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Thoughts on A New Way of Being Catholic

Ben

May God’s blessings be upon you!

Over the past few weeks, I have devoured so many texts about the Independent Catholic Movement published by Extraordinary Catholic Press.  I started the book, “A New Way of Being Catholic” on Sunday and I am so impressed with the engaging topic contained in the book.  In one day, I finished half the book and I wanted to share a few insights.


First, the book got me thinking about the list I created regarding ISM challenges.  Perhaps one of the largest challenges is the lack of continuity many communities and jurisdictions experience.  Traditional churches have succession plans.  This is becoming more problematic with certain churches like the Roman Catholic Church experiencing a vocation crisis.  This means that churches are closing and consolidating with one another upon the retirement of clergy.  ISM churches and jurisdictions often lack the ability to do this as there is no other person to take the ministers place and the nearest parish in the jurisdiction may be hundreds of miles away.  This point was made very clear by Rev. Dr. jayme Mathias’s article, “Old Catholicism and Independent Catholicism: Vessels in the Catholic Sea.”  Fr. Jayme uses the analogy of different boats to illustrate the benefits and challenges to both mainline and ISM churches.  The Catholic Church is like a supertanker while some ISM communities are like jet skis.  You can go fast but not far in a jet ski.  The size provides supertankers the advantage of crossing the ocean and facing turbulent seas.  Jayme recognizes he needs to provide a plan to empower people in his church who can continue sailing the ship in his absence. 


Page 19 has some prophetic words by Fr. Mike Lopez where he criticizes the movement as focusing on single-issues.  There are the married priest jurisdictions, the gay jurisdictions, the feminist jurisdictions, the work for the poor jurisdictions and so on.  He recognizes that single-issue jurisdictions “turn off people who might otherwise be welcomed into our church.”  For instance, would I as a heterosexual married man feel welcomed in a jurisdiction that focuses so much on creating acceptance for people of other sexual values?  ISM jurisdictions and communities need to proclaim the Gospel in its fullness which is broader than any single-issue.


Bishop Raphael Adams has a profound chapter called “The Foundations for Ultrajectine Ecclesiology” which examines the development of the episcopacy and presbyterate and a scholarly review of the ecclesiology of Ignatius and Cyprian.  This chapter nicely summarizes much of what I read in an entire book written by an Orthodox theologian.  For instance, a bishop is the chief presbyter and remains a presbyter rather than someone over and above the presbyters.  Moreover, the bishop is called to be a prophet and is truly a successor to the prophets.  This chapter squares nicely with Nicholas Afanasiev’s “The Church of the Holy Spirit” book.


As I said, I am still reading the book and just finished the chapter, “Homily in Honor of Those Who’ve Gone Before Us in the Old/Independent Catholic Traditions.”  The homily has a powerful story about the author who in grad school found a professor who challenged him in an unexpected way.  They both learned something from the experience.  In the homily, Fr. Kevin speaks about how we had mentors that taught us how to think critically and historically and these likely planted the seeds leading us to Independent Catholicism.  I thought of a former pastor of mine who was supportive of becoming a priest.  He wanted me to be a priest but thought I was too conservative and hoped that I would critically think about the tradition and not simply accept what a bishop or pope says as true.  I was thinking of Fr. John last night wondering what he would think of where I am now or of Fr. Dean whose last words to me (long before I entered seminary) were to the effect that he wished he could see what would become of me but that he knew God had something special in store.


Even when I disagree with chapters and points in the books by Extraordinary Catholic Press, I find myself learning and growing.  I appreciate voices that affirm as well as voices that challenge my own beliefs.  Christianity must both affirm and challenge otherwise we are missing a key component.

Peace,

Ben

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