This headline was brought to my attention recently. The article was an Associated Press article written by Nicole Winfield and picked up by several newspapers. I first saw it in The Herald-Sun out of Durham, NC. A link to the entire article at another source can be found here… http://www.startribune.com/world/103776194.html?page=2&c=y.  Why would I take time to review this article here? What caught my attention?

   First, this post is not the place to write about the differences between groups such as Protestants and Catholics. One main theme of this blog has been noting the characteristics of religious controlling groups. Some of these groups have been called “cults”. Over the years, these controlling religious groups or “cults” have been found within many “Christian” groups as well as other groups who claim no Christian foundation or background. The basis for these comparisons has been from my experiences during my time at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) led by Jane Whaley and certain references books. Many of these books have been accounts of cult survivors or books from experts on the subject.

   Therefore, it should be no surprise that I found this article of great interest. The opening paragraph – “It’s a life regimented in excruciating detail, down to the way they eat an orange. Silence is the norm, information is limited, e-mail is screened, close friendships are discouraged and family members are kept at bay— all in the name of God’s will.”  Several of the things mentioned here struck a note in me as I remembered my time at WOFF.

    Nicole Winfield writes that the “consecrated women” group is a part of a larger order called Legionaries of Christ. This larger group has been under investigation by the Vatican after alleged abuses by the founder/leader- Rev. Marcial Maciel of Mexico. He founded the group in 1941. Maciel had been accused of sexual abuses and fathering at least three children. From the findings, the Vatican in 2006 did sanction the founder to a lifetime of penance and prayer. Only after his death in 2008, did the order admit that the leader had fathered the children in question and that the abuse allegations were true.

    During this Vatican investigation, the conditions of the lay wing called “Regnum Christi” came to light. The group has as many as “70,000 members in more than 30 countries who have families and regular jobs yet participate in the mission of bringing people closer to Christ.” Of that number “only 900 are consecrated” in the manner in question. The Vatican has ordered a rare full investigation into the consecrated women group after learning certain things. Most of the participants in the group are women but, “also a handful are men.”

    The participants of in this group accept “the Vatican-approved statutes that require them to “voluntarily renounce the use of their capacity for decision-making”—pledging unswerving obedience to their superiors.”  Pardon me? Former members have been cited in interviews with several news agencies as giving more detail as to the life within the group. They “told of enduring emotional, psychological and spiritual abuse at the hands of superiors who told them they would be violating God’s will if they broke any rules. They said their experiences left them, at least temporarily, unable to cope with real life once they got out.” Can any former members of WOFF or groups like WOFF relate to these statements?

    “I felt like I was brainwashed,” says a former member only being identified as “J”. The hidden identity was for fear of retaliation by present members. Hello? Do we have any similarities here? You may ask – which part, the brainwashed feeling or the retaliation? Okay, just pick one or both. From emails and statements of former WOFF members to me – both would apply here. This same person being interviewed goes on to say, “I really thought it was a mortal sin to break any one of the little rules that were laid out by the statues or the directress.” Yes, the Gospel of Grace was apparently not lived in this Catholic group either.

    Former members of this “consecrated group” had other eerily familiar things to say about their life within the group. They “told of having their lives manipulated by strict rules that occupied nearly every waking minute of their day and by the endless search for new recruits.”  Former WOFF members: When was there one waking minute of your day that you were not aware of the rules of WOFF? Also, were you constantly aware that you were a member of WOFF?  Yes, also that there was a duty to tell Jane if there was anyone who you came in contact with that asked questions and could be a potential member? The rules of WOFF in many ways defined the WOFF experience. The rules of WOFF, the WOFF-lifestyle and the WOFF-consciousness were ever consuming. If you think not, then how long did you go after breaking a WOFF rule and not dread the consequences of that rule violation being discovered? The rules of WOFF conformed and confirmed the behavior of WOFF members in ways that made you a WOFF member first and foremost. Therefore the reality was being a “Christian” was secondary and rested on the one’s success of being in WOFF. Does that ring true with others? Can those who live with or around WOFF members attest to this observation?

   Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog.  Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

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      (Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. ) Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 192.