www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Melkite Leader Invites Neocatechumenal Way

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Melkite Neo-Catechumenal Way
okay, so i realize that His Grace knows exactly what he is doing, but way isn't the prime concern expressed? Are they going to be Melkites and/or respect our Theology? We don't need another "order" "teaching" us theology.

His Grace Bishop Nicholas speaking at the 2006 Melkite Convention pointed out that we let the Latins "educate" our people and that is where our people stayed spiritually and theologically: In the Latin Church.

However, His Grace Archbishop Elias is a holy and educated man. I have the utmost confidence in his decision. After all, we are in Union with Church of Rome.

I find this of great concern and am thankful that it is happening back in the Old Country, not the diaspora.

Many years,

Neil

Neil

Having read about how it has developed in RCism - I agree - I find it concerning .

Maybe it will help - I don't know - but I personally would be concerned

Anhelyna and Neil:

Many RCs like me share in your concern, more particularly in some variations in the liturgy and in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

However, I am reticent in expressing my own judgment as to the salutary effects the "New Way" may have on Eastern Rite parishes, like the Melkite's in the Holy Land. (BTW, the conference of Catholic Bishops, Eastern and Latin, in the Holy Land "welcomed" the NC into their region. So, Archbishop Chacour's act is not isolated.))

Their Statutes were approved ad experimentum in 2002 for 5 years and are up for final determination at the end of this month on June 29th, the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. Also, the other issues (liturgy and Holy Communion) might be resolved by then, or at least by the end of 2007.

As with other Charismatic movements within the Catholic Church, the Neo-Catechumenal Way has been a great blessing to the Church.

I think it is a good thing that the Melkites start benefiting from the graces Our Lord is bestowing through it.

Shalom,
Memo

I believe it's quite bad that the Melkite Patriarchate has invited this group, they are clearly misled by the apparent success of the movement but do not take seriously the hetherodox and un-christian nature of their teachings.

The founders of this group rejected the notion of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, believed that the Church was corrupted after St. Constantine and the Ecumenical Councils and believe that the Church is mainly a human institution (not a divine one).

They claim that God is a distant being (like the God of the African Religions) who does not interfere in human affairs and does not get offended by sin.

The movement holds Protestant views on the Church, the Mysteries and God.

http://jloughnan.tripod.com/append4.htm

If someone is interested there is a Spanish article which is quite complete, written by a Passionist (Roman Catholic) priest:

http://www.statveritas.com.ar/Varios/Neocatecumenales.htm

Blessings!

Lest an injustice be done, from the Vatican website:

Decree of Approval ad experimentum [vatican.net]

I think its a good thing that the Melkites start sharing with others the benefits and graces Our Lord has and continues to bestow through our Church, spirituality, and Liturgy.

I must wonder about what this new way has to offer to the Melkites? The Melkites, when not Latinized, have Holy Orthodoxy to offer. Why is this "new" way needed? I guess I don't understand what all of these "new" movements are, as if all we needed wasn't already present in the Tradition. What do we need? Prayer, fasting, almsgiving, repentance from sin, humility, the Liturgy, Sacraments, and Scripture.

Joe

AS one who was close to the heart of Archbishop Joseph (Raya) of most holy memory, who loved the Church in Galilee and who did much for Elias Chacour when the current Archbishop was still a theological student, I do not hesitate to say unequivocally that Archbishop Joseph would not support the involvement of the Neo-Catechumena in the Greek-Catholic Church.

Fr. Serge

One doesn't cancel the other.

Don't be afraid to try new things. If they come from God, they will stay, if not, they will fade away.

Shalom,
Memo

The Neocatechumenal Way is at the service of the Bishops as a form of diocesan implementation of Christian initiation and of ongoing education in faith, in accordance with the indications of the Second Vatican Council and the Magisterium of the Church.

NW's service in Israel would be under the direction of Archbishop Chacour, or his designee, and it would necessarily follow Melkite rules.

For instance, the NW apostolate group assigned to a specific parish would have to attend at least once a month on a Sunday the Melkite Divine Liturgy in lieu of their own celebration or attendance of the Latin Rite Mass pursuant to the directive of the Congregation for Divine Worship dated 12/01/2005.

The interaction would be a two-way process and, hopefully, it would fly.

My hope is that the goal would be to have a completely Melkite-led NW apostolate.

I'm curious about the negative reactions to the NW. Can anyone offer an explanation as to why this would be a bad thing? Apart from some of the liturgical issues that I thought were being rectified in the Latin church, most of what I have heard is pretty good.

Are there some systemic issues with the movement, or are most of the objections related to particular incidents?

Thanks,

Gordo

(1) I like to think that Archbishop Chacour would see to it that, eventually, Melkite-staffed NWs will be the norm, IF the apostolate does work for the Melkites.

(2) The NW has been under the magnifying glass of Rome and its leaders (Kiko and Carmen) have been amenable to the "corrections" mandated by Cardinal Arinze, with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI.

(3) Let's see what happens at the end of this month when the assessment period expires, whether Rome will finally give its final stamp of approval to the NW's "Statutes ad experimentum" and then issue the corresponding official "Catechetical Directory" for use by the NW worldwide in the Latin Church and, in special cases, in the Melkite Church and in other Eastern Catholic Churches that may accept NW's services in the future. I think the Melkites are the first and only Eastern Catholic Church that has welcomed the NW to its jurisdiction?

Memo said: "If they come from God, they will stay, if not, they will fade away."

Hmmm, well Protestantism has been around for 500 years, and Arianism for 1500, so....

The sheer arrogance of most of these "new movements," and especially their founders, is nothing short of stunning. Imagine, to think you, this sinful creature who's been around for a blip in time, have so much to teach a 2,000 year old Church? You've gotta have a lot of hubris, IMHO.

Anyway, the saints and holy ones who have founded new orders and new ways of doing things (like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic, etc.) always worked in a framework of respect for the Traditions of the Church. They didn't try to re-tool the entire Mass with their heterodox and arrogant convictions.

Yes, by their fruits you shall know them, and it doesn't take a Mensa member to see that most of the NCW's Masses are not at all Catholic.

Alexis