styled to be summer clothes and in some parts the favorite Mass setting is still Missa Rock Guitaris.

There's no such a thing as liturgical utopia, even in the minds of say 100 or so faithful, much less in reality.

Anyway, enough of these all too typical Latin concerns [sorry, my Byzantine friends - I'm sure you're as tired of hearing about this as I am]. Back to the subject.


I do not think they teach anything heretical. I know one of the priests who is involved with this Neocath. way and he's a good man, 100% solid in terms of doctrine and such.

In fact, I just might put myself on his schedule and talk to him about it, because I still am curious......

And I am 100% with you Coalesco on this point:

Best wishes in your journey East! I will pray for you.

In Christ,

Marcus