Ever since I co-authored More Catholic Than the Pope with Patrick, people have asked me what to look for when evaluating a new religious movement. Here are twenty signs of trouble to look out for.
Ever since I co-authored More Catholic Than the Pope with Patrick, people have asked me what to look for when evaluating a new religious movement. Here are twenty signs of trouble to look out for.
sounds a lot like a group i won't name. i'll probably get stones thrown at me if i do.
Rich Leonardi and at least one of his commenters wondered on Rich's new blog whether Pete was making jabs at Opus Dei. Perhaps that is the group Jayson is referring to but won't name.
Opus Dei is not a cult. I received spiritual instruction from one of their priests for a number of months, until he had to moved to a new position as a university chaplain. Not once did he encourage me to join. He did recommend St. Escriva's writings as a spiritual help, but he never tried to coerce me to do anything.
I thought it sounded more like, ahem, another controversial group.
Who, the Moonies? They used to fit a lot of those categories, but they fit fewer of them these days.
Opus Dei is a personal prelature, not a cult.
1) This was written based upon the experiences of three individuals -- myself, Fr. Morrisey, and Dr. Langone -- with hundreds (and probably thousands) of different groups.
2) Although there are a few groups that strongly came to mind as I wrote this, Opus Dei is not one of them.
I think I know what group RC is thinking of, but if I post it it ruins all the fun of everyone guessing on their own. I will say though, I think the group's name starts with an L. Am I right, RC?
The Lion's Club?
The Lefebvrists? The Liguorians? The Legionnaires of Christ? The Libertarians? The Luddites?
Are you looking at the membership cards you carry in your wallet, Coward?
Well, OK, I'll narrow it down: the group's name contains either two vowels or two consonants next to one another. :-)
Are you looking at the membership cards you carry in your wallet, Coward?
How did you know?!
I was thinking of the Legionaries. Not that I actually think they're a cult, just that they do seem to get quite a bit of criticism for several of the things on the list...
The Lion's Club though... hmmmm.... LOL.