JasonV
29th July 2007, 01:47 AM
Liberal Catholics and the Liberal Catholic Church International
As there has been some confusion over the difference between “liberal Catholics” and the Liberal Catholic Church, I thought a few words of explanation might be in order.
"Liberal Catholics" are, for the most part, members and post-members of the Roman Catholic Church which falls under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Rome. This Church is the largest single “branch” of the One Holy Catholic And Apostolic Church. (Some might even call it the “root and trunk” of The Church.)
The Liberal Catholic Church International is but a twig in comparison to her sister Church under His Holiness Benedict XVI. The Liberal Catholic Church was founded in England in 1916, having changed it’s name from the Old Catholic Church of Great Britain in order to clarify that it was no longer under the jurisdiction of the Utrecht Union of Old Catholic Churches in Holland. It was also at this same time that the college of Bishops of the newly reorganized Church elevated +James Ingall Wedgwood to the Episcopate and elected him as Presiding Bishop of the Church.
+Wedgwood was consecrated and came under the Apostolic Succession of +Frederick Samuel Willoughby, who was consecrated by +Arnold Harris Mathew. While some Anglicans and Old Catholics have called into question +Mathew’s Orders, I here provide you with a lineage of succession as per the Consecrator, back to the same +Scipione Cardinal Rebiba from whom 99% of all Roman Catholic clergy received their Apostolic Succession:
+Arnold Harris Mathew
+Gerard Gul
+Casparus Johannes Rinkel
+Johannes van Santen
+Johannes Bon
+Willibord van Os
+Gilbert Cornelius de Jong
+Johannes Jacobus van Rhijn
+Adrianus Johannes Broekman
+Gaulterus Michael van Nieuwnhuizen
+Johannes van Stiphout
+Petrus Johannes Meindaarts
+Dominicus Marie Varlet
+Jacques Goyon de Matignon
+Jacques Benigne Bousuette
+Charles Maurice Le Tellier
+Antonio Cardinal Barberini
+Giovanni Battista Scanaroli
+Luigi Cardinal Caetani
+Ludovico Cardinal Ludovisi
+Galeazzo Sanvitale
+Girolamo Cardinal Bernerio
+Guilio Antonio Cardinal Santorio
+Scipione Cardinal Rebiba
The Liberal Catholic Church grew and spread around the globe and established missions in western Europe, the United States, Canada, Venezuela, South Africa, India and Australia. In the late 1940’s, the Regionary Bishop of the United States, +Charles Hampton, found himself being ousted uncanonically by the Presiding Bishop in England, +Frank Waters Pigott, and at the urging of his flock, separated from the rest of the LCC. This body became what is today known as the Liberal Catholic Church International.
For many years, due to its emphasis of Freedom of Belief, no definitive statement of "Official Teachings" of the Church existed. In response to the many inquiries of persons interested knowing more about the Church, the General Episcopal Synod saw fit in 1994 to assemble a list of teachings that they felt reflected the character of the LCCI. A heavily edited version follows here. It should be understood, however, that these statements are teachings, but not required beliefs. The Church’s stance on freedom of thought has not been abandoned.
-We teach the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
-We teach that God the Father is the Creator and Preserver of Mankind and that His love shall never fail.
-We teach that the historic Jesus is the Christ, who is also the Ancient of Days. We teach that He was incarnated (born of the Virgin Mary), crucified, resurrected and ascended.
-We teach that there are seven Sacraments: Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Absolution, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Holy Unction, and Holy Orders.
-We teach that the minor orders (Cleric, Doorkeeper, Reader, Exorcist, and Acolyte) are intended primarily to assist the candidate in his own spiritual growth and life. We teach that the major orders (Deacon, Priest, and Bishop) are intended primarily to assist the Christian Community. Subdeacon is an intermediate stage. Both men and women may be ordained to any of these levels.
-We teach that the Holy Scriptures, the Creeds, and the Traditions of the Church are the means by which the teachings of Christ have been handed down to His followers. We teach that they are fundamental, true, and sufficient as a basis for right understanding and right conduct.
-We teach that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are inspired in a general sense only, and can in no way be construed as verbally infallible. We hold that the books of the Old Testament are of unequal value.
-We teach that all Christian worship is valid, of whatever kind, so long as it is earnest and true.
-We teach that everyone shall "one day reach His Feet, however far they stray."
In conclusion, while there may be some similarities held by those who are “liberal Catholics” under the Holy See, and those few members of the Liberal Catholic Church International, it would be incorrect to say that they are one and the same. While both groups share the same fundamental goal of teaching of the Gospel and distribution of the Sacraments, the diversity between them in other theological matters remains wide.
As there has been some confusion over the difference between “liberal Catholics” and the Liberal Catholic Church, I thought a few words of explanation might be in order.
"Liberal Catholics" are, for the most part, members and post-members of the Roman Catholic Church which falls under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Rome. This Church is the largest single “branch” of the One Holy Catholic And Apostolic Church. (Some might even call it the “root and trunk” of The Church.)
The Liberal Catholic Church International is but a twig in comparison to her sister Church under His Holiness Benedict XVI. The Liberal Catholic Church was founded in England in 1916, having changed it’s name from the Old Catholic Church of Great Britain in order to clarify that it was no longer under the jurisdiction of the Utrecht Union of Old Catholic Churches in Holland. It was also at this same time that the college of Bishops of the newly reorganized Church elevated +James Ingall Wedgwood to the Episcopate and elected him as Presiding Bishop of the Church.
+Wedgwood was consecrated and came under the Apostolic Succession of +Frederick Samuel Willoughby, who was consecrated by +Arnold Harris Mathew. While some Anglicans and Old Catholics have called into question +Mathew’s Orders, I here provide you with a lineage of succession as per the Consecrator, back to the same +Scipione Cardinal Rebiba from whom 99% of all Roman Catholic clergy received their Apostolic Succession:
+Arnold Harris Mathew
+Gerard Gul
+Casparus Johannes Rinkel
+Johannes van Santen
+Johannes Bon
+Willibord van Os
+Gilbert Cornelius de Jong
+Johannes Jacobus van Rhijn
+Adrianus Johannes Broekman
+Gaulterus Michael van Nieuwnhuizen
+Johannes van Stiphout
+Petrus Johannes Meindaarts
+Dominicus Marie Varlet
+Jacques Goyon de Matignon
+Jacques Benigne Bousuette
+Charles Maurice Le Tellier
+Antonio Cardinal Barberini
+Giovanni Battista Scanaroli
+Luigi Cardinal Caetani
+Ludovico Cardinal Ludovisi
+Galeazzo Sanvitale
+Girolamo Cardinal Bernerio
+Guilio Antonio Cardinal Santorio
+Scipione Cardinal Rebiba
The Liberal Catholic Church grew and spread around the globe and established missions in western Europe, the United States, Canada, Venezuela, South Africa, India and Australia. In the late 1940’s, the Regionary Bishop of the United States, +Charles Hampton, found himself being ousted uncanonically by the Presiding Bishop in England, +Frank Waters Pigott, and at the urging of his flock, separated from the rest of the LCC. This body became what is today known as the Liberal Catholic Church International.
For many years, due to its emphasis of Freedom of Belief, no definitive statement of "Official Teachings" of the Church existed. In response to the many inquiries of persons interested knowing more about the Church, the General Episcopal Synod saw fit in 1994 to assemble a list of teachings that they felt reflected the character of the LCCI. A heavily edited version follows here. It should be understood, however, that these statements are teachings, but not required beliefs. The Church’s stance on freedom of thought has not been abandoned.
-We teach the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
-We teach that God the Father is the Creator and Preserver of Mankind and that His love shall never fail.
-We teach that the historic Jesus is the Christ, who is also the Ancient of Days. We teach that He was incarnated (born of the Virgin Mary), crucified, resurrected and ascended.
-We teach that there are seven Sacraments: Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Absolution, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Holy Unction, and Holy Orders.
-We teach that the minor orders (Cleric, Doorkeeper, Reader, Exorcist, and Acolyte) are intended primarily to assist the candidate in his own spiritual growth and life. We teach that the major orders (Deacon, Priest, and Bishop) are intended primarily to assist the Christian Community. Subdeacon is an intermediate stage. Both men and women may be ordained to any of these levels.
-We teach that the Holy Scriptures, the Creeds, and the Traditions of the Church are the means by which the teachings of Christ have been handed down to His followers. We teach that they are fundamental, true, and sufficient as a basis for right understanding and right conduct.
-We teach that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are inspired in a general sense only, and can in no way be construed as verbally infallible. We hold that the books of the Old Testament are of unequal value.
-We teach that all Christian worship is valid, of whatever kind, so long as it is earnest and true.
-We teach that everyone shall "one day reach His Feet, however far they stray."
In conclusion, while there may be some similarities held by those who are “liberal Catholics” under the Holy See, and those few members of the Liberal Catholic Church International, it would be incorrect to say that they are one and the same. While both groups share the same fundamental goal of teaching of the Gospel and distribution of the Sacraments, the diversity between them in other theological matters remains wide.