The Manifesto The Forum of Dialogue Because through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, God made the ultimate sacrifice in the fullness of time for the whole of creation, we believe that God’s salvation is an offer to all people who long for healing and a life of unity in diversity. “Venerable brothers, such is the aim of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, which, while bringing together the Church's best energies and striving to have men welcome more favorably the good tidings of salvation, prepares, as it were and consolidates the path toward that unity of mankind which is required as a necessary foundation, in order that the earthly city may be brought to the resemblance of that heavenly city where truth reigns, charity is the law, and whose existence is eternity” (Cf. St. Augustine, Epistle 138, 3). (From opening Speech of Blessed Pope John XXIII at Vaticanum II, Oct. 11th 1962) Miami, Florida, Anno Domini 1999/2007 © 1999/2007. 2nd Edition ® The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ All rights reservedPublished in the United States of America. This “Manifesto” is protected and cannot be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means-including photocopying or computer scanning, without the prior written permission of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ. Registered in- and protected through the Library of Congress. Table of Contents I. Introduction: The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ………................................................................................................3-4 II. The Manifesto of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ…...............................................................................................5-10 III. A Forum of Dialog for the Revision of the Roman Canon Law (CIC) and Canons of other Catholic Rites..................11-13 I. Introduction: The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ +In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. To the Bishops, Priests, Deacons, the Holy People of God of the Catholic Churches of Christ, and all People of Good Will.The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ is a member of the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ is part of a worldwide movement of millions of Roman Catholics, and members from different Catholic Rites that, through prayer and dialog is seeking Unity with all Catholic and Christian Churches, reforms within the Roman Catholic Rite and other Catholic Rites respectively. “It is of utter importance to restoring community again; this cannot be postponed for later, or pushed to the end of time.” Frère Roger, Prior of Taizé, France. (In: Frère Roger, Taizé. Living Trust. Christian Feldmann, Herder Verlag Freiburg i. Breisgau 2005, p. 70.) We are aware that, “No, you cannot lure Unity out from Negotiations or through legal agreements, you have to start to live it, in courage’s steps, in small cells, the texts will come afterwards.” (Ibid. 66) The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ offers a pastoral ministry that incorporates both divine and human realities for the spiritual welfare of all Catholic people and all people of good will who share the fellowship of Jesus Christ. We believe that God’s love and compassion extend to everyone without exception. This inclusive vision of God is central in defining our Church’s ministry: providing a place of healing, serving the poor and the sick, reaching out to those who have been rejected by society, and striving for social justice. We believe that an informed conscience based on the teachings of Holy Scripture, the dynamic elements of tradition, and human experience and insight, is the basis upon which God’s Holy People can search for truth and justice, demonstrate compassion, and express unconditional love for God and fellow human beings. We proclaim the sacred dignity of all persons, since they were created in rich diversity by our loving God. We call for the formation of a forum of all Catholic rites to discuss modifying the general guidelines of the Codex Iuris Canonici (Canon Law) of the Roman Catholic Church and the Canons of other Catholic Rites to reflect the reality of post-modern Christianity understanding that the Holy Spirit is at work in all Catholic and Apostolic Rites. Because we envision the revision of the different Canon Laws in order to be applicable to all Catholic Churches, we encourage all Catholic Rites to collaborate more with each other.“We must get to know the outlook of our separated brethren. To achieve this purpose, study is of necessity required, and this must be pursued with a sense of realism and good will. Catholics, who already have a proper grounding, need to acquire a more adequate understanding of the respective doctrines of our separated brethren, their history, their spiritual and liturgical life, their religious psychology and general background. Most valuable for this purpose are meetings of the two sides- especially for discussion of theological problems-where each can treat with the other on an equal footing-provided that those who take part in them are truly competent and have the approval of the bishops. From such dialogue will emerge still more clearly what the situation of the Catholic Church really is. In this way too the outlook of our separated brethren will be better understood, and our own belief more aptly explained.” (Vaticanum II, Decree on Ecumenism Chapter II, 9) We hereby testify, by our hand and seal, that this document has been unanimously endorsed by the membership of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ. Given at the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul, in the year of our Lord, Nineteen Hundred Ninety Nine, revised on the Feast of the Archangels, in the year of our Lord, MMVII at Miami, Florida, USA. Servus Christi ++Dr. Karl Rodig Ecumenical Primate II. The Manifesto of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ II.1. Apostolic Succession, Holy Orders and Sacraments The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ is part of the worldwide community of Catholic churches that together compose the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church with Jesus Christ as her foundation. As Ecumenical Catholics, we have preserved the validity of holy orders for the office of bishops, priests, and deacons through apostolic succession derived from the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Antioch, and the Old Catholic Church. “The Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular Churches.” (Vatican: Declaration, Dominus Jesus IV. 17, August 6, 2000) We hold on to the belief that the seven sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Ordination, and Matrimony) are part of our religious reality, given through God’s grace for our salvation by the power of the Holy Spirit. We celebrate the sacraments as part of the Lord’s desire that we sanctify our lives; serve in this world as spiritual catalysts; shine as a light on the lamp-stand; and be the salt for the earth, preparing ourselves to enter His Kingdom. Recognizing the importance of the seven sacraments, we offer them to all sincere Catholics. II. 2. Commitment to Tradition The members of The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ are Catholics from the Roman Catholic Church, other Catholic rites, and Christians of good will who are striving for worldwide unity and seeking mutual reforms, by adhering to the general teaching of the Church’s Councils under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who causes us also to believe that: “Ecclesia semper reformanda est” (The Church always needs reform). “Christ summons the Church to continual reformation as she sojourns here on earth. The Church is always in need of this, in so far as she is an institution of men here on earth. Thus if, in various times and circumstances, there have been deficiencies in moral conduct or in church discipline, or even in the way that church teaching has been formulated-to be carefully distinguished from the deposit of faith itself-these can and should be set right at the opportune moment.” (Vaticanum II, Decree on Ecumenism Chapter II.6) We hold on to the dynamic process of reforms that the Holy Spirit expresses in the “Sensus fidelium” (the Sense of the faithful), which gives the community of the faithful its credibility. We also hold on to the treasures of tradition, derived from Holy Scriptures, the teaching of Christ, and the teachings of the Catholic churches throughout history, as long as they continue to provide dignified guidance for the Church communities. We are united in essentials, having diversity in non essentials, and above all charity.“All in the Church must preserve unity in essentials. But let all, according to the gifts they have received enjoy a proper freedom, in their various forms of spiritual life and discipline, in their different liturgical rites, and even in their theological elaborations of revealed truth. In all things let charity prevail. If they are true to this course of action, they will be giving ever better expression to the authentic catholicity and apostolicity of the Church.” (Vatic. II, Decree Ecum., Ch. I, 4) With all our Christian brothers and sisters worldwide, we share the fellowship of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. We declare our support for the Holy Father (The Bishop of Rome), as we see in him the “Primus inter pares” (The First among Equals) to unite the Church in faith. May he guide the Church with Church leaders on a collegial base. II.3. In an Ecumenical Spirit The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ supports the reform efforts of millions of Roman Catholics worldwide who have signed petitions to the Vatican for reforms in the Roman Church and Catholics from other Rites who seek reforms in their churches serving the desire for Unity: -Interfaith communion with all Catholic rites that have Apostolic Succession, sharing the sacred tradition, and have the same theology of the sacraments.