The Liberal Catholic Church, Province of the U.S.A.

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What is The Liberal Catholic Church?

The Liberal Catholic Church is one of thirty or more Catholic Churches in the world which are independent of Rome, such as the Greek Orthodox, Coptic, Old Catholic, etc. It teaches the Christianity of the Christ and administers the seven Sacraments which are regarded as channels of His blessing. It is a church wherein there is intellectual and religious freedom and a natural balance between ceremonial worship, devotional aspiration, scientific and mystic thought. It uses a revised Liturgy in the language of the country, a Liturgy devised to sound a note of joyous and uplifting aspiration. The Liberal Catholic Church welcomes all and everyone to its services, those who have faith and those who have lost faith; those who believe in the literal exposition of the scriptures and those who accept the allegorical spiritual interpretation. Above all, it wishes to serve those who are earnestly seeking spiritual enlightenment.

The Liberal Catholic Church erects no barriers around its altars. All who come in a spirit of reverence are welcome to Holy Communion and to all other services of the Church. What opinions or beliefs an individual holds is considered to be his/her own affair. The mind that is free is in the best condition to grow. Growth into spirituality enhances the perception of truth which each one must discover for himself/herself and in his/her own way. Anything less than full mental freedom is thought to retard progress. Thus, the difference between The Liberal Catholic Church and all other Catholic and Protestant Churches lies in the fact that with the ancient sacramental worship have been associated the widest measure of intellectual freedom and respect for the individual conscience.

The Liberal Catholic Church seeks to give the world the best elements of Catholicism with the best of Protestantism. On the Catholic side are the seven Sacraments; but these have been hedged about with all kinds of man-made dogmatic encumbrances such as creeds, rigid beliefs, the confessional, penances, indulgences, etc. On the Protestant side we have an earnest attempt to promote religious freedom; but the reformers discarded the Sacraments, lost the Apostolic Succession and soon lost much of the intellectual emancipation they had previously gained, which development has led to the rise of innumerable sectarian movements.

The orders of the clergy of The Liberal Catholic Church were derived through the Old Catholic Church of Holland which became independent from Rome over two centuries ago. Through this Apostolic Succession, unbroken since the time of Christ, The Liberal Catholic Church aligns itself with the historic church in past centuries. The clergy are neither forbidden nor enjoined to marry. They serve without personal remuneration. The clergy claim no authority over the individual conscience; rather, stress is laid on their function as ministers of the Divine Sacraments, ready to serve those who may ask or need their help.

WELCOME to The The Liberal Catholic Church Center of Colorado Springs!

The Liberal Catholic Church Center of Colorado Springs meets every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. at 2720 East Las Vegas Street, Suite 115 (Look for the two storey "Alpine Steel" building).

We would love to see you!

The Liberal Catholic Church is an independent and self-governing body; neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant---but Catholic. It derives its Episcopal Succession through the Old Catholic Church and came into existence as a separate body in 1916. It aims at combining the traditional sacramental from of worship---with its stately ritual, its deep mysticism, and its abiding witness to the reality of sacramental grace---with the widest measure of intellectual liberty and respect for the individual conscience. It therefore permits to its members freedom of interpretation of the Scriptures, the Creeds, and the Liturgy. Regarding the mind as one of the great avenues to spiritual apprehension, it encourages among its adherents the freest play of scientific or philosophic thought.

Religion is a means to an end. As such, it may be seen to have a dual purpose.

FIRST, it should provide a workable and progressively uplifting philosophy of life. The word "philosophy" means love of wisdom. Wisdom may be considered to be the sum total of the experiences and knowledge gained during all of man's past lives. Knowledge alone is the function of the lower mind. Wisdom reaches far above the lower mind. It involves the whole human being, including that understanding often attributed to man's "heart-qualities." Wisdom gives man that true perspective with which to discover the real purpose of life. It makes possible prudent, dispassionate, perfect judgment.

Religion, then, must have a place in daily life, building the honest, unselfish, tolerant human being and producing in him the preference for spiritual values over material excesses. While thus raising his awareness to see divine life in all of God's creation and creatures, it yet aids him to attach proper values to everything in existence in the universe. Seen in this light, material means have their place and are necessary; but their utilization rather than their acquisition deserves primary attention.

An obvious expression of such a philosophy of life is found in man's affinity for all Nature, a sign of a mature love and heartfelt respect for God's creation. In the effort to understand even more fully Nature's ways, man is helped by an eager intellect that directs his studies and interests toward the divine. Truth, being what it is to each person, enlightens him in-creasingly as his intuitive faculties unfold. Eventually he will know God 'first hand.'

Divinity of Man

The SECOND purpose of religion is to develop a realization of the divinity in man. The root-meaning of the word 'religion' - to bind back - refers to man's basic oneness with the Deity. Man IS a divine being, 'created in the image of God,' the spiritual image, that is! Religion sees in the Deity (God) a universal, all-embracing Being of abstract perfection. To 'bind back' to Him implies man's inner urge, his spiritual quest for his own perfection and resultant return to God. To achieve this he needs the experiences of many lives (incarnations) on earth. The 'Laws of Nature,' all of which are divine laws, aid him in his unfoldment toward perfection. Among these laws one principle is fundamental: "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Gal. VI.7)

Why The Liberal Catholic Church?

Religion does not mean dogma, doctrine, or denominational regulation. It does not require rigid ceremonial or ritual. It does not require institutional churches. HOWEVER, ritual and places where they can be performed are invaluable tools that should be used to aid and strengthen man's spiritual development. Divine energy permeates the whole universe and is channeled through it like all other forces known to man. An effective tool for its channeling is the Holy Eucharist (Mass) as celebrated in the Liberal Catholic Church. It proves to be a medium most perfectly suited to the flow of spiritual energy, as frequently attested to by those possessing trained clairvoyant sight. The work of the Liberal Catholic Church, while seemingly of the character of institutionalized worship, is free from rigid structuring, except that in their outer forms its services provide the visible channel facilitating the transmission of that spiritual (divine) energy down to the physical level. It is essential that the mind be completely free to participate in the services of the Liberal Catholic Church according to each person's inclinations and his/her potential for response. Thus, there can be no authority dictating beliefs, creeds, or dogmas, nor setting up restrictions which inhibit the partaking of any of the Church's Sacraments. In all, the individual's conscience commands supreme authority and respect.

The Liberal Catholic Act of Faith

We believe that God is Love and Power and Truth and Light; that perfect justice rules the world; that all His sons shall one day reach His feet, however far they stray. We hold the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man, we know that we do serve Him best when best we serve our brother man. So shall His blessing rest on us and peace for evermore. Amen.

Please join us!

The Liberal Catholic Church Center of Colorado Springs meets every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in our new location at 2720 East Las Vegas Street, Suite 115.

YOUR participation in this work will always be of great benefit to you, to the community and to mankind as a whole. The Liberal Catholic Church Center of Colorado Springs holds its doors open to all who find joy and happiness in reverently partaking of Christ' s Blessings.

For questions or to make an appointment, please call Father Ian Carman at 719-387-0308 or email at rev_ian_carman@catholic.org