The estimable Peter Vere has listed some
fifteen 'warning signs' which canonists and churchmen use in evaluating new groups and associations within the Church. I wouldn't dispute the value of any or all of the 'warning signs'. All of them, I can see, have some basis as serious negative indicators. But as I go through, I keep imagining what a full enforcement of a few of them would look like - (1) direct and excessive obedience to the pope (over and above the direct diocesan ordinary), (5) immediate insistence on placing all goods in common, (6) claiming special revelations or messages as foundation of group, (8) special and severe penances imposed, (9) multiplicity of devotions without internal coherence, (11) special vows beyond the traditional three, (14) serious discontent with the previous institute of which certain members were part, and (2.5) complete severance of members members from the outside world. And I keep thinking - oops, there go the Franciscans, there go the Jesuits, there go the Benedictines, there go the Cistercians, etc., etc. In fact, the ones I listed above could be collected and fruitfully compared to a founding charter for some of our most traditional orders.
