Liberal Catholic Church

[ChristIsTheWay]

I have a few questions about the Liberal Catholic Church: thelcc.org/

According to Wikipedia, this church was founded in the early 20th century by some theosophists. I am wondering if the Roman Catholic Church views the Liberal Catholic Church as a Christian body. Also, some Liberal Catholic websites claim that the holy orders of the Liberal Catholic Church are “acknowledged as valid” by other churches claiming apostolic succession. Does anyone know how the Roman Catholic Church views this claim?

 

[BernadetteM]

I have no idea how the Church views there orders as valid or not, but when I was young I use to visit different churches. I went into one of their churches during a weekday and I still remember it giving me the creeps.

I have no idea at this point as it was many years ago, but I still recall how unsettled I felt in the church.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[bpbasilphx]

I can’t say how the Catholic Church deals with LCC clergymen who come to them, but Orthodoxy receives such by Chrismation (or possibly Baptism) and, if later found suitable, Ordination.

 

[rtconstant]

The priests of the LCC and the LCCI have valid but illicit orders. They have their succession through the Old Catholics.

They use a liturgy that is basicly an english Tridentine. Some may still use latin. Their spirituality is very unusual though obviously.

The LCCI unlike the LCC does not require its clergy to be Theosophists.

 

[EnchantedEve]

The LCC also does not require anyone to be a Theosophist, though the LCCI would have everyone believe that. Although much of what they write sounds funny, you will find a good portion of what they discuss in the Fathers, especially the Eastern Fathers. How odd the views of its clergy and members is varies on an individual basis, but I guess this is true even of the Roman Catholic Church.

However, the Church does not ordain women, and will not marry homosexuals, so they are not that “liberal.”

 

[Ricardo_Gomez]

Documents of the Vatican II could answer that question. On the words of a friend of mine, a priest, Vatican II recognices non Catholics teachings and accepts them.

Only requirement, however, is to claim Christ as the savior.

 

[lizaanne]

Documents of the Vatican II could answer that question. On the words of a friend of mine, a priest, Vatican II recognices non Catholics teachings and accepts them.

Only requirement, however, is to claim Christ as the savior.

Can you please provide a reference to where in the Vatican II documents you find this? It is dangerous to say things like this on a Catholic forum where someone may just read it and accept it as fact when that may not be the case.

~Liza

 

[EnchantedEve]

Can you please provide a reference to where in the Vatican II documents you find this? It is dangerous to say things like this on a Catholic forum where someone may just read it and accept it as fact when that may not be the case.

~Liza

I do not know what exactly the original poster was trying to say about the Second Vatican Council, although he may be referring to Lumen Gentium. My understanding is Rome views the LCC the way it does other churches with sacramental validity.

From the Cogregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, dated June 29, 2007:

RESPONSE

“The Council wanted to adopt the traditional use of the term. “Because these Churches, although separated, have true sacraments and above all – because of the apostolic succession – the priesthood and the Eucharist, by means of which they remain linked to us by very close bonds”[13], they merit the title of “particular or local Churches”, and are called sister Churches of the particular Catholic Churches.”

So the LCC would be a church in its own sense, just not yet united to Rome.

 

[T_More]

Also, some Liberal Catholic websites claim that the holy orders of the Liberal Catholic Church are “acknowledged as valid” by other churches claiming apostolic succession.

Of course other churches will recognize these as legitimate orders. If they don’t, their own reason for existence goes away.

I remember Fr. Eric Bergman’s comments on this. He is a former Episcopalian pastor who converted to the Church. What is the intent? It’s not enough to just have succession.