147 West 144th Street
New York, NY 10030
ph: 212-283-9566
alt: 212-234-3232
stthomas
HISTORY
Independent Catholicism and the Liberal Catholic Church
Independent Catholicism: The Source of the Church
History has not been kind to Christian freedom. The first century of the Christian era was witnessing a religious riot when the Church erupted from the Upper Room on Pentecost with its startling message of freedom. A careful study of the New Testament and the earliest writings of that Christian community reveals that the Church which burst forth from the Upper Room—the Church founded by our Lord Jesus—the Church of the Apostles—was independent Catholicism.
Shocked? Most people are. Historical inaccuracy, repeated often enough, becomes accepted wisdom. But the fact remains that the Holy Catholic Church existed long before there was a Pope, before there was a single Eastern Patriarch, before there was one bishop of England. In fact, those are all later developments in Catholicism. They resulted in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican communions, but all three share a common Catholic heritage: INDEPENDENT CATHOLICISM, the mother Church of all Catholicism, the Church from which all others grew.
As the Church emerged from the Upper Room, they brought the message of the Gospel to the farthest reaches of the known world.
St. Thomas brought the Church to India. St. Mark carried Catholicism to Egypt and the rest of Africa. Other disciples founded the Church in the wild isles of the Celts. This courageous, diverse, responsive Church was united in Love of the Lord, the faith of the Apostles, the celebration of the Sacraments, and the apostolic succession of the independent Catholic bishops from the Apostles.
Every Christian, Catholic or Protestant, owes his or her faith to independent Catholicism, the Source Church. Outrageous claim? No, hard historical fact! Over the centuries sects and denominations have fractionated, reformed, ruptured and revolted away from their Catholic roots. But the Holy Spirit who brought Catholicism into existence has never abandoned Her; Pentecost is still happening!
Come Home to the Source
Sixty-two million American adults will not go to church this week. They have opted out of the religious riot. Other millions will fill pews out of habit. Some will go seeking. Some will go for the imaginary security of belonging to a large institution. Some will go out of fear. Some will go for their children.
On every continent independent Catholics will also go to church this week. No religious riot for them . . . no dead habit . . . no false security. They are coming home to the Source. They have made the life-changing decision to deal with the facts. They desire to be a living part of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.
And they won't be disappointed. Around the world the Catholic family of churches is ready to serve. The full faith of the Apostles, the Gospel of Christian freedom, is preached. The Holy Eucharist is celebrated. The supportive hand of Christian community is extended. A life of prayer and centered calm . . . service to others . . . and sharing . . . and genuine growth is possible! Only a secure relationship with God as a loving Father stills the restless heart. Jesus is the living proof that God wants precisely that relationship with us.
Perhaps it's time you took charge of this rich possibility in your life.
Perhaps it's time to come home to the Source. We have so much to share with you.
History of St. Thomas Liberal Catholic Church
St. Thomas Liberal Catholic Church has been described as a Family Church that was established on December 21st, 1926—the Feast Day of St. Thomas. It is significant that the early church fathers respected this Apostle; because, Augustine commented, "He doubted that we might not doubt." December 21st is also the founder's birth.
The founder and organizer was the late Bishop James P. Roberts, Sr. Under his leadership, the church began with a membership of five, made several relocations to accommodate its growth, pioneered as an investor in community entrepreneurship, and became an effective voice in Harlem's political evolution. Its influence and outreach extended to such places as State College, Pennsylvania; Roxbury, Massachusetts; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami, Florida; and, New Orleans, Louisiana. As an official Chaplain of the N.Y.C. Department of Correction, Bishop Roberts' ministry was extended to both the department personnel and the incarcerated inmates at the Manhattan House of Detention For Men.
Church leadership currently resides in the hands of his son. Very recently, St. Thomas Liberal Catholic Church has been engaged in a variety of activities that are intended to bring the church's message more deeply into the community it serves. Efforts have been made to acquire and develop abandoned city-owned real estate. There is an ongoing outreach to those who are homeless. Plans will soon be implemented to launch an educational alternative component for youth who attend nearby public schools that are deemed to be failing.
St. Thomas Liberal Catholic Church is large enough for every family to be known...... and small enough for every individual to make a difference. We invite you to worship with us! We fervently desire your participation in our activities! And we pray that you will significantly contribute to our Act of Faith:
"We hold the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man; we know that we do serve Him best, when best we serve our brother man."
The Liberal Catholic Church and You
The Liberal Catholic Church came into existence as a result of the complete reorganization in 1915-16 of the Old Catholic movement in Great Britain upon a more liberal basis.
The Liberal Catholic Church, an independent Catholic communion, exists to forward the work of her Master, Jesus Christ, in the world and to feed His flock. It is a self-governing body, in no way dependent upon the Church of Rome, or upon any other authority outside its own administration. It is neither Roman Catholic, nor Protestant—but Catholic.
The Church is called Liberal Catholic because its outlook is both liberal and Catholic. Catholic means universal, but the word has also come to stand for the outlook and practice of the historical church as distinct from that of the later sects. The Liberal Catholic Church allies itself with this historical tradition. It combines the Catholic form of worship—its stately ritual, its deep mysticism, and its abiding witness to the reality of sacramental grace—with a wide measure of intellectual liberty and respect for the individual conscience. The fear of God's wrath, the attitude of abject self-degradation, and the haunting fear of eternal hell play no part in Liberal Catholic thought. We believe that such beliefs are contrary to the idea of a loving Heavenly Father.
We extend to you therefore a cordial invitation to visit the Liberal Catholic Church, and to learn more about its place of Christian normalcy in our world today.
147 West 144th Street
New York, NY 10030
ph: 212-283-9566
alt: 212-234-3232
stthomas