CATHOLIC SECTS
Canon 1215 states that the faithful have the right to form associations. Furthermore it is the duty of the Bishops or the Holy See to discern; either to accept or to reject them. Normally a sect is a group of individuals who broke away from the Church. Technically a group is considered a sect when they are not recognized by and are not answerable to appropriate Church authority. These groups are outside the Church.
However there are groups within the Church that exhibit sect like behaviors, but who are technically are not sects. Some of these characteristics are:
• elite-ness
• tendencies to dominate
• utopian ideas
• rejecting societal values
• hostilities toward outsiders
• offering alternative ways of life
• harmful exaggerations
• over-enthusiastic promotion of beliefs
• fierce proselytizing
• overconfidence in their mission
• exclusiveness of salvation
• refusal to consider different opinions
Brainwashing, isolation, alienation from the world, estrangement from family, dependence on leaders, own structures within the Church and violation of human rights are some of the more troublesome traits of these groups – even though technically they are not sects.
If they look like ducks, swim like a ducks, quack like a ducks, have duck DNA – they aren't just perceived as ducks. They are ducks.
THE VATICAN REPORT:
