Worldwide Communion of Catholic Apostolic Churches: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 05:52, 12 August 2007

Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Méndez, patriarch of ICAN 1964-present

The Worldwide Communion of Catholic Apostolic National Churches (Portuguese Igrejas Católicas Apostólicas Nacionais) (ICAN), is a confederation of sixteen national Christian church bodies, founded in the 1950s by Dom Carlos Duarte Costa of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church. The communion is currently headed by Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Méndez, who serves as Patriarch of the communion and Primate of the Brazilian church.

History

Dom Carlos Duarte Costa was a Brazilian Roman Catholic bishop (from 1924-1937) who pressed for social justice and church reform at a faster pace than the Church was willing to adopt at that time. He was removed from leadership of his diocese in 1937, and in 1945 left the Roman Catholic Church completely to form the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church. Duarte Costa consecrated additional bishops who went on to found similar autonomous national churches in various other countries.

By 1964 there were eight national churches affiliated with ICAB, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.^[1] As of 2007 there are sixteen national churches in the ICAN communion.

In recent years the membership of the ICAN communion has fluctuated, with a number of member national churches coming and going. The United States affiliates are illustrative of this phenomenon. In 1949 Bishop Stephen Corradi-Scarella was consecrated by Dom Carlos Duarte Costa, and went to New Mexico in the United States to establish a work there. This group, which later became the Western Orthodox Church in America (WOCA), gradually fell out of relationship with the Brazilian church. In 1985 the relationship was re-established when Dom Luis Castillo Méndez of Brazil signed a concordat with WOCA under the leadership of Bishop C. David Luther. However, in 1990 the Brazilian church severed the relationship with WOCA for doctrinal and canonical reasons, and signed a concordat with an offshoot of WOCA, the Catholic Apostolic Church in North America (CACINA), led by Bishop Francis Jerome Joachim-Ladd.^[2] By 1997 this relationship too had collapsed, and the Brazilian church entered that year into communion with the Charismatic Episcopal Church of the U.S., only to see this new relationship fail to materialize.^[3] In 2005 a concordat was signed between ICAB and the Catholic Apostolic National Church (formerly known as the Old Catholic Church). Then in July 2007 a concordat was signed with the Communion of Christ the Redeemer, which is now the official ICAN presence in the U.S.

Beliefs

While the various member churches of the Communion have some variety in their beliefs, all hold to certain key elements.

Member churches accept the Nicene, Apostles', and Athanasian creeds,^[4] and observe seven sacraments (baptism, Eucharist, confirmation, penance, unction, ordination, and matrimony).^[5]

The churches practice open communion for all Christians who acknowledge the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

The Church acknowledges divorce as a reality of life which is permitted in Holy Scripture, and will marry divorced persons and baptize the children of divorced or single parents.^[6]

The Communion maintains the historic three-fold ordained ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons. It holds that apostolic succession is maintained through the consecration of its bishops in unbroken personal succession back to the apostles. All bishops in the Communion trace their line of succession back to Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa, who was consecrated in the Roman Catholic Church. Every consecration strictly follows the Roman Pontifical.

Ordained clergy are allowed to marry.

Organization

The Communion maintains one official member church in each country where the Communion has a presence.

The Communion is governed by the International Bishops Council, consisting of the five members of Executive Council of the Communion, along with the Primates of each member church. The International Bishops Council meets every three years.

Member churches

As of July 2007, member churches of the Communion include:

Argentina: Iglesia Católica Apostólica Argentina - joined 1972

Australia: Australian Catholic Church - joined 1992

Belgium: Gemeenschap van de Goede Herder[1]

Bolivia: Catholic Apostolic Church of Bolivia

Brazil: Igreja Católica Apostólica Brasileira - founded 1945

Canada: La Fraternité Sacerdotale Saint Jean l’Évangéliste - joined 1990

Colombia: Iglesia Católica Nacional - joined 2005

Costa Rica: The Catholic Apostolic Church of Costa Rica

Czech Republic: The Catholic Apostolic Church of the Czech Republic

Ecuador: The Catholic Apostolic Church of Ecuador

France: The Catholic Apostolic Church of France

Guatemala: Fr. Eduardo Aguirre received as of July 2007

Italy: The Catholic Apostolic Church of Italy

Mexico: Iglesia Católica Apostólica Mexicana

Philippines: Congregacao de Sao Carlos do Brasil - joined 1985

Spain: The Catholic Apostolic Church of Spain

United Kingdom: Catholic Apostolic National Church

United States: Communion of Christ the Redeemer - joined July 2007

References

^ Peter F. Anson, Bishops at Large, London: Faber & Faber, 1963, p. 6 Addenda
^ Randolph A. Brown, "A Concise History of the Western Orthodox Church in America"
^ William J. Tighe, "Anglican Taxonomy" in Touchstone Magazine website, Oct. 22, 2006
^ "What We Believe", ICAN website (July 7, 2007)
^ Santa Rita de Cassia church website
^ "Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church" in Enciclopédia TioSam (copied July 6, 2007)

External links

[1] Peter F. Anson, Bishops at Large, London: Faber & Faber, 1963, p. 6 Addenda

[2] Randolph A. Brown, "A Concise History of the Western Orthodox Church in America"

[3] William J. Tighe, "Anglican Taxonomy" in Touchstone Magazine website, Oct. 22, 2006

[4] "What We Believe", ICAN website (July 7, 2007)

[5] Santa Rita de Cassia church website

[6] "Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church" in Enciclopédia TioSam (copied July 6, 2007)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 By 1964 there were eight national churches affiliated with ICAB, including [[Argentina]], [[Bolivia]], [[Chile]], [[Panama]], [[Paraguay]], [[Peru]], [[Uruguay]], and [[Venezuela]].<ref>Peter F. Anson, ''Bishops at Large'', London: Faber & Faber, 1963, p. 6 Addenda</ref>  As of 2007 there are sixteen national churches in the ICAN communion.
-In recent years the membership of the ICAN communion has fluctuated, with a number of member national churches coming and going.  The United States affiliates are illustrative of this phenomenon.  In 1949 Bishop Stephen Corradi-Scarella was consecrated by Dom Carlos Duarte Costa, and went to [[New Mexico]] in the United States to establish a work there.  This group, which later became the Western Orthodox Church in America (WOCA), gradually fell out of relationship with the Brazilian church.  In 1985 the relationship was re-established when Dom Luis Castillo Méndez of Brazil signed a concordat with WOCA under the leadership of Bishop C. David Luther. However, in 1990 the Brazilian church severed the relationship with WOCA for doctrinal and canonical reasons, and signed a concordat with an offshoot of WOCA, the Catholic Apostolic Church in North America (CACINA), led by Bishop Francis Jerome Joachim-Ladd.<ref>[http://home.comcast.net/~woca/History.htm Randolph A. Brown, "A Concise History of the Western Orthodox Church in America"] </ref>  By 1997 this relationship too had collapsed, and the Brazilian church entered that year into communion with the [[Charismatic Episcopal Church]] of the U.S., only to see this new relationship fail to materialize.<ref>[http://merecomments.typepad.com/merecomments/2006/10/anglican_taxono.html William J. Tighe, "Anglican Taxonomy" in ''Touchstone Magazine'' website, Oct. 22, 2006]</ref>  In 2005 a concordat was signed between ICAB and the Catholic Apostolic National Church (formerly known as the Old Catholic Church).<ref>[http://www.oldcatholic.com/history.html Catholic Apostolic National Church website]</ref>  Then in July 2007 a concordat was signed with the [[Communion of Christ the Redeemer]], which is now the official ICAN presence in the U.S.
+In recent years the membership of the ICAN communion has fluctuated, with a number of member national churches coming and going.  The United States affiliates are illustrative of this phenomenon.  In 1949 Bishop Stephen Corradi-Scarella was consecrated by Dom Carlos Duarte Costa, and went to [[New Mexico]] in the United States to establish a work there.  This group, which later became the Western Orthodox Church in America (WOCA), gradually fell out of relationship with the Brazilian church.  In 1985 the relationship was re-established when Dom Luis Castillo Méndez of Brazil signed a concordat with WOCA under the leadership of Bishop C. David Luther. However, in 1990 the Brazilian church severed the relationship with WOCA for doctrinal and canonical reasons, and signed a concordat with an offshoot of WOCA, the Catholic Apostolic Church in North America (CACINA), led by Bishop Francis Jerome Joachim-Ladd.<ref>[http://home.comcast.net/~woca/History.htm Randolph A. Brown, "A Concise History of the Western Orthodox Church in America"] </ref>  By 1997 this relationship too had collapsed, and the Brazilian church entered that year into communion with the [[Charismatic Episcopal Church]] of the U.S., only to see this new relationship fail to materialize.<ref>[http://merecomments.typepad.com/merecomments/2006/10/anglican_taxono.html William J. Tighe, "Anglican Taxonomy" in ''Touchstone Magazine'' website, Oct. 22, 2006]</ref>  In 2005 a concordat was signed between ICAB and the Catholic Apostolic National Church (formerly known as the Old Catholic Church).  Then in July 2007 a concordat was signed with the [[Communion of Christ the Redeemer]], which is now the official ICAN presence in the U.S.
 ==Beliefs==
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 Member churches accept the [[Nicene Creed|Nicene]], [[Apostles' Creed|Apostles']], and [[Athanasian Creed|Athanasian]] creeds,<ref>[http://www.catholic-ican.org/index-2.html "What We Believe", ICAN website (July 7, 2007)]</ref> and observe seven [[sacraments]] ([[baptism]], [[Eucharist]], [[confirmation]], [[confession|penance]], [[anointing of the sick|unction]], [[ordination]], and [[marriage|matrimony]]).<ref>[http://www.santaritadecassia.xpg.com.br/icab.htm Santa Rita de Cassia church website]</ref>
-The churches practice [[open communion]] for all Christians who acknowledge the [[Real Presence]] of Christ in the Eucharist.<ref>[http://www.catholic-ican.org/index-2.html "What We Believe", ICAN website (July 7, 2007)]</ref>
+The churches practice [[open communion]] for all Christians who acknowledge the [[Real Presence]] of Christ in the Eucharist.
 The Church acknowledges divorce as a reality of life which is permitted in [[Holy Scripture]], and will marry divorced persons and baptize the children of divorced or single parents.<ref>[http://igreja-catolica-apostolica-brasileira.tiosam.com/enciclopedia/texto.asp?title=Igreja_Cat%C3%B3lica_Apost%C3%B3lica_Brasileira "Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church" in ''Enciclopédia TioSam'' (copied July 6, 2007)]</ref>
-The Communion maintains the historic three-fold ordained ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons.  It holds that [[apostolic succession]] is maintained through the consecration of its bishops in unbroken personal succession back to the apostles.  All bishops in the Communion trace their line of succession back to Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa, who was consecrated in the Roman Catholic Church. Every consecration strictly follows the Roman [[Pontifical]].<ref>[http://www.catholic-ican.org/index-2.html "What We Believe", ICAN website (July 7, 2007)]</ref>.
+The Communion maintains the historic three-fold ordained ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons.  It holds that [[apostolic succession]] is maintained through the consecration of its bishops in unbroken personal succession back to the apostles.  All bishops in the Communion trace their line of succession back to Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa, who was consecrated in the Roman Catholic Church. Every consecration strictly follows the Roman [[Pontifical]].
 Ordained clergy are allowed to marry.