Bishop's Office
St Ambrose, North Road, Leigh Woods,
Bristol.
Tel 0117 973 3072 Fax 0117 973 5913
Clifton Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity No 233977
Why was the Enquiry held.
The Right Reverend Mervyn Alexander, Bishop of Clifton, established the panel of enquiry in January 1996 to consider the claim made by some parishioners in at least three parishes in the Diocese that their parishes have suffered harm through the presence and activities of the Neo-Catechumenate.
(Report Page 1 Para 1)
Mandate of Enquiry Team
As indicated at the beginning of each public meeting in parishes the Panel regards the main purpose of the Enquiry to assess whether the presence and activities of the Neocatechumenal Way has caused harm in each parish and to what extent.
(Report Page 1, 2 Paras 1.4, 1.10)
Others welcomed an Enquiry.
In addition to Parishioners, the Neocatechumenal Way itself in Great Britain is glad that this Enquiry into the Neocatechumenate is being held, so that the truth may come to light. Their hope is that a better knowledge of the Neocatechumenal Way will clear up any misunderstanding or bad feeling.
(Report Page 34 Para 4.A.4)
Stages of the Enquiry
There are four main stages.
1. Written responses were invited from parishioners (including NC members) to the question "What has the Neo-Catechumenate done for you and your parish?"
(Report Pages 1 & 8 Para 1.5 & 2.6)
2. After analysis of these responses meetings were held in each Parish for members of the Neocatechumenal Way and for Parishioners.
(Report Page 1 Para 1.6)
3. Individual meetings were held with the Bishop, with the Parish Priests, other clergy and the NC National Teams of Catechists.
(Report Page 2 Para 1.7)
4. The Panel Report was then formulated and presented to the Bishop.
(Start of Report Letter to the Bishop)
Main Conclusions by the Panel
After considering all the written representations, the points of clarification at the (public and private) meetings, the Panel reaches these overall conclusions:
(Report Page 145 Section 4 V)
a) The presence of the Neocatechumenal Way at St. Nicholas of Tolentino, at St. Peter and at Sacred Hearts has not brought new vitality to animate these parishes. Regrettably, the opposite is the case. These parishes lack unity and have declined pastorally as a Parish Community within the Clifton Diocese since the introduction of the NC Way;
b) the presence of the Neocatechumenal Way in these parishes does not make visible the sign of missionary church. Rather, it conveys a sign of strong disunity. The communities have undoubtedly brought some people to the Church for the first time, have helped other people back to the fold and renewed the faith of others, but the Panel is of the view that the Parish Communities as a whole have suffered in consequence;
c) the Neocatechumenal Way at the three parishes does not and has not always operated in the spirit of service to Bishop Alexander or in communion with him in the context of the unity of the Clifton Diocese;
d) there is no discernible prospect of 'inculturation' for the Neocatechumenal Way within the Clifton Diocese;
e) the proscriptions of March 1994 should not be removed or relaxed but should become more precise so as to limit the size of the communities to the prevailing level;
f) there is a pressing need that each Parish be united as a whole community and with that in mind, a pastoral plan should be produced by Bishop Alexander as a matter of expediency;
g) exercising a right and duty by virtue of Canon 212, Christ's faithful were justified to do so. However, we do not conclude that each PP has caused any individual harm but we do conclude that the methods of the NC Way have done so, also that experience over the years at each Parish shows convincingly that the presence of the NC Way is harmful to it's pastoral vitality and unity.
Recommendations by the Panel.
The recommendations by the Panel con only be fully understood in the light of the report which attempts to give the gist of the main aspects raised in the Enquiry. The recommendations fall into four broad categories;
(Report Page 147 Section 4 V)
1. The unity of a Catholic Diocese demands that there be one Chief Pastor who guides the life of the Church. The Parishes and the Neo-Catechumenal communities should receive their pastoral guidance from the Bishop, or those appointed by him. This should remove any need for those outside the Diocese to consider their involvement.
2. The Edict of 1994 should remain in force, thereby limiting the membership of the Communities, and uniting the parishes in the Sunday Eucharist, and what is most important the Easter Vigil. We recommend that all Catholics strive to accept the RCIA as the authentic way of evangelisation in parish life.
3. The unity of the parishes demand that everything be done in an inclusive way. In other words, the catechetical programmes, youth involvement, parish groups and committees should never be exclusively Neo-Catechumenate, and should be representative of the parish as a whole.
4. Each parish has been affected in a different way by the presence of the NC. However, we conclude that a new start is needed for each parish community. Whether this means that the Parish Priests remain in their respective parishes for the benefit of the parish community and themselves, or whether they are required to move on to another parish in the Diocese, is a matter for the Bishop to decide. In coming to a decision about the future we urge that the well-being of the whole parish community be paramount, bearing in mind our Report.
What happens now?
Bishop Alexander has issued a statement welcoming the publication of the Report and has indicated his intention to consider very carefully the findings and recommendations in the Report.
Copies of the Report have been sent to members of the Chapter, to all Deans and to each member of the Council of Priests. Copies of this Summary have been sent to each Priest and Deacon in the Diocese, and a copy of this summary has been placed on the notice board of each Parish in the Diocese. Some copies of the Report have been made available in the three parishes mentioned in the report and other copies will be available once they are printed.
Bishop Alexander has called a special meeting of the Diocesan Council of Priests on the 19th of November to hear their comments on the report. The Diocesan Council of Priests is a group of priests, some appointed by the Bishop and others elected by the priests of the Diocese, who assist the Bishop in the governance of the diocese so that pastoral welfare may be effectively promoted.
Other observations.
[a] Sections of the media have reported claims by some opponents of the Neocatechumenal Way, that it is a Cult or a Sect. The panel did not regard themselves as sufficiently authoritative to refute such an assertion though they did consider a thirteen page paper by Jean Vanier about 'New Movements'. The Panel recommends this paper to those of the Church who could be accepted as sufficiently authoritative to refute such a claim.
(Report Page 130 Section 4.S.7)
[b] The Neocatechumenal Way was founded in 1964 by Kiko Arguello, a Spanish artist, together with Carmen Hernandez.. The Neocatechumenal Way themselves explain that 'the Way is not a group formed spontaneously, neither is it an association, nor a spiritual movement, not an elite within the parish. Rather, it is a group of people who wish to rediscover and to live Christian life to the full; to live the essential consequences of their Baptism by means of a Neocatechumenate Way divided into different stages, like that of the early Church, but adapted to their condition as baptised persons.'
(Report Pages 17 & 18 Section 3.3)
[c] All of the NC representators (100 in total) explain in various ways how their involvement or commitment with the Neocatechumenal Way has either changed their outlook on life very dramatically, or has helped them to return to the Church, or has increased their faith and so on. There is undoubtedly a 'conversion experience'. In some instances this is more profound than in others drawing people towards God from the edge of society as it were; from drugs, prostitution to name but two facets. Prayer, especially the Divine Office, is important for the NC members as is their involvement in the Liturgies. Moreover, their 'experience' is such that some are prepared to dedicate their lives as missionaries.
(Report Pages 86 & 88 Sections 4.J.2 and 4.J. 11)
[d] Over 500 people in the Diocese of Clifton have taken part in the Neocatechumenal Way Initiation talks during the 1980's. The strong signal given then is that a sizeable number of parishioners welcomed an opportunity for 'Adult Catechesis' but only a limited number of these found the 'NC Process' acceptable; various reasons are given for this. Even if this investigation does not bear any other fruit, the Panel wishes to emphasise and to re-emphasise the signal given about the need for 'Adult Catechesis'.
(Report Pages 20 & 21 Section 3.14)
Ends.
Rev Robert Corrigan
Diocesan Communication Officer
Tel 0117 973 3072
Fax 0117 973 5913
Report into the presence and activities of the Neo-Catechumenal
Way in the
Diocese of Clifton - Summary Press Statement