Are We Dealing With a Cult?
As many Catholics on Guam know, the Church on Guam is currently in a state of profound crisis. After much reflection, I have to ask, “Does the Neocatechumenal Way on Guam practice or exhibit any of the classic signs of cults and sects, and if so, which ones?”
ReGAIN, an organization whose mission is to reach out to, unite and support those touched or adversely affected by two other problematic Catholic movements, has published the following list of thirteen characteristics of cult-like organizations. Look through the list, and based on your personal experience or those of your loved ones, count those that apply to the Neocatechumenal Way on Guam. I count at least ten. How about you?
- The group is focused on a living leader to whom members seem to display excessively zealous, unquestioning commitment. There is an unhealthy cult of personality around the founder of the NCW, Kiko Arguello.
- The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members. Is anybody really disputing this?
- The group is preoccupied with making money. Kiko’s “New Aesthetic” is quite a cash cow, as many are now beginning to see. Click here to read more about this.
- Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished. Catechumen’s are to listen. Questions are not are either not typically entertained at catechetical sessions.
- The leadership dictates -sometimes in great detail- how members should think, act and feel [for example: members must get permission from leaders to date, change jobs, get married; leaders may prescribe what type of clothes to wear, where to live, how to discipline children, and so forth]. There are many anecdotes regarding the excessive control the catechists have. One mother on Guam was told to have her 13-year old son circumcised. Members must ask permission to take off-island vacations. Young men are encourage to marry “a daughter of Israel” (i.e. a member).
- The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leaders and members [for example: the leader is considered the Messiah, or an avatar; the group and/or the leader has a special mission to save humanity].
- The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which causes conflict with the wider society. Some examples: Kiko’s followers do not worship with the rest of the faithful on Guam, and their youth do not travel with Guam’s faithful to World Youth Day.
- The group’s leader is not accountable to any authorities [as are, for example, military commanders and ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream denominations].
- The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify means that members would have considered unethical before joining the group [for example: collecting money for bogus charities].
- The leadership induces feeling of guilt in members in order to control them. Many anecdotes exist in our local community to assert this. Catechists exert incredible pressure on those who wish to leave, suggesting that their salvation is at risk.
- Members’ subservience to the group causes them to cut ties with family, friends, and personal group goals and activities that were of interest before joining the group. Guam’s families have a tight-knit structure, and countless report have come in describing how NCW membership erodes this structure and its obligations.
- Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group. Absolutely true. Once active, members no longer have much, if any, time to participate in the events of the wider community.
- Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members. There seems to be an attempt to replace Guam’s tight-knit family structure with the NCW community.
Tags: Camino Neocatecumenal, Cammino Neocatecumenale
I cannot count more than 2 or perhaps 3. So what are your ten, dear Chuck?!
I’ve updated the post to include my notes, Zoltan.
I am not a “NeoCat.” I am not a “Walker.” I am not a “Kikobot.” I am a Catechumen. I am not in a sect, or a movement, or a cult. I am in a Charism. I am in the Neocatechumenal Way. I am a Catholic, a Guamanian, an American and most importantly, I am a human.
Two things, Catechumen X:
1) If you’re going to leave 4 pages of comments, you really should get your own blog.
2) The lies and half-truths told by your leaders do not convince me that the Neocatechumenal Way is a “Charism”, nor does a “charism” of the Holy Spirit have rely upon the treachery we’ve seen from your movement over the last year. You are deluded.
oh yes dear Chuck, you are right, I agree with you…thank you for this site
Is there a limit on characters allowed in the comment sections? Why is there only the text of my first paragraph which is only an opening statement and not the rest of it that works to inform the people?
Catechumen X, if you wish to leave long, discursive comments on this blog, at a minimum I insist that you use your real name.
What are you afraid of? You do have an adult faith don’t you? Anonymous testimony carries a lot less weight than think. People laugh it off.
Mr. White, it is not a fear of revealing my identity, rather it is a respect for my family and those close to me and their security. I do not particularly like it when my name is dragged through the mud because of the actions and words of others therefore, I do not wish to subject others to criticism for my actions. However, if it will help lend credence to my words, it will help give my testimony “weight” and you insist that it is mandatory in order to have my comments posted in their entirety on your blog, then my name is Ric A. Eusebio.
Now, is it possible to have my comment restored?
Ric, I really see no danger in you using your full real name whenever you offer comments on my posts here. After all, the only people that really have reason to fear reprisal on our island are those that are critical – especially priests – of the Neocatechumenal Way. My brothers Fr. Paul Gofigan and Msgr. James Benavente are examples. And for that matter, I received my first credible threat against my person the other day, when somebody, presumably one of your Neocatechumenal “brothers” said to me “Hope you stay healthy Chucky. May God have mercy on you.”
Despite this, you stated that you have concerns about YOUR family’s security if you use your real name and you do not like it when your name is “dragged through the mud” Because of these considerations, I really don’t think you have a calling to participate in blogging.
I once walked with a NCW community in Cebu, Philippines, from 1980 to 1990. With the experience I have with this group, I’d say that out of the thirteen characteristics listed, thirteen applies to the NWC. I was once a singer in a community and an itinerant catechist for about two years. I’m thankful of the presence of this site, it will help expose the great danger that is the NCW.
been in the Way for 15 years. Married in the Way with 4 kids. I want to get out, but how do I convince my family that we are being brainwashed?
Just get out. If they persecute you and tell you your are going to hell if you get out, they are only configming all that their critics say of them. You are a Catholic and like any Catholic you should be an active member of your Church, especially your parish. There is no obligation on any Catholic to be part of any particular group. You are obliged to live according to the Gospel, God’s Law as the Church teaches us, participate in Sunday Mass and the other duties any Catholic has, but you have no obligation to obey Kiko or his minnions. Write them a letter letting them know that your are leaving. Thank them for whatever postive experiences you have had there and ask them to respect your decision. If family members hassle you, ask them to respect you and remind them that you have no obligation to belong to the NC, but you do have an obligation to belong to the Catholic Church as you are baptised, received confirmation and Frist Commuion, but not to belong to the NW.
U might not, I was kicked out of an event because I had questions. U cannot question them. After 25 years of marriage and because I was previously married they convinced my wife that she could no longer have sexual relations with me unless my previous wedding through church was dissolved and we got married through church. She recently left the house and took half of our money from my bank account. She has filed for divorced because I refused to join the group. They separate families if one does not agree with them. Guess that’s very religious way…and anything u do that they don’t agree with is the devils working on you.
I agree with you I am also happy that this site exists, we must write about abnormalities of this organisation which is called NCW.
I’ve been in the NeoCat for about 13 years. I left last year and have never experienced any pressure from the catechists. I can’t agree (fully) with any of those points. It’s true that people love Kiko and I never understood that…but then I can’t understand why people stay all day out to see celebrities on the red carpet..I guess it’s normal human mentality which exist everywhere even in the church. I know many popular priest who are followed by many people does it mean Church is a cult?
Maybe I was lucky to have wise catechists who listened to the Pope. The Eucharist at some point was mentioned in the parish biuletyn because Pope said to do that etc. For my Scrutiny I didn’t give away money or sell the house (as many people think community ask for these things) but gave away the mirror…when I told my cathechist about this he was pleased. The Scrutiny ‘give away’ is about making a sign (I know some people chose to give away computers or more expensive things but for sure it wasn’t me)
Having said that I will always listen to people (only those who were there) who express bitter kind of understanding because of their experience there…
If you’ve never been there then you can’t say these things, but if you have then fair enough.
I think neo cat in all respects is not bad…but I agree that some unwise catechists might turn it a bit into a cult by their bad understanding and actions…(I’ve heard some stories of narrow mindness but i haven’t experienced this from my catechists)
Why did you leave after 13 years, Eva?
I’ve been born in the way, which they say Is a blessing (NCW) but alas, for me it is not. Just because my parents etc.. Found the way doesn’t meen that the way is for me, but can I leave? The answer is no. I still live with my parents so who or what they follow I must… and do I hate them for this? No, infact I respect that they only do this because this is how they found God and they love me. But as of recently I have noticed many elitist trates, such as. The first community get to carry huge palms on Palm Sunday through the parish that only they can have, (no actual members of the parish can) when I try to paint the pascal candle (I’m a painter) I finish it only to have people to tell me it’s not in the style of kiko, any mention of a girlfriend or boyfriend results in “invite them to the catachesis or eventually you will brake up with them” hmm. So thanks chuck, eventually I will leave. However I do believe that they aren’t a cult they just follow blind leaders.
I have read all the comments. My impression is that the pressure in the Communities differs from country to country. I come from Malta and I can assure you that anyone can leave if he does not want to form part of the Way anymore without any repercussions.
I have been a somewhat reluctant follower for many years because of my wife. But yes, I fully agree, the Way has many similarities to a cult and an obsession with Kilo.
Carmen had just passed away, and I have a feeling that when Kilo follows suit, the Way will never be the same again. It is too centred on him.
But luckily in Malta the cathtecists do not put undue pressure,if they did I would opt out. I have to admit that I do not follow what does not suit me or what I see goes contrary to my believes.
One final thing, if all I have read about Guam is true, what is the Pope waiting to take drastic action? Again,why can’t the Church via the Pope make her followers known publicly what is approved of the Way. I have never been art ease when my cathtecists tell that this or that has been approved by the Pope.
Have been a year in the way.Have found the mid week litragy good and the Saturday Eucharist good,I place emphasis on my daily life and see this as a way of keeping myself focused.Like the second Vatican council thinking but wish the church had properly carried out,because they didn’t this organisation has filled the vacuum.Shows what they missed out on by not changing .Find the Cathesis cult like in ways with a emphasis on the organisation,They phone up out of the blue and say they are going to arrive up and demand to the responsibles they prepare this and that.I see it as a way of control.They had a second cathesis for new members ,but lost them when they delivered Kikos word ,with a video of him attending China and India.There talk was hero worship like of Kiko and Carmel which was very cult like..Unsightly push to get Carmel Sainthood status.They also tried to change the venue of the litragy and Eurcharist ,but the priest didn’t turn up.They hadn’t run it pass the PP or informed the priest.The Cathesis will push to the limits ,what they can bypass the local clergy with.Think there could be a attempted infiltration agenda.
I will continue with what I am doing ,but will be selective in what I attend with Cathesis involved.Once you get beyond the initial stage you are into nut country.
Another thing I don’t agree with is the our Catechist as a guarantor of faith. Like, they were telling that the Catechists were very important in our walk that when they come we should all be there. Pardon me, brothers and sisters, if I am being prideful, but how come a person who I don’t know personally, who I don’t even remember the name and the face can have a significant impact in my life, especially in my faith.
I have attended an announcement once, but as I try to recall what I’ve learned from that announcement…. I can’t remember anything.
Was born into the way in California. I realized at a very young age something was wrong, our communities have been kicked out of the church because of theft and other shady stuff. I am an adult now and I left while i was 16, and i am still pressured to this day to join by friends family members. My friends want out, they know it’s a cult and don’t know how to leave because their parents force it onto them. All of them are being brainwashed, and only few are aware. Kiko took advantage of poor people and still is today. This needs to be brought more attention!
Also to mention I was sexually assaulted within the way as a child by an older peer. Nothing was done about it, and EVERYONE knew about it. The girl was known to make everyone kiss each other behind the babysitter’s back and literally a bunch of other inappropriate stuff, Nothing was done about it and nobody said anything other than they remember what happened. To this day.
wait i think i’ve heard of this i’m in the neocatecumenal way in california also
And because of that the way is so you can figure out who you are, get out of your lies, brings you to your reality. So this is why it is neither. I have been in the way for a moth and it changed the way I see things. Kiko a formed the way with father mario and carmen.
I am from Pennsylvania and grew up in the way and THANKFULLY have gotten out of it, though much of my family and friends are still very active. It is absolutely a cult. I’m trying to start my own research in the area on the wrong doings the way has committees. I have personally been on 2 world youth day trips with the way and was put in unsafe situations multiple times. There is so much to speak about and find out. Thank you for this info