Catholic Apostolic Church North America
ICAB Mission USA
ICAB Mission USA
We believe...
The Catholic Apostolic Church North America (ICAB Mission) believes that:
We professes steadfastly and wholly the Catholic faith as it is witnessed in the Holy Scriptures, in the Apostles and Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creeds, in the first seven Ecumenical Councils and in the Tradition of the undivided Church. For that reason, with Vincent of Lérins, we affirm and embrace “that which has been believed everywhere, always, and by all people; it is truly and properly Catholic.”
All other doctrinal postulates, beliefs and practices, so long as they are not contrary to Catholic faith can be accepted by local churches and by the faithful on the understanding that these are not binding for anyone and for that reason should be considered as matters of private belief and devotions.
We professes steadfastly and wholly the Catholic faith as it is witnessed in the Holy Scriptures, in the Apostles and Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creeds, in the first seven Ecumenical Councils and in the Tradition of the undivided Church. For that reason, with Vincent of Lérins, we affirm and embrace “that which has been believed everywhere, always, and by all people; it is truly and properly Catholic.”
All other doctrinal postulates, beliefs and practices, so long as they are not contrary to Catholic faith can be accepted by local churches and by the faithful on the understanding that these are not binding for anyone and for that reason should be considered as matters of private belief and devotions.
On the Church...
We recognize that the Local Church is the visible and sacramental reality in which is made present the totality of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, established by Jesus Christ. By “Local Church” we understand the people of God organized as a communion of communities that: Professes the faith in accordance with the witness of the Holy Scriptures and the Ecumenical Creeds and Confessions.
Observes the liturgy through prayer and the sacramental life, reaching its culmination in the celebration of the Eucharist. Gives evidence of the reality of the Gospel such as fruit of the experience of the gifts of the Spirit that give new life and the capacity to love.
Recognizes, as the visible sign of its unity, the bishop who in synodical form presides over it, with the participation of the presbytery and of all the people of God. Through the bishop is in communion with other local churches.
Observes the liturgy through prayer and the sacramental life, reaching its culmination in the celebration of the Eucharist. Gives evidence of the reality of the Gospel such as fruit of the experience of the gifts of the Spirit that give new life and the capacity to love.
Recognizes, as the visible sign of its unity, the bishop who in synodical form presides over it, with the participation of the presbytery and of all the people of God. Through the bishop is in communion with other local churches.
On the Sacramentality of the Church in General and the Administration of the Sacraments...
We accept and administer the sacraments of Baptism, of Confirmation, of the Eucharist, of Reconciliation, of the Anointing of the Sick, of Holy Orders, and of Marriage.
We believe, consonant with the tradition of the undivided Church, that the validity and efficacy of each of the sacraments participates in and expresses the sacramentality of the whole Church. Given that the Local Church is where this sacramentality is expressed, the sacraments find their true significance and efficacy solely when they are administered within and for the edification of the Local Church.
The Liturgy for the celebration of all the Sacraments is that of the Roman Catholic Church. The introduction of ambiguous elements is carefully avoided in order not to fall into any form of syncretism and to maintain the Christian tradition in its purity.
The following are recognized as ministers who may validly administer the sacraments: For the Sacrament of Baptism: the bishop, the priest and the deacon are the ordinary ministers; the extraordinary minister, in case of grave necessity, is any baptized Christian. For the Sacrament of Confirmation: ordinarily the minister is the bishop. By exception, it can be delegated to a priest so that it may be carried out.
For the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance: only the bishop and priest are the authorized and competent ministers. For the Sacrament of the Eucharist: only the bishop and priest are the authorized and competent ministers. For the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick: only the bishop and priest are the authorized and competent ministers.
For the Sacrament of Ordination: only the bishop is the authorized and competent minister. For the Sacrament of Marriage: the ministers are the bride and the bridegroom who publicly express their consent. In order to express the consent validly, there is the need for qualified witnesses.
Official witnesses are the bishop, the priest and the deacon. In extraordinary cases, when the presence of an ordained minister is impossible for a prolonged period of time, two faithful members of the Church can be witnesses so that matrimonial consent may be validly expressed.
We believe, consonant with the tradition of the undivided Church, that the validity and efficacy of each of the sacraments participates in and expresses the sacramentality of the whole Church. Given that the Local Church is where this sacramentality is expressed, the sacraments find their true significance and efficacy solely when they are administered within and for the edification of the Local Church.
The Liturgy for the celebration of all the Sacraments is that of the Roman Catholic Church. The introduction of ambiguous elements is carefully avoided in order not to fall into any form of syncretism and to maintain the Christian tradition in its purity.
The following are recognized as ministers who may validly administer the sacraments: For the Sacrament of Baptism: the bishop, the priest and the deacon are the ordinary ministers; the extraordinary minister, in case of grave necessity, is any baptized Christian. For the Sacrament of Confirmation: ordinarily the minister is the bishop. By exception, it can be delegated to a priest so that it may be carried out.
For the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance: only the bishop and priest are the authorized and competent ministers. For the Sacrament of the Eucharist: only the bishop and priest are the authorized and competent ministers. For the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick: only the bishop and priest are the authorized and competent ministers.
For the Sacrament of Ordination: only the bishop is the authorized and competent minister. For the Sacrament of Marriage: the ministers are the bride and the bridegroom who publicly express their consent. In order to express the consent validly, there is the need for qualified witnesses.
Official witnesses are the bishop, the priest and the deacon. In extraordinary cases, when the presence of an ordained minister is impossible for a prolonged period of time, two faithful members of the Church can be witnesses so that matrimonial consent may be validly expressed.
On the Eucharist...
We acknowledge the Eucharist to be the center and culmination of the Church’s worship. In celebrating it, the local church becomes actual and concrete as the sacramental presence of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We steadfastly believe that by the action of the Holy Spirit within the Eucharistic celebration, presided by the bishop or a priest, the bread and wine are, through the Anamnesis and the Epiclesis, sacramentally transformed, in reality and in efficacy, into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
We confess that although Christ was offered once for all time as the expiatory sacrifice for all humanity on the altar of the cross, nevertheless the Eucharist is a true sacrifice because in it the one sacrifice of Christ not only is commemorated but also is actualized and, by the action of the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God is made present, and the new creation of love and communion continues to manifest itself in the history and the life of our communities.
We confess that although Christ was offered once for all time as the expiatory sacrifice for all humanity on the altar of the cross, nevertheless the Eucharist is a true sacrifice because in it the one sacrifice of Christ not only is commemorated but also is actualized and, by the action of the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God is made present, and the new creation of love and communion continues to manifest itself in the history and the life of our communities.
On the Sacrament of the Holy Orders...
The sacrament of Holy Orders has three levels: as deacon, as priest, and as bishop. It is indispensable that one be ordained on the lower level in order to be able validly to receive a higher level of the sacrament of Holy Orders. Consonant with the ancient tradition of the undivided Church, our church acknowledges that only Christians of the male gender can be validly ordained as deacons, priests and bishops.
On the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony...
The Catholic Apostolic Church North America (ICAB Mission) acknowledges that the sacrament of marriage is the public and solemn covenant that is brought about between a man and a woman. The matrimonial covenant has the purpose of establishing the exclusive and permanent communion of life for the spouses, with the view of forming a family. The sacrament of marriage takes place through the mutual consent of the couple, lawfully manifested and confirmed by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.