Revised 13 February, 2026
There is more Neocatecumenal trouble brewing, this time in the small diocese of Las Cruces in New Mexico. That diocese, comprising the 10 southernmost counties of New Mexico, is led by a Neocatechumenal bishop, Peter Baldacchino. A small group of faithful Catholics is petitioning for transparency and orthodoxy in the face of the ham-handed, scorched earth pastoral practices of the Neocatechumenal Way. For Catholics in the Archdiocese of Agana in Guam, “It’s deja vu all over again.”
Please pray for them.
Voice of the Laity
The small group calls themselves, “The Voice of the Laity.”
One member told me:
“…we have gathered close to XXXXXX members who support us through signatures on our petition.
The situation here in the Diocese of Las Cruces is quite troubling. Our Bishop is the only NCW Bishop in the country, and he has been secretly introducing the NCW for the past six years. Everything came to light when he announced the opening of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary, which no one knew was affiliated with the NCW…
Unfortunately, the Chancellor of the Diocese, who is currently in charge, has been ridiculing, bullying, and harshly criticizing us for our position on transparency…
This is just a brief overview of what’s happening here, and there is much more to discuss. Please keep us in your prayers as we remain steadfast in our position.
Their group is very secretive and abuses its power. People have lost their jobs for speaking out and requesting transparency. Additionally, priests have faced attempts to have them removed. It isn’t pleasant.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino
The bishop of Las Cruces is Bishop Peter Baldacchino, born in Sliema, Malta, in 1960. His family joined the Neocatechumenal Way when Peter was 13. He attended the Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Kearny, New Jersey, from 1990 to 1996. On May 25, 1996, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, by Archbishop Theodore Edgar McCarrick.
His priestly ministry included serving as a parochial vicar in New Jersey for the next three years. In 1999, he was sent as a missionary to the Turks and Caicos Islands, an independent mission of the Archdiocese of Newark, where he served as chancellor. From 2002 to 2014, he was the pastor of Our Lady of Divine Providence Church in the Turks and Caicos.
Pope Benedict XVI gave him the title of Monsignor in 2009. On February 20, 2014, Pope Francis appointed him as Auxiliary Bishop of Miami. On May 15, 2019, Pope Francis appointed him as the third Bishop of the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he was installed on July 23, 2019.
Fr. Kevin Waymel, a Neocatechumenal priest trained in New Jersey like Bishop Baldacchino, is currently the Chancellor Vicar General of the diocese. Alesia C. Ogo, an occupational therapist and a member of the Neocatechumenal Way from the U.S. Territory of Guam, is the Chancellor of the diocese.
The Redemptoris Mater Seminary
In July of this year (2025), the Diocese of Las Cruces has established its own diocesan seminaries, including St. Joseph Diocesan Seminary and the Redemptoris Mater Diocesan Missionary Seminary. My correspondent says:
“Both seminaries are currently operational and have seminarians enrolled. At the RMS, there are at least fifteen seminarians (I can confirm the exact number later), several of whom are quite young. The San Joseph Seminary has three seminarians who have recently begun their propadeutic year. The bishop has appointed Fr. Waymel as the rector of St. Joseph Seminary, which we disagree with and have mentioned in our petition…”
The Latest Update
Here is a recent message from a spokesperson for the group:
Dear friends and supporters,
We wish to share an important update with you in a spirit of transparency, faith, and unity.
In order to avoid further conflict with the Diocese, we have changed our name. We were formally denied the use of the words “Catholic” and “Diocese of Las Cruces” in our name, despite the fact that we are baptized Catholics and faithful members of the Church in Las Cruces. Going forward, we will continue our mission under the name Voice of the Laity.
Additionally, we wish to clarify that we have never sought ecclesiastical recognition or approval in order to speak, gather, or raise concerns. From the beginning, Voice of the Laity has been an informal group of lay faithful exercising our responsibility to speak about matters affecting liturgy, catechesis, and diocesan life. Our purpose has never been to act as an official ecclesial body, but to raise awareness in good faith—especially where secrecy or a lack of transparency has caused confusion among the faithful.
Because of accusations made against us, including claims that we have caused scandal, we want to state clearly that we have not done so. Our meetings and communications have always been respectful, prayerful, and peaceful. We have never claimed to represent ecclesiastical authority. On the contrary, we have consistently promoted charity, discernment, and fidelity to the Church.
Unfortunately, members of Voice of the Laity received a Penal Precept threatening the removal of parish ministries for two years, or until certain demands are met. Due to the gravity of this action, we were compelled to retain a Canon Lawyer to defend our rights as lay Catholics. Many of us serve our parishes out of love for Christ and His Church, and the possibility of losing these ministries has caused genuine pain to individuals and parish communities alike.
At the same time, diocesan authorities contacted our website provider, alleging misuse of the term “Catholic,” which led to our website being taken down. Our YouTube channel was also removed after a petition from the Diocese. These actions occurred before the issuance of the Penal Precept and prior to any meaningful dialogue, further restricting our ability to communicate with the faithful.
We are currently in the process of rebuilding our website and updating all printed and digital materials to reflect our new name, logo, and identity as Voice of the Laity. This includes flyers, booklets, and any previously distributed materials. While this process takes time, we remain committed to moving forward with clarity, accuracy, and integrity.
All that we do as Voice of the Laity is for the glory of God and the good of His Church. There are no personal agendas and no desire for recognition or power. Our actions are guided by prayer, conscience, and a sincere love for Christ, His sacraments, and His people.
We firmly believe that our Diocese cannot be shaped by any single movement. We are One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, rooted in Sacred Tradition and faithfully lived for centuries. Our faith is founded on Jesus Christ Himself—not on Kiko Argüello, nor on any movement that functions as a parallel church structure.
Recently, during a homily at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Las Cruces, Bishop Peter Baldacchino employed urgent and directive language that framed alignment with the Neocatechumenal Way as essential to the Diocese’s survival, stating:
“I need you to come on board. Otherwise, we’re going to sink.”
He defended the establishment of two parallel seminaries in Las Cruces—St. Joseph’s and Redemptoris Mater—describing this model as necessary and “comparable to other dioceses”. He further argued that the coexistence of different “realities” within the Diocese, including distinct spiritual paths and formations, does not threaten unity. He also relied heavily on personal experience in the Neocatechumenal Way, stating that “experience comes before documents,” implying that those who question the model lack understanding or participation.
This message stands in stark contrast to the recent address of Pope Leo XIV to the leaders of the Neocatechumenal Way in Rome. While affirming their missionary zeal, the Holy Father offered clear pastoral guidance and necessary limits, reminding them:
“Your mission is particular, but not exclusive.”
Pope Leo emphasized humility, obedience, and full communion with diocesan and parish life. He warned explicitly against the creation of parallel ecclesial structures and against any sense of superiority within the Church, affirming that every charism must remain at the service of unity.
We are encouraged by the Holy Father’s words and believe they call all of us—clergy and laity alike—to renewed discernment, fidelity, and communion.
At the same time, Voice of the Laity continues to pray for our diocesan seminarians, particularly those currently being formed under the guidance of Neocatechumenal priests. These young men deserve formation that is transparent, universally Catholic, and rooted in well-established, fully accredited institutions. We will continue to raise our voice so their formation serves the good of the entire Diocese.
We kindly ask you to continue praying for our Diocese, for Bishop Peter Baldacchino, and for our Vicar General, Father Kevin Waymel. May the Lord grant wisdom to our leaders, healing to our local Church, and strength to all who seek to remain faithful in difficult times.
We are also preparing to soon resume informative meetings and petition-signing events throughout the Diocese, so that the faithful may remain informed, engaged, and prayerfully involved in these important matters.
Meanwhile, our weekly Rosary Rally meets every Wednesday at 5:00 PM on the sidewalk adjacent to St. Albert’s parking lot. We hope to see you there.
Thank you for your continued prayers, courage, and support.
In faith and hope,
Voice of the Laity
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” Exodus 14:14
Different nation same problems.
Different city, same abuse of power.
It doesn’t matter where they go ,division and misconduct follows.
Rome should have been more strict and clear ,especially towards Kiko Arguello and his team.
But they pretend and are fake. A good excommunication would have been providential against these wolves.
Australia is in the same mess.