Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00707)

Pedro wrote: "At no time have Besant's and Leadbeater's books been declared 
OFFICIAL literature of the [Liberal Catholic] Church, although some of them 
were recommended reading like, for example, some editions of the Bible. From 
its inception, the LCC has had only four official documents: The Statement
of Principles, Summary of Doctrine, General Constitution and Code of
Canons. Even its Liturgy, which is the basis for its many services, is
not among its official documents."

A word of advice: if you’re about to become a bishop in a church, it might be 
worthwhile becoming familiar with its Constitution. Paragraph 41 of the 
Liberal Catholic Church General Constitution reads: “Official Documents 
defined: This Constitution, the authorized liturgy of the Church and the 
authorized Statement of Principles and Summary of Doctrine shall constitute 
the official documents of the Church.” 
If “its Liturgy, which is the basis for its many services, is not among its 
official documents” why does the Constitution say it is?

Perhaps Pedro might read “Unit 5: The Liberal Catholic Church: Doctrine, paper 
3: Liberal Catholic Doctrine, Volume I: General Outline” by the former 
Presiding Bishop Sten von Krusenstierna (published by the Liberal catholic 
Institute of Studies) in which the late bishop writes: “The official doctrine 
of the Liberal Catholic Church is to be found in the Liturgy and The Statement 
of Principles and Summary of Doctrine.” (p.30)

Perhaps Pedro might also read the minutes of the General Episcopal Synod held 
in 1959 ["The Liberal Catholic" XXXI.6, April, 1959:175-176] in which the 
Synod lists books declared by it to be (a) suitable texts for teaching the 
philosophy of the Church to the people and (b) recommended as material for the 
study of those being prepared for the priesthood. Not a single standard 
Christian text (or edition of the Bible!) or anything on neo-Platonism, 
Clement of Alexandria or Origen is included. The works include Annie 
Besant's “Esoteric Christianity”, the standard works of Leadbeater and a few 
other Theosophists writing in the same vein. There is no equivalent list 
issued by the Synod to endorse any works other than those within the Adyar TS 
tradition. Good effort at straining at gnats in noting these have not been 
declared to be "OFFICIAL literature", but if nothing else is recommended 
literature what can that mean?

One might enquire just how Leadbeaterian elements, like the “First Ray 
Benediction” (derived from Besant’s ES), the portrait of the Lord Maitreya 
which has traditionally been placed above the altar, and the “ray jewels” in 
the altar and in “ray crosses” around a Liberal Catholic Church can be located 
within the theology of Neo-Platonism or of Clement of Alexandria and Origen – 
of any scheme other than Leadbeaterian theosophy.


Dr Gregory Tillett