About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

62 Jurist 92 (2002)
The Neocatechumenal Way: Background, Exposition, and Canonical Analysis of the Statute

handle is hein.journals/juristcu62 and id is 94 raw text is: THE JURIST 62 (2002) 92-113 THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY: Background, Exposition, and Canonical Analysis of the Statute ROSE MCDERMOTT, SSJ* Introduction Conciliar teachings have spurred many members of the Christian faithful to accept their responsibilities as sharers in the mission entrusted by God to the Church.1 A wide variety of movements2 have developed which cannot find nor wish to take their place within traditional ecclesi- astical structures. Institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life have gained few vocations from these movements, and the Church has been both stimulated and agitated by their presence. They remain a thorn in the side, a nagging reminder to ecclesiastical authorities that institutional renewal must always be accompanied by prophetic inspiration. John Paul II has been an avid supporter of these movements. He rec- ognizes them as the fruits of the council and the leaven of a new evange- lization.3 While papal approval has confirmed their presence and accept- ability in the Church, the issue of their relationship to the existing structures and ecclesial communities remains in many instances a co- nundrum. Experience has shown that some of the movements lack the or- ganizational structures that assure stability and protect charisms. Some may enjoy a passing presence and mission as admonitions to the institu- tional Church of her serious responsibilities for implementing the prophetic conciliar mandates. Or the traditional church structures may need to embrace and support these phenomena.4 The latter is certainly in * Associate Professor of Canon Law, Catholic University of America. Canon 204 §1. 2 For an interesting discussion of these phenomena, see Alberto Melloni, Move- ments. On the Significance of Words, Concilium 'Movements' in the Church (2003/3) 7-26. 3 Ibid. 17. 4 The Church remains open to new forms of consecrated life in canon 605.

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most