Primitive Catholic

The term Primitive Catholic is used by a small but growing number of Christians, both in established Church bodies as well as in independent Christian congregations. The groups that are so described see themselves as restoring or revisiting the practices of the ancient Christian Church, but doing so in a more Catholic fashion than the Restoration Movement.[1] Many Primitive Catholics consider their tradition to be a form of Independent Catholicism, which is part of the larger Independent Sacramental Movement.

While both Primitive Catholics and Restoration Movement Christians would agree that the New Testament Church is the ideal, the two sides disagree on several issues—including the nature and extent of an ordained ministry within the Church (usually structured in an episcopal fashion) and the transmission of ecclesiastical authority through apostolic succession.[2] Most congregations and ecclesiastical bodies that use the term are Trinitarian in orientation, and appear to reject at least some elements of the Western doctrine of original sin (though some openly adhere to the Eastern form of the doctrine). All believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and hold to some form of liturgy. In general, in as much as it is possible today, Primitive Catholics aspire to live in the spirit of the Christian faith as it existed in one or many of its various forms in the apostolic era and first few centuries thereafter, before the Christian religion became intertwined with State politics and prior to the many doctrinal pronouncements which arose after the first Ecumenical council which sought to enforce greater and greater uniformity within Christian theology. While no central book exists within the movement, the early Christian pre-Nicene writings are regarded as especially relevant within Primitive Catholic theology.[3]. Minimizing dogmatism and ecclesiastical bureaucracy, Primitive Catholics would by and large accept the famous, much later Catholic aphorism attributed to Marco Antonio de Dominis, “In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas” (which translates as "in necessary things unity; in uncertain things liberty; in all things charity“).

Assemblies meet in a variety of settings, including established congregations, house churches, cell groups, and group Bible studies. Some of these models operate in combination in some ministries. Most tend to emphasize smaller, relational congregations or groups.[4][5]

Many Primitive Catholics are pacifists or believe in non-violent resistance, and strive for the separation of Church and State. Some eschew jury duty, participation in elections, and other civil involvement, seeing themselves as citizens of only the Kingdom of God.[6][7]

Some Primitive Catholics hold to very specific, detailed doctrinal statements; others adopt the scriptures and creeds as boundaries of fellowship. Some within the movement credit David Bercot with introducing them to the possibility of living out a truly primitive faith. Bercot was, at one time, an Anglican who began a small congregation in Texas that existed along Primitive Catholic lines, but he has since become an Anabaptist. Nevertheless, Bercot's popular tape series "What the Early Christians Believed" remains in distribution among Primitive Catholics both for theological education and, in some places, for Christian formation.

While the Roman Catholic Church is not in communion with Primitive Catholic churches, Primitive Catholics are permitted under the Roman Catholic Church’s 1983 Code of Canon Law to receive the sacraments of Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Annointing of the Sick from Roman Catholic priests under Canon 844,3.[8][9] An ecclesiastical jurisdiction known as the Primitive Catholic Church lays claim to having spiritual and historical connections with the church of the first century and to its clergy having valid apostolic succession, but its acceptance of women clergy and the remarriage of divorcees have called the claim into question by some in the movement.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ante-Nicene Christian Church : Persevering in the Faith Once for All Delivered Archived 2007-10-05 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Ante-Nicene Christian Church : Persevering in the Faith Once for All Delivered Archived 2007-10-05 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Early Christian Writings
  4. ↑ Ante-Nicene Christian Church : Persevering in the Faith Once for All Delivered Archived 2007-10-05 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ Living Faith Primitive Catholic Church | Ancient Faith - Present Witness - Ageless Spirit
  6. ↑ Ante-Nicene Christian Church : Persevering in the Faith Once for All Delivered Archived 2007-10-05 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ StellarCross: Civil Matters
  8. ↑ [http://www.ewtn.com/v/experts/showmessage.asp?number=420595&Pg=&Pgnu=&recnu= EWTN Primitive Catholic/Roman Catholic Question ]
  9. ↑ Code of Canon Law
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.