Category Archives: Japan

Small differences, then lack of direction and unity threatened true mission of the Church

ucanews.com, Japan

It has been half a year since I stepped down from my post as diocesan bishop of Takamatsu diocese. Now, as I look back on the circumstances I encountered in that role, I have decided it best to write a few words for the sake of the future.

First off, it is fair to say that there was something decidedly unusual in my reassignment to Takamatsu diocese, which came despite my being active bishop of Sendai at the time. That would never happen … Continue reading →

The country’s Neo-Cats need some time for reflection that will pave the way for dialog.

Over about the past 20 years, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan (CBCJ) has expended great time and energy on problems concerning the Neocatechumenal Way (which I refer to hereafter as simply ‘the Way’). To our extreme disappointment, these efforts have not improved the situation.

Of the passion and good intentions of the people of the Way, I have not the slightest doubt. Nevertheless, the Way’s activities over the past 30 years can in no way be called a success. The fact is that … Continue reading →

Bishop Osamu Mizobe of Takamatsu today issued a New Year pastoral letter titled “The Neocatechumenal Way” that described a visit by Japanese bishops to Rome to discuss problems that have arisen in connection with that movement in Japan.

The bishop announced that, “until we have received the visit of the special Envoy of the Holy Father all activities of the Neocatechumenal Way will be suspended in this diocese.”

Bishop Mizobe says that until now he has tried to deal with the problem of the Neocatechumenal Way in the Church in Japan “as quietly as possible,” hoping for “self-discipline.”

On … Continue reading →

Movement’s net effect has been negative conference president says.
ucanews.com special correspondent, Tokyo

The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan (CBCJ) has called for the cooperation of priests and laypeople to confront "problems" with the Neocatechumenal Way, which he says has had a negative effect in the country.

“In those places touched by the Neocatechumenal Way, there has been rampant confusion, conflict, division, and chaos," the Jesuit Archbishop of Osaka, Leo Jun Ikenaga, said in a statement published in Katorikku Shimbun, the Catholic Weekly of Japan, yesterday.

“In Japan, the net effect has been negative,” … Continue reading →

By Alan Holdren, Catholic News Service Rome Correspondent Vatican City, Dec 16, 2010 / 07:32 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Citing years of “trouble,” Japan’s Catholic bishops have asked the Neocatechumenal Way to cease activities in the country for the next five years.

Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki told CNA on Dec. 15 that the bishops’ proposal, made directly to the Way’s founder, Kiko Arguello, has so far not been accepted.

Archbishop Takami was reached by phone at his home in Nagasaki. Four other Japanese bishops took part in a Dec. 13 closed door meeting in Rome with Pope … Continue reading →

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Japanese bishops, including the president of the bishops’ conference, met with Pope Benedict XVI and top Vatican officials to discuss the Neocatechumenal Way.

The Dec. 13 meeting with four Japanese bishops had been called by Pope Benedict, said the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan, Archbishop Leo Jun Ikenaga of Osaka.

He told Catholic News Service that the meeting lasted nearly two hours and included the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and "several other cardinals."

While the archbishop would not comment on the substance … Continue reading →

TAKAMATSU BISHOP ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY SEMINARY
Japan Catholic News – Catholic Weekly, March 15, 2009

In a March 7 Lenten message to his diocese, Takamatsu Bishop Osamu Mizobe formally announced the closing of the much disputed international mission seminary Redemptoris Mater conducted by the NeoCatechumenal Way. He called on the faithful of Takamatsu for cooperation in executing the decision. The formal announcement was the latest step in a long controversy.

In Oct. 2007, after the diocesan advisory board declared its intention to close the Takamatsu school, the Vatican conducted further investigation. After complicated negotiations, in June … Continue reading →

From Union of Catholic Asian News:

ZY04894.1495 April 29, 2008 66 EM-lines (697 words)

VATICAN – Japanese Bishops Meet Pope For Second Time In Five Months

By Gerard O’Connell, Special Correspondent in Rome

ROME (UCAN) — In an extraordinary move, the Japanese Bishops’ Conference sent a delegation last week to discuss with Pope Benedict XVI "the serious problem" they are having with the Neocatechumenal Way and its seminary in Takamatsu diocese.

The four prelates went to the Vatican to seek the pope’s understanding and intervention to help resolve the situation.

It was the third time … Continue reading →