May I suggest that you need to get your facts straight. This statement is just not true, or misleading as to what the program is about. The website says:
--"Each local team is: ...5.Affiliated in a reporting capacity with the local Catholic diocese or, in certain instances and with express permission, another denomination in which it has been formed"
Of the 7 items that describe each team on the website, NOT ONE talks about the experience of the peers or the team. Buried on another page it does talk about team members having come out of the program. HOWEVER, although similar, the grief of a divorced is NOT the same as the grief from the death of a spouse. One cannot really empathize with the other. It is like people who tell me they understand how I feel being recently widowed because they felt badly when their dog died. (Yes, someone told me that). Although I appreciate their trying to make me feel better, they don't have a clue.
--the founders were NOT widowed. According to the website which highlights them, they were a nun and a divorcee'. Neither of which has a clue about losing a spouse to death. The peers who lead the program are only leading what people who do not understand a widow or widower's grief:
"In 1973, Sister Josephine Stewart, a family counselor at the Catholic Renewal Center in Fort Worth, Texas and a divorced friend, Jo Lamia, attended a Marriage Encounter weekend with the intention of developing a program for engaged couples.In the course of the weekend, Ms. Lamia adapted the Marriage Encounter process to face issues and concerns in her own life that had never been addressed. At the close of the weekend, Sister Josephine saw a profound change occur in her friend.
Sister Josephine and other professionals in grief resolution, counseling, psychology, education and spiritual renewal, adapted what Ms. Lamia had written to outline the process for the Beginning Experience weekend."
It is Catholic in origin, but doesn’t cater to Catholic. It’s about the grief you are going through. Again, the grief of someone divorced, is NOT the same as someone who lost a spouse. Apples and oranges.
The website also states that it is for people of all faiths and is based on Christian tradition. This a very far cry from teaching that Jesus Christ is our true hope and joy and our Comforter.
It ends with a Mass, but you don’t have to participate if you don’t want to. However, I have seen many of other faiths stay for the Mass just to bring an end to the weekend experience.
Of course it ends with a mass. It is Roman Catholic. Somewhere on the sight it talked about how the "eucharist" is essential to the weekend. That is catering to Roman Catholicism. You can't tell me it doesn't.
Comforting those who mourn is not about an "experience". It is not about talking to others in small groups. It is not about telling people it is normal to be angry. (Sin is normal in this fallen world, but that doesn't mean we should encourage others to sin.)
Comforting those who mourn the loss of a beloved spouse is all about pointing them to Jesus. My greatest comfort comes from people speaking the Word to me, or reading it, or the great hymns of the faith. Jesus Christ is our comfort. Not some "weekend experience". A great disfavor is done when recommending someone find a release from their pain in such a man-centered "program".
Very helpful analysis, and edifying reflections as well. I have lost both my parents, my brother, and all my beloved uncles. But each passing had its unique burdens and sorrows. I do not wish to even think about life without my wife, or her loss of me. It was devastating to my father when mom died, even though we had been long prepared for it. I am sorry for your loss, but your point is well taken. The only real comfort is in the love of Christ quieting our hearts by the Spirit of God, and the promise of our redemption and resurrection through Him.
Peace,
SR