| What is the
American Catholic Church in the United States? |
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The American
Catholic Church in the United States affirms traditional Catholic
beliefs of faith and love, spirituality, community and prayer. It
celebrates the seven sacraments and adheres to the essential Catholic
doctrine and practice as expressed and implied in the
statements of Vatican Council II, and in the light of the best
contemporary thought.
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| The American
Catholic Church in the United States proclaims the unconditional love
and compassion of God, which embraces every human person regardless of
their state or condition in life. We acknowledge the primacy of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to speak in our
day through the "sensus fidelium" ("sense of the faithful") of the
Catholic Church, leading to a world of justice and peace. |
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The American Catholic
Church in the United States...
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Inclusive:
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| The American
Catholic Church in the United States seeks to reach those who may have
felt alienated by their prior church experiences. We believe that who a
person is and how a person has chosen to live, does not separate them
from the love and compassion of God; thus, The American Catholic Church
rejects artificial barriers to the reception of the Sacraments based on
marital status, sexuality or orientation. In particular, we place no
artificial barriers in the way of the reception of Baptism, when a
parent sincerely desires that their child be received into the Mystical
Body of Christ. |
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Proactive:
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| Believing that
the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church through "Sense of the
Faithful", The American Catholic Church in the United States sees
itself as a process as well as an institution. We hope to listen to,
rather than speak for, the people of God; as prompted by the Spirit, as
they seek ways to remake the Church into a creditable community of
faith for the modern world.
The American Catholic Church in the United States is
particularly sensitive to the voices of those who having been felt
called to Catholic ministry, have found their way blocked by a blanket
of requirements for celibacy. We are therefore committed to the
admission of married persons to all ranks of the clergy.
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Compassionate:
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| The difficult
decisions in one's life are always harder to make alone. At such times,
the compassionate support of a community of faith can be crucial. Yet
such support can be difficult to find the face of "legalistic" moral
pronouncement regarding the issues of divorce and remarriage, birth
control, sexual orientation and complex medical issues.
Morality ought to be our response to the life of the
spirit within each human person, and a loving way of life for the whole
community. The American Catholic Church in the United States believes
that an informed conscience, molded on Gospel values of truth, justice,
compassion and love, should be the ultimate motivating force in a
person's life. We teach these values with the individual person in mind
and with respect for the individual human freedom and dignity. We trust
that, if people are living in the spirit of truth, they will be able to
decide what is just and right, both in their own lives and within
society.
If these qualities speak to you, then we invite you to
consider The American Catholic Church in the United States as your
community of faith.
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