“Gradually they isolate their members from other family members and friends, and cause them to give up other goals and activities to meet their growing cult needs”
This may seem contradictory to the previous tactic, yet they really are related. Once they seek out their families and friends for conversion and they are less than thrilled about yours, you tend to leave these for “greener pastures”. This is because reaching out for new disciples is the main focus of cults whereas our Church teaches in Cat 853 (see above) it is ONLY upon the “way of penance and renewal” that we increase the L-rd’s reign on earth through the call to evangelize, and to judge another as somehow less or deficient to us because they do not accept our testimony is take the job of converting out of the Holy Spirit’s hands. Indeed to distance ourselves from family, friends, community activities and responsibilities of citizenship is contrary to what the Church teaches:
“The fourth commandment is addressed expressively to children in their relationship to their father and mother, because this relationship is the most universal. It likewise concerns ties of kinship between members of the extended family. It requires honor and affection, and gratitude toward elders and ancestors. Finally, it extends to the duties of pupil to teachers, employee to employers, subordinates to leaders, citizens to their country, and to those who administer or govern it.
“The commandment includes and presupposes the duties to parents, instructors, teachers, leaders, magistrates, those that govern, all who exercise authority over others or over community of persons.”
Some might think this interpretation of the fourth commandment is a quantum leap, but is it any higher than saying just looking at a woman is adultery, or just saying “You fool” can land you in Gehenna? Yet our Savior told us these and His Church is led to speak truth by digging into the spiritual root of the commandment. Children honor their parents to learn to accept human authority for the greater good of society and by living this honor of the society they live when leave home they also “live long in the land the L-rd gives you”.
So we are to honor these outside institutions and partake in them, but what about the tactic of limit outside activities and long term goal not connected on the group? Does the Church speak on this tactic? Actually, she does:
Cat.1879: “The human person needs to live in society. Society is not for him an extraneous addition but a requirement of his nature. Through the exchange with others, mutual service and dialog with his brethren, man develops his potential; he thus responds to his vocation.” (cf. GS 25 paragraph 1)
Cat.1905: In keeping with the social nature of man, the good of each individual is necessarily related to the common good, which in turn can be defined only in reference to the human person:
Do not live entirely isolated, have retreated into yourselves, as if you were already justified, but gather instead to seek the common good together.”
Cat 1910: Each human community possesses a common good which permits it to be recognized as such; it is in the political community that its most complete realization is found.
As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life. The manner of this participation may vary from one country or culture to another. “One must pay tribute to those nations whose system permit the largest possible number of citizens to take part in public life in the climate of genuine freedom. (GS 31 paragraph 3)
No community should command all their members’ time or choices. Even homesteading communities that produce everything need to go to church, local parks and playgrounds and other events to reconnect with others on the outside of their community. And we should be welcoming to those in our group who seek other activities, even if in time this draws them into another place than our own because this may be their calling, and if it is the L-rd will fill that empty spot. By doing this, we feel we are allowing the Holy Spirit to control communities, just as He should be in full control of our evangelization efforts.
