User:Pccvicargeneral/The Progressive Catholic Church

The Progressive Catholic Church is an emerging denomination that is living the Gospel across the United States and Internationally. The Progressive Catholic Church is an open affirming progressive community. They are a non-discriminating, all-inclusive, valid catholic apostolic church. A diverse people affirming the love of Christ, united by their faith, liberated by the gospel, They are a newer community, created to shepherd and become a home for all those without a spiritual home. The church is an progressive alternative to the rigid structure and doctrines of the Roman church. However, they retain the basic catholic beliefs of faith and love, spirituality and community, prayer and sacramentality. Although they are a newly formed rite, they remain in the traditions of the Orthodox Catholic churches and the Old Catholic Church of Utrecht.

They are a valid catholic apostolic church, with ordained clergy tracing their succession back to Peter in 38 A. D. Their celebrations of the Mass are identical to that of the liturgical structure of Roman Catholicism, however, in regards to Social Justice, they accept all people, and hold no bounds or limits to people seeking the love of God.

Validity of the Sacraments of The Progressive Catholic Church: At the Vatican on 16 June, 2000 Pope John Paul II ratified and ordered the publication of Dominus Iesus. This Declaration of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was signed and published by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) in August of the same year.

In this Declaration, the Roman Catholic Church recognizes the validity of Orders and Sacraments of other Catholic denominations.

"These Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the (Roman) Catholic Church, remain united to Her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, and are true particular Churches."

"Therefore, these separated Churches and communities as such...have by no means been deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of Salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of Salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic Church." IV Unicity and Unity of the Church, 17

The Progressive Catholic Church’s liturgy is “very much like” that of a Roman Catholic Mass, although there are numerous doctrinal differences between the two denominations.

The church is led by a Presiding Archbishop, who is elected to a renewal four year term by the General Synod of The Progressive Catholic Church. He is assisted in the governing of the church by the Vicar General, Chancellor and Parish Councils.