Independent Catholic Church Communities?

by Letters Editor · Published December 19, 2013 · Updated November 2, 2016

From From Fr Raphael Thomas, Cape Town – I write in response to Fr Fano Ngcobo’s letter, “An alternative” (November 20). While I welcome Fr Ngcobo’s opinion, it goes without saying, that as a Catholic priest in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, I do not agree with his views on “independent Catholic Church communities”.

“…our Creed: that we are One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. “

While these independent communities may exist throughout the world, sadly they represent the exact opposite of what we profess Sunday after Sunday in our Creed: that we are One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Fr Ngcobo also makes reference to Bl John XXIII’s aggiornamento. Pope Benedict XVI once said that the aggiornamento proclaimed by John XXIII at the opening of Vatican II does not mean breaking with tradition. Rather it is an expression of that tradition’s ongoing vitality.

I don’t believe that these independent communities are an expression of this ongoing vitality and a sign of theological maturity.

If I may, let me suggest another two alternatives to Fr Ngcobo’s views. Either he removes the word Catholic from the Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ or and this I think is the best alternative he stops his own personal crusade and becomes a living testimony to the Catholic faith, handed down faithfully by the apostles and their successors, in communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

This is my opinion, and I hope Fr Ngcobo welcomes it as I have welcomed his. Updated from 2013