Beliefs
An Overview of the Essentials
The Church and Leadership: We recognize Christ as head of the Church. We are an autocephalous international Church in moral communion with our sister churches all over the world. We follow a more Orthodox approach to Church Government and Ecclesiology. We accord a position of honor to the bishop who succeeded as head of ICAB. He has been given the title of Patriarch. At present, the Brazilian Episcopal Conference has elected Dom Josivaldo Perriera as President of the Episcopal Conference. He has chosen not to take the title of Patriarch.
We offer a more realistic and Christ-like approach in dealing with all people. We do not believe that the Roman Catholic Church is the only Catholic Church. In Fact, we feel that the Roman Church has truly lost its way. We feel that the Roman Church truly has forgotten about Christ.
The Bishop of Rome (the Pope), for example, is just one among the world’s bishops. Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, we see him as a Bishop among equal bishops. The particular position that the Pope now holds was established around the 6th century in order to bring political stability back to Western Civilization. Ultimately, Church politics thwarted the Church's mission as it became its own Sovereignty to be reckoned among world powers at the cost of losing its spirituality.
We do not follow Papal Infallibility. We follow the more scriptural and traditional idea of the indefectibility of the Church, as a whole. The general belief of all within the Church, the "sensus fidelium", is guided by the Holy Spirit and assured by the promise of Christ, that the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against the Church.
The Holy Spirit: The third person in the Holy Trinity and He who was sent after the ascension of Christ into Heaven back to the Father. The Spirit animates, guides, and gives life to the Church. The Spirit has also guided the Church through the ages and has given her a rich Tradition.
The Creeds: The Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed are accepted as statements of core beliefs.
Scripture: The Holy Bible, consisting of 72 canonically recognized books, is seen as the inspired “Word of God”, which have been interpreted by the first Seven Ecumenical Councils in order to be properly understood. We do however, support on-going scripture scholarship. The Church Fathers are accorded special emphasis and their ideas are given particular primacy in scriptural understanding.
The Sacraments: Seven in number, instituted by Christ, to give grace.
Church Councils: Recognizes doctrinal authority of First Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church. Accepts teachings of all councils which are not contrary to Scripture or Tradition.
The Clergy: Bishops, priests, deacons, and subdeacons ordained within valid catholic and apostolic lines. Optional celibacy. We follow strict Traditional (Pre Vatican II) forms for Sacramental administration of Holy Orders.
Marriage: Although Marriage is permanent and indissoluble, marriage can “fail” spiritually and sometimes a marriage may have never existed at all. We follow the Orthodox practice of permitting a subsequent marriage to those with have been granted a divorce by the Marriage Tribunal along with the local Bishop's dispensation. The Marriage Tribunal also determines if a Marriage has existed or not and has the authority to declare an annulment..
Holy Eucharist: We believe the Holy Eucharist to truly be the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. The bread and wine offered during the Liturgy are Transubstantiated into the Real Presence The Eucharist is confected during the celebration of Mass only by a validly ordained priest or bishop. This sacrament is the reality and source of the Church..
We have a modernized version of the ancient Apostolic Rite for our communities. The Church is truly a mother to all and feels that we must liturgically express the beauty and richness present in Christian tradition and thought. Reception is open to ALL Catholics, Orthodox and all other baptized Christians professing belief in the real presence , including those who are divorced and remarried. The Mass listed in the hyperlink is the Ambrosian Rite properly reformed for use within Parishes.
Mary: The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, is held in special reverence because of her unique role in salvation history and her heroic degree of obedience to the Divine Will. We place ourselves under the special intercession of the Blessed Mother. We encourage all the faithful to recite the Rosary daily and have devotion to the Mother of God.
Saints: All those enjoying eternal life in the presence of God are saints. In addition to those saints informally acclaimed as such throughout history, there are also those saints formally declared (canonized) by competent Church authority, and who are commemorated in the Church’s Liturgical Calendar.
Penance: The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) is administered by a bishop or priest having faculties to do so. Auricular confession of specific sins is not normally required. General Absolution is also permitted at the beginning of the Eucharistic Liturgy or at another appropriate time.
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