Saturday, August 23, 2008

Press Release - This letter is in response to the recent flurry of abusive articles in Poland about the Reformed Catholic Church

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Poland,

As the Presiding Bishop of The Reformed Catholic Church and the Bishop for the Diocese of Europe, we feel that the time has now come for us to express our deep concern about the clearly abusive and misleading statements made by certain Roman Catholic Church officials concerning The Reformed Catholic Church in Poland.

We begin this letter with sacred scripture that should be familiar to the youngest of children:

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

With great disappointment, we have been provided regular and deeply disturbing reports from Poland that Roman Officials have joyously and methodically dismissed The Reformed Catholic Church as nothing more than a "gay sect" and that it is not a true church.

But that characterization is deeply flawed, unkind and certainly unchristian, both in its content and its context.

Contrary to the puerile name calling and dismissal by some outspoken Roman Clergy and Lay Leadership, the truth is that The Reformed Catholic Church is a global CHURCH. A global family of faith that now has a number of communities and ministries growing and thriving in Poland.

Unlike some "traditional" churches, we welcome all people to the table of the Lord, saint and sinner alike, with no judgment, so that they may equally share in the most holy sacraments of the church.

Most importantly, we welcome and embrace those people whom the church has harmed through a regular and intentional pattern of ignorance, prejudice, discrimination or, worse yet, indifference.

It is easy to deny, denigrate and dismiss a people, a community or a church... but an important question begs to be answered: Are these ministers not aware that they were given a shepherd's staff, not a judge's gavel, as a sign of their office?

Perhaps a judge's gavel is a more convenient tool for those who sit in judgment and do not expect to be judged by others. Just how large is the log in their eye?

Sadly, it seems that certain Roman Officials in Poland are not aware of the position or policies of their own church: As such, we gently remind our brothers of the following: At the Vatican on 16 June, 2000 Pope John Paul II ratified and ordered the publication of Dominus Iesus.

This Declaration of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was signed and published by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) in August of the same year.In this Declaration, the Roman Catholic Church recognizes the validity of Orders and Sacraments of other Catholic denominations.

"These Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the (Roman) Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, and are true particular Churches."

"Therefore, these separated Churches and communities as such...have by no means been deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic Church."

(IV Unicity and Unity of the Church, 17)

Apostolic Succession! Valid Sacraments! True church!

A true church is a place where the Spirit of God fills the hearts of the people and inspires them on to great works of mercy, charity and love.

Like many other communities of faith, The Reformed Catholic Church is seeking to be the living hands and feet of our Lord.

Yes, we understand that religious zealots and fanatical politicians will seek to deny the validity of this church by frightening the faithful about our unconditional acceptance of people who are gay, bisexual, transgendered, divorced, remarried, questioning or any other artificial and irrelevant barrier or label used by the church to separate people from God.

We must recognize that the time for this destructive diatribe has long since past. It is time to allow the church to be what it should be, not what it has been.

Precious blood has been spilled, families divided and cultures destroyed, all in the name of the church.

It is time to stop the insanity of derisive and inflammatory words and characterization.

It is time to be a people of God.

We remind our Roman Brothers of St. Paul's words to the Corinthians: In the end there are three things, faith, hope and love… and the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13 Love... Love is a gift that not all of humanity is blessed to know or to share.

From the intensity of the negative comments and characterization of The Reformed Catholic Church, it certainly seems that love is the missing piece of the puzzle in this matter.

A people in love with our Lord and His people would not choose to act in such a deplorable manner.

A people in love with the Gospel of Christ would reach out in love and kindness, not insult and threats.

A people in love would not choose to cause pain to their sisters and brothers.

A people in love do not abuse.

St. Paul reminds us that love is patient, love is kind, love does not judge... love bears all things.

And so, we shall keep in mind the words of the Apostle Paul and seek only to reach back in Agape love to those who now choose to be abusive towards our community. We will bear the negative comments and misinformation with dignity and pray that those who make derogatory comments about The Reformed Catholic Church come to understand that their words are, in many ways, the reason that this church exists.

We choose to be a safe and welcoming home for all people, wherever they may find themselves on this journey we call life.

Welcome home, sisters and brothers!

You are a gift from God and we accept you exactly as you are.Lastly, we remind our angry family in Christ of the words of St. Augustine of Hippo: In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, CHARITY!

May we choose to be charitable to each other and stop the abusive diatribe that only serves to cause pain and suffering.

May we remember that where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found.

May the God who created us all, protect us all, and help us to remove the log from our eye.

Archbishop Phillip Zimmerman, RSJ Bishop Niall Sheridan, RSJ
Metropolitan Archbishop Diocesan Bishop
Presiding Bishop Father Protector of The European Church
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