American National Catholic Church

Last updated
American National Catholic Church
Classification Independent Catholic
Governance Mixture of episcopal and congregational polity
HeadBishop George R. Lucey, FCM
FounderBishop George R. Lucey, FCM
Origin2009
Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
Separated from Catholic Church
Congregations12
Members~2,000 [1]
Clergy 1 bishop
19 priests
Website www.americannationalcatholicchurch.org

The American National Catholic Church (ANCC) is an Independent Catholic church established in 2009. [2] The ANCC was founded with the mission of fully implementing its interpretation of the Second Vatican Council and is notably more liberal than the Roman Catholic Church in its acceptance of married clergy, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, the ordination of women, and use of contraception. [3]

Contents

Polity and beliefs

The ANCC rejects significant parts of the entire Roman Catholic deposit of faith; [4] it diverges from Roman Catholics regarding the ordination of women and in the realm of sexual morality. It does, however, hold belief in the Trinity, a form of apostolic succession, the salvific act of Christ, the economy of salvation, Mariology, and the number of sacraments. Although regarding itself as a contemporary expression of an ancient faith, it departs in many ways from the Roman Catholic Church. While it respects the Bishop of Rome, considering him "first among equals", it does not acknowledge his primacy or infallibility. [5]

Since its founding in 2009, the ANCC has embraced a path of intentional growth in recognition that many other Independent Catholic jurisdictions failed because they concentrated on quantity at the expense of quality. [6] The early stages of the Church's development focused, consequently, on establishing a strong foundation and solid infrastructure, both aimed at ensuring the Church's future. The American National Catholic Church states that it measures its growth in terms of four general aims:

The ANCC is congregational rather than hierarchical. [5]

The ANCC allows qualified women and gay persons to receive holy orders. Believing that the lived experience of married life can be an invaluable gift for ministry, the ANCC also welcomes married clergy. [5] The ANCC recognizes same-sex marriage. [6]

Clergy training

All clergy receive comprehensive theological training. After providing certificates of baptism and confirmation (and in the case of persons previously ordained, ordination), applicants must submit a detailed personal narrative, provide professional and personal references, and undergo exhaustive interviews with vocation/formation staff. Applicants must attend an ANCC retreat during which they are further evaluated. Applicants previously ordained in other Christian churches must complete a pastoral internship and a diaconate assignment of one year, after which an additional two-year discernment period is imposed before full incorporation into the ANCC. Only two percent of applicants are selected to study for the priesthood or for incardination. [3]

The Church's clergy possess numerous degrees from institutions of higher learning as well as degrees from accredited seminary programs from various universities. Candidates for ordination to the diaconate and priesthood receive a rigorous, comprehensive, academic and practical education. Criminal background checks and psychological evaluations are required of all applicants. [6] In 2010 the Church founded its own seminary, [6] St. John the Beloved Seminary, offering non-residential theological studies for those pursuing the priesthood. [8] As of 2015 there were three ANCC seminarians there. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apostolic succession</span> Claim that Christian Church leadership is derived from the apostles by a continuous succession

Apostolic succession is the method whereby the ministry of the Christian Church is considered by some Christian denominations to be derived from the apostles by a continuous succession, which has usually been associated with a claim that the succession is through a series of bishops. Those of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Scandinavian Lutheran, Anglican, Oriental Orthodox, Church of the East, Hussite, Moravian and Old Catholic traditions maintain that "a bishop cannot have regular or valid orders unless he has been consecrated in this apostolic succession". These traditions do not always consider the episcopal consecrations of all of the other traditions as valid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy orders</span> Sacraments in some Christian churches

In certain Christian denominations, holy orders are the ordained ministries of bishop, priest (presbyter), and deacon, and the sacrament or rite by which candidates are ordained to those orders. Churches recognizing these orders include the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, Assyrian, Old Catholic, Independent Catholic and some Lutheran churches. Except for Lutherans and some Anglicans, these churches regard ordination as a sacrament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Priest</span> Person authorized to lead the sacred rituals of a religion

A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities. Their office or position is the "priesthood", a term which also may apply to such persons collectively. A priest may have the duty to hear confessions periodically, give marriage counseling, provide prenuptial counseling, give spiritual direction, teach catechism, or visit those confined indoors, such as the sick in hospitals and nursing homes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clergy</span> Formal leaders within established religions

Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the terms used for individual clergy are clergyman, clergywoman, clergyperson, churchman, cleric, ecclesiastic, and vicegerent while clerk in holy orders has a long history but is rarely used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deacon</span> Office in Christian churches

A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordination</span> Process by which individuals are consecrated as clergy

Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination vary by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is undergoing the process of ordination is sometimes called an ordinand. The liturgy used at an ordination is commonly found in a book known as an Ordinal which provides the ordo for celebrations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seminary</span> Institution for educating students in theology

A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, in academics, or mostly in Christian ministry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minister (Christianity)</span> Religious occupation in Christianity

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Independent Catholicism is an independent sacramental movement of clergy and laity who self-identify as Catholic and form "micro-churches claiming apostolic succession and valid sacraments", in spite of not being affiliated to the historic Catholic church, the Roman Catholic church. The term "Independent Catholic" derives from the fact that "these denominations affirm both their belonging to the Catholic tradition as well as their independence from Rome".

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy orders in the Catholic Church</span> Ordination of clergy in the Roman Catholic Church

The sacrament of holy orders in the Catholic Church includes three orders: bishops, priests, and deacons, in decreasing order of rank, collectively comprising the clergy. In the phrase "holy orders", the word "holy" means "set apart for a sacred purpose". The word "order" designates an established civil body or corporation with a hierarchy, and ordination means legal incorporation into an order. In context, therefore, a group with a hierarchical structure that is set apart for ministry in the Church.

Dimissorial letters are testimonial letters given by a bishop or by a competent religious superior to his subjects in order that they may be ordained by another bishop. Such letters testify that the subject has all the qualities demanded by canon law for the reception of the order in question, and request the bishop to whom they are addressed to ordain him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Priestly Society of Saint Josaphat</span> Ukrainian Traditionalist Catholic society

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordination of women and the Catholic Church</span>

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References

  1. Strupp, Joe (April 5, 2019). "Behind New Jersey's Breakaway Catholic Movement". New Jersey Monthly . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  2. "About: History". American National Catholic Church. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Frequently Asked Questions". American National Catholic Church. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  4. "Catechism of the Catholic Church". Usccb.org. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  5. 1 2 3 "About: Beliefs". American National Catholic Church. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Cathy Lynn Grossman (October 16, 2012). "American National Catholic Church, An Independent Catholic Church, Offers Progressive Form Of Catholicism" . Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  7. "About: Mission". American National Catholic Church. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  8. "History «  American National Catholic Church". americannationalcatholicchurch.org. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  9. "Our Seminarians «  American National Catholic Church". americannationalcatholicchurch.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2015-12-01.