Gingerbread Houses: Small Faith Communities the Call-To-Action Way

Gingerbread Houses: Small Faith Communities** (SFC’s) the "Call To Action" Way

** Also known and referred to elsewhere as Base Communities, (Ecclesial) Basic Communities, small faith sharing groups, small Christian communities, "house churches," and the like

There are "good" SFC’s, and there are "bad" SFC’s.

"Good" SFC’s adhere to the Criteria of "Ecclesiality" (click here to see) as manifested primarily by:

Living in unity with the local Church and the universal Church.

Careful attention to educating their members in the fullness of the Christian Faith through the listening to the Word of God, fidelity to the teaching of the Magisterium, to the hierarchical order of the Church and to the sacramental life.

cf Evangelii Nuntiandi, element 58; Instruction on Christian Freedom and Liberation, element 69 (issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith)

"Good" SFC’s "decentralize and organize the parish community, to which they always remain united….Within them, the individual Christian experiences community and therefore senses that he or she is playing an active role and is encouraged to share in the common task. Thus, these communities become a means of evangelization and of the initial proclamation of the Gospel, and a source of new ministries. At the same time, by being imbued with Christ’s love, they also show how divisions, tribalism and racism can be overcome…..Every community, if it is to be Christian, must be founded on Christ and live in him, as it listens to the word of God, focuses its prayer on the Eucharist, lives in a communion marked by oneness of heart and soul, and shares according to the needs of its members (cf Acts 2:42-47)….’they are thus cause for great hope for the life of the Church.’"
cf Redemptoris Missio, element 51

An example of what is presently one of the (unfortunately) few movements around that uses the model of a "good" SFC is the Cenacle movement as designed by the Eucharistic Apostles of the Divine Mercy (PLEASE click HERE to visit their site for additional information on these Cenacles).

"Bad" SFC’s, on the other hand:

Foster a spirit of bitter criticism of the Church, which they are quick to stigmatize as "institutional"

Set themselves up in opposition as charismatic communities, free from structures and inspired only by the Gospel.

Are characterized by an attitude of fault-finding and of rejection with regard to the Church’s outward manifestations: her hierarchy, her signs.

Such communities are therefore radically opposed to the Church.
cf Evangelii Nuntiandi, element 58

As you can see, the above description, for "Bad" SFC’s, suggests the type of underlying attitudes and motives driving the efforts of Call To Action (CTA)---see links at bottom of page.

"Bad" SFC’s, by cutting themselves off—by word or in fact---from the universal Church and her Magisterium [the only True and Certain ‘expert in humanity’ (Sollicitudo rei Socialis, element 41)], end up personally and collectively becoming self-centered and isolated, and thereafter in grave error w/r personal conduct or doctrine, and therefore in heresy and schism (Catechism of the Catholic Church, element 817). Such a turning away from the source of Truth can only turn "unity" into chaos, and any so-called "diversity" they profess to proclaim into confusion and lack of True meaning (cf Gaudium et Spes, element 24).

The result is not unlike those desert scenes of death and desolation shown on pages elsewhere at this Eingedi website. Such small-group slouchings toward un-Truth and a false sense of Salvation or liberation provided by such "bad" SFC’s result in anything but an "Authentic Human Ecology."

More grimly, however, it is like luring Hansel and Gretel into a gingerbread house. You know the rest of the story. You just hope that their Father (Who Art in Heaven) finds them (and they find Him) in time to be saved by returning to the source of all Holiness and Truth.

Given here is an external link to a site that describes the problems (whose number is legion) associated with the SFC program known as RENEW 2000. If the report at that link is to be believed, RENEW 2000 is actually one of the ‘gingerbread houses" encouraged by Call To Action and the like.

If you are alarmed and displeased with the thrusts, and the underlying attitudes and motives driving such programs in your local Church or (Arch)diocese, the following steps should be taken:

In accordance with Matthew 18:15-20, the following individuals should be consulted in this order:

Your Pastor; THEN

Your (Arch)Bishop; THEN

His Eminence
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Piazza del S. Uffizio 11
00193 Rome, Italy
FAX: 011-396-6988-3409

ENFORCEMENT ACTION in accordance with CANON LAW is also available through the St. Joseph Foundation, and you are encouraged to seek it as necessary and appropriate.

Contact:
Chuck Wilson
St. Joseph Foundation
11107 Wurzbach Road
San Antonio, Texas 78230
Phone (210) 697-0717

LINKS
Interfering with an Authentic Human Ecology
IS Call To Action 'Rooted in Church Teaching'?
Call To Action and Married Priests
Women Priests: The Goal of Call To Action

The preceding can be found at the anchor Page titled Poisoned Waters, which was developed to inform people of the threat to an Authentic Human Ecology posed by the various groups and individuals (and their underlying attitudes and motives) promoting the formation of the "Bad" kinds of Small Faith Communities.
You may also visit these other anchor Pages at Eingedi:

Other Pages of interest at Eingedi may include:
Improving Our Environment
Why Things Are So Messed Up

Criteria of Ecclesiality for Lay Groups enumerated (click here to return to top)

The primacy given to the call of every Christian to Holiness

The responsibility of professing the Catholic faith, embracing the truth about Christ, the Church and humanity, in obedience to the Church’s Magisterium as the Church interprets it, such that the faith is proclaimed as well as taught in its total content

The witness to a strong and authentic communion in filial relationship to the Pope

Taken from Christifideles Laici, element 31