Kiko Arguello and Salvatore Martinez

On December 5, 2014, Pope Francis received a private audience with Kiko Arguello (the Founder of the Neocatechumenal Way) and Salvatore Martinez (President of the Renewal in Spirit in Italy). 











Pope Francis held two private audiences with the heads of Renewal in the Spirit (Charismatic) movement and the Neocatechumenal Way.

In a statement released today, Martinez, the President of Renewal in the Spirit in Italy, said that both recalled the national meeting which took place in June at Rome’s Olympic Stadium.

Martinez also stated that the Holy Father expressed his gratitude for the Family of Nazareth International Center, which is run by Renewal in the Spirit. The foundation took part in the recent Synod on the Families, giving out copies of their book “Rosario della Famiglia” (Family Rosary).

“‘Move without caging the Holy Spirit’”, Martinez said, recalling the Pope’s words. The Pope has shown great joy for the commitment of the Movement in translating a new service of missionary responsibility, the pastoral teachings contained in the Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium”.
He also stated that the Pope encouraged the members of Renewal in the Spirit to carry on the “spiritual and social renewal of our time.”

Communities in Mission

Kiko Argüello, founder of the Neocatechumenal Way, met with the Holy Father shortly after in which he explained several new initiatives.

In an interview with Vatican Radio, Argüello said the Pope recognized and appreciated the fruits born of the Way which “do much good for the Church” and “for vocations.”

“I spoke to him about the Communities in mission and of this meeting which we will do to send families in mission from the Way,” he said.

According to its statutes, the Neocatechumenal Way is not a movement or an association, but an itinerary of Catholic formation “in the parishes at the service of the bishop to return to faith many of those who abandoned it.”

“We have roughly 40 communities who have finished the itinerary of the Neocatechumenal Way and offer themselves to the Church to be sent out to the peripheries, to parishes that are in need of help,” Argüello said.

The founder of the Neocatechumenal Way went on to explain that the “communities in mission” help parishes look for those are far from the Church by visiting neighbourhoods in difficult or de-christianized areas. There are currently 15 communities in mission throughout the diocese of Rome who were sent by Pope Benedict XVI on January 10, 2009.

Pope Francis meets with Arguello and Martinez

To Keith Xuereb Of Malta

Dear Keith,

I hope you do not mind my posting your comment as a post.  First of all, Hafa Adai from Guam.  You have posted a few times on my blog regarding the Neocatechumenal Way.  I understand from your comment below that you have some issues about the Way, which does not have anything to do with the liturgy.  So, I will address your comment here: 

keith xuerebDecember 9, 2014 at 1:49 AM

And what would make you think that something like the protestant reformation was good?? Maybe this pope and the people in the vatican today want to try another way, they want to improve and work on kiko's teachings because if they just say it was a mistake to accept them they would lose not only the people's trust but also all the NCW members. To answer the last statement.. I am more worried about members leaving rather than members joining ;) that is where freedom is forced.. That is why the Pope 'recommended' that the members are free to leave and search for other means of finding their christian faith ;) - i am one of those people.. Who left the NCW not because of the mass because i have mo problem with some changes but because of the emphasis on sin, too much emphasis on how the movement saves people- please as much as it has saved it has caused breakages of families, even suicides just to be clear- and if what the NCW members understand by the pope's recommendation when he said this was to not speak to the member who leaves the NCW except obviously to send invitations to join again... Is wrong on all levels, human,religious, personal, social.

 

As I mentioned to you before, the duty of the Church is to preserve her teachings.  History shows that she is not going to compromise her teachings  for the sake of keeping members.  After all, Christ did say that many are called, but only a few are chosen.  Many will follow the wide and easy road leading to death while few will walk the narrow road leading to eternal life.  So, why concern yourself with numbers when Christ already said that few will choose to walk the narrow road leading to life?  The Catholic Church does not concern herself with numbers.  Those few chosen ones will be the light of the world so that when people see the light of Christ shining in them, they too might worship God.  Ghandi once stated that he liked Christ, but he does not like Christians.  If he had met Mother Teresa (a light to the world), his view of Christians and Christianity would be different.   

 

You also mentioned that the Way placed too much emphasis on sin.  Christ also placed too much emphasis on sin.  When God called St. John the Baptist, his first message to the people is to repent from sin.  When Christ started his first ministry, his very first message is to repent from sin.  And at Pentecost, when St. Peter spoke to the people, his first message was to repent from sin and be baptized so that one can receive the Holy Spirit.  So, yes, the emphasis should be on sin.  Why?  Because Christ came down to save sinners.  He gave His life for sinners.  He did not come to save the righteous.  In fact, the Holy Bible tells you that Christ left the 99 righteous sheep and went searching for that one lost sheep.  Christ came down to meet and save the sinners.  He did not come to meet the righteous; therefore, it is in our sins that Christ can come to meet us.  It is in our poverty and humility (not our wealth) that we can see Christ. 

Lastly, you mention that people spoke of how the Way saved their marriage, prevented suicides, and brought them closer to God.  You also accuse the Way of breaking up marriages and causing suicides. You will find that even in the Catholic Church, her members have committed adultery resulting in many marital break ups.  Members of the Catholic Church have committed abortion, suicide, and even murder.  In fact, the Sicilian Mafia (also known as Cosa  Nostra) are Catholics who have committed many atrocities.  The IRA in Northern Ireland are also Catholics who have killed many innocent people in their political wars against Great Britain.  Does this mean that the Catholic Church broke up marriages, caused murders, suicide, and other atrocities?  

The NCW teaches the same things the Catholic Church teaches, but her members have free will.  Through their free will, it is up to them to follow the teachings of the Catholic Church or not.  The NCW is free to send out invitations to everyone, but it is up to the people to decide for themselves if they wish to attend the catechesis or not.  The NCW can always encourage people to attend, but ultimately the decision to attend or not rests with them.   
 

Pope Francis Meets With Kiko Arguello

When I wrote my last post, an anonymous person wrote me to provide the weblinks to my last post. Vatican.va publishes all the public and private audiences of the Pope.  Below is a video from Romes Report of Kiko meeting with Pope Francis on December 5, 2014.  Our Archbishop Anthony Apuron was able to meet privately with the Pope at his request, and now Kiko Arguello also met with the Pope.......a good sign showing that Archbishop Apuron and the Neocatechumenal Way is in communion with the Holy See.   

Kiko met with Pope

It is not very often that one would be granted a private audience with the Pope because the Pope is a busy man and usually have more important things to do.  Guam is very honored that the Pope was able to grant the Archbishop's request to meet with him.  The Pope was also able to receive a private audience with Kiko Arguello, and he said many positive things about the Way. 

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Pope Francis receives in private audience at Kiko Argüello

Rome, 05/12/2014. -This Morning, Pope Francis received in private audience at the Vatican, the initiator and the international head of the Neocatechumenal Way, Kiko Argüello.

The audience lasted about 30 minutes and it took place in an atmosphere of great cordiality. During the interview, Kiko explained to the Holy Father what constitutes the Neocatechumenal Way by illustrating a number of  initiatives.

For his part, the Pope assured Kiko that he knows this and reiterated once again his gratitude for the work that this Itinerary of Christian Initiation for adults realizes in the Church.

He also welcomed eagerly the proposal to hold a meeting with the families,  priests and the Neocatechumenal communities to speak about the missionary nature of the Church, which is also one of the main features of the Way.

  

Kiko Argüello then requested the Pope to send the communities of Rome "on mission" in the  de-Christianized areas of the suburbs of the capital, in order to help the parishes in difficulty.

Already Benedict XVI had sent on January 10, 2009, the first fourteen communities, on the occasion of the celebration in St. Peter's Basilica for the 40 years of the Neocatechumenal Way.


Audiences
Vatican City, 5 December 2014 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples;


- Kiko Arguello, founder of the Neocatechumenal Way.

At What Cost?

This was on KUAM news (the bold red is my emphasis).  John Toves accused the Archbishop of sexually molesting his cousin and he admitted that he never got this information from his cousin.  He admitted that he heard about the alleged molestation from fellow seminarians.  Did it not occur to him to even ask his cousin if what he heard was true?

Tim Rohr continues to encourage John to defame the Archbishop on information that was heard from someone who heard it from someone who heard it from someone who heard it from someone else.......and so on.  Instead of advising John Toves of the unreliability of his allegations, Tim Rohr points a finger to the Archbishop's failure to reach out to John Toves.  Nevermind the fact that John Toves drags the media behind him. 

This whole scenario is beginning to look very fishy!  What is the purpose of having the media there if not to further humiliate the Archbishop?  At what cost is the jungle willing to go to remove the Archbishop?  They have already brought forth a man who accused the Archbishop of sexually molesting his cousin......a cousin he never spoke to.....and allegations he heard from someone else other than his cousin.   

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Guam - John Toves continues to demand an appointment with Archbishop Anthony Apuron. Today he once again went to the chancery in hopes of scheduling a meeting but instead met with Father Adrian Cristobal who told him that a lawyer would be contacting him to make an appointment. 

Toves is accusing the archbishop of sexually abusing his relative over thirty years ago. Despite these allegations however Toves admits that he had never spoken personally to his relative about the alleged abuse.  According to Toves he obtained the information through fellow seminarians when he was in the seminary.  At this point no victim has stepped forward.

The archbishop has said the allegations are untrue.

Late this afternoon the Archdiocese of Agana announced that the Review Board on the Policy of Sexual Misconduct convened to consider the complaint of sexual misconduct brought by Toves against the archbishop and determined that an investigation cannot be conducted based on the third party complaint received.  

The Archdiocese sent Toves a letter stating: Based on the allegations you have lodged with the Archdiocese of Agaña, and the new allegations that you have disclosed to the media on today’s date, please be advised that your requests for a meeting with the Archbishop are hereby denied.

Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap., D.D., has publicly addressed the issues you have raised, and the Archdiocese has determined how it will address this matter pursuant to its established internal policies.

For the last two days, you have appeared at the Chancery requesting an appointment, and you have brought the media with you on each occasion. Your efforts are not only disruptive to our daily operations, but serve no legitimate purpose, religious or otherwise. Therefore, you are hereby notified that any demands for an appointment or attempts to, in your own words, “confront” the Archbishop, on Chancery grounds or elsewhere, will be responded to appropriately and in accordance with the law.

Molestation Complaint Can't Come From Third Party

Manchester: Bishop Davies Opens The Well

Let us take a short break from the John Toves fiasco and read a beautiful article about the Way, which was emailed to me by a friend.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  The Bishop of Shrewsbury Rt Rev Mark Davies has opened and blessed a new centre of evangelisation run by the Neocatechumenal Way. The Well was a former medical centre in Wythenshawe, Manchester, which had been lying vacant for nine years. Members of the Way, a new ecclesial movement, have taken out a lease on the building and spent six months extensively refurbishing it as a centre of worship and of evangelisation for the local community. Bishop Davies opened and blessed the building in Woodhouse Lane, Benchill, during a ceremony on Saturday. In his homily, Bishop Davies reflected on the encounter between Jesus Christ and the Samaritan woman in the Gospel of St John (4:4-26). He told the congregation that “we have dug this well on Woodhouse Lane” and that “it is our desire, our task, to offer again this water of life to all who will come with the openness of that Samaritan woman who came to that personal meeting with Jesus Christ”. He said that the life of the Church is sustained by the same gift of “living water” that Our Lord spoke of in that encounter. “This is the water that is offered to us,” Bishop Davies said.  “Whether it is the parishes or religious communities in all their diversity or the new ecclesial movements, the Way of the Neocatechumenate, we offer this same water of life – Christ’s words and his sacraments. There is no other Gospel that we offer but we will offer it in different ways to sustain the life of all.” The Bishop continued: “Today I want to acknowledge my gratitude, the gratitude of the Diocese, to the families in mission who came here to Manchester with that same desire that our parishes are built upon, and all our religious communities and schools and forms of apostolate – to offer that water of life, Christ’s words and doctrine, the grace of His sacraments and with a particular mission … to offer those who have never met Christ or who have forgotten Him.” Paul Hayward, catechist and leader of the Wythenshawe community, told the congregation that the primary purpose of the building was evangelisation. He said: “We are not a Catholic parish, we are not in competition with any of the parishes round here. We are here to help as best we can to bring people to a meeting with Jesus Christ. That’s what we are here for.” Mr Hayward said he hoped the centre would attract non-Catholics and lapsed Catholics in particular. “There is a lot of work to do here and the work is to bring people back to the faith,” he said. “This is our job” He added: “I must stress that none of us are professionals, none of us are heroes, we are all just ordinary people from other parishes who have been so impressed by what God has done in our lives that we want to pass it on to others.” The Well is an initiative of the four families of the Neocatechumenal Way that in 2012 formed the first community to be dispatched to England by Pope Benedict XVI on “Missio ad Gentes” – on mission to the people. Two families are from Spain, one is from East London and one is from Sicily. Together with their priest and assistants they total a community of 35 people. The Neocatechumenal Way was invited into the Diocese of Shrewsbury by Bishop Davies in an attempt to “open up some new paths of evangelisation”. Mr Hayward’s son, Daniel Hayward, a father-of-13 who relocated to Wythenshawe from Mile End with his family to be part of the mission, said that the Well gave the Neocats the opportunity to meet local people. “The purpose of the building is to give us a base where we work from, but also to invite people into,” Mr Hayward said. “We see our mission as getting to know people so we can announce the Good News to them,” he said. “It is a place where we can welcome them. It is a place where we can have liturgies, catechesis, a Blessed Sacrament chapel, where we can have daily Mass. It is for our work of evangelisation. It is a base for the local Catholic community, a base for them to use.” Most of the refurbishment work was undertaken by the members of the Way themselves with the help of some members of the local community. It is not yet completed but the centre will be open during Advent for Christmas events such as carol singing. It is hoped that the celebration of daily Mass will be established by January. Because it is adjacent to St John Fisher and St Thomas More Primary School, the centre will also aim to serve as an “open house” to parents of children there. The Way is among the new ecclesial movements that successive popes have declared to be among the authentic fruits of the Second Vatican Council, the “convinced communities” pivotal to the success of the new evangelisation. Founded in Madrid in 1964 by Kiko Argüello and Carmen Hernández, it was inspired by the early model of the Church and the desire to form Christian adults in their faith. Communities are usually comprised of about 24 to 40 people and there are a million living in 40,000 of them around the world, with some 1,000 Neocats in 50 communities in the English dioceses of Westminster, Southwark, Liverpool, Birmingham, Salford, Lancaster and Northampton, as well as Shrewsbury. Such communities consist of people of different ages and backgrounds but large and strong families are common, with many producing vocations to the priesthood as well as to marriage. http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=26165

John Toves' Interview With Patty Arroyo

In the jungle, one can find John Toves' interview with Jesse Lujan and Ray Gibson.  But for some reason, Tim Rohr missed John's interview with Patty Arroyo.  That interview can be found in the following weblink below: 

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/pnc-k57-interviews/item/1018-john-toves-with-patti-arroyo

According to that Interview, John Toves admitted that his real motivation for coming out was to reinstate Monsignor James and Father Paul. It was not about his cousin who he claimed was sexually molested by the Archbishop.  As a matter of fact, he admitted in this interview with Patty Arroyo that he never communicated with his cousin about his plan to launch the allegations against the Archbishop.  He went on to say that he would continue the allegation regardless of whether he contacted his cousin or not. Therefore, John Toves was never speaking on behalf of his cousin.  How does one represent someone they have never contacted and claim to speak on their behalf? 

Where did John Toves get the idea that the island Catholics on Guam are suffering when he has not been on this island for 30 years?  The only ones suffering are the very few people who oppose the Archbishop.   So, how can he substantiate mass suffering of the island Catholics when he was living in California?   

My Thoughts On This Drama

The jungle folks are against the defamation lawsuit.  Many of them are in favor of having the lawsuit dropped and having the Archbishop step aside to allow Deacon Claros to do his job as the new Sexual Abuse Response Coordinator (SARC).  Some even want the Archbishop to follow the fine example of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin (the Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago) when he reached out to his accuser.  Here are my reasons why I believe the Archbishop of Guam chose the correct path in pursuing the defamation lawsuit. 

First of all, one cannot compare the situation with Cardinal Joseph Bernardin with the predicament facing Archbishop Apuron.  In the first place, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin was never harassed, mocked, and persecuted for over a year by a minuscule mob of jungle militants.  Also, the person who accused him was NOT a third party, but the victim.  Furthermore, the accuser did not make any concessions or bribes such as reinstating anyone, but requested for justice.    

It is very clear that the intent of the jungle folks have nothing to do with justice.  Their intent is to remove the Archbishop of Guam at whatever cost.  Their wider agenda is to destroy the Neocatechumenal Way on Guam.   

John Toves DEMANDED to have an audience with Archbishop Apuron and made four concessions, which left no room for compromise: 1) to reinstate Monsignor James to the Cathedral, 2) to reinstate Father Paul as head of the Dededo parish, 3) to step down from his position as Archbishop of Guam, and 4) to take responsibility in the alleged sexual molestation of his cousin.  Interestingly enough, these four concessions have no benefit to John Toves who lives in California, but it certainly benefits Tim Rohr who once received a paycheck from Monsignor James and even had the Church support his company. 

Instead, the Archbishop intends to file a defamation lawsuit. This action alone is already a statement saying that the allegations are false and he is innocent of these charges.  Yet, the jungle folks would like to hear the Archbishop say that he is innocent and that the allegation is false?  My question is why?  They are only going to say that he is a liar anyway. 

Secondly, some jungle folks want Archbishop Apuron to step aside and allow Deacon Claros to investigate the alleged sexual molestation charges.  And if he does and is found not guilty......what then?  Surely, the jungle folks is not going to accept that verdict.  Instead, they would accuse Deacon Claros of lying and covering up for the Archbishop because he walks in the Way.  So, even if found innocent, the Archbishop would be damned by the jungle folks anyway.  And they would simply find another way to remove him from his position. The defamation lawsuit is the only logical and reasonable path to take.  The fact that the jungle folks are up in arms against this lawsuit shows that the Archbishop made the right decision in following sound legal advice.

As mentioned above, the four concessions (which John Toves calls his "Christmas wish") has no benefit to him because he lives in California; however, it does benefit Tim Rohr who resides on Guam.  

According to Tim's public statements in his blog, he wants the Archbishop removed, and if Father Adrian were to be his successor....he has a back up plan that obviously involves John Toves. This sounds like a conspiracy had been brewing between the two since the beginning.  Why is it important for Tim Rohr to choose the Archbishop he wants?  Is it possible that Tim has a penchant desire to return to the days when the Church was giving him a salary and supporting his company? Tim's own statement can shed some light on that.  According to Tim Rohr: 

"Here's why I'm asking. As the vice-rector of the Cathedral, you have access to the books. You can see my paychecks, as measly as they are. But you don't know what those checks are for that are written to my company, do you?"

http://www.junglewatch.info/2014/09/fr-jucutan-is-this-you.html

We know that Tim Rohr was once under the payroll of Monsignor James.  We also know that the Church has been supporting his company.  However, what kind of accounting practice is this where checks are made out to Tim's company and Father Jucutan is unable to determine the items purchased from his company?  According to Tim Rohr:  "But you don't know what those checks are for that are written to my company, do you?" And the question is....... "why is that, Mr. Rohr?"  Is this one of the reasons why the auditors say that the accounting practice is so bad that it was unable to conduct a proper audit?   

   

Archbishop Moving Forward

In today's Pacific Daily News, we are reminded that the Archbishop is moving forward with his defamation lawsuit.  He has already been advised by his attorney not to answer any questions regarding the allegations.  As to who will be named in the lawsuit, it would come as no surprise that John Toves would be at the top since he was the one who made the sexual abuse allegations in the first place.  It is not known if there will be others named in the lawsuit, but time will eventually tell. 

The Archbishop's Invitation To Pope Francis

Since Archbishop Apuron has invited Pope Francis to Guam before going to the Philippines, I am hoping that the Pope would decide to stop here for a few days.  We were honored to have St. John Paul II visit Guam in 1981, and it would be a great honor to have Pope Francis visit us as well.  I hope he would be able to stay for a few days.  It would even be better if he could celebrate Mass in the Cathedral and then have Eucharist with members of the Way.  I am certain that the Agana communities will get first priorities.

If the Pope were to celebrate the Eucharist in the NCW, that may put an end to all the speculations and ugly rumors from people who have never attended the catechesis or even have first hand knowledge and experience of walking in the Way.  That is my hope.  After all, those persecutors are still our Catholic brothers who have been led astray by Satan.  Jesus loved them too.  After all, Christ also appeared to Saul who persecuted Christians.  Afterwards, he was converted.  On the other hand, if they persist in their persecutions, then they are truly lost and all we can do is give them up to God. 

Thank you, Archbishop for extending an invitation to the Pope for coming to Guam.  We are happy to hear that the Pope was very supportive of you.  In fact, we can see his support of you in this photo as the Pope holds on to your arm, and both of you smile together.  A picture is worth a thousands words. Continue doing good things for our island and God bless.  :)