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No Such Thing as Liberal Catholicism
Written by Archbishop Jack Stafford
We have no animosity or "axe " to grind with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters, we just want them to Please stop mis-representing us. We do not mis-represent ourselves, we do Not claim to be "Roman Catholic," however we ARE legitimately and authentically "CATHOLIC", in the Fullest Apostollic and Sacramental meaning of Ancient Original Catholicism.While it is both humorous and frustrating, we are use to hearing this. The interesting thing is that it is being heard more frequently today because of the rapid communication made possible by the internet.
When you talk about "Catholics" it is natural that most people will assume that you are referring to "Roman Catholics," not realizing that there ARE "other" Catholics and that there IS Legitimate and Authentic Catholicism outside of Rome.
Likewise when a parishoner or other interested party asks a Roman Catholic clergyman about the "Liberal Catholics" the response is likely to be some pejorative about there being no such thing or that they are "heretics" or "schismatics, and aren't really "Catholic."
In such cases we have to politely ask the Roman clergy to please go back and do their homework.
First of all, for clarity of discussion let us state clearly and emphatically that we do NOT Mis-represent ourselves. We Do NOT claim to be "Roman" Catholic, never have, and see NO reason to ever do so. Our claim, backed up by historical documentation, is that there IS Authentic & Legitimate Catholicism outside of Rome. We represent a small body of those "other" Catholics.
The important historical benchmark for us is back in the 1870's after the first Vatican Council. The first Vatican Council enacted a new doctrine that was Not a part of the original Christian Deposit of Faith. The Doctrine of Papal Infallibility.. Several of the European Bishops questioned this unusual innovation in church doctrine, and refused to accept it, most notably the Archbishop of Utrecht in Holland. Other Bishops sided with him.
Rome tried to depose the Archbishop but he would not vacate his See. He was authentically the Bishop for that See, a True Apostle.
This was the beginning of what has historically become known as the "Old Catholic Movement." The "Catholicity" and "Holy Orders" of the Old Catholic Church Archepiscopal See of Utrecht have never been definitively denied by Rome. The Old Catholics have maintained the unbroken Episcopal succession and their legitimate claim as "Catholics"
In 1907 an interesting development took place. Father Francis Hodur, a Polish American priest was very concerned about the Pastoral care that immigrant Poles were recieving from the Roman Church, which was totally inadequate to their real needs. Their actual spiritual needs were neglected and not being addressed. This was a greatly widespread issue in the Polish communities across America. The Roman Church simply ignored them. Intending to rectify this situation Father Hodur went to the then Archbishop of Utrecht Gerardus Gul, and explained the situation to him.
On September 29, 1907 at St. Gertrudes' Cathedral in Utrecht, Archbishop Gul consecrated Father Hodur to the Episcopacy. On his return to America Bishop Hodur organized the Polish National Catholic Church. The Polish National Catholic Church is still an active Catholic Church body all over the world.
In a "HANDBOOK OF PRAYERS" published by the Midwest Theological Forum and Secpter Publishers in 1997, (ISBN #0-933932-60-X), and under the Authority and Approval of the Bishops Committee on Liturgy of the NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS, on page 95 under "Guidlines For Recieving Holy Communion" It is stated at the bottom of the third paragraph......
.." Members of the Orthodox churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does NOT OBJECT to reception of communion by Christians of these churches. (CIC844.3)"
On April 28, 1908 Father Arnold Harris Matthew was consecrated to the Episcopacy at St.Gertrudes Cathedral in Utrecht by Archbishop Gul. Bishop Matthew was to be the Bishop for the Old Catholic Church Province of Great Britain. In 1917 the successor Bishops to Bishop Matthew, Bishops James Ingall Wedgwood and Charles Webster Leadbeater re-organized the Old Catholic Church Province of Great Britain and renamed the body "THE LIBERAL CATHOLIC CHURCH",
It is from this date that The Liberal Catholic Church had a distinct identity from the Old Catholics, yet maintaining intact the Apostolic Succession derived from Archbishop Gul .
These are historical and documented Facts. How can they claim our Holy Orders are any different from the Holy Orders of the Polish National Catholic Church? Hello???
We have no animosity or "axe " to grind with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters, we just want them to Please stop mis-representing us. We do not mis-represent ourselves, we do Not claim to be "Roman Catholic," however we ARE legitimately and authentically "CATHOLIC", in the Fullest Apostollic and Sacramental meaning of Ancient Original Catholicism.
With this information there is no legitimate reason to deny our Catholicity. So the next time a Roman Catholic says that there is "No Such Thing As Liberal Catholicism,"
please politely tell them to "Go Back And Do Your Home Work."