Aging Trendies

It is hard to know how to characterise these groups, who dissent on practically every aspect of Church teaching. What they have in common is that they are part of a phenomenon left over from the 1970s, the golden era of dissent, when it seemed possible that the Church would simply abolish clerical celibacy, ordain women, have lay-led Eucharists and in general 'get with it'.

Those who marry the spirit of the age are condemned to become widows. And this is what has happened to these sad people. What is astonishing, and scandalous, is that in certain ways they are still able to use Catholic resources and influence Catholics. For this reason they need to be exposed for what they are.

Click on the names to see our full dossier on each group.

Catholics for a Changing Church formerly 'Catholic Renewal Movement'. A collection of aging 'trendies' who dissent from the Church's teaching on an enormous range of issues: not only sexual morality but sacramental theology, the liturgy, authority in the Church, the ordination of women, etc. etc.. Many of their views on these other issues are present in the background of the single-issue groups, with many of which they have close links. An important part of a network of dissent.

Advent Group This is composed of former Catholic priests and religious, who, having abandoned their vows, now campaign to end celibacy for the clergy, and for their members to be reinstated in pastoral ministry, partly on the basis of views of the priesthood completely incompatible with Catholic teaching. Another part of the network of dissent.

Catholic Charismatic Renewal Big in the 1980s and early 1990s, their bizarre mixture of Catholicism with what they openly describe as Pentecostalism is now firmly on the wane. In continues to do damage, however, by exposing young Catholics to exaggerated and entirely untested claims of healing and spiritual experiences, and fostering a focus on feelings rather than the sacraments and the Church's teaching.