Guam is not the only island under the purview of Giuseppe Gennarini, the chief Neocatechumenal catechist for the United States. Mr. Gennarini’s influence, as it turns out, extends to another island territory on the other side of the globe, the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) in the British West Indies.
The Neocatechumenal Way, out of Newark, New Jersey, has complete responsibility for the Church in the TCI, a British overseas territory and off-shore banking center in the Caribbean. The Roman Catholic Mission “Sui Iuris” of Turks and Caicos was originally erected by the the Archdiocese of Nassau in 1984 and staffed by priests from the Bahamas. However, in 1998, administration was transferred to the Archdiocese of Newark in the United States, then under the leadership of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The Archbishop of Newark currently appoints only Neocatechumenal priests to serve the mission and the island territory’s parishes and Catholic school.* In addition, many other members of the Neocatechumenal Way, including seminarians and families in mission, also work in the Neocatechumenal projects there. All of these people fall under the watchful eye of Giuseppe Gennarini.
Trouble in the Islands…
The TCI is also a well known “off-shore” banking center. It’s banking practice and infrastructure falls far short of the acceptable international standards, and is known for its lack of transparency. This makes the TCI an ideal location for criminals, tax evaders, and other corrupt individuals and corporations to stash their cash. In fact, in 2009, the United Kingdom suspended the Turks and Caicos Islands’ self-government after allegations of corruption, and self-government was only restored in the islands after the 2012 elections.
* Monsignor Peter Baldacchino, a Neocatechumenal priest who served in the TCI and was trained in New Jersey, was designated an auxiliary bishop of Miami in 2014.
References
- Tax Justice Network – http://www.taxjustice.net/about/who-we-are/
- Financial Secrecy Index – Turks and Caicos Islands, http://www.financialsecrecyindex.com/PDF/TurksCaicosIslands.pdf
- The Offshore Banking Nightmare – The Canadian Lawyer – http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/4031/The-offshore-banking-nightmare.html
- http://www.catholic.tc/
- Roman Catholic Mission Sui Iuris of Turks and Caicos – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Mission_Sui_Iuris_of_Turks_and_Caicos
- Mission “Sui Iuris” of Turks and Caicos – http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dturk.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turks_and_Caicos_Islands#Religion
- Holy Family Academy – http://hfa.catholic.tc/index.php
- Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church – http://holycross.catholic.tc/index.html
- Our Lady of Divine Providence Roman Catholic Church – http://oldp.catholic.tc/galleries/gallery.html
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nassau – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Nassau
- Theodore McCarrick – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Edgar_McCarrick
- Archdiocese of Nassau – http://www.archdioceseofnassau.org/
- Bishop Peter Baldacchino – http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-names-caribbean-missionary-as-new-miami-auxiliary-bishop/
Baldacchino just started an NC group at St. Kieran ‘ s in Miami, FL. Problem is that parishioners think they are attending a regular parish catechisis. So far 11 meetings. 3 day retreat coming up.
I do have a page dedicated to the 15 sessions of the Initial Catechesis and its Final Convivence (retreat). See here: Problems with the Initial Catechesis of the Neocatechumenal Way
The convivence is where they really apply pressure on people to join, so if you have any friends who plan on going show, try to show them some of the criticism that I or others have posted.
Try to document any abuses, liturgical or otherwise, and any errors in their teaching. Watch out, though, they cultivate the persecution complex early in the process, so any criticism that you level at them will be considered persecution, even by people who have just joined.
The NCW is a true gift from the Holy Spirit whether you like it or not! The way they celebrate the Eucharist has been approved by the Vatican, Holy See and supported by the Holy Father. Who are you to tell us to do what is contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church?? Really! Sick and tired of so-called Catholics attacking those who truly want to live their faith who by doing so obey only their father the devil.
Oh, Ezekiel, it sounds like you are judging me! Did you get the permission of your catechist to do that?
And as for the Popes’ approval of the Neocatechumenal Way: Check out the Church’s troubles with Marcial Maciel and the Legion of Christ. Pope St. John Paul II lavished praise on that man and his movement, but beneath the facade there were lots of problems. Thankfully, some brave priests and lay people stood up and spoke the truth.