Directives

The Great Reformation

After the Great Schism, the Roman Catholic Church continued to develop in Western Europe. For the next 450 years, during the Middle Ages, the Popes consolidated their power and extended their influence over the Church and society. With the dawn of the 16th century, the Roman Catholic Church was overloaded with moral and political corruption. Many concerned religious leaders made efforts to reform the Church.

These efforts at reform became known collectively as the Reformation. Two very different reformations resulted from these tensions. One became known as the independent communities that became Old Catholic. They were called Old Catholics because they sought to turn the clock back and adhere to the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church prior to the various schisms.

Some of the independent Catholic communities, like the International Church of the Ascension derive their Apostolic Succession through the Old Catholic Archbishop of Utrecht. The Archbishop of Utrecht traces his Apostolic Succession back to the Holy Apostles. The independent and Old Catholics therefore have a valid line of succession, a valid priesthood and episcopate with valid sacraments. The Roman Catholic Church has never denied this fact.

Distinctives of Holy Family Catholic Church

I.	How does Holy Family Catholic Church differ from a Roman Catholic Church?

•	We believe in the power of the Blood Covenant and its richness in our lives as Christians.

•	The Catholics of our Ecumenical Catholic community do not recognize the teaching of papal infallibility and, therefore, are independent of the pope's jurisdiction. As a result, we are not bound by some of the canons and regulations that are formulated and enforced in the Roman Catholic Church.

•	Deacons, priests and bishops are permitted to marry.

•	Divorced people who remarry are able to be reconciled to the church through the grace of God and, therefore, are not excluded from the sacraments. Therefore, a divorced person may remarry with the blessing of the Church.

•	Artificial contraception is an issue of conscience between husband, wife, and God.

•	Each Catholic is an equal part of the Church. Therefore, lay people are encouraged to play a prominent role in the Church.

•	No Christian is excluded from the sacramental ministry. All baptized Christians are invited to participate in the worship and sacraments of the Church whether they are Catholic or not. We only ask when you come for communion you have a clear conscious and an open accepting heart for the power of God through this blessed sacrament.

•	The Holy Family Catholic Church is an Ecumenical Catholic Church, descended from the Old Catholic Church of Utrecht.

	Holy Family Catholic Church is recognized as a Federal Tax Exempt 501(c)3 Non Profit Organization, by the Internal Revenue Services of the United States of America.