Japan’s Catholic bishops have asked the Neocatechumenal Way to cease activities in the country for the next five years.
Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki told CNA on Dec.
15 that the bishops’ proposal, made directly to the Way’s founder, Kiko
Arguello, has so far not been accepted.
The Japanese bishops discussed the proposal in a Dec. 13 closed door meeting in Rome with Pope Benedict, CNA says.
Archbishop Takami indicated that the Pope was not comfortable with the plan.
He said the problems are difficult to resolve.
The Way, he said, “has
made a lot of trouble in the Takamatsu Diocese in many areas.”
He said that following his own experiences with one Way priest and
hearing of similar problems from other bishops, he had decided not to
permit their ministry in his archdiocese.
Problems are related not only to authority but also to the way the Mass is celebrated.
While Way priests use the vernacular Japanese in the Mass, songs and
chants used in the celebrations are not.
“They use everything they have
according to the spirituality of Kiko, which is very, very different
from our culture and our mentality,” Archbishop Takami said.
There is also the question of finances.
The Way keeps its finances
apart from those of the parish, which makes reporting to the government
difficult and makes parishes weaker.
He explained the proposal that the bishops had made to Way cofounder, Kiko Arguello.
The Way would cease operations for five years and use that time “to reflect on their activities in Japan,” he explained.
“At the end, after the five years,” said Archbishop Takami, “we will
be ready to discuss things with them. We don’t want them to leave and
never come back. No, no. We want them to work in a way that we would
like, for that they will have to learn the Japanese language and
particularly Japanese culture.”
SIC: CTH/ASIA