The Reformed Catholic Church has responded to a recent spate of articles from the Roman Catholic Church in Polandwhich have described the church as a "gay sect". Roman Catholic officials in Poland have dismissed the sect as not being a true church.
In 2000, however, Pope John Paul II ratified and ordered the publication of Dominus Lesus, a declaration of the Roman Catholic Church, which recognises the validity of Orders and Sacraments of other Catholic denominations.
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.
"Sadly, it seems that certain Roman Officials in Poland are not aware of the position or policies of their own church", said the presiding Bishop of the Reformed sect, Archbishop Phillip Zimmerman.
"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.
"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.
"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," he added.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sacerdos