Re: Theos-World The new liberal catholic church
Mar 15, 2006 08:41 PM
by Cass Silva
LIBERAL CATHOLIC CHURCH
The Liberal Catholic Church was established in England in 1916 through a reorganization of the former Old Catholic Church in Great Britain, the new movement quickly spread to other countries, and in 1918 adopted its distinctive name, The Liberal Catholic Church. Formed by Archbishop Arnold Harris Mathew born at Montpellier, Herault in France in 1852.
Archbishop Mathew ordained a number of Theosophists to the Priesthood, knowing that they were Theosophists and knowing about their philosophy. In an about-face the Archbishop suddenly demanded that they all withdraw from membership in the Theosophical Society, and when they demurred at this breech of agreement, he bowed out and declared the whole movement "terminated."
This left them free to act as they should deem best, but without a bishop. Bishop Willoughby, who had been elected from among their number by their votes (though not a Theosophist), and from whom Archbishop Mathew had since parted company, passed on the Apostolic Succession to them by consecrating James Ingall Wedgwood to the Episcopate as Presiding Bishop of the now autonomous body, in London on February 13, 1916. He in turn consecrated Charles Webster Leadbeater to the Episcopate in Sydney, Australia in July of that year
The Liberal Catholic Church - Summary of Doctrine
1. The Liberal Catholic Church teaches the existence of God, infinite, eternal, transcendent and immanent. He is the one essence from which all forms of existence are derived. 'In him we live and move and have our being' (Acts 17:28).
2. God manifests in his universe as a Trinity, called in the Christian religion Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three Persons in one God, co-equal and co-eternal; the Father the cause of all, the Son the Word who was made flesh and dwelt among us, the Holy Spirit the life-giver, the inspirer and sanctifer.
3. Man is a complex of spirit, soul and body. The spirit of man made in the image of God is divine in essence. Therefore he cannot cease to exist, he is eternal and his future is one whose glory and splendour have no limit.
4. Christ ever lives as a mighty spiritual presence in the world, guiding and sustaining his people. The divinity which was manifest in him is gradually being unfolded in every man until each shall come 'unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ' (Eph. 4:13).
5. The world is the theatre of an ordered plan, according to which the spirit of man, by repeatedly expressing himself in varying conditions of life and experience, continually unfolds his powers. This spiritual unfoldment takes place under an inviolable law of cause and effect. 'Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap' (Gal. 6:7). His doings in each physical incarnation largely determine his experience after death in the intermediate world (or world of purgation) and the heavenly world, and greatly influence the circumstances of his next birth. Man is a link in a vast chain of life extending from the highest to the lowest. As he helps those below him, so also he is helped by those who stand above him on the ladder of life, receiving thus a free gift of grace. There is a communion of saints, just men made perfect or holy ones, who help mankind. There is a ministry of angels.
6. Man has ethical duties to himself and to others. 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment and the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets'. (Matt.22:37-40). It is the duty of man to learn to discern the divine light in himself and others, that light 'which lighteth every man' (John. 1:9). Because men are sons of God they are brothers and inseparably linked together. That which harms one harms the entire brotherhood. Hence a man owes it as a duty to the God both within himself and others, first, to endeavour constantly to live up to the highest that is in him, thereby enabling that God within himself to become more perfectly manifest, secondly, to recognize the fact of that brotherhood by constant effort towards unselfishness, by love of, consideration for, and service to his
fellow-men. The service of humanity, reverence for all life and the sacrifice of the lower self to the higher are laws of spiritual growth.
7. Christ instituted various sacraments in which an inward and spiritual grace is given to us through an outward and visible sign. There are seven rites which may be ranked as sacraments, namely, Baptism, Confirmation, the Holy Eucharist, Absolution, Holy Unction, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders. The doctrine of these sacraments is sufficiently set forth in the authorized Liturgy of The Liberal Catholic Church. Christ, the living head of the church which he founded, is the true minister of all sacraments. (source: (10))
The Liberal Catholic Church was established in England in 1916 through a reorganization of the former Old Catholic Church in Great Britain, the new movement quickly spread to other countries, and in 1918 adopted its distinctive name, The Liberal Catholic Church. Formed by Archbishop Arnold Harris Mathew born at Montpellier, Herault in France in 1852.
Archbishop Mathew ordained a number of Theosophists to the Priesthood, knowing that they were Theosophists and knowing about their philosophy. In an about-face the Archbishop suddenly demanded that they all withdraw from membership in the Theosophical Society, and when they demurred at this breech of agreement, he bowed out and declared the whole movement "terminated."
This left them free to act as they should deem best, but without a bishop. Bishop Willoughby, who had been elected from among their number by their votes (though not a Theosophist), and from whom Archbishop Mathew had since parted company, passed on the Apostolic Succession to them by consecrating James Ingall Wedgwood to the Episcopate as Presiding Bishop of the now autonomous body, in London on February 13, 1916. He in turn consecrated Charles Webster Leadbeater to the Episcopate in Sydney, Australia in July of that year
The Liberal Catholic Church - Summary of Doctrine
1. The Liberal Catholic Church teaches the existence of God, infinite, eternal, transcendent and immanent. He is the one essence from which all forms of existence are derived. 'In him we live and move and have our being' (Acts 17:28).
2. God manifests in his universe as a Trinity, called in the Christian religion Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three Persons in one God, co-equal and co-eternal; the Father the cause of all, the Son the Word who was made flesh and dwelt among us, the Holy Spirit the life-giver, the inspirer and sanctifer.
3. Man is a complex of spirit, soul and body. The spirit of man made in the image of God is divine in essence. Therefore he cannot cease to exist, he is eternal and his future is one whose glory and splendour have no limit.
4. Christ ever lives as a mighty spiritual presence in the world, guiding and sustaining his people. The divinity which was manifest in him is gradually being unfolded in every man until each shall come 'unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ' (Eph. 4:13).
5. The world is the theatre of an ordered plan, according to which the spirit of man, by repeatedly expressing himself in varying conditions of life and experience, continually unfolds his powers. This spiritual unfoldment takes place under an inviolable law of cause and effect. 'Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap' (Gal. 6:7). His doings in each physical incarnation largely determine his experience after death in the intermediate world (or world of purgation) and the heavenly world, and greatly influence the circumstances of his next birth. Man is a link in a vast chain of life extending from the highest to the lowest. As he helps those below him, so also he is helped by those who stand above him on the ladder of life, receiving thus a free gift of grace. There is a communion of saints, just men made perfect or holy ones, who help mankind. There is a ministry of angels.
6. Man has ethical duties to himself and to others. 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment and the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets'. (Matt.22:37-40). It is the duty of man to learn to discern the divine light in himself and others, that light 'which lighteth every man' (John. 1:9). Because men are sons of God they are brothers and inseparably linked together. That which harms one harms the entire brotherhood. Hence a man owes it as a duty to the God both within himself and others, first, to endeavour constantly to live up to the highest that is in him, thereby enabling that God within himself to become more perfectly manifest, secondly, to recognize the fact of that brotherhood by constant effort towards unselfishness, by love of, consideration for, and service to his
fellow-men. The service of humanity, reverence for all life and the sacrifice of the lower self to the higher are laws of spiritual growth.
7. Christ instituted various sacraments in which an inward and spiritual grace is given to us through an outward and visible sign. There are seven rites which may be ranked as sacraments, namely, Baptism, Confirmation, the Holy Eucharist, Absolution, Holy Unction, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders. The doctrine of these sacraments is sufficiently set forth in the authorized Liturgy of The Liberal Catholic Church. Christ, the living head of the church which he founded, is the true minister of all sacraments. (source: (10))
Details of these rituals are given in C W Leadbeater's book "Science of the Sacraments". Details of these rituals are given in C W Leadbeater's book "Science of the Sacraments".
---------------------------------
Yahoo! Mail
Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Back to Top]
Theosophy World:
Dedicated to the Theosophical Philosophy and its Practical Application
