The Church of England, and the wider Anglican Communion, consider themselves to be catholic (small c).

In fact any religious group that considers the Nicene Creed to be valid and use it as part of their services are technically catholic. The Roman Catholic Church doesn't have exclusive use of the title "catholic".

However, that's not the kind of group to which I was referring. I was referring more to fringe groups who thought (or continue to think) that they are part of the Roman Catholic church, but who have put themselves at odds with Rome. One example is "Intercessors of the Lamb" - an order of nuns and brothers located in Nebraska that was forcibly disbanded by Archbishop George Lucas over spiritual and financial concerns. Other such groups would include groups that oppose the vernacular mass or other aspects of Vatican II.

The schism between the Coptics and the Roman Catholic church comes down to an argument over the Nicene Creed.

Christians. Lutherans once used it that way - don't know what they are doing now.

Though I substitute "Universal Church " for "Catholic & Apostolic church" because that's the way I've done it. Despite aligning myself with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the USA, I still consider myself to be Anglican since my early church life was in the Church of England and that I am confirmed in the C of E.

There is a thread on this in the "Women's Rights and Issues" forum that provides more detail.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11383782

...against sexually predatory priests.

And the most the Church does in those cases is defrocking. But women priests? They're kicked out pronto.

Pope Francis is right -- the male priesthood is NOT part of dogma and is therefore very much up for discussion. Plus, the Church conveniently ignores the historical fact that women played prominent roles in ministry within the Jewish tradition even before Christ began HIS ministry.

Pope Francis does not support the ordination of women and has repeatedly maintained that the issue is not open for discussion.

Meaning that the issue can be revisited and is not totally closed to reform. I'm not saying that the tradition will change; it most likely won't. But I consider at least this Pope taking it out of the sphere of dogma to be of some progress.

EDIT: Adding clarity to last sentence.

He has flatly stated that women’s ordination to the priesthood “is not a question open to discussion”. Seems pretty clear to me.

I'm not looking for this to change either, but I'm glad that at least one pope hasn't cited dogma as the reason why women can't be priests. Leaves the door open just a crack.

Despite its name, it is an independent Catholic Church not in communion with Rome.

It claims Apostolic Succession, ultimately through the Church of Utrecht. The Vatican considers its ordinations invalid.

But we were on an Air Force Base..... And the world seemed to be changing at the time.


It didn't

I am an athiest.

I think it's a great way to learn the faith and volunteer. However, some traditional Catholics (generally older folks) bitterly oppose female servers.

there would be few altar servers. It must be the water but much more girl children are born than boys in our town. And the girls seem more dedicated.

The parish was smart. They require a certain amount of "volunteer hours" to confirmation. They are helped by both parochial and public schools requiring volunteer hours for continued membership in things like "National Honor Society." So they get kids.

I don't mean to bump this but I want to thank everyone who gave me info.