Free Catholic Churches and Parishes

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Free Catholic churches as a self-designation or autocephalous small churches are the names of some so-called "association churches ". According to the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, its bishops are regarded as vagante bishops .

Self-image

The free Catholic churches see themselves as standing in apostolic succession and called by the Holy Spirit . The so-called “free church catholic movement” is based on an “early church model” of a Christian community.

The free Catholic churches see themselves as church communities living in the Catholic tradition and independent of the Holy See . They reject parts of the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church discipline from, such as the pope primacy , papal infallibility , certain Marian dogmas or celibacy and advocate the ordination of women , divorcees admission to the Eucharist and the remarriage. You are close to the Old Catholic Church of the Union of Utrecht without belonging to it.

Organization, membership and funding

organization

Free Catholic churches and congregations as self-governing small churches do not have the status of a corporation under public law due to the small number of members and their short-term existence , but are typically organized as an "association (s) church", i.e. as a corporation under private law (so-called registered association ). They work according to association law and are usually granted leave as a non-profit institution for promoting religion. Each of these churches governs itself; there is currently not (yet) a joint superordinate association or a joint headquarters for all churches.

Private chapel of the Celtic church in Hamm
Surname Members in Germany Members worldwide (associated)
Palmarian Catholic Church approx. <100 approx. 10,000 members
Free Catholic Community about 500 about 150
independent catholic church about 400 Municipalities in Switzerland, Belgium, Serbia
Free Catholic Church 412 1739 churches and parishes
Celtic Church (Celtic Catholic Church) approx. 100 (200) about 340
New Christians 50 250 worldwide
New Catholic Church 50
Old Holy Catholic Church k. A., several parishes
Independent Catholic Church k. A., community in Frankfurt
Catholic Reformed Church k. A., Neu Isenburg community, Vienna
National Catholic Apostolic Church k. A., municipality in Hanover, legal form: e. V.

financing

Due to their legal form, the free Catholic churches cannot levy any church tax; maintenance is provided through donations, membership fees, church fees and support for individuals (the priests or founders). Another part results from Sunday collections and (voluntary) collections as well as reimbursement of costs for funerals and celebrations.

Some priests of the Free Catholic Churches, like some congregations in the United States, financed themselves by holding so-called “ free weddings ” up to and including burials for a fee. This practice is very controversial among these free churches and is therefore seen by many as a simony , since these funds are not only used for church purposes. None of the churches in the Free Church Catholic Movement usually take any payment for church services; any donations are donated to the respective church on a non-profit basis.

Faith, Worship and Sacraments

All churches or parishes within the free-church Catholic movement are connected by a common Catholic faith (apostolic creed) and common beliefs, in particular the belief in

  • the triune god (father, son and holy spirit)
  • God's work on earth
  • the resurrection and eternal life or life after death ( eschatology )
  • the final judgment of God and purgatory
  • the veneration of saints and Mary
  • the seven sacraments
  • the Bible as well as the tradition of the Catholic Church and
  • the one, holy, apostolic and catholic church, the one church of Christ as the unity of all churches, as the body of Christ
Private chapel of the independent Catholic Church in Hövelhof / Paderborn district

Dogmas and ecumenism

The doctrine and obligations of the faithful of the Roman Catholic Church are taken over, with the exception of a few dogmas that the Old Catholic Church does not teach, for example the primacy of the Pope, papal infallibility and the acceptance of Mary into heaven .

In addition, there is a will to ecumenism, and in particular the ecumenical charter is recognized as a binding document.

church service

The liturgy and the dispensing of the sacraments are partly based on the regular form of the Roman rite (NKK). The extraordinary form of the Roman rite is practiced in a modified form as an alternative in some churches (KKD, FKGD, UKK and the Palmarians). The liturgy includes the Sunday Holy Mass as well as word services and devotions; there are proprium texts for solemn feasts or saints . The liturgical language is usually German, Gloria Patri is occasionally spoken in Latin and Kyrie eleison in Greek.

The sacraments

Seven sacraments are administered in the free Catholic churches and parishes:

These sacraments are usually administered by priests according to the Roman ritual . The administration of some sacraments is reserved for the bishops .

Sacramentals, additional ecclesiastical services

In addition to the seven sacraments, the free Catholic churches offer the following celebrations, blessings and sacramentals or their own liturgies, as well as diaconal services:

  • Celebrations of blessings or intercessions for partnerships (e.g. for same-sex couples)
  • Wedding / marriage ceremony (as remarriage also for properly divorced couples or marriage which has been dissolved / declared invalid in advance with dispensation)
  • Celebration of blessings on engagement
  • other blessings like house blessings, blessings of children
  • Funeral, accompaniment and pastoral care in the grief of people who do not belong to any major church
  • Help in emergencies, with official visits, in difficult life situations, with family problems, psychosocial emergency pastoral care

Clergy and lay people, degrees of ordination and titles

cleric

In the free Catholic churches and parishes, deacons, sub-deacons , priests and bishops are ordained by the laying on of hands and prayer , in some cases according to the Orthodox rite . As a classic initial stage of priestly formation, the tonsure takes place as part of a rite as a sign of calling to the clergy.,

The priests of the respective church lead the pastoral care area of ​​their respective church on site and look after them independently of one another. They are elected by the respective parish and are publicly ordained in the church. Clerics are not subject to or are subject to voluntary celibacy . Deacons take on the classic tasks of baptism, altar service , as evangelist , in caring for the sick and in worship of the word . They lead the pastoral care area of ​​their respective church on site and look after it independently of one another; they are ordained by the respective church. With the exception of consecration, they usually have the power to grant all sacraments and lead the mass and the respective congregation in the assigned area. The bishops ( episcopate ) usually have a management and organizational function: They lead the church within their assigned areas, appoint bishops, priests and deacons, create rules and interpret them (and teaching content).

Training of priests

In the free Catholic churches or parishes, it is possible to become a priest without a high school diploma or full-time study of theology , but there are also requirements and admission conditions there:

  • The applicant must be a member of a free Catholic church or community.
  • The applicant cannot be a member of any other church at the same time.
  • The applicant must be willing to receive further training, take the time and show hard work.
  • There must be no previous convictions ( certificate of good conduct or reputation).
  • The applicant must have a proper school leaving certificate.
  • A qualifying period of half a year to one year must always be completed.

The applicant goes through an apprenticeship at a cooperating institute or school, a Bible school or an accompanied self-study through selected, mostly free and free literature. External or distance learning courses are mostly supplemented by internal training courses. The duration is from one to three years or longer, depending on the church community.

Some churches also introduced a qualifying period or membership in the church between half a year and a year before the start of training. Some churches come to an understanding among themselves about suitable interested parties and candidates. Some associations also offer or require face-to-face teaching.

Abuse of titles and official attire

There have been various legal disputes over the abuse of titles and official attire of the Roman Catholic Church. The use of official titles that are confusingly similar to those of the official churches (such as "Archbishop") is prohibited in Germany. Members of Free Catholic Churches tried on various occasions to give the impression that they were Roman Catholic priests, which had to be rejected by the dioceses affected. On the other hand, the Roman Catholic Church counts them among the "vagante bishops", which according to the Old Catholic definition would not be correct.

Typing and developments

Basic directions

The churches of the free church Catholic movement can be divided into reform churches and traditional churches.

  • In the reform churches, the differences to the Roman Catholic Church predominate, they are very numerous and in some cases fundamental. They have thus become an independent Catholic or approximated Reformation form.
  • In the traditional "free Catholic churches" the striving for an idealistic Catholic church form predominates . They try to provide a point of contact for those who have turned their backs on the conventional church.

Requirements for transparency

The earlier practice of giving unchecked orders to anyone whom a bishop of a free church considers worthy for this is now viewed critically. Training or studying a candidate for the priesthood is very important today. Some of the free Catholic churches formulated access criteria for ordination offices and expect permanent membership in a church with at least a small congregation, at least a free study of practical and theoretical theology, the Bible and church history in order to meet the minimum requirements for a priesthood.

A subsequent consecration according to the Old Catholic regulation is to be carried out by a validly consecrated bishop of a church who is in apostolic succession; the decree must be read out. Furthermore, clear regulations that are disclosed today are called for, which enable interested parties and other churches to obtain comprehensive information about the churches and sacraments concerned and their issuing. Pioneering reformers and first church leaders who implemented these regulations were the bishops Michael Schatta, Karl-Michael Soemer and Karl Uwe Eckert.

Association and association

Nowadays there is a will for ecumenism , for example in the Working Group of Christian Churches in Germany , and for the amalgamation of various free Catholic churches. The way and will to an ecumenical community between the Catholic or Old Catholic / Evangelical Church and that movement did not begin until 2015. In 2016, the convening of a synod and the founding of a future association or association was prepared with the aim of coordination, understanding and exchange of the churches involved. This umbrella organization was founded in 2017 as a free-church-Catholic movement and is open to any ecumenically oriented free Catholic church or congregation.

Missionary work

Free Catholic churches and congregations began to do missionary work in other countries too, for example

  • Africa (Cameroon, Congo, Uganda)
  • India
  • United States, Barbados
  • Switzerland, Belgium, Serbia
  • Austria
  • Spain
  • Scotland, Australia
  • Romania, Russia, Belarus, Estonia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan

List of free Catholic churches and parishes

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ mostly derived from Bishop Thuc, who was excommunicated from Rome at that time , or from Old Catholic lines, see succession of the KKD ( Memento of the original from August 17, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of August 17, 2016 8:10 pm @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.keltischekirche.de
  2. ↑ Info page of the old-holy Catholic community as of August 20, 2016 11:18 am
  3. ^ Homepage of the Free Church Catholic Movement in the name of the Free Catholic Movement changed as of October 26, 2016
  4. ↑ Original Christian church models in the age of the PG ( Memento of the original from August 13, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of August 17, 2016 3:58 pm  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / forum-kirchenaufbruch.de
  5. ↑ See as an example the home page of the free Catholic community as of August 21, 2016 12:26 pm
  6. ↑ See as an example the information page of the Celtic Church about the peculiarities ( memento of the original from August 19, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of August 21, 2016 12:26 p.m. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.keltischekirche.de
  7. ↑ See list of Cath. Dogmas ( Memento of the original from 23 August 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of August 23, 2016 1:04 p.m. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.keltischekirche.de
  8. ↑ See characteristics of the Celtic Church as an example ( memento of the original from August 19, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of August 23, 2016 1:07 p.m. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.keltischekirche.de
  9. ↑ cf. Alex Kurz: Thinking the Church in a contemporary way: Analyzes and reflections on post-modern ecclesiastical adult education. (Practical Theology Today) Verlag Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2007, p. 39.
  10. ↑ See article Religion and State I: Recognition as a religious body - a rocky road to success in terms of equality of corporations and associations regarding recognition as religious communities, including wording WRV 137 (especially point 4) as of August 24, 2016 8:29 am
  11. ↑ See also Munich theological studies: Canonical Department, Volume 52 Ludger Müller K. Zink. 1999 p. 235 as of August 22, 2016 3:55 pm
  12. ↑ cf. Homepages and statutes or register of associations
  13. ↑ See the example of the KKD imprint as of August 20, 2016 10:41 am
  14. ↑ The establishment of a larger association is currently being planned. B. represented within the ACK. Accession is planned cf. Ecumenical cooperation ( Memento of the original from August 18, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of August 18, 2016 10:49 p.m. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.keltischekirche.de
  15. ↑ See page Lagopress The Force of God as of August 21, 2016 1:13 pm
  16. ↑ According to Wikipedia, see article on the church, as of August 20, 2016 9:44
  17. ↑ a b c d Self-disclosure on request, as of August 21, 2016 2:20 pm
  18. ↑ Independent Catholic Church e. V. (District Court Paderborn VR 3143)
  19. ↑ a b Some of these churches are listed under " Catholicism " for religious studies see REMID Catholicism as of August 20, 2016 9:31
  20. ↑ cf. Blog article Remid Whose spirit child? New religions, old traditions and the crux of the systematic as of August 23, 2016 3:17 pm
  21. ↑ See statutes as alias as of August 21, 2016 14:01
  22. ↑ Own count approx. 220 with ver. You. Municipalities in Germany, according to Remid 100 as of August 22, 2016 12:30
  23. ↑ worldwide with associated communities, such as B. the United Eucharistic Congregations (Eastern Bloc States), CCUS as of 8/24/2016 8:32
  24. ↑ Relinfo Switzerland speaks with the New Christians of 250 members worldwide
  25. ↑ [1]
  26. ↑ See DIE ZEIT: With God's blessing, but not in the Church , as of August 23, 2016; Wochenblatt.de: A question of faith - free or church wedding? ( Memento of the original from 23 August 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. with reference to "some churches" in special cases, as of August 23, 2016 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.wochenblatt.de
  27. ↑ See e.g. E.g. the case of Rómulo Antonio Braschi , described in Ikvu Dubios: Critical Notes on Bishop Braschi's Business Conduct , as of August 25, 2016
  28. ↑ Mainly containing the first seven ecumenical councils and many dogmas up to the First Vatican Council , cf. also Old Catholic principles; see Eckert Dogmatics of the Celtic Church (Volume 3 of the series) , as of August 18, 2016
  29. ↑ See Charter Ökumenika , as of August 17, 2016
  30. ↑ See e.g. B. Calendar KKD ( Memento of the original from 23 August 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of August 22, 2016 3:22 pm @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.keltischekirche.de
  31. ↑ See as an example Celtic or Irish Scottish holy festivals ( memento of the original from 23 August 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. or annual calendar Father Hatto v. Hatzfeld SDB ( Memento of the original from August 23, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , As of August 22, 2016 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.keltischekirche.de @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.keltischekirche.de
  32. ↑ See an example PDF U. Eckert, Liturgy of the Celtic Church on Academia.edu, as of August 17, 2016
  33. ↑ See also Duisburg-Homberg mourning group , as of August 17, 2016
  34. ↑ see pastors on site PSNV Association for Sanitary Services Duisburg ( Memento of the original from August 17, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of August 17, 2016 2:54 p.m. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.vfsd-nrw.de
  35. ↑ List of PSNV services , as of August 17, 2016
  36. ↑ Priests and bishops are also anointed, see also Roman rituals and announcement of the consecration of Vitaly Rysev as of September 27, 2016
  37. ↑ in the Eastern European Orthodox parts of the Eucharistic communities in Europe, as of August 20, 2016
  38. ↑ See Columban Bible School, non-governmental Bible school as of August 17, 2016 6:50 pm
  39. ↑ See decision of the OLG Koln Az ss 293/99 -143- of August 10, 1999
  40. ↑ Church Gazette of the Diocese of Hildesheim No. 1 from 2012, p. 22 as of August 22, 2016.
  41. ↑ Nachrichten.at: Wrong pastor inWindischgarsten as of August 22, 2016.
  42. ↑ According to the judgment of the Munich Regional Court of June 24, 1989, this designation is not offensive (Az. 9 O ​​7244/88). Decisions in Church Matters Vol. 27 in 1989, published by De Gruyter Rechtswissenschaft Verlags GmbH Berlin, pp. 190f. As of August 19, 2016
  43. ↑ See article on Über die Vagantenbischöfe , as of August 14, 2016
  44. ↑ See article Journal Kaarst: A Bishop from Kaarst ( Memento of the original from August 18, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , As of August 18, 2016 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / journal-kaarst.de
  45. ^ Article of the Old Catholic Church , as of August 19, 2016
  46. ↑ See also article in "The Circle of Life", Westfälischer Anzeiger, August 27, 2011
  47. ↑ https://www.freikirchliche-katholische-bewegung.de
  48. ↑ Missionaire Franciscain Cameroon ( Memento of the original dated August 17, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , As of August 17, 2016  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.keltischekirche.de
  49. ↑ Evangelical Orthodox Church in Uganda ( Memento of the original from August 17, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , As of August 17, 2016  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.keltischekirche.de
  50. ↑ Mission Indigogo Mathew Sukchen Sona Musimypomagac , Stand 17 August 2016
  51. ↑ Celtic Church in the USA ( Memento of the original from August 17, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , As of August 17, 2016  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.unity-catholic-church-orthodox.org
  52. ↑ cf. also Celtic Church in Scotland (mother church KKD) , as of August 17, 2016
  53. ↑ See Association of Eucharistic Christian Congregations in Western Europe ( Memento of the original from August 17, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , As of August 17, 2016 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.keltischekirche.de
  54. ↑ Website Freie Katholische Gemeinde Deutschland e. V. (District Court Duisburg VR 5461)
  55. ↑ Independent Catholic Church e. V. (District Court Paderborn VR 3143)
  56. ↑ Website Keltische Kirche Deutschland e. V. (District Court Hamm VR 1959)
  57. ^ Website of the St. Paulus Congregation , as of August 20, 2016
  58. ^ New Christians website of the New Christians , as of August 20, 2016
  59. ↑ The Thuc succession , which prevails there, refers to this church
  60. ↑ Independent Catholic Church - Independent Catholic Church. In: www.ukk-online.org. Retrieved September 9, 2016 .
  61. ^ Website of the Independent Catholic Church , as of June 20, 2016
  62. ^ Website of the Catholic Reformed Church , as of August 20, 2016
  63. ^ Catholic Apostolic Church Europe / ICAB