[sinkspur]

The Neocatechumenate, from what I've read about on FR (I never heard of it before) looks to be a poor-man's Opus Dei.

Opus Dei is an elitist, separatist group of Catholics who won't be sullied by the hoi-poloi who populate the pews on Sundays.

The Pope's not easily hoodwinked, so I'd be surprised if he misjudged this organization.

[livius]

Huh? Opus Dei members go to their regular parish masses just like anybody else, have no special unusual rites, and have regular Novus Ordo liturgies when they do have functions at which Mass is celebrated. Naturally, they have group meetings, retreats, etc., but it is nowhere near as comprehensive as the Neocatechumenate program, which seems to occupy every waking moment.

The NC movement was founded in Spain, and is still very popular there, mainly among university students. I've seen them having big emotional meetings on Spanish university campuses. I've always been uneasy with it, partly because I think its liturgy is bizarre, partly because it has a sort of Kiko Arguëllo (its founder) cult of personality, and partly because I don't like "group think" of any nature.

However, they've definitely done a lot among certain sectors of very secularized Europeans. All I know is that it's something I certainly wouldn't want to be part of. But then, they probably wouldn't want me anyway...