American National Catholic Church

American National Catholic Church
Classification	Christian
Governance	Mixture of episcopal and congregational polity
Head	Bishop George R. Lucey, FCM
Founder	Bishop George R. Lucey, FCM
Origin	2009 Glen Ridge, New Jersey, United States
Separated from	Roman Catholic Church
Congregations	12
Clergy	1 bishop 19 priests
Website	americannationalcatholicchurch.org

The American National Catholic Church (ANCC) is an independent Catholic denomination established in 2009 as a self-governing entity not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. The ANCC was founded with the mission of fully implementing their interpretation of the Second Vatican Council, and are notably more liberal than the Catholic Church in its acceptance of homosexual practice and marriage, ordination of woman, and contraceptives.

History

The American National Catholic Church traces its apostolic succession through Roman Catholic Bishop Carlos Duarte-Costa (1888–1961) of Brazil. Bishop Duarte-Costa was a proponent of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. As early as 1936, he called for the celebration of the liturgy in the vernacular with priest facing people, a greater role for the laity in the liturgy, including service as Eucharistic ministers, the election rather than appointment of bishops, and reception of the Eucharist in both bread and wine. He also called for married clergy and general absolution, and was a vocal critic both during and after World War II of the Brazilian government's ties with Nazi Germany. Accused of being a communist sympathizer and imprisoned for a few months in 1944, Duarte-Costa was excommunicated in 1945, at which point he founded the worldwide Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church. The Church and its affiliates have over half a million members worldwide. According to one of the group's early leaders, since its founding in 2009, the ANCC has embraced a path of intentional growth in recognition that many other Independent Catholic jurisdictions failed because they concentrated on quantity at the expense of quality. The early stages of the Church's development focused, consequently, on establishing a strong foundation and solid infrastructure, both aimed at ensuring that the Church's future. The American National Catholic Church states online that it measures its growth in terms of four general aims:

• to further the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by proclaiming the presence of the Kingdom;
• to support missionary work;
• to be involved in the planting and strengthening of local churches;
• and through Christian fellowship, the liturgical celebrations of the seven sacraments, and the ministry of the Word of God, to edify and strengthen the believer.

Currently, there are American National Catholic Church parishes in Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Missouri, North Dakota, and Virginia, with others in the process of formation in Illinois, Florida, New Mexico, and New York. ANCC priests and deacons also minister in prisons, homeless shelters, HIV/AIDS residences, psychiatric hospitals, teaching, and media. The Church also publishes The Call, an online quarterly.

The first presiding bishop of the ANCC is George R. Lucey, FCM. Lucey holds a doctoral degree in psychology and has worked in higher education as a professor of psychology.

Polity and beliefs

The ANCC claims to embrace the entire Roman Catholic deposit of faith, but in practice diverges from it regarding the ordination of women and in the realm of sexual morality. It does however hold belief in the Trinity, a form of apostolic succession, the salvific act of Christ, the Economy of Salvation, Marian theology, and the sacraments. But consistent with the Church's fidelity to the renewing spirit of the Second Vatican Council, and regarding itself as a contemporary expression of an ancient faith, it departs in many ways from the Roman Catholic Church. While it respects the Bishop of Rome, considering him first among equals, it does not acknowledge his absolute authority or infallibility. Its polity is congregational rather than hierarchical. Parishes are self-governing, bishops are elected by clergy and laity for limited terms rather than appointed, and all clergy are non-stipendiary, supporting themselves and their ministries with regular jobs that keep them in touch with the worldly challenges faced by their parishioners. In both worship and governance, the ANCC actively encourages lay participation.

The ANCC allows qualified women and gay persons to receive Holy Orders. Knowing that the lived experience of married life can be an invaluable gift for ministry, the Church also welcomes married clergy. The ANCC is one of a few Christian churches that recognizes gay marriage. The ANCC receives divorced and remarried persons as full Church members, and it supports a couple’s decision regarding family planning, believing that the persons involved are in the best position to decide their most appropriate option. Respect for freedom of conscience in these and other matters is a hallmark of the ANCC.

The ANCC also embraces a lived commitment to social action in parishes, prisons, hospitals, and hospices.

Training of clergy

ANCC clergy are trained in St. John the Beloved Seminary, a non-residential distance learning program as well as accredited seminary programs at universities such as the University of Notre Dame's Satellite Theological Education Program. The church claims that candidates for ordination to the diaconate and priesthood receive a rigorous and comprehensive academic and practical education. Criminal background checks and psychological evaluations are required for all applicants. Proper education, formation, and training are understood by the ANCC as necessities for effective ministry to the people of God and for the credibility of the larger church, and church spokespersons have remarked that independent Catholic movements often do not succeed because they are too quick to accept unprepared or undesirable candidates for the priesthood.

External links

• American National Catholic Church website