Community of the Chemin Neuf
| Community of the Chemin Neuf | |
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| Orientation | Roman Catholic |
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| Polity | Hierarchical |
| Leader | Laurent Fabre |
| Geographical areas | 30 countries |
| Official website | www.chemin-neuf.org.uk |
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The Community of the Chemin Neuf is a Catholic ecumenical community; which means that christians from all walks of life live and work together for the Gospel, regardless of which church they attend. [1] Created from a charismatic prayer group in 1973, it has currently around 2,000 members from all the major christian denominations in 30 countries. [2] Its main founder was the Jesuit father Laurent Fabre.[3] The community was the subject of criticism from a very small number of former members over ten years ago and also one French anti-cult association, none of which were substantiated nor were any legal proceedings taken against the community. The community is currently thriving and growing around the world and it's mission is to help people find Jesus Christ and bring peace to the world.[4]
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[edit] Practices
The community was named after the first meeting in Lyon, Montée du Chemin Neuf. It was founded in the Charismatic Renewal and remains heavily marked by the Ignatian spirituality. The community focuses its action on the principle of unity: unity of Christians, unity of men, unity of couples and families. It regularly organizes some retreats for couples, families and / or engaged (Cana) for the divorcees (Cana Espérance), for the divorcees and remarried (Cana Samarie), an international evangelization (Net for God / Fraternité Œcuménique Internationale (FOI)), as well as an evangelization in the neighbourhood (evangelization in the street, Alpha course), sessions for young people, theological, philosophical and artistic trainings, and retreats following the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola.
[edit] Status
The community is composed of lay and religious persons from all Christian denominations: Catholic, Anglican, Reformed, Orthodox. In 1984, it was recognized by Cardinal Renard, and became a Public Association of Faithful by Cardinal Albert Decourtray, archbishop of Lyon. This canonical status allowed it to teach the Christian doctrine on behalf of the Catholic Church and to promote public worship. From a civi point of view, the community was recognized as religious congregation by a decree from the Prime Minister of France, on 23 July 1993.
In France, the community has several branchs located in Lyon, Anse (69), Soleymieu (38), Hautecombe (73), Plantay (01), Sablonceaux (17), Tigery (91), Chartres (28), Bouvines (59), Marseille (13), Levallois (92), Paris (75), Villeurbanne (69), Lucé-Mainvilliers (28), Lille (59), Reims (51), Sophia-Antipolis (06), Angers (49). The community is also present in Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Egypt, United Kingdom, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Liban, Madagascar, Martinique, Maurice, Netherlands, Poland, Réunion, Switzerland, Chad.
[edit] Controversies
In the 1990s, a very small number of former community members accused it of being a cult practicing brainwashing and proselytism. However, none of these were founded in court.[5] French anti-cult association Centre contre les manipulations mentales also considered the community as a cult in its Dictionary of Cults.[6] Jérôme Dupré-Latour, a priest of the Diocese of Lyon, noted some cultic deviances, including strict obedience and authoritarian power.[7] Archbishop Jean Balland,[8] prist Jean Vernette,[9] and founder Laurent Fabre denied these accusations.[8]
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Communauté du Chemin Neuf |
[edit] References
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intentional_community
- ^ www.chemin-neuf.org.uk
- ^ (French) "La Communauté du Chemin Neuf". Conférence des évêques de France. http://www.eglise.catholique.fr/ressources-annuaires/guide-de-leglise/mouvements-et-associations/la-communaute-du-chemin-neuf.html. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
- ^ http://www.ccr.org.uk/archive/gn0705/g06.htm
- ^ Thierry Baffoy, Antoine Delestre, Jean-Paul Sauzet, Les Naufragés de l'Esprit, Des sectes dans l'Église catholique, Le Seuil editions, 1996
- ^ Dico des sectes, Annick Drogou, Milan edition, 1998
- ^ (French) "Communauté du Chemin Neuf Association publique de fidèles — Appréciation des statuts reconnus par le diocèse de Lyon". Troumad. http://troumad.info/sectes/partie_5/JDupres.php. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
- ^ a b (French) "Les charismatiques sont-ils sectaires ?". Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace. 1996-06-26. http://www.avipoc.org/presse/DNA-26-06-96-02.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
- ^ (French) Jean Vernette (2001-01-15). "L’Eglise catholique et les sectes". Conférence des évêques de France. http://www.cef.fr/catho/endit/sectes/sectes.rtf. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
- This article incorporates information from the revision as of 2009-08-14 of the equivalent article on the French Wikipedia.
