CHICAGO, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- A Chicago-based religious group has been banned from meeting in archdiocese facilities for misrepresenting Catholic teachings.
"While they have been functioning here for a number of years, the 'Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission' has no official approval as a lay movement or as a religious order in the Catholic Church," Cardinal Francis George said in a statement.
The statement came after a 6-month review of the group by church officials.
The Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission was founded 12 years ago. It held weekly prayer meetings in nearly 100 Catholic churches in the Midwest. Concerns about the group manipulating scripture and forcing separation from family surfaced years ago. The Chicago Tribune reports recent controversy over a 19-year-old leaving her family and joining the group as a sister prompted church officials to take action.
Leaders of the group say the purpose is to bring people closer to God.
