NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
UTRECHT SUCCESSION
ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA
A Particular Church “SUI IURIS”
POSITION PAPER: A “REFERENCED” DEFINITIVE AND OBJECTIVE RESPONSE
TO THE CIRCULAR LETTER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA CIRCULATED IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA, CIRCULAR No. 2023-64, 16 AUGUST 2023 SIGNED BY FR. ISIDRO T. MARINAY, CHANCELLOR, ON THE PRESENCE OF ICAB AND OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
AND
TO THE CIRCULAR LETTER OF THE DIOCESE OF LEGASPI CIRCULATED IN THE DIOCESE OF LEGASPI, DIOCESAN CIRCULAR NUMBER 17, SERIES OF 2023, 16 JULY 2023 SIGNED BY BISHOP JOEL Z. BAYLON, D.D. AND REV. FR. GEM NORRIES S. PENETRANTE , T.O. CARM., VICE CHANCELLOR-SECRETARY ON THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF STS. PETER AND PAUL
BOTH CIRCULAR LETTERS BEEN POSTED IN CBCP NEWS AND IN SOCIAL MEDIA WITHOUT HAVING GONE THROUGH PRIOR-DIALOGUE WITH THE CONCERNED
This POSITION PAPER: PUBLIC DECLARATION OF ESTABLISHED FACTS AND BELIEFS OF NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA would now serve as a SOURCE OF INFORMATION for THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES and ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCES IN FOREIGN LANDS, ALL ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESES, DIOCESES, PARISHES, RELIGIOUS ORDERS AND CONGREGATIONS TO KNOW who we are, what we are and how we are, that the NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA is a PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS”, IN FULL COMMUNION WITH CHRIST BY VIRTUE OF OUR BAPTISM AND REMAIN UNITED TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH by means of the CLOSEST BONDS, that is, APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION and VALID EUCHARIST, A DISTINCT AND UNIQUE ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION within the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, the MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST.
TO ALL HIERARCHS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE PHILIPPINES AND THOSE IN FOREIGN LANDS AND THE ENTIRE CHRISTIAN FAITHFUL
LET THIS BE KNOWN
WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE ARE AND HOW WE ARE
A PUBLIC DECLARATION OF ESTABLISHED FACTS AND BELIEFS OF NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA
POSITION STATEMENT 1. We, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California under which the MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF STS. PETER AND PAUL, the MISSIONARY CONGREGATION OF THE INFANT JESUS and the DIOCESE OF THE INFANT JESUS exist and operate as INCARDINATED to and are IN FULL COMMUNION with, are confident and strongly believe that we have and are in possession of the VALID APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION and, therefore, are blessed and equipped with VALID HOLY ORDERS as attested and affirmed by the following, TO WIT:
A
The Church is the oldest institution in the Western world (Meconi, 2016, p. 2), tracing her roots back to Christ’s founding, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church” (Mt 16:18). The North American Old Roman Catholic Church- Utrecht Succession, Archdiocese of California (NAORCC-US, Archdiocese of California ) descended from the Roman Catholic See of Utrecht, Netherland. “The story of the Roman Catholic Church in Utrecht begins with St. Willibrord’s consecration by Pope Sergius I in 696 AD as the first bishop for the Netherlands whose cathedra was in Utrecht” (Kersey, 2017, p. 25). In 1145, Blessed Pope Eugene III granted to the See of Utrecht the right to elect its own successors to the See of Utrecht in times of vacancy. This made the See of Utrecht autonomous, and this position was affirmed by the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 (Fourth Lateran Council, 1215, Constitution #23). The Old Roman Catholic Church, while affirming its historic continuity with the Apostolic Church of the first century, and while possessing a line of Holy Orders held in common with the Undivided Church of earlier centuries, traces its Apostolic Succession in more recent years through the ancient See of Utrecht in Holland. The Church of Utrecht also provided a worthy occupant for the Papal See in 1552 in the person of Pope Hadrian VI, while two of the most able exponents of the religious life, Geert Groote who founded the Brothers of Common Life, and Thomas a Kempis who is credited with writing the Imitation of Christ, and were from the Dutch Church.
Further, in 1520, a second papal grant “Debitum Pastoralis” from Pope Leo X to Philip of Burgundy, who was the 57th Bishop of Utrecht, provided that neither he nor any of his successors, nor any of their clergy or laity, should be tried by a Tribunal called in defiance of this grant should be ipso facto null and void (Kersey, 2017, p. 25). This grant is commonly called “Leonine Privilege”. This Papal Concession, in 1520, was of the greatest importance in defence of the rights of the Church. The NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA observes these two grants that both Pope Blessed Eugene III and Pope Leo X executed for the betterment of the Church;
B
The Roman Catholic Church has repeatedly affirmed its recognition of the VALIDITY of the HOLY ORDERS and SACRAMENTS of the Old Roman Catholic Church in North America and throughout the world. The following have published such affirmation, namely:
Addis and Arnold’s Roman Catholic Dictionary, which says of this Church: “They have retained valid Orders… We have been unable to discover any trace of heresy in these books,” (i.e. those officially ordered for use in the North American Old Roman Catholic Church).
A Catholic Dictionary by Donald Attwater, bearing the imprimatur of Cardinal Hayes of New York, states of the Old Roman Catholic Church: “Their Orders and Sacraments are valid.”
A more recent statement concerning the North American Old Roman Catholic Church, appears in the work by Father Konrad Algermissen, Christian Denominations, published in 1948 and bearing the imprimatur of John Cardinal Glennon of St. Louis: “The North American Old Roman Catholic Church (has)received valid episcopal consecration…”(p. 363).
In 1928, The Far East magazine, published by the St. Columban Fathers of St. Columban, Nebraska, answered an enquiry concerning the VALIDITY OF ORDERS conferred in the North American Old Roman Catholic Church. The magazine article mentions Archbishop Carfora favorably and states, “These Orders are Valid…” (p. 16. Jan. 1928 issue).
In the present times, in October 9, 2022, the Bishops of the Missionary Society of Sts. Peter and Paul of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California, namely, His Grace, Bishop Celestino A. Gianan, DD, PhD, His Grace, Bishop Joselito A. Sarigumba, DD, MA and His Grace, Bishop Ariel H. Lopez, DD, MA, were blessed and conferred with and were passed on the Apostolic Utrecht Succession through the LAYING OF HANDS of His Grace, Bishop Jose Madanguit, DD, our Regional Vicar, mandated by the Primate of the West Region, Metropolitan Archbishop, His Grace, Archbishop Ivan Alberto Castaneda, DD, NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA.
THEREFORE, UNQUESTIONABLY AND UNDOUBTEDLY,
We, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California have VALID HOLY ORDERS brought about by VALID LINE OF APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION and the Missionary Society of Sts. Peter and Paul (MSSPP), the Missionary Congregation of the Infant Jesus (MCIJ) and the Diocese of the Infant Jesus (DCIJ) celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and administer the SEVEN SACAMENTS VALIDLY and LICITLY done within this our ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION as a PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS”.
POSITION STATEMENT 2. We, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California are confident and strongly believe that we are a TRUE PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS” IN FULL COMMUNION WITH CHRIST and REMAIN UNITED TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH as attested and affirmed by the following, TO WIT:
I
The Second Vatican Council
On
DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH
LUMEN GENTIUM
SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS
POPE PAUL VI
ON NOVEMBER 21, 1964
HAS SPOKEN THE FOLLOWING PRONOUNCEMENTS AFFIRMATIVE OF THE EXISTENCE AND OPERATIONS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA AS A TRUE PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS” IN FULL COMMUNION WITH CHRIST AND REMAIN UNITED TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THUS, WE ARE NOT SCHISMATIC.
“The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter. (14*) For there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. (15*) They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical communities. Many of them rejoice in the EPISCOPATE, celebrate the Holy Eucharist and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of God” (Ref. LG, 15)
“They also share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits. Likewise, we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power” (Ref. LG, 16)
THEREFORE, UNQUESTIONABLY AND UNDOUBTEDLY,
We, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California, are NOT SCHISMATIC and have gained more confidence and highly look up to the Church “being linked TO US as baptized who profess the Catholic Faith and we are honored with the name of Christian” though we do not preserve perfect unity of communion with the successor of Peter but, graciously, we recognize the Pope as the Successor of Peter and we mention him in each and every celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in reverence to his Petrine Office and Papal Ministry. We hold on to this belief because it was the Holy See through Blessed Pope Eugene III that granted autonomy in the election of Bishops in year 1145 to the Roman Catholic See of Utrecht from where the Old Roman Catholic Church traces its Apostolic Succession in more recent years through the ancient See of Utrecht in Holland.
We, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California, are NOT SCHISMATIC and have gained more confidence as we remain united to the Catholic Church for we recognize and accept other SACRAMENTS administered within our ecclesiastical jurisdiction and, besides, we rejoice in the EPISCOPATE which we are blessed and gifted with made evident by the VALID Episcopal Consecration of our Bishops, celebrate the Holy Eucharist and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of God (Ref. and AFF, LG, 15).
We, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California, are NOT SCHISMATIC and have gained more confidence as we remain united to the Catholic Church for, in deed and in truth, we share with the Catholic Church in prayer and other spiritual benefits and are joined with Her in the Holy Spirit for to us too He gives us His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among us with His sanctifying power (Ref. and AFF, LG, 16). WE, IN DEED AND IN TRUTH, ARE CATHOLIC IN WITNESSING THE FAITH.
II
The Second Vatican Council
On
DECREE ON ECUMENISM
UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO
Given in Rome at St. Peter’s, November 21, 1964
HAS SPOKEN THE FOLLOWING PRONOUNCEMENTS AFFIRMATIVE OF THE EXISTENCE AND OPERATIONS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA AS A TRUE PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS” IN FULL COMMUNION WITH CHRIST AND REMAIN UNITED TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THUS, WE HAVE NOT BROKEN OUR ALLEGIANCE TO THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST.
“Even in the beginnings of this one and only Church of God there arose certain rifts, (19) which the Apostle strongly condemned. (20) But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions made their appearance and quite large communities came to be separated from full communion with the Catholic Church – for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame. The children who are born into these Communities and who grow up believing in Christ cannot be accused of the sin involved in the separation, and the Catholic Church embraces upon them as brothers, with respect and affection. For men who believe in Christ and have been truly baptized are in communion with the Catholic Church even though this communion is imperfect. The differences that exist in varying degrees between them and the Catholic Church – whether in doctrine and sometimes in discipline or concerning the structure of the Church – do indeed create many obstacles, sometimes-serious ones, to full ecclesiastical communion. The ecumenical movement is striving to overcome these obstacles. But even in spite of them, it remains true that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of Christ’s body, (21) and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church. (22)” (Ref. UR, 3).
“In the great upheaval which began in the West toward the end of the Middle Ages, and in later times too, Churches and ecclesial Communities came to be separated from the Apostolic See of Rome. Yet they have retained a particularly close affinity with the Catholic Church as a result of the long centuries in which all Christendom lived together in ecclesiastical communion. However, since these Churches and ecclesial Communities, on account of their different origins, and different teachings in matters of doctrine on the spiritual life, vary considerably not only with us, but also among themselves, the task of describing them at all adequately is extremely difficult; and we have no intention of making such an attempt here” (Ref. UR, 19).
THEREFORE, UNQUESTIONABLY AND UNDOUBTEDLY,
We, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California have not broken our allegiance to the Mystical Body of Christ and have gained more confidence as we remain united to the Catholic Church for, in deed and in truth, we have retained a particularly close affinity with the Catholic Church as we remain one with God in Christ and, as attested by and affirmed by this Decree on Ecumenism,
UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO, while we grow believing in Christ, we cannot be accused of the sin involved in separation for we have not broken our allegiance to the Mystical Body of Christ.
POSITION STATEMENT 3. We, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California are confident and strongly assert that we continue to exist in the Catholic Church and convince ourselves that many elements of sanctification and truth can be found in this particular Church “SUI IURIS” as attested and affirmed by the following, TO WIT:
I
The Second Vatican Council
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
On
DECLARATION
“DOMINUS IESUS”
ON THE UNICITY AND SALVIFIC UNIVERSALITY
OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
HAS SPOKEN THE FOLLOWING PRONOUNCEMENTS AFFIRMATIVE OF THE EXISTENCE AND OPERATIONS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA AS A TRUE PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS” THAT CONTINUES TO EXIST IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THUS, THIS PARTICULAR CHURCH IS CATHOLIC IN FAITH.
“17. Therefore, there exists a single Church of Christ, which subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him.58 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.59 Therefore, the Church of Christ is present and operative also in these Churches, even though they lack full communion with the Catholic Church, since they do not accept the Catholic doctrine of the Primacy, which, according to the will of God, the Bishop of Rome objectively has and exercises over the entire Church.60”
We, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California have gained more confidence as we remain united to the Catholic Church (Ref. and AFF, Dominus Iesus, 17) for, in deed and in truth, this particular Church “SUI IURIS” continues to exist in the Catholic Church and we have not parted ways from Her.
We, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California have gained more confidence as we remain united to the Catholic Church, though not existing in perfect communion with Her, by means of the closest bonds, that is, by Apostolic Succession and a valid Eucharist (Ref. and AFF, Dominus Iesus, 17) which we honestly and firmly claimed, claim and will claim we have been blessed and gifted with.
THEREFORE, UNQUESTIONABLY AND UNDOUBTEDLY,
The NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA is a TRUE PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS” for in her is present and operative the Church of Christ. It follows, too, that this particular Church is equipped with juridical or canonical personality and is Catholic in Faith.
II
The Second Vatican Council
On
IOANNES PAULUS PP. II
UT UNUM SINT
On Commitment to Ecumenism
Given in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, on 25 May, the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, in the year 1995, the seventeenth of my Pontificate.
HAS SPOKEN THE FOLLOWING PRONOUNCEMENTS AFFIRMATIVE OF THE EXISTENCE AND OPERATIONS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA AS A TRUE PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS” WHERE MANY ELEMENTS OF SANCTIFICATION AND TRUTH ARE FOUND. THUS, THIS PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS” PROJECTS THE IMAGE AND CHARACTER OF THE CHURCH AS THE SACRAMENT OF SALVATION.
“In the present situation of the lack of unity among Christians and of the confident quest for full communion, the Catholic faithful are conscious of being deeply challenged by the Lord of the Church. The Second Vatican Council strengthened their commitment with a clear ecclesiological vision, open to all the ecclesial values present among other Christians. The Catholic faithful face the ecumenical question in a spirit of faith. The Council states that the Church of Christ “subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the Successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him” and at the same time acknowledges, “many elements of sanctification and of truth can be found outside her visible structure. These elements, however, as gifts properly belonging to the Church of Christ, possess an inner dynamism towards Catholic unity“.11 “It follows that these separated Churches and Communities, though we believe that they suffer from defects, have by no means been deprived of significance and value 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”. (Ref. Ut Unum Sint, 10)
We, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California, have gained more confidence in claiming that in this particular Church “SUI IURIS” are found many elements of sanctification and truth as attested and affirmed in the following but not limited to, TO WIT:
A
1823 Formulary of Utrecht
[In a meeting at the Hague in the Autumn of 1823, Archbishop Willibrord van Os of Utrecht; John Bon, Bishop of Haarlem: and Gisbert de Jong, Bishop of Deventer proclaimed to Nazalli, titular Archbishop of Cyprus and papal nuncio:]
- The bishops replied that they would, with the greatest willingness, “accept, without any exception whatever, all the Articles of the holy Catholic faith, would neither hold nor teach, then or afterwards, any other opinions than those that had been decreed, determined, and published by our mother, the holy Church, conformably to Holy Scripture, tradition, the acts of Ecumenical Councils, and those of the Council of Trent; as also that they reject and condemn everything opposed to them — especially all heresies, without any one exception — that the Church has rejected and condemned; that they also detest at the same time every schism which might separate them from the communion of the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Church, and of its visible head upon earth; that they never made common cause with those that had broken the bond of unity; that in particular they reject and condemn the Five Propositions condemned by the Holy See, and which are stated to be found in the book of Jansenius called Augustinus; that they promise as well for the future as for the present, and in all things, to his Holiness the actual Pope Leo XII., and to his successors, fidelity, obedience, and submission, according to the Canons of the Church; and also to accept respectfully, to teach and to maintain, conformably with the same Canons, the decrees and constitutions of the Apostolic See.” Source: Rev. J.M. Neale, M.A., A History of the So-Called Jansenist Church of Holland; with a Sketch of Its Earlier Annals, And some Account of the Brothers of the Common Life (Oxford: John Henry and James Parker, 1858), Chapter XVII.
B
STATEMENT OF BASIC BELIEFS MODELED ON TRIDENTINE PROFESSION
The NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA submits and commits in obedience to the authority of the Holy Scriptures, which our Holy Mother Church held and holds, to which it belongs to judge of the true sense and interpretations of the Scriptures.
The NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA believes and treasures the seven Sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord, which are necessary for the salvation of mankind, though not all for everyone. The seven Sacraments are Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony; and that they confer grace.
The NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA embraces and receives all and every one of the things, which have been defined and declared in the Council of Trent concerning Original Sin and Justification.
The NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA professes, likewise, that in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass there is offered to God a true, proper, and propitiatory sacrifice for the living and the dead; and that in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist there is truly, really, and substantially, the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ; and that there is made a conversion of the whole substance of the bread into the body, and of the whole substance of the wine into the blood, which conversion the Catholic Church calls Transubstantiation. She confesses too that under either kind alone Christ is received completely or entire, and is a true sacrament.
The NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA constantly holds that there is a Purgatory, and that the suffrages or prayers of the faithful help the souls detained therein. Likewise, that the saints, reigning together with Christ, are to be honored and invocated, that they offer prayers to God for us, and that their relics are to be respected. It firmly asserts that the images of Christ, of the Mother of God, ever virgin, and of the saints, ought to be had and retained, and that due honor and veneration is to be given them. She also affirms that Christ in the Church left the power of indulgences, and that the use of them is most wholesome to Christian people, though not necessary for the practice of a wholesome faith.
The NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA likewise undoubtedly receives and professes all other things delivered, defined, and declared by the sacred Canons, and general Councils, and particularly by the holy Council of Trent, various dogmatic decrees post-dating the Council of Trent, and certain pronouncements resulting from Vatican II.
The NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA, with absolute certainty, receives, believes and professes the three infallible pronouncements: Papal Infallibility itself, the Dogma on the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of the Blessed Mother.
THEREFORE, UNQUESTIONABLY AND UNDOUBTEDLY,
The NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA is a TRUE PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS” for in her is present and operative the Church of Christ as she projects the image and character of the Church as the Sacrament of Salvation and in this particular Church are found many elements of sanctification and truth. It is a particular Church “SUI IURIS” [of one’s own right] because of its autonomous character.
POSITION STATEMENT 4. We, the Old Roman Catholic Fathers of the Missionary Society of Sts. Peter and Paul, are a clerical society of apostolic life with juridical personality existing and operating within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California. This clerical society of apostolic life has acquired, too, a juridical personality as it exists and operates in the Philippines, as attested and affirmed by the following, TO WIT:
I
In August 15, 2022, Feast of the Assumption, at the Jesus, El Buen Pastor Old Roman Catholic Church, San Bruno, California, USA and in accord to the Canons of the Church of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church, a DECREE was issued by the Primate of the West Region and Metropolitan Archbishop of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California. This DECREE granted the Fathers of the Missionary Society of Sts. Peter and Paul INCARDINATION to and FULL COMMUNION with the NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA, a particular Church “SUI IURIS” having been registered in the State of California, USA in 1969 with Corporate Number CO0568006 with the name North American Old Roman Catholic Church (UTRECHT SUCCESSION) A CORPORATION SOLE. The name was amended as filed in February 23, 2021 with the Secretary of State, State of California into North American Old Roman Catholic Church, Utrecht Succession, Archdiocese of California. This particular Church “SUI IURIS”, therefore, is a legitimate entity with a JURIDICAL PERSONALITY. This particular Church “SUI IURIS” is also legally registered within the bounds of the Philippine Archipelago and has been granted Certificate of Incorporation by the Securities and Exchange Commission with SEC REGISTRATION No. CN201846138 issued on the 6th day January 2018 at Davao Extension Office, 2nd Floor, SDC Bldg. Purok 13, Maa Road, Brgy. Maa, Davao City, Philippines bearing the name NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH INCORPORATED.
II
In submission to what the Word of God in I Peter 2: 13 and in compliance to what it says, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution…” The Missionary Society of Sts. Peter and Paul (MSSPP) has humbly submitted an application for SEC Registration at the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC Building EDSA, Greenhills, City of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines and has been issued a Certificate of Incorporation with REGISTRATION NO. CN201013717 and COMPANY TIN 007-858-205 in August 26, 2010 and has been granted juridical personality bearing the name “EPISCOPAL SUPERIOR OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF STS. PETER AND PAUL INC”. Similarly, the MISSIONARY CONGREGATION OF THE INFANT JESUS (MCIJ) was granted and issued a State Charity Registration No. CT0284193, with Registration Code 54176224, dated 05/03/2023, State of California, US, Department of Justice.
THEREFORE, UNQUESTIONABLY AND UNDOUBTEDLY,
The Episcopal Superior of the Missionary Society of Sts. Peter and Paul is a LEGITIMATE BODY juridically recognized by the State, Government of the Philippines, and canonically recognized by the Church, the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA, a particular Church “SUI IURIS” in possession of Apostolic Succession and valid Eucharist.
POSITION STATEMENT 5. We, the Old Roman Catholic Fathers of the Missionary Society of Sts. Peter and Paul, are a clerical society of apostolic life of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California with juridical personality whose existence and operations here in the Philippines are protected by the Bill of Rights on Religious Freedom as contained in the Philippine Constitution as attested and affirmed by the following, TO WIT:
I
THE 1987 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
ARTICLEAAICLE ARTICLE3: BILL OF RIGHTS
ARTICLE 3
Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.
Section 5. No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.
THEREFORE, UNQUESTIONABLY AND UNDOUBTEDLY,
We, the Old Roman Catholic Fathers of the Missionary Society of Sts. Peter and Paul, a clerical society of apostolic life of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church UTRECHT SUCCESSION Archdiocese of California with juridical personality whose existence and operations here in the Philippines are protected by the Bill of Rights on Religious Freedom as contained in the Philippine Constitution, that we shall not be deprived of liberty without due process of law, nor shall we be denied the equal protection of the laws (Ref. 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article 3, Section 1) and we are assured that no law shall be made respecting the establishment of religion and that we shall be forever allowed to a free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship without discrimination or preference (Ref. 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article 3, Section 5). .
II
The Second Vatican Council
On
DECLARATION ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
DIGNITATIS HUMANAE
ON THE RIGHT OF THE PERSON AND OF COMMUNITIES
TO SOCIAL AND CIVIL FREEDOM IN MATTERS RELIGIOUS
PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS
POPE PAUL VI
ON DECEMBER 7, 1965
HAS SPOKEN THE FOLLOWING PRONOUNCEMENTS AFFIRMATIVE OF THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ENJOYED BY THE NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA AS A TRUE PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS” .
- This Vatican Council declares that the human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits.
The council further declares that the right to religious freedom has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person as this dignity is known through the revealed word of God and by reason itself. (2) This right of the human person to religious freedom is to be recognized in the constitutional law whereby society is governed and thus it is to become a civil right.
It is in accordance with their dignity as persons-that is, beings endowed with reason and free will and therefore privileged to bear personal responsibility-that all men should be at once impelled by nature and also bound by a moral obligation to seek the truth, especially religious truth. They are also bound to adhere to the truth, once it is known, and to order their whole lives in accord with the demands of truth. However, men cannot discharge these obligations in a manner in keeping with their own nature unless they enjoy immunity from external coercion as well as psychological freedom. Therefore, the right to religious freedom has its foundation not in the subjective disposition of the person, but in his very nature. In consequence, the right to this immunity continues to exist even in those who do not live up to their obligation of seeking the truth and adhering to it and the exercise of this right is not to be impeded, provided that just public order be observed.
We, the Old Roman Catholic Fathers of the Missionary Society of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Missionary Congregation of the Infant Jesus and the Diocese of the Infant Jesus of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California have freely exercised this RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM in accordance with our DIGNITY AS HUMAN PERSONS and, bound by moral obligation, we seek the truth, the RELIGIOUS TRUTH, in the spirit, charism and patrimony of the OLD ROMAN CATHOLICISM.
THEREFORE, UNQUESTIONABLY AND UNDOUBTEDLY,
IN CONSEQUENCE, the Old Roman Catholic Fathers of the Missionary Society of Sts. Peter and Paul (MSSPP), the Missionary Congregation of the Infant Jesus (MCIJ) and the Diocese of the Infant Jesus (DCIJ) of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California have the right to RELIGIOUS FREEDOM which shall not be impeded as we observe just public order and shall enjoy immunity from external coercion provided and affirmed by the Holy Mother Church as attested in the DECLARATION ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, DIGNITATIS HUMANAE, promulgated by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI on December 7, 1965.
We firmly stand on this ground with the assurance that the ACTS AND DECREES OF THE SECOND PLENARY COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES provided for believers in God, saying, “To deny man the free exercise of religion in society, when the just requirements of public order are observed, is to do injustice to the human person and to the very order established by God for men. The truth or falsity of the religious belief is irrelevant to the existence of this right. The only juridically relevant matters are the limits, which may be imposed on the exercise of the right”.
COROLLARY
VIEWED in the light of the HOLY SCRIPTURES and MAGISTERIUM of the Catholic Church vis-à-vis the cited documents of the Second Vatican Council and a pronouncement from the Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines and a provision from the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and from the 1983 Code of Canon Law, ALL OF WHICH are AFFIRMATIVE of the existence and operations of the NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA, we, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men belonging to this PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS”, do hereby with FORTITUDE in our souls PUBLICLY PRONOUNCE
THE CIRCULAR LETTER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA CIRCULATED IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA, CIRCULAR No. 2023-64, 16 AUGUST 2023 SIGNED BY FR. ISIDRO T. MARINAY, CHANCELLOR, ON THE PRESENCE OF ICAB AND, ON OUR PART, THE OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
AND
THE CIRCULAR LETTER OF THE DIOCESE OF LEGASPI CIRCULATED IN THE DIOCESE OF LEGASPI, DIOCESAN CIRCULAR NUMBER 17, SERIES OF 2023, 16 JULY 2023 SIGNED BY BISHOP JOEL Z. BAYLON, D.D. AND REV. FR. GEM NORRIES S. PENETRANTE, T.O. CARM., VICE CHANCELLOR-SECRETARY ON THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF STS. PETER AND PAUL
AS
FRAUDULENT MISREPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUE IDENTITY AND DELIBERATE ASSAULT TO THE JURIDICAL PERSONALITY OF THE OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH for which the NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA exists and operates.
As Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men blessed and gifted by God with His POWER and AUTHORITY which we have received during our Sacred Ordination to the Priesthood and Episcopal Consecration,
WE vehemently DENOUNCE without hesitation these ACTS OF FRAUDULENT MISREPRESENTATIONS OF OUR TRUE IDENTITY committed by these HIERARCHS of the Roman Catholic Church whose names and designations are made known and evident in the CIRCULARS they have crafted and circulated for and in behalf of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila and for and in behalf of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Legaspi;
WE vehemently DENOUNCE without hesitation their ACTS OF DELIBERATE ASSAULT TO THE JURIDICAL PERSONALITY of this PARTICULAR CHURCH “SUI IURIS” granted and issued by the Secretary of State, State of California, USA and granted and issued, too, by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
THESE ACTS OF FRAUDULENT MISREPRESENTATIONS OF OUR TRUE IDENTITY AND ACTS OF DELIBERATE ASSAULT TO OUR JURIDICAL PERSONALITY COULD NOT HAVE COME ABOUT HAD THESE HIERARCHS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH NOT ALLOWED THEMSELVES TO BE DRIVEN BY THE WORKS OF THE FLESH AND FORCES OF THE DEVIL INDICATIVE OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE “SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN” (Ref. Rev. 2: 9) INSIDE THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
THUS,
WE vehemently DENOUNCE the ACTS of these hierarchs of the Roman Catholic Church involved who have been driven by using their FREEDOM as an opportunity for the FLESH (Ref. Galatians 5: 13) intent of maliciously destroying our TRUE IDENTITY in the sight of and in the face of the local and global populace and deliberately assaulting our JURIDICAL PERSONALITY as a Particular Church “SUI IURIS”;
We vehemently DENOUNCE the ACTS these hierarchs of the Roman Catholic Church involved who have sacrilegiously misused and abused God’s DIVINE POWER AND AUTHORITY, which they have received during their Sacred Ordination to the Priesthood and Episcopal Consecration, by LORDING OVER (Ref. 1 Peter 5: 3) other ecclesiastical jurisdictions such as the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA;
We vehemently CONDEMN the erroneous and deliberate usage of the phrase “INVALID AND ILLICIT” by the hierarchs of the Roman Catholic Church as if they have the MONOPOLY OF POWER OF GOVERNANCE OF THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH and as if they have the SOLE AUTHORITY of passing judgement over and against the governance and administration of particular churches that are not in perfect communion with the Catholic Church;
We vehemently CONDEMN the attitude of SUPREMACY commonly demonstrated by a number of the hierarchs of the Roman Catholic Church over and above other particular churches. They must be reminded that the passing on of Christ’s POWER AND AUTHORITY was not designed for DOMINATION but was done in SUCCESSION made known and manifest from one generation to another generation in PERPETUATION of the Catholic Faith, the Faith of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION was and is not meant for DOMINATION but for PERPETUATION of the Catholic Faith in all generations that are to come WITH ALL MEMBER-PARTS OF THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST working together.
We vehemently DENOUNCE the ACTS being forwarded to us by these CIRCULARS that were circulated locally and globally using social media for these acts absolutely CONTRADICTED the very CALL FOR JUSTICE AND CHARITY and VIOLATED the mandate entrusted to the PASTORAL OFFICE OF THE BISHOPS quoted by this document of the Second Vatican Council entitled “THE BISHOP AND CHRISTIAN UNITY: AN ECUMENICAL VADEMECUM” brought forth by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, published in Vatican, dated June 5, 2020, inscribed in this fashion, “That the Bishop is to act with HUMANITY and CHARITY toward the brothers and sisters who are NOT IN FULL COMMUNION with the Catholic Church and is to foster ecumenism as it is understood by the Church” (Ref. Can 383, 3 CIC 1983).
FINALLY, inasmuch as there are hierarchs of the Roman Catholic Church who are faithful to the HOLY SCRIPTURES and to the MAGISTERIUM of the Catholic Church and who observed the spirit of Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism and have high respect for RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, we, the Old Roman Catholic ordained and consecrated men of the NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA, cannot but make a resounding VOICE of DENOUNCING and CONDEMNING pronouncements that are not in accord to the values of the Gospel and statements that are not in accord and do not conform to the teachings of the Catholic Church TO SHOW THAT WE ARE ONE WITH THEM in preserving the SACREDNESS OF THE CHURCH AND THE GLORY THAT SHE IS ENDOWED WITH. WE DO THIS because of our great belief in God and because of our fidelity to the Holy Mother Church which has been so WOUNDED AND DARKENED caused by the DENIALS AND BETRAYALS from within and Christ so INSULTED caused by the MISUSE AND ABUSE of God’s Divine POWER AND AUTHORITY by a number of ordained priests and consecrated Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church.
ONCE AGAIN
TO ALL HIERARCHS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE PHILIPPINES AND THOSE IN FOREIGN LANDS AND THE ENTIRE CHRISTIAN FAITHFUL
LET THIS BE KNOWN
WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE ARE AND HOW WE ARE
AS WE MAKE A PUBLIC DECLARATION OF THE ESTABLISHED FACTS AND BELIEFS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA AND OUR “REFERENCED” DEFINITIVE AND OBJECTIVE RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE-MENTIONED CIRCULARS BROUGHT BEFORE AND AGAINST US AND WERE CIRCULATED LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY USING THE SOCIAL MEDIA.
OUR PRAYERS
His Grace, Bishop Jose Madanguit, DD, MCIJ
Diocesan Bishop and Regional Vicar for the Philippines and Countries of Asia NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA
Chancellor NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA
MSSPP Superior General, Missionary Society of Sts. Peter and Paul
NAORCC UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA
NOTA BENE: This is the OFFICIAL POSITION PAPER of the NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH UTRECHT SUCCESSION ARCHDIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA in RESPONSE to the above-mentioned CIRCULARS posted and circulated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila and by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Legaspi. You may have read or have encountered comments or remarks done by certain individuals in social media platforms but those are their PERSONAL VIEWS on the matter. Thanks. God bless.