The American Way: Approved or Not?

When waving a letter of endorsement or approval from a Bishop

in your particular parish, it may be helpful to note that with all the

talk of “approval from the Pope and many bishops” - their formal

approval only ever came from the Pontifical Council of the Laity

but not from the Congregation for Doctrines of the Faith and the

Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the

Sacrament, as it was supposed to. It is also notable that many of

the bishops that welcomed the NCW and established a

Redemptoris Mater Seminary, climbed the ladder within the

hierarchy and later were a part of their “approval” process as well

(such as Cardinal Stafford of Denver, on the Pontifical Council of the

Laity).

They never talk about all the Bishops who have kicked them to

the curb or the numerous reprimands from local pastors, bishops,

and even the Pope. Here is a breakdown of just what is available

through research, it doesn’t contain, of course, the numerous

complaints from the laity to their Pastors and Bishops that never

made the news, or were never shared in the blogosphere, of

which there are countless.

1962 - Carmen gets expelled from the convent/Missionaries of Christ

1981 - Archbishop Marty of Paris blocks further expansion of the Way

1985 - Cardinal Ratzinger speaks of new lay movements, including The

Way, of their divisiveness.

1986 - Bishops of Umbria Episcopal Conference address concerns over

NCW abuses

1986 - Bishop of Brescia, Bruno Foresti, in a Communication to the

Ninth Assembly of the Presbyteral Council addresses concerns

over methods and theology of the NCW.

1988 - Pope John Paul II blesses 100 NCW families to evangelize

emphasizing importance of obedience to the Pastors of the Church.

1989 - Bishop Lorenzo Bellomi of Trieste issues admonishment to

NCW on their separatist practices

1992 - Bishop of Nancy, France orders NCW to leave the diocese.

1994 - Bishop of Clifton England opens investigation of NCW

communities and abuses

1995 - Bishop of Foligno [Arduino] Bertoldo tells NCW priests that

Neocatechumenal parents should send their children to the parish

catechism

1996 - Bishop of Clifton, England bans further activity of the NCW

in the diocese

1996 - Bishop of Vicenza, Pietro Nonis, writes to the pastors of the

Neocatechumenal Way to correct their divisiveness.

1996 - Cardinal Salvatore Pappalardo publishes a critical reflection

on the Neocatechumenal Way

1997 - Pope John Paul II requests written statutes of the NCW

upon their 30th anniversary

1998 - The Regional Liturgical Commission of the Episcopal Conference

of Basilicata issued, specific mandates to unify with the parishes they are

affiliated with.

2001 - Pope John Paul II writes Cardinal Stafford, President of the

Pontifical Council of the Laity, to assist the NCW in getting the

written statutes as it had been four years since his first request.

2002 - Preliminary Statutes of the NCW approved ad experimentum

(to 2007). Goes to the Holy See to examine the NCW Catechetical

Directory and the catechetical and liturgical practices of the Way. Pope

JPII “members will willingly and generously support the directives

they will receive from these authoritative sources”.

2005 - Cardinal Arinze, Prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship

and the Discipline of the Sacraments writes on behalf of Pope Benedict

to Kiko, Carmen, and Fr. Pezzi “ follow the liturgical books approved by

the church, without omitting or adding anything” plus six critical matters

regarding their liturgy; more specifically distribution of communion.

2006 - Pope Benedict addresses assembly of NCW blessing and

reminding them observe the norms established in the liturgical books

2007 - Parishioners in Australia write to the Vatican after Cardinal Pell

dismisses their widespread concerns with treatment from the NCW priests.

2007 - Pope Benedict speaks of NCW/movements their problematic

beginnings and need for adherence to the church

2008 - Pontifical Council for the Laity approves final status of the

Way autonomously, however the Catechetical Directory had not

yet received official approval by the Congregation for Doctrines

of the Faith and the Congregation for Divine Worship and the

Discipline of the Sacrament

2008 - Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Japan closed by Bishop

Mizobe for causing division and trouble.

2009 - Pope Benedict addresses the NCW on their 40th anniversary,

gives praise and blessings - emphasizes the large portion of his letter

to adherence to the directive of the Cardinal Vicar and for unity.

2010 - Pontifical Council of the Laity approves NCW Catechetical

The American Way

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Sunday, November 13, 2022

Approved or Not?

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