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Many Windows, but One Light
Written by Bishop Jack StaffordAs one might expect from the label “free,” Free Catholic communities do not come under the authority of the Pope or the Roman Catholic Church nor any earthly government. However, Free Catholic communities are truly Catholic, which comes from a Greek word,katholikos. This word means ‘universal’ and describes any community that takes part in the universal church under Jesus Christ.
In faithfulness to the idea of Catholic Christianity, the Free Catholic Church seeks to be an all-inclusive community of communties. Because our faith is universal, our fellowship and relationships must be as well.
The term Catholic also often suggests a particular approach to Christianity:
sacramental, ecclesial, served by bishops, and concerned with reason and tradition in addition to Scripture.
There are several precedents for this kind of autonomous Catholicism, not least of which being Eastern Orthodoxy.
The Orthodox claim to be (part of) the “one holy catholic and apostolic church” by confessing the Nicene Creed, and they are self-governed, looking to several significant Patriarchs (especially the Patriarch of Constantinople) for guidance.
The Anglican Church, which formally began as the Church of England under Henry VIII, is also part of the Catholic tradition and has a long history of independence from any one governing authority.
Many churches in the Free Catholic movement trace their history to the Utrecht Union of Roman Catholic Bishops in the Netherlands. This community continued following the ancient traditions of the Church when Rome, in the 18th century, demanded authority over the election of bishops, which previous Popes had allowed the communities to choose themselves. The disagreement became final during the years leading up to Vatican I in the 19th century, and many free churches were formed by the Old Catholics of Utrecht or obtained episcopal consecrations from that church.
Christian unity is an important concern to Free Catholic communities and Eucharistic fellowship with Roman Catholics is something we pray and hope for.
Free Catholic communities welcome all baptized Christians, regardless of denomination or tradition, to receive the Holy Eucharist in all its parishes.
Ancient Faith For a Modern WorldThe Free Catholic Church of America recognizes and accepts that there is a body of teaching and mystical experience common to all the great religions of the world.
These spiritual realities have been a part of humanity from time immemorial and cannot be claimed as the exclusive possession of any one religion or faith tradition.
While we are a community that is distinctly Christian in our traditions and forms of worship and sacramental life, we recognize the inspiritation of all the great religions of the world.
Religions may stress particular aspects of the universal teachings and some aspects may even temporarily be ignored. These teachings, as facts in nature, rest on their own intrinsic merit. They form that true catholic faith which is catholic because it is a statement of universal principles.
The Free Catholic Church of America is a community of communities, practicing the universal faith in the ancient catholic tradition. Catholic simply means "universal" and refers to believers throughout all ages, regardless of tradition or religion.
We celebrate the traditional seven sacraments of the Church, namely Baptism, the Holy Eucharist (Communion), Confirmation, Reconciliation (confession), Marriage, Holy Orders (ordination of deacons-priests-bishops) and anointing of the sick.
We also have received and preserve the connection to the Apostles of Jesus through the practice of Apostolic Succession, the unbroken line of succession from the Apostles to today's ministers through the laying on of hands.
Really Catholic?The Church is the “Body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27). The communities of the Free Catholic Church of America are part of that One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
In the New Testament, every local congregation is called a church (1 Cor.1:2, Gal. 1:2, Col. 1:2, Eph. 1:1). In this sense, there are many churches. The distinguishing feature of a true church of Christ is not submission to the Bishop of Rome or any other human authority, but our love for each other (John 8:31; John 13:35).
The various churches we read about in the New Testament, even though they were different in character and emphasis, recognized each other as members of the same one true church of Jesus Christ. They were genuinely catholic and universal in their outlook.
Tragically, many people mistake the Roman Catholic Church for the one true church of Jesus Christ. In Christian theology, the word "catholic" describes the entire church of Jesus Christ. The word "catholic" simple means "universal".
All God's people from every nation and in every era, together form the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church (Gal. 3:28, Acts 2:42).
One denomination, Roman Catholic or otherwise, cannot be regarded as the exclusive Church of Jesus Christ. Other communities are valid manifestations of His Church, despite the differences in some doctrines and practices.
In the Free Catholic Church of America, we embrace all people as dear brothers and sisters, despite the different denominational or faith tradition labels we wear. We refuse to be compelled to look at the Church, or spirituality in general, from such a narrow and sectarian perspective that would force us to exclude ".... all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-their Lord and ours" (1 Corinthians 1:2).
No denomination or local assembly is perfect in doctrine or practice. The reality is the church, God's family, is found in all the local assemblies of Christians that love each other (see John 13:35).
In faithfulness to the idea of Catholic Christianity, the Free Catholic Church seeks to be an all-inclusive community of communties. Because our faith is universal, our fellowship and relationships must be as well.
The term Catholic also often suggests a particular approach to Christianity:
sacramental, ecclesial, served by bishops, and concerned with reason and tradition in addition to Scripture.
There are several precedents for this kind of autonomous Catholicism, not least of which being Eastern Orthodoxy.
The Orthodox claim to be (part of) the “one holy catholic and apostolic church” by confessing the Nicene Creed, and they are self-governed, looking to several significant Patriarchs (especially the Patriarch of Constantinople) for guidance.
The Anglican Church, which formally began as the Church of England under Henry VIII, is also part of the Catholic tradition and has a long history of independence from any one governing authority.
Many churches in the Free Catholic movement trace their history to the Utrecht Union of Roman Catholic Bishops in the Netherlands. This community continued following the ancient traditions of the Church when Rome, in the 18th century, demanded authority over the election of bishops, which previous Popes had allowed the communities to choose themselves. The disagreement became final during the years leading up to Vatican I in the 19th century, and many free churches were formed by the Old Catholics of Utrecht or obtained episcopal consecrations from that church.
Christian unity is an important concern to Free Catholic communities and Eucharistic fellowship with Roman Catholics is something we pray and hope for.
Free Catholic communities welcome all baptized Christians, regardless of denomination or tradition, to receive the Holy Eucharist in all its parishes.
Ancient Faith For a Modern WorldThe Free Catholic Church of America recognizes and accepts that there is a body of teaching and mystical experience common to all the great religions of the world.
These spiritual realities have been a part of humanity from time immemorial and cannot be claimed as the exclusive possession of any one religion or faith tradition.
While we are a community that is distinctly Christian in our traditions and forms of worship and sacramental life, we recognize the inspiritation of all the great religions of the world.
Religions may stress particular aspects of the universal teachings and some aspects may even temporarily be ignored. These teachings, as facts in nature, rest on their own intrinsic merit. They form that true catholic faith which is catholic because it is a statement of universal principles.
The Free Catholic Church of America is a community of communities, practicing the universal faith in the ancient catholic tradition. Catholic simply means "universal" and refers to believers throughout all ages, regardless of tradition or religion.
We celebrate the traditional seven sacraments of the Church, namely Baptism, the Holy Eucharist (Communion), Confirmation, Reconciliation (confession), Marriage, Holy Orders (ordination of deacons-priests-bishops) and anointing of the sick.
We also have received and preserve the connection to the Apostles of Jesus through the practice of Apostolic Succession, the unbroken line of succession from the Apostles to today's ministers through the laying on of hands.
Really Catholic?The Church is the “Body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27). The communities of the Free Catholic Church of America are part of that One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
In the New Testament, every local congregation is called a church (1 Cor.1:2, Gal. 1:2, Col. 1:2, Eph. 1:1). In this sense, there are many churches. The distinguishing feature of a true church of Christ is not submission to the Bishop of Rome or any other human authority, but our love for each other (John 8:31; John 13:35).
The various churches we read about in the New Testament, even though they were different in character and emphasis, recognized each other as members of the same one true church of Jesus Christ. They were genuinely catholic and universal in their outlook.
Tragically, many people mistake the Roman Catholic Church for the one true church of Jesus Christ. In Christian theology, the word "catholic" describes the entire church of Jesus Christ. The word "catholic" simple means "universal".
All God's people from every nation and in every era, together form the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church (Gal. 3:28, Acts 2:42).
One denomination, Roman Catholic or otherwise, cannot be regarded as the exclusive Church of Jesus Christ. Other communities are valid manifestations of His Church, despite the differences in some doctrines and practices.
In the Free Catholic Church of America, we embrace all people as dear brothers and sisters, despite the different denominational or faith tradition labels we wear. We refuse to be compelled to look at the Church, or spirituality in general, from such a narrow and sectarian perspective that would force us to exclude ".... all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-their Lord and ours" (1 Corinthians 1:2).
No denomination or local assembly is perfect in doctrine or practice. The reality is the church, God's family, is found in all the local assemblies of Christians that love each other (see John 13:35).