As known, Amsterdam is among the few cities in the world with an official recognized apparition of the Holy Virgin
Mary. But during a mass gathering of 31,000 youngsters of the Neocatechumenal Way on the 30th April 2005 (a Dutch National
holiday known as Queens Day) the organisation kicked out a group of Dutch Catholics because they had a flag with the image
of this by the Roman Catholic Church renowned apparition.
Official, the Neocatechumenal Way claims to work in the spirit of service to the local bishop and in communion
with him and in the context of the unity of the local church and the universal Church" and that the Neocatechumenal Way is
implemented in the dioceses under the direction of the diocesan Bishop. That is what they say... but what they do is something
else...
What to think about an organization that does not allow catholic girls to wave a flag with the image of the by
the diocesan Bishop recognized apparition.
This causing a heavy discussion about the nature of the Neocatechumenal Way. On several catholic discussion boards,
e.g. RK Nieuwsnet/Rorate and the Ave Forum the nature of the Neocatechumenal Way was questioned. Was it just another branch
of Opus Dei to dicipline the youth? How they dare to refuse the local Holy Virgin. Also calls to oppose future gatherings
of the Neocatechumenal Way in Holland were made.
