The American Catholic Church of New England
Most Rev. Stephen Edward Burke, MGC, Bishop Emeritus
Most Rev. Michael J. Scalzi | The American Catholic Church of New England | 2100 Linglestown Road | Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717.439.4769 | email: occmjs@comcast.net
Most Rev. Rosemary Ananis | St. Francis of Assisi Faith Community | 1107 Littlefield Road | Wells, ME 04090
Phone: 207.646.2820 | email: rananis@maine.rr.com
© 2008 ~ The American Catholic Church of New England
Most Rev. Stephen Edward Burke, MGC, Bishop Emeritus
Most Rev. Michael J. Scalzi | The American Catholic Church of New England | 2100 Linglestown Road | Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717.439.4769 | email: occmjs@comcast.net
Most Rev. Rosemary Ananis | St. Francis of Assisi Faith Community | 1107 Littlefield Road | Wells, ME 04090
Phone: 207.646.2820 | email: rananis@maine.rr.com
© 2008 ~ The American Catholic Church of New England
We Are Christians United to Christ by our baptism, we have received a new Christ centered identity, our lives no longer being our own, but rather belonging to God as revealed in Jesus Christ. As Christians we confess our faith in Jesus as the bearer of the love of God made personally present to us. We believe the love of God in Christ reaches out unconditionally to all humanity and is ultimately victorious over all barriers to it, even death. In our lives we seek by prayer and service to others to depend less and less upon ourselves, our fears, needs and wants and be led more and more by the love of God in Christ in all things.
We Are Catholics We accept as universal Catholic beliefs, a) The authority of the Catholic canonical Hebrew and Christian Bible as interpreted by tradition and reason as the revelation of God and guide to
Christian faith and living. b) The articles of faith as set forth in the Creeds of the Ecumenical Councils of the Church. c) We maintain the historic apostolic succession of bishops. d) We accept the seven sacraments of the Church. e) The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. f) We believe that faith in Christ is made known by works of love leading to a life of holiness. g) We believe in the Communion of Saints and by prayer seek their guidance and support in the life of faith. These are the traditional Catholic essentials we profess.
We Are Independent and Self Governing Like the ancient Catholic Churches we are self governing churches. Our bishops are elected by the General Synod. Synods and councils are composed of bishops, clergy and lay-persons who make the decisions needed to govern our common life.
We are related to the Old catholic Churches of Europe Formed in 1880 by Roman Catholic bishops and laity who did not accept the new doctrine of Papal Infallibility and the independent authority of the Pope to decide matters of faith and morals. Like Orthodox and Anglican Churches, we are independent of the jurisdiction of the Pope, and we are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church.
We Are Inclusive No distinctions are made on the basis of sex, race, gender orientation or identity, class, disability, marital status, divorce or remarriage,birth control or abortion. We welcome all who believe in Christ to the Baptismal Font and to the Table of the Lord, we bless the marriages of heterosexual and homosexual unions, we ordain qualified persons without regard to any of the above conditions. We believe that
Church is called to be a sign of God's unconditional love in the world and a reconciling presence helping to break down the dividing walls that separate us from a sense of our shared humanity and kinship in God our Creator.
We Are Apostolic Our bishops share in two lines of Independent Catholic Apostolic Succession, the first originating from the Old Catholic Church of Utrecht, and the second from the Catholic Apostolic Church of Brazil formed by ex Roman Catholic bishop, Carlos Duarte-Costa in 1946. An Apostle is one who has been sent on a mission. By our baptism into Christ we share not only his identity but also his mission. Our apostolate is to be an inclusive Church
seeking to minister to all, and be an advocate for justice for the poor and marginalized peoples in the world.
We Are Ecumenical We seek to share in full communion of ministries and sacraments with other Churches sharing our Catholic faith, inclusive welcome and apostolic mission. We welcome other Christian communities to a process of growing understanding through dialog, common prayer and shared service in the name of Christ. As a sign of our commitment to inclusion as the work of the Holy Spirit, we welcome all to the Eucharist who desire to receive Christ in the sacrament of Holy Communion.