FOCOLARE

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FOCOLARE

Focolare, started right after WWII by Chiara Lubich, their Internationally recognized founder, formulated the central tenets of her “unique spiritual vision” of a world united regardless of their differences. She ascribes the rapid growth of her lay organization, which has followers in over 180 countries, to God Himself. "The structure of the movement, more than being suggested to us by human ideas, was inspired by a charisma that is a gift of God," she writes. According to the official website for Focolare:

“From its humble beginnings in the Italian city of Trent, the Focolare has become a worldwide movement, and now numbers over 87,000 members and about two million friends and adherents in over 180 nations. There are many ways to belong to the Movement, ranging from a more committed lifestyle in small communities to collaboration in its various activities. The Movement is made up of persons of all ages, races and walks of life. IT IS ECUMENICAL. Members of the world's religions as well as persons of no religious affiliation also participate in the life of the Movement in varying degrees.”

Lubrich claims Focolare is based on Scripture (she is noted for quoting also from the Koran and Islamic mystics), and she claims the scriptures are her guide for daily living. She chooses a selected passage from Scripture each month in a publication called “Word of Life”, which is translated into 84 languages and reaches more than 15 million people through the press, radio and television. The Movement has also established 30 publishing houses worldwide. English-speaking countries are served by New City Press in New York, London and Manila. The Focolare Magazine "Living City" is also published in numerous editions. Rome’s desire to control the press is accomplished by this movement. It is evident that her message of ecumenism is spreading wide and far, yet she conveniently neglects to include all those scriptures that command us to be “separate”. James 4:4 warns us, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Focolare is a friend of the world, and therefore, the enemy of God.

In 1962, Pope John XXIII approved of Focolare, for it served his purpose and the purpose of the Illuminati, which was to tear down traditional Catholicism and make way for the New World Order and the one world religion. It was Pope John XXIII who called for Vatican 2, an ecumenical council; and although it was considered a sin against the Catholic faith to partake in other religious services, no one seemed to notice or care! In the book, My Catholic Faith (published before Vatican 2), page 203, we read:

“WHY DOES A CATHOLIC SIN AGAINST FAITH BY TAKING PART IN NON-CATHOLIC WORSHIP? - A Catholic sins against faith by taking part in non-Catholic worship, because he thus professes belief in a religion he knows is false. 1. It is wrong to be present at Protestant or Jewish services even when we do not participate in them, because such services are intended to honor God in a manner He does not wish to be honored in.”

If we were to believe Rome’s teachings before Vatican II, we would have to conclude that John XXIII and Chiara Lubich were apostates, and Pope John Paul II’s recent visit to the Islamic’s Mosque was a “sin against faith”. In My Catholic Faith, page 251, you can read:

“The Pope can make and unmake laws for the entire Church: his authority is supreme and unquestioned. Every bishop, every priest, every member of the Church is subject to him...we must obey him as Christ commanded all to obey Peter (there is no such command written in the scriptures).”

Since the pope has the right to change laws whenever he sees fit, he was able to overturn hundreds of years of tradition and make way for the one-world church spoken of in Revelation.

Does Vatican II Council change anything concerning the allegiance of Catholics to the pope? Judge for yourself.

"This loyal submission of the will and intellect must be given, in a special way, to the authentic teaching of the Roman Pontiff, even when he does not speak ex cathedra in such wise, indeed, that his supreme teaching authority be acknowledged with respect, and that one sincerely adhere to decisions made by him."

Not only do the popes claim absolute power to make and unmake laws, but they also believe they have the right to alter scripture as well. In the Confessio Romano--Catholica in Hungaria Evangelicis publife prescripta et propostia, Articles IV, I, and XXI, which reads:

"We confess that whatsoever new thing the pope of Rome may have instituted, whether it be in Scripture, or out of Scripture, is true, divine, and salvific; and, therefore, ought to be regarded as of higher value by lay people than the precepts of the Living God...We confess that the Pope has the power of altering Scriptures, or increasing and diminishing it, according to his will...We confess that the Holy Scripture is imperfect and a dead letter, until it is explained by the Supreme Pontiff and permitted by him to be read by lay people."

That is just blasphemous! Proverbs 30:5, 6 & Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32 as well as Revelation 22:18-19 make it clear that we are not to add to or take from God's word! No man or angel has that right! This is the spirit of antichrist! 2 Thessalonians describes the true spirit of the papacy:

"Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”

Englishman Gordon Urquhart, in 1995 published The Pope's Armada, a searing attack upon these three new movements. He spent nine years in Focolare and claims the movements have “ rigid, secret hierarchies, demand blind obedience, and create personality cults for their founders, who wield absolute authority”. He goes on to say:

“Many of their main characteristics reflect those of Mao's Red Guards - the fanaticism, the blind obedience, the sloganeering, the personality cult around the Pope, manipulation of the media, anti-intellectualism, denunciations, the formulation of rigid ideology, a younger generation mobilized in the struggle against their elders."

Urquart is specifically concerned with these movements' authoritarian structure, and “their use of ritual group confession, clandestine rites, and secretive ceremonies.” Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, an expert in mind-control and cult-like behavior, claims that such tactics as “group confession” are typical of cults and cult-like behavior.

“Serious sins (as defined by the organization) are to be confessed immediately. The members are to be reported if found walking contrary to the rules. There is often a tendency to derive pleasure from self-degradation through confession. This occurs when all must confess their sins before each other regularly, creating an intense kind of "oneness" within the group. It also allows leaders from within to exercise authority over the weaker ones, using their "sins" as a whip to lead them on.”

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you….” Mt.20:25-26

1 Peter 5:3 says, “Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” If I were to follow the example of the Roman hierarchy, I would heap gold to myself, where the finest robes, drive around in a pope mobile to avoid any drive by shooters, and build myself the finest city that money can buy. If I were to follow their example, my hypocrisy would know no bounds. This is the example they have set before men as they lord it over them and make them prisoners to their priest-craft .

In response, the defenders of these organizations have mobilized to play down such criticism. Robert Moynihan, Inside the Vatican editor, in a Time magazine article (1997), discussing controversial religious movements, says:

"Silence, fasting, cutting oneself off from one's former friends and associates to devote oneself to God, laboring to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth, all of these behaviors are seen as fanatical, irrational, cult-like. But these are behaviors that Catholics honor and praise in St. Benedict, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Thomas More."

Urquhart also claims that Focolare uses brainwashing techniques on new recruits through what he calls “total immersion experiences”. I personally was a victim of these tactics when I attended weekend retreats at a convent in Pennsylvania. I was so influenced by the surroundings that I brought home papers to join the convent immediately. Had my dad not intervened and refused, I would have left for the convent at age 13. Robert J. Lifton, in his book Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism gives eight major factors that can be used to identify whether a group is a destructive cult or not. The first factor is called Mileau Control.

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“‘Milieu’ is a French word meaning ‘surroundings; environment.’ Cults are able to control the environment around their recruits in a number of ways, but almost always using a form of isolation. Recruits can be physically separated from society, or they can be warned under threat of punishment to stay away from the world's educational media, especially when it might provoke critical thinking. Any books, movies or testimonies of ex-members of the group, or even anyone critical of the group in any way are to be avoided.”

Ever notice that Catholic books contain the “nihil obstat” and “imprimatur”? This is to keep their followers from reading material that RCC doesn’t want them reading. I attended a Catholic school and remember very clearly being warned not to read Protestant material. My brother did a report on the apostle Paul using a Christian Bible. He didn’t realize there was a difference between notes in a Catholic bible and notes in the true Bible. When it came his turn to read his report before the class, he heard the nun stomping to the front of the class in a rage. She took the paper out of my brother’s hand and wadded it up and stuffed it into his mouth demanding he eat the paper. My brother spit it out on the floor, but she picked it up again and shoved it back into his mouth. He spit it out again, and she started beating on him. It wasn’t until he was an adult that he understood why she was so enraged. The information in the Christian Bible contradicted Roman Catholic teaching.

Keeping in mind Dr. Lipton’s criteria for cult behavior, I had to wonder if these “total immersion experiences” were being conducted at Focolare “cities” called “Mariapolises”. According to the official website for Focolare:

“From 1949 on the Dolomite Mountains were a regular meeting place each summer for the members of the growing movement. These vacation gatherings were microcosms of humanity, small temporary "cities" based on the law of mutual love. Now over a hundred of these summer gatherings (called "Mariapolises") take place all over the world each year, with over 100,000 participants. In the meantime, a number of "mini cities" have come into existence, based on the model of these summer gatherings. The first of these was founded in 1964 at Loppiano, near Florence, Italy. At present more than 700 persons from some fifty different nations live there. Most of them are young adults participating in a two-year "school of life" on how to live the Gospel. Other "mini cities" of this kind are located in Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Cameroon, Kenya, the Philippines, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. In the United States the "mini city" is located in Hyde Park, New York. During its first years of existence it has developed into a center for spirituality, a training ground for unity, offering an experience of it that can then be brought back into one's environment as a contribution towards A UNITED WORLD.”

These “total immersion experiences” that Rome uses to indoctrinate her followers has found its way into the Southern Baptists as well through the Tres dias . The Cursillo Movement, which originated in the Roman Catholic church and sprung out of Focolare, is a three-day learning, sharing experience of living in a Christian community. Tres dias is one of three major spiritual renewal movements that emerged from the Cursillo Movement. In an article by Todd Starnes, he tells of one Baptist preacher, Paul Mason’s concerns:

“When several members of a Georgia Baptist church were invited to attend a weekend of spiritual renewal, their pastor, Paul Mason, didn't give it a second thought. After all, "Tres dias" (Spanish for three days) sounded like it was a normal, weekend getaway sponsored by a mainline religious denomination. But a few months after they returned from the retreat, Mason realized he had a problem on his hands at Central Baptist Church, Douglasville. ‘When I asked them how the retreat went, they told me it was a secret. They couldn't talk about what happened during the weekend,’ he said. Mason noticed that couples who had attended the Tres dias retreat were secretly inviting other couples to attend the program. After the church's Sunday school superintendent went to the retreat, he abruptly resigned his church position without reason. And within six months, Mason said the couples who had initially attended Tres dias completely ostracized themselves from the congregation. The result, Mason said, was a divided church. Determined to learn all he could about Tres dias, Mason uncovered some unsettling information about a spiritual movement that is raising concern in the Southern Baptist Convention. Davis said a number of Southern Baptist churches have contacted his office with stories of problems resulting from the retreats. ‘It's very strange. Some church members have done extreme things, selling possessions, becoming secretive. It's almost like the weekend retreat has become the focus of their spiritual lives.’ George Osment, a lay leader at First Baptist Church, Scottsboro, Tenn., said the spiritual intensity is so great that leaders of one Tres dias retreat refused to allow a camper to leave. ‘This person wanted to go home but they wouldn't let him. He saw what was going on and wanted to leave,’ Osment said. ‘They formed a circle around him and prayed over him.’ Osment said the secrecy surrounding the retreat has caused division in their congregation. ‘It's very sad,’ he said. Said Davis: ‘Anything that involves a measure of secrecy sends up a red flag. There's no need for anybody in a Christian church to keep anything secret.’”

The New Humanity and New Families Movements, the Parish Movement, Movements for diocesan priests and for religious women and men, and Youth for a United World also finds it roots in Focolare. “The animators of these movements are the core members of the Focolare Movement”. In 1988, New Humanity was approved as a non governmental organization (NGO) of the United Nations. In 1977, Chiara Lubich was awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion. In 1981 Chiara Lubich was invited to Tokyo by Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, founder of the Buddhist lay movement Rissho Kosei-kai, where she spoke to over 10,000 Buddhists. The world seems mesmerized by the ecumenical doctrine of Chiara Lubich. But their goal to reach the Protestants was “a most important factor in bringing about worldwide solidarity and peace”.

“At first the spirituality of unity spread within the Catholic Church. From 1958 on Christians of other traditions began to come in contact with the Focolare and to feel that its spirituality was also for them. Fruitful contacts between Christian members of the Focolare and members of other religions have multiplied. The Focolare Movement is a permanent member of the World Conference on Religion and Peace. The Movement views the cooperation of all believers in God as a most important factor in bringing about worldwide solidarity and peace. The road to unity leads to dialogue: dialogue among Christians, dialogue among members of the world religions, dialogue with persons of other convictions. This cannot be done without knowing one's own position and that of one's partner in dialogue. To that end, the Movement organizes seminars for its members on ecumenism, interreligious dialogue and dialogue with those of other convictions.”

This ecumenical “dialogue” has not been hindered by the recent claim that RCC is the one true church and that all the Christian churches are not “churches in the proper sense”. Ecumenism is flourishing at the grassroots level and many Catholics and Protestants in Rome are “taking communion together”. Focolare‘s goal is this: "That all may be one". Pope John Paul II, addressing 18,000 young people, spoke of a united world as “the great expectation of today’s humanity, the great challenge of our future”. Focolare is the “grassroots” movement that will help unite the world to the antichrist and false prophet. Chiara Lubich, speaking at the meeting of the bishops and cardinals in June of 2000 stated, "The Church is Mother. This certainty has given us a great love and total confidence. For this reason, it has not been difficult to accept... her judgment in virtue of her discernment." It’s obvious that the lay movement is really a hierarchy movement and the folks of Focolare are her puppets.

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COMMUNION AND LIBERATION (C&L)

Communion and Liberation (C& L), founded by Monsignor Luigi Giussani (considered by some as a “religious genius to follow blindly”) and led by Don Giussani, came to prominence in the early 1970s as a conservative reaction to the student revolts that swept Italy in 1968. It has been the object of grave accusations. They have been derided as "Stalinists of God", the “Pope’s Rambos” and "Wojtlya's Monks" because of their “fervent devotion to papal authority”, yet this organization has enjoyed an “unparalleled ascendancy” under John Paul II. Every initiative of this group has been examined, dissected and often condemned--at both ecclesial and political levels, but on the other hand, Pope John Paul II has praised the intense manner in which they live their faith, and thousands of young people all over the world follow their precepts.

The Fraternity of Communion and Liberation is an Ecclesial Association of Pontifical Right recognized by Decree of the Pontifical Council of the Laity on 11 February 1982. The aim of the Association is “to promote communion as a fundamental need of life, that tends to express itself in a communitarian experience according to the charism proper of the Movement of Communion and Liberation.” Rome wants to keep her people prisoner of the Eucharist and the other sacraments that only her priests can perform.

"(Communion & Liberation)  aims at capillary announcement and catechesis; the frequent celebration of the Sacraments; a cultural work as a deepening and an expression of one's own faith; charitable action as education to a free service of the other; missionary commitment as education to the sense of Catholicity of the Church" (from art. 4 of the Statute).

The members of the Fraternity are adults (although it targets the young) who:

“‘...commit themselves according to the aims and the method of the Association’. This method consists in a minimal rule of personal ascesis which foresees: daily moments of prayer; the participation in meetings of spiritual formation, including an Annual Retreat; the support, also economic, of charitable, missionary, and cultural initiatives promoted or sustained by the Association.”

Again, we must ask ourselves if these “Annual Retreats” are “total immersion experiences”. The committing of oneself to the aims of the C&L without question, is another cult-like trait according to expert Robert Jay Lifton:

“The cult's ideology becomes the ultimate moral vision for the ordering of human existence. The ideology is too ‘sacred’ to call into question, and a reverence is demanded for the leadership. The cult's ideology makes an exaggerated claim for possessing airtight logic, making it appear as absolute truth with no contradictions. Such an attractive system offers security.”

This security they feel is expressed well by “Father” Stefano Alberto, when addressing over 100 cardinals and bishops concerning C&L:

"Our certainty, which is a source of hope, is our membership in the Church. We depend on her authority at all levels, determined to convert our spirit and heart at every moment from a worldly mentality."

The directive organism of the Association is the "Central Diakonia", presided over by the founder, Mgr. Luigi Giussani, and made up of 40 persons, responsible of the regions and of the Vice-president, the Secretary General, and the Treasurer. The Association foresees directive and responsible organisms at diocesan, regional, and sector levels. In every diocesan community there is an ecclesiastical chaplain appointed by the Diocesan Ordinary Bishop upon the proposal of the President of the Association. Makes one question why it is called a “lay movement.”

A characteristic element of C&L is its political commitment. In contrast to many other Catholic movements, which claim to focus solely on spiritual renewal, CL confronts the world as an "alternative" culture, and consolidates its positions in political activity. Cielini (another name for C&L) defend themselves against the charge of "integrism" by stressing their aim as political crusaders is “not to impose a Christian culture and Christian values on recalcitrant, de-Christianized modern men and women, but to fully live out their own profound Christian vision”. Jeremiah 23:16 warns us of the visions of men, “...they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.”

The pope, in an address to the priests participating in a course of “Spiritual Exercises” promoted by Communion and Liberation says:

“I am very happy to meet with you at the close of your annual appointment of prayer and meditation, the spiritual exercises, which for a long time now have brought together the priests Participating in, or close to, the experience of Communion and Liberation. A number of times, especially during my journeys in Italy and various other countries of the world I have been able to recognize the great and promising flowering of ecclesial movements, and I have singled them out as a cause for hope for the entire Church and for all mankind.”

Evidently Rome has great plans for C&L and the priests behind it. I think it should be mentioned that Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits also used “Spiritual Exercises” as a tool to brainwash his members. Loyola was convinced that the “Virgin” had coached him through visions and audible voices to draw up “Exercises” which are still practiced today. These exercises of “exterior piety to Mary” were promised “to open heaven’s doors”. They consisted of:

“...giving Mary morning and evening salutations, frequently charging the angels to greet her, expressing the desire to build her more churches that all those built by monarchs put together; carrying day and night a rosary as a bracelet, an image of Mary, etc.” (The Secret History of the Jesuits, Paris, 61).

These and similar practices are taught to all Catholics, but the more extreme actions as described by “Father” Pemble in the following quote were left to the “holy” men and women who supposedly had reached a perfection we could scarcely hope to attain.

“To beat or flagellate ourselves, and offer each blow as a sacrifice to God through Mary, to carve with a knife the holy name of Mary on our chest: to cover ourselves decently at night so as not to offend the chaste gaze of Mary; to tell the Virgin you would be willing to offer her your place in heaven if she didn’t have her own; to wish you had never been born or go to hell if Mary had not been born; to never eat an apple, as Mary had been kept from the mistake of tasting of it” (The Secret History of the Jesuits, Paris, 61).

These degenerate “exercises” and forms of worship were cultivated into licentious and sensual expressions in many Jesuits. One would have to wonder if the “Spiritual Exercises” the priests of C&L were participating in were similar or even the same. From the pope’s concluding speech to them, it is evident that Mary had her part in it!

“May Our Lady, Mother of God and of the Church, guide you constantly on the pathway of life. Knowing your devotion to the Holy Virgin, I hope that she will be for all of you the "Morning Star", who will enlighten and strengthen your generous commitment of Christian witness in the contemporary world. And now I cordially give you my Apostolic Blessing.”

The pope admits that C&L’s devotion is to the “Holy Virgin” and he calls her “the Morning Star”. This title belongs to Jesus alone as Revelation 22:16 states, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” His reference to Mary as the “mother of God and of the church” lacks any scriptural foundation whatsoever!

On September 12th, 1985, Pope John Paul II, speaking to the priests of the C&L movement said:

“It is therefore you priests whom I now wish to address, in order to help you to comprehend better and to live your ecclesial membership within the context of your adherence to the movement of Communion and Liberation...The rising up of an ecclesial body as an Institution, its persuasive force and binding energy, has its roots in the dynamism of sacramental grace.”

Notice the “adherence to the movement” ? This organization demands a blind obedience from the ruling priests to his “superior”, as this following quote cleverly eludes to.

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“The charisms of the Spirit always create affinities destined to sustain each person in his objective task in the Church. The creation of this sort of communion is a universal law. Living it out is an aspect of obedience to the great mystery of the Spirit. An authentic movement therefore exists as a nourishing soul within the Institution. It is not a structure that is alternative to it. It is rather the wellspring of a presence which continually regenerates the Institution ' s existential and historical authenticity. Within a movement, therefore, a priest MUST FIND THE LIGHT AND WARMTH WHICH MAKES HIM CAPABLE OF FIDELITY TO HIS BISHOP, well disposed towards the duties of the Institution and ATTENTIVE TO ECCLESIASTICAL DISCIPLINE. In this way the vibration of his faith and the enthusiasm of his fidelity will be more fertile.”

If the priest “finds the light”, he will be Rome’s puppet! If they only knew Jesus, who is the light, they would know what true freedom is. But they have made themselves the prisoners of men, the slaves of the false prophet and the antichrist. 1Cor.7:23 clearly teaches: “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” Oh that the Christian would be faithful to preach the gospel of grace to these poor deluded Catholics, “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (2Tim.2:26)

The pope, in another one of his addresses to C&L, said:

“In these thirty years you have been open to the most varied situations casting the seed of the presence of your Movement. I know that you have put down roots in eighteen nations in the world: in Europe, in Africa, in America, and I know also the insistency with which your presence is sought in other countries. Take on the burden of this ecclesial need: this is the charge I leave with you today. I know that you well understand the indispensable importance of a true and full communion between the various components of the ecclesial community. I am certain, therefore, that you will not fail to commit yourselves with renewed fervour in the search for more appropriate ways to carry out your activities in harmony and collaboration with the bishops, the pastors, and with all the other ecclesial movements."

Basically, the pope wants all these movements to work together for the common good of the papacy, which is the “will of God”. Dr. Lifton again describes the cult-like attributes that often fit the description of RCC’s movements:

“In religious cults, God is ever-present in the workings of the organization. If a person leaves for any reason, accidents or ill-will that may befall them are always attributed to God's punishment on them. For the faithful, the angels are always said to be working, and stories circulate about how God is truly doing marvelous things among them, because they are "the truth." The organization is therefore given a certain "mystique" that is quite alluring to the new recruit.”

Archbishop Robert Sarah of Conakry, Guinea, speaking of the Catholic movements remarked, “It is marvelous to see that the Spirit is stronger than our plans and that he acts in our Christian communities as we would never have imagined it." I agree that the plans of RCC’s movements are stronger than she could have imagined, but it is not the Holy Ghost doing the work. It is the spirit of antichrist. Be assured, Rome will in no way allow any workings to go on without her hand in it! Cardinal Jean Marie Lustiger, Archbishop of Paris, says it best:

“The Bishop's mission is not only to authenticate the gift of God for the good of the one who receives it, but also to help to put it at the service of all, and of peace and unity in the Church. It is his responsibility to ascertain that its fecundity will bring the fruits that God wills. If this is not the case, the gift could be lost or perverted."

The gifts that the false spirit gives to the RCC can be “lost or perverted”, but we who are Christian and receive from the true Spirit know that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)

NEO-CATECHUMENATE


Neo-catechumenate, founded and led by Spanish painter Francisco Argüello, known as Kiko, and Carmen Hernandez, began in the shantytowns of the Madrid ghettos in the mid-1960s. It was started:

“...to help the parishes move from a sacramental pastoral plan to one of evangelization in this de-Christianized society. A pastoral plan according to the model of the Church of the early Christians, where those who wanted to be Christians had first to be catechumens, that is, they had to follow a path of formation [There is no such thing as “path of formation spoken of in the scriptures]."

After relocating to Italy, Arguello's teachings spread like wildfire throughout South American and parts of Europe. There are about a million people in more than a hundred countries who already belong, thousands of priests and dozens of seminaries throughout the world, thousands of parishes that have decided to take to “the Way”.

“The Neo-Catechumenal Way has spread to 105 countries over the five continents, with almost 15,000 communities. It is also represented in 800 dioceses and 5,000 parishes. It has helped to open 35 diocesan missionary seminaries throughout the world. There are families with children who leave everything friends, home, work - to set off for the more difficult areas of the world. At the moment there are over 400.”

Pope Paul VI and pope John Paul II have given their approval and support of this movement. And the growth rate shows no sign of slowing. Arguello claims that the “Catechumenate” is an “ancient formula but as offered today its flavor is so novel that people can be so startled to the point of indulging in real persecution of the Way and of the two people who started it all”. So, what is the “ancient formula” that Arguello is speaking of?

“It is a path to conversion whereby one re-discovers the riches of baptism. The current process of secularization has led a great many people to abandon the faith and the Church. Perhaps that is the reason the Lord prompted us to set up formation itinerary through which we can help renew the Council and pave a way for those who have drifted off.”

This movement was set up to address people like myself who have left Catholicism. They feel that we “abandoned” the “faith” because we were “poorly educated” in the history of Roman Catholicism. They assume that if we just read the early “church fathers” and their “church history”, that we would come running home to Rome. How wrong they are!!!

When asked, “What is the link between the Neo Catechumenal Way and the catechumenate of the early Church?” Arguello answers:

“In the early Church, in the midst of paganism, a person who wanted to become a Christian had to follow instruction in Christianity that was called the 'catechumenate' from the word 'catecheo' which means 'I resound' and 'I listen'. But we might ask: 'Listen to what?' Not just God speaking through the Scriptures: a catechumen is somebody who has learned to listen to God speaking throughout history.”

Notice the clever attempt to draw men away from the scriptures alone and get them into traditions. Then “cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved”. The “catechumenate” is somebody who has “learned to listen to God speaking throughout history”. Which history is this? Rome’s history of course and her elected “church fathers”. With all the forgeries and lies, how could one possibly trust anything she says? The truth is that Rome wants to get all of us former Catholics out of the word of God and into their traditions and history. I receive hundreds of letters from Catholics sending me quotes from the “early church fathers”. They all have one thing in common, they challenge the doctrine of “sola scriptura” that is, scripture alone. They go so far as to say that the Christian’s faith in the word of God is “heresy”. They continually deny our right to read and study the word with the help of the Holy Ghost, even though the word of God commands us to study. They insist that only the Roman Catholic teaching magesterium has the right to interpret scripture. They are the biggest abusers of “private interpretation”, of which God clearly teaches that “no scripture is of private interpretation”. (2Pet.1:20) We have a promise from God that His word “endureth for ever”. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matt.24:35)

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In the Bible, when a pagan wanted to become a Christian, all he had to do was believe! Let’s look at a couple instances. Acts 16:30-31 Paul is asked a question by the jailer, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Paul does not mention these instructions called “catechumenate” as a prelate to becoming a Christian. Romans 10:9 clearly teaches “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” In Acts 8 we read about a eunuch who was reading the book of Isaiah but he didn’t understand it because he was not yet born-again. The eunuch asked Philip who was Isaiah speaking of, “himself or some other man”.

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. The eunuch believed and asked Philip, ‘See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?’ And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”

Notice that as soon as the eunuch came out of the water, Philip was not there. The eunuch was now born-again and he had the Holy Spirit to teach him. There was no need for Philip to stay and teach him “the sacraments” or “catechumenate”. There were no stages for the eunuch to go through. He heard the testimony of Jesus and believed and was saved. Philip left the eunuch with the word of God and the Holy Ghost to teach, and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing!

Let’s look a little closer at Arguello’s explanation of “catecumenate”.

“The early catechumenate had first a pre-catechumenate, then the catechumenate, election, and neophytism. All terms that indicate moments of passage. The problem is that for about 16 centuries there's been no catechumenate in the Church. No one knows what it is any longer. We are among those who are recuperating it after 16 centuries.”

What a sad commentary that Arguello claims that the Catholic church had to wait 16 centuries for someone to come along and restore “catecumenate”. Had not RCC denied the word of God to her people for centuries, they would have been instructed in the true faith “once delivered to the saints”. (Jude 3)

“What the early Church had was a kerygma, a proclamation of salvation. This proclaiming of the Gospels was done by itinerant apostles such as Paul and Silla [sic] and brought about a moral change in those who heard it. They changed their lives with the help of the Holy Spirit accompanying the apostles. This changed life was sealed and helped through the sacraments. Concretely, baptism was given in stages. The Neo-Catechumenal Way wants to bring back that 'gestation', that synthesis of Kerygma, Changed life and Liturgy.”

The moral change that takes place in a born-again believer is because that believer is indwelt by the Holy Ghost. Arguello claims that the changed life is “sealed and helped through the sacraments”. The scriptures never even once uses the term “sacrament”. It is a pagan invention! A sacrament is something one does to earn grace. Grace is “unmerited favor”. You cannot earn grace! That’s an oxymoron! We are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise when we believe. “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise….” (Eph.1:13)

Arguello goes on to say:

“The Neo-Catechumenal Way does not aim at being a movement in itself but at helping the dioceses and parishes to open up a path of initiation that purposes to evangelize the people of today...and expresses his hope 'that brothers in the episcopate, along with their presbyters, will appreciate and help this work for the new evangelization'. It's an instrument at the service of bishops and parish priests to bring back to the faith the great many who have abandoned it.”

Sadly, many who have abandoned Catholicism have not yet received Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. They will be easy prey. For those of us who know Jesus, there is no lie or trick that can turn our hearts from God’s word. His Spirit is ever with us guiding us through His word. His word is the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path.

Arguello mentioned that families belonging to “the Way” “leave everything to go off on missions”. When asked why they would do such a thing, Arguello answered, “Out of gratitude. Because they've been saved and they want to let others share in that salvation.” What Arguello is claiming here is against Catholic doctrine. It is considered the “sin of presumption” to believe one is saved. Not even the pope knows where he is going when he dies. Mother Teresa did not know where she was going when she died. Is Arguello being honest here? As the founder of Neo-Catechumenate, wouldn’t you think he’d know what Rome teaches concerning salvation? How can this man instruct others in “catechumenate” when he doesn’t know it himself?

As mentioned in the beginning of this article, in Brazil alone, 600,000 a year leave the Catholic church. These statistics have the Catholic bishops begging Vatican to do something.

“The outskirts of so many cities, in South America for example, have been invaded by sects (Protestants). Bishops have asked for help, given the fact of huge human settlements without a Church presence. So families are sent, with the blessing of the Holy Father, who through their witness and the Word begin to evangelize in the poorest areas and form small Christian communities. Then bishops, also thanks to the Redemptoris Mater seminaries, send priests, and so new parishes are born, giving a chance to lots of people who had gone over to the sects to return to the Church, as is happening in fact, for example, among the poor waterfront people of Guayaquil in Ecuador, among the 'Pueblos jovenes' of Lima in Peru, among the miners of Coronel in Chile, etc.”

During the recent Italian Eucharistic Congress held in Bologna the founders and those in charge of the movements and the new Church bodies met for the first time. What was the significance of this gathering? Arguello answers:

“It was very important. We are witnesses to a great event: the Holy Spirit is breathing on his Church, despite our sins, to assist it. Our experience throughout the world is that we have always found help in other groups and movements, from Communion and Liberation in the universities, the priests of Opus Dei in the parishes, the Focolare, the Charismatics, etc. It is important and a source of enrichment, to know how to help oneself: "WITHIN DIVERSITY THERE IS JUST ONE MISSION WE ALL HAVE TOWARDS THE WORLD.”

Cont'd next post

[Shammu]

How true his last statement is! They do indeed have only one mission, and that mission it to bring the whole world under subjection to the pope. They are the puppets of Rome and Rome is pulling all the strings. They think they do service to God, and are unaware that they serve the antichrist. They are the builders of the one-world religion.

Does Neo-Catechumenate also practice “total immersion experiences” by getting the subject in a controlled environment? The answer is “Yes, they do”. Arguello explains:

“This kerygmatic phase ends with a three-day retreat during which the community starting on the different stages of pre-catechumenate, catechumenate, election, etc. is formed, guided by the same team of catechists in communion with the parish priest.”

It’s quite a vast and artful plan Rome has devised to wage her “holy war”. “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.” (Ps 55:21) While the pope smiles to the world and cries “Peace”, he and his minions plot to overcome all who oppose or try to escape her. Proverbs 5 describes Roman Catholicism perfectly:

“For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house.”

[nChrist]

Hello Dreamweaver,

Brother, things like this are very sad, but it's past time for the BLUNT TRUTH to be told. We are possibly looking at the last days of this Age of Grace and Bible Prophecy unfolding before our very eyes.

It's time for us to run toward GOD and the HOLY BIBLE - NOT AWAY! Our Strength is in CHRIST and GOD'S WORD, not the increasingly false teachings of men. I'm asking every Christian to pray about things like this. The time is growing short and people are desperate for the TRUTH. I'm talking about GOD'S TRUTH and the TRUTH of the HOLY BIBLE, not what some men call the truth.
__________________________________________

GOOD NEWS!

1:  Romans 3:10 NASB  as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."

2:  Romans 3:23  NASB  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

3:  Romans 5:12  NASB  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--

4:  Romans 6:23  NASB  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

5:  Romans 1:18  NASB  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

6:  Romans 3:20  NASB  because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

7:  Romans 3:27  NASB  Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

8:  Romans 5:8-9  NASB  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

9:  Romans 2:4  NASB  Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

10:  Romans 3:22  NASB  even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

11:  Romans 3:28  NASB  For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

12:  Romans 10:9  NASB  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

13:  Romans 4:21  NASB  and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

14:  Romans 4:24 NASB  but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

15:  Romans 5:1  NASB  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

16:  Romans 10:10  NASB  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

17:  Romans 10:13  NASB  for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable GIFT!, JESUS CHRIST, our Lord and Saviour forever!

[Shammu]

The Great Whore is identified as.........

A woman

A whore

Dressed in scarlet and purple

Decked with gold, precious stones, etc.

Drunk with the blood of saints and martyrs

Is located in the city on seven hills

Mother of harlots and abominations

In league with the Antichrist (the beast)


Now let's evaluate the Roman Catholic Church in light of these biblical markers.

The RCC has always referred to herself as a woman "holy mother the Church."

The Bible consistently identifies apostate religion as a whore.

Scarlet and purple are the colors of the college of cardinals top leaders of the RCC.

The pope, cardinals and bishops are ever "decked with gold, precious stones, expensive garments.

The history of the RCC is one of great inquisition and slaughter of Bible believing people.

Rome is a City on Seven Hills.

Pope John Paul II has been performing abominations, such as becoming a disciple of a Hindu Shiva Priestess.

The RCC is headquartered in Rome, the city of seven hills.

The very term "Rome" is understood as a reference to the RCC.

The "league with the Antichrist" is yet future.

Pope Honors Pagan Scriptures

Pope John Paul II Kisses the Koran! "According to published reports, Patriarch Raphael I, spiritual leader of Iraqi Christians using Aramaic as their liturgical language, met with the Pope in the Vatican on May 14th along with a delegation of non-Christian leaders from Iraq. [. . . ] When the audience with the Pope was ending, Patriarch Raphael said, the Holy Father bowed to the Muslim holy book the "Qu'ran," presented to him by some members of the delegation, and kissed it, as a sign of respect for Islam, as well as the Iraqi people.

Many are troubled by papal participation in previously publicized, inclusive religious ceremonies and events, throughout the world, which are in direct contradiction to Holy Tradition, and the teachings of the Church." (The New England Catholic News, Summer 1999, Volume 13, No. 2, page 2)

Giving official credence to a pagan religion is an heretical act of apostasy, by the pope!!

Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution? "Yes, Paul 6 replaced the Divine Sacrifice of Calvary with his humanistic, Cain-like offering called the NEW ORDO. Actually he admitted his CRIME on APRIL 3, 1969. This date should stand out before the eyes of everyone who calls themselves Catholic. The New Covenant has been broken, under agreement with the Gentiles."

"Paul 6 brazenly calls (his) 2-page "confession" an "APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION". He admits he "revised" by way of "The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council" the ROMAN MASS MISSAL OF ST. PIUS V IN 1570. What more proof could anyone want?" (I.E., proof that the pope performed an act of heresy in digressing from the centuries-old Tradition of the Mass, and in directly violating several Cannons of the Council of Trent, and an infallible declaration of Pope St. Pius IV.) (VERITAS, June 1999, Volume 31, No. 6)

Pope Called Antichrist by Priest

"We should not be surprised if, in the storm devastating the Church, the frail Society of St. Pius X should also be undergoing violent attacks. On the one side, it is attacked for being too much opposed to the Council (Vatican II) and to Rome; too attached to Tradition in dogma and liturgy; too set against the councilor reforms and ecumenism, etc. ect. On the other side, it is attacked, to the contrary, for keeping too close contacts with Rome, which has turned into the seat of the Antichrist, a dependency of Hell, and for opposing too weakly the counciliar reforms. (+Bertrand Fellay, Superior General, Society of Pius X, Letter #56 as reported in Regina Coeli Report, May 1999, No. 89.)

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

It's very sad to see all the very public things that have happened recently. Very little has been secret or hidden, rather in public - on television - or in the company of hosts of witnesses.

Bluntly, we see some very plain things that are part of Bible Prophecy:

1 - There is no one ALMIGHTY GOD, rather any god will do for the purpose of unity, a One-World Church, numbers, and power.

2 - Every false religion can be embraced for this effort, and every false religion must be embraced for the One-World Church to become a reality.

3 - Everything is just fine and all are welcome and correct:  Islam, Buddhists, Hindus, and you name it are all brothers and sisters in Unity for this One-World Church. It will be a "Spiritual" experience, but not one from ALMIGHTY GOD. The "Spiritual" experience will be one of darkness and from the devil.

4 - We should know that the devil can quote Scripture, but some of this might be too wild for many to swallow right now. I would have thought so also, but much of the world saw the pope kiss the koran.
_________________________________________

Brothers and Sisters, there is no such thing as multiple gods and multiple true religions. ALL are FALSE but ONE! The RIGHTEOUS WRATH OF GOD will be poured out on those who worship false gods "little 'g"". ALMIGHTY GOD will NOT tolerate this. ALMIGHTY GOD will NOT share HIS deserved GLORY with any other entity.

Please note that the devil is completely real. There is nothing make-believe about the devil, and the devil does have great power. In fact, the devil will seek all power soon, and he will succeed by appearances only. The time will come when ALMIGHTY GOD will again provide PROOF that HE is the Great I AM, the Eternal Creator. The people of the earth will get to taste the rulership of the devil. The "Great Restrainer" (Holy Spirit of GOD) will be taken out of the devil's way for a time and the evil of the earth will get a taste of what eternity with the devil will be like. It will be horrible, but it won't be nearly as bad as eternal punishment in the fires of hell. Death and simply ceasing to exist would be wonderful in comparison, but worse will be waiting for all eternity - and there won't be any end.

If this isn't Bible Prophecy unfolding before our very eyes, it certainly is close, and we are in the appropriate time frame for end of this age of Grace Bible Prophecy. We don't know the year, the month, the day, or the hour, but we do know that the time is close. Events around the world are fitting together like a "Giant Bible Prophecy Puzzle". GOD will place the pieces in HIS time, and the events will happen in the exact second that GOD knew they would before the foundation of the world. GOD won't just humiliate the devil and evil, rather GOD will burn and punish them in the fires of hell forever. By the way, hell is a real place, and Hollywood can't do anything horrible enough to emulate it.

Brothers and Sisters, the One-World Church will also be real, and it won't be to worship the LIVING ALMIGHTY GOD, THE CREATOR. If anything, it will be to worship the enemies of ALMIGHTY GOD. Bluntly, the god of the One-World Church will be the devil and powers of darkness. The devil has great power to deceive, and he is about to prove that fact again. It's far past time for all Christians to pray, pray some more, and ask GOD to use us for HIS Will. SO, what's at stake? Many millions of people about to spend eternity in the fires of hell, and some of those people will be your family, friends, and neighbors. Do you have anything more important to do right now?

Love In Christ,
Tom

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable GIFT, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour Forever!