Pope Benedict XVI has asked the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to investigate whether the Neocatechumenal Way is violating liturgical norms in celebrating special community Masses, according to Sandro Magister of L’Espresso. Magister - who has been critical of the Neocatechumenal Way in the past - reports that Pope Benedict is keenly concerned about the group’s unique liturgical practices.
Magister writes that the CDF will meet to discuss the matter sometime before the end of this month.
In January, the Pope welcomed members of the Neocatechumenal Way to the Vatican and gave an enthusiastic endorsement of their work in the field of evangelization.
However, according to the Vatican-watcher for L’Espresso, the Pope was much less enthusiastic about the group’s special liturgies.
Also in January, the Pontifical Council for the Laity approved the ceremonies outlined in the Catechetical Directory of the Neocatechumenal Way.
But the Vatican approval noted that the group remained bound by the ordinary liturgical norms of the Church.
In his personal statement to the members, Pope Benedict also noted that the group’s special ceremonies are not liturgical, and he urged members of the Neocatechumenate to observe the liturgical directives of the universal Church and their diocesan bishops.
According to Magister, Pope Benedict was concerned about changes in the Mass celebrated in the communities of the Neocatechumenal Way, and at his request the CDF set up a panel to assess the group’s liturgical practices.
“All of the judgments expressed were critical of the Masses of the Neocatechumenals,” Magister claims.