I noticed the are many Liberal Catholic Churchs. Does the Church consider this to be more reformation?

-- Roger (ro@yahoo.com), July 22, 2004

Answers

No. Any unauthorized deviation from the teaching of the Church and the requirements of Canon Law is a deformation, not a reformation.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), July 22, 2004.

I know this may sound ignorant, but are they still a part of the Catholic Church? They claim to trace their succession back to Peter.

-- Roger (ro@yahoo.com), July 22, 2004.

Perhaps you could be more specific about just which groups - or at least what kind of groups - you are referring to?

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), July 22, 2004.

I first heard of this church on the Fox News. I did a google search and its apparent there are churches world wide. I just didnt know if they are catolic or not.Here is a short blurb I copied. The church was founded by J.I. Wedgwood, a theosophist who was ordained in the Ancient Catholic Church by Arnold Harris Mathew (1913). Thus it claims apostolic succession going back to Rome. In the end Mathew came to vow allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church and advising his flock to resign membership of the Theosophical Society Adyar. This advice was not taken by many members. Wedgwood was voted Presiding Bishop. This started the organisation that would later become the Liberal Catholic Church. Wedgwood published articles within the Theosophical Society on ceremonial work. These interested C.W. Leadbeater, a prominent clairvoyant, and he was ordained to the priesthood in 1916.

-- Roger (ro@yahoo.com), July 22, 2004.

The "Ancient Catholic Church" to which Leadbetter, Matthews, etc. owe their "ordination" did not have the historical episcopate: its ordination is in origin Anglican (English) and the (Anglican) "Church of South India." The "Liberal Catholic Church" is part of the so- called "Old Catholic" family in America. None of these sects has valid orders, their clergy are recognized neither by the Catholic Church nor by the Easter Orthodox. They are just another example of the kind of heterodox sects that pop up all the time in America. Shun them, even the Episcopalians are a better choice.

-- observer (nospam@notmail.com), July 22, 2004.

The above answer is totally incorrect. I suggest you do a bit more research. The original orders came from Utrecht - which in turn came from Rome. The Old Catholic are considered valid, even if illicit, by the Latin Church (Rome - for the ignorant. If this is an example of the ignorance in the Roman Church, perhaps I will become an Episcopalian!

-- Ron (ecca@bigpond.net.au), August 05, 2004.

"If this is an example of the ignorance in the Roman Church, perhaps I will become an Episcopalian!"

Ron,

Maybe you should reevalute your choices in all things if your reasoning regarding Truth is relatively based on others or others actions...

Anyway, what is your point regarding Apostolic Succession... The apparent subject in question is are these 'Old Catholics' actually part of the one and only Catholic Church...

We can all trace ourselves back to Adam -so what?

Daniel////

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), August 05, 2004.

"We can all trace ourselves back to Adam -so what? "

Agreed!! Even Lucifer was an angel!

-- Hugh (hugh@inspired.com), August 06, 2004.