Pastoral care of divided membership?

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adgloriam

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What specific pastoral care can be expected in a small catholic parish if there’s a significant presence of a movement with the characteristics summarized in the following quote?
Finally, ‘cul._lts’ have been accused of deception -recruitment and (…)- which cannot be reconciled with any ethical standards.

Another aspect of deception is equally serious, yet rarely considered: dual membership. Some groups including Scientology, TM, and DLM, stress that members do not have to relinquish their previous faith, in most cases Christianity. Yet, differences in theology and practice preclude double commitment.
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Excerpt from the book by Profº E.Arwechk “Researching N€w Religous Movments: Respons and Rdefintions”, p314. Routledge (2006). [The quote summarizes an overview of several authors on the subject.]

 
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That would depend on the pastor. If he is aware of this presence ask him his opinion of it. If he is not aware, he should be. As to the decisions of any councils, that would again depend upon their makeup. However, activists are drawn to positions of power and control, so the parish councils may be packed with them. If the entire parish smells of rotted apple, a note to the Bishop would be in order.
 
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Presumably the Church has drawn up a set of rules to guide pastors on how to handle cases of this kind at parish level. Footnote 112 on p. 368 of your book refers to a Vatican report and “other Catholic documents,” though without mentioning the titles. Perhaps they are listed in a bibliography.
 
Eternal Father, please let the Word of God and the inspiration of Holy Spirit be the true pastor and the true spiritual director and guide of souls who come into their care.

Holy Spirit, be the fire in their teaching and witness, to flame their charges with love for the Trinity; and to light in them the blazing contagion of the gospel way of life!

Shine Your truth through them, so that in Your apt, creative and inspired use of the gifts and weaknesses of their nature, they may inspire their charges with fervour for on-going conversion, with Your divine thirst for souls, with Your love of truth justice and peace, Set them ablaze as evangelisers, zealous for Your Kingdom.

Illuminate our obstacles to Your grace. Remove them or re-form them into springboards for deeper love of God and correct love of ourselves and our brothers and sisters. Be You their true spiritual director. Thus, through Your life in Your pastors and spiritual directors, let the kingdom of God come to reign amongst us, for the salvation of souls and the glory of God.
 
BartholomewB said:
Footnote 112 on p. 368 (…) Perhaps they are listed in a bibliography.
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That’s why I included the footnote in the URL. Of the 3 named authors I’ve only been able to identify Fuss and Gaspar. Of those only Fuss might address the question I’m asking in the OP but I can’t find that part of his work. The “Vatican report” that is mentioned would be this: “…A PASTORAL CHALLENGE” (1986)" and this: “THE CHALLENGE OF…” (1991)

The docs outline broad principles not concrete courses of action (regarding the specific question asked in the OP).
 
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Thank you for your prayer @Trishie I honestly appreciate it - I have faith.

But I’m afraid in this case it’s also up to the religious and laity to do something.
 
Thank you for your prayer @Trishie I honestly appreciate it - I have faith.

But I’m afraid in this case it’s also up to the religious and laity to do something.

@adgloriam,
How could anyone doubt that you have faith! You are a great defender of the truth!
The prayer wasn’t directed at anyone, (but God). but was only a prayer for priests and spiritual directors, and their people. I’m probably being dense but don’t see how it could have reflected upon a wonderful, informed, intelligent and authentic Catholic like yourself. It just shows how easily one can appear to shoot arrows on the internet, when the intention is far from the truth. I was praying in sympathy with … not against in any way. Still I muddle my way through life making lots of unintended mistakes, as my dear, long-suffering husband could affirm! 🙂

You do what you can.You draw attention to the problems.
I can’t do anything either. So I take refuge in prayer.
 
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adgloriam said:
But I’m afraid in this case it’s also up to the religious and laity to do something.
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If you know of others who see the problem as you do, speak with them, as a single complaint may not merit much attention. A group of faithful Catholics, on the other hand…

I think that you are a crucial part of the solution. Did you ask for this task? No! But, God tests those whom He loves, and a better parish will be the result.
 
Ohh I know @Trishie, your prayer was so lovely. Thank you for your kind words and your understanding. Please don’t get me wrong, what I meant to say is that I’m convinced (I’m positive) there has been gross mismanagement in how the laity and the priests in the parishes where this problem applies completely failed to addressed and properly handle the issue.

(Regarding this issue I’ve personally become dismayed at prayer @Trishie, the parishioners failed in their caring for this problem at hand, so I’ve stopped expecting prayers to solve their responsibilities.)
 
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po18guy said:
That would depend on the pastor. If he is aware of this presence ask him his opinion of it. If he is not aware, he should be. As to the decisions of any councils, that would again depend upon their makeup. However, activists are drawn to positions of power and control, so the parish councils may be packed with them. If the entire parish smells of rotted apple, a note to the Bishop would be in order.
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Thank you @po18guy I very much appreciate your sound advice and sharp acumen in accessing the concrete situation. Everything you said is “spot-on” @po18guy, it seems the situation should be entirely clear by itself.

I am weary of inadequately describing the concrete circumstances, and that’s why I haven’t replied to you earlier - it would take me some time.

And that is why, by first approximation, I choose to describe the problem in the essence of its principle. Before any specifics.
 
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@adgloriam
Thanks for explaininbg, I was a little puzzled 🌞

Regarding your last paragraph, though, a Capuchin priest once wrote to me, “Free will is a two-edged sword pointed directly at the heart of God.”

It’s a wonderful gift, but because of the nature of the gift, God ‘cannot’ overrule it.
I can’t respond regarding the errors you perceive as you carefully, and probably wisely, refrain from specifically identifying it.

People who are caught up in any new or exciting ideology can become very attached and possessive of it, and if others object, may feel their movement is simply misunderstood. That only confirms them more deeply in the movement.

The fallure of other disenchanted but good people to act against error and in defence of truth and love, is something that even Jesus, God Incarnate, Son of God had to cope with, as is highlighted this week. He couldn’t impel anyone to remain faithful, to stand by Him during His torture and prolonged painful death. He couldn’t impel anyone to give up their present ideological position to accept the truth He offered. He could offer, and teach, and witness, and He did so clearly and vigorously.

The loving free will of a handful of women, and of one single man of the twelve companions who had been with Him, for a period long enough to know His goodness, His love, His magesty, and yet their free will was ruled by their fear and self-interest. It’s not greatly unexpected then, that we experience something of the behaviour of those who choose a different truth, and of those who are aware of what is right and good, but lack the courage (or interest) to defend the truth and be present to the good.

We sadly can’t expect to do a great deal more than God Incarnate, but we must try. And like Jesus, in prayer before the Father, we must continue to pray. Desolate as He was on the Cross, crying out to the Father, Why have You abandoned Me?l He still continued to pray until His last breath.

Dealing with others’free will, and even often our own, we are faced with Jesus’ experience of the consequences of the gift of free will.

I don’t know if that speaks to anything helpful or explanatory, but it’s the way my thoughts wandered.

I do understand your discouragement. I’ve battled with discouragement and confusion many times in life.
There are times that answers to prayer come eventually, unexpectedly, or in surprising ways. There are times when we also cry out “my God, why have You abandoned me?” But then, like Him, we have to make the humble act of submission to God, as He did after that cry was torn from His shattered humanity on the Cross.

The above may be proof I should be asleep, as it’s nearly 1am Holy Saturday Saturday here in Australia, while still Good Friday where you are, but I hope if God wanted to say something to you, that He has … But I might be up a gumtree making music through a eucalyptus leaf as far as making any kind of useful answer to your actual concerns

God grant you a blessed Easter dear friend
 
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adgloriam said:
And that is why, by first approximation, I choose to describe the problem in the essence of its principle. Before any specifics.
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You are very kind. I spent three decades making quick analysis of difficulties in human interaction, and was charged with formulating a solution, if not on the spot, at least in the foreseeable future. And, one that was acceptable to all parties - to the degree to which it would be accepted. If I took nothing away from that, I would be the dullard that I so often suspect myself to be.

Simplicity comes from outside of us - from the God Who is Master of simplicity. We, through our concupiscence, introduce complication to simple matters. We are goaded on by the master of complication, who first complicated God’s simple instruction to our first ancestors. The goodness of your heart is exposed in the humility of seeking advice from others, perhaps from the realization that (with some provocation) we most often blind ourselves to the purity of simplicity.

Sorry for waxing poetic or philosophic so early. It must have been a fairly good night’s sleep, and I am just now enjoying my morning coffee. As to the matter at hand, if you identify others with the same, or similar, concerns, and if Father is unaware or unconcerned about the situation, a group might be formed to address the situation. Father need not be confronted by a group, as that would be overwhelming. However, one or two representatives of that group would almost certainly be acceptable.

I may be complicating this by presuming that the solution is not already in place - being unseen at this point. God works mysteriously, and His Church, being His creation and His Mystical Body, often works in the same manner. Let what you are confronting not be a daunting task, but a personal opportunity to serve God by pursuing truth. An occasion of polishing your virtues.
 
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I think that all parishes around the earth are affected to some degree, as these “defects” are part of our fallen human nature. A few years back, we attended such a rural parish. An extern priest from Congo-Kinshasa was assigned there, due to the shortage in the US. He is a good and holy man, but took charge of the parish as priests outside of Europe and America are accustomed to doing. He shook up a few ministries that had the same “leaders” for years, if not decades. In reaction, they circulated a petition, wrote the Bishop and he was removed. To us, it was a shocking lack of humility and obedience and we left the parish. Small towns, small minds some say.
 
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