Celtic Catholics in the New Era

Surprise! There is an Old Catholic Ceremony with all the ancient ritual, incense, and liturgy without any of the traditional judgments, shame or guilt feelings associated with the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches. The liturgy consists of choral responses between the Celebrant and the congregation. This lineage is ancient, part of the Apostolic succession, with its roots in Greek and Egyptian origins, which are older than the Augustinian formulation of original sin. They embrace the ancient Eastern beliefs in karma, called “perfect justice” in the confession of faith, and reincarnation. No one is required to accept these beliefs, just to keep an open mind. That’s why they came up with a new name, The Liberal Catholic Church, meaning free thinking. Inclusive, embracing with love all people and religions, the Liberal Catholics have had open communion for over 80 years. You don’t even have to be a Christian, just approach the altar with respect. Their English translation of the Greek Orthodox Liturgy still survives today, without the dogmatism and control issues of established religious organizations. The sermons I have heard focus on the inner work, the soul work, of embracing the opposites within us and allowing the inner Christ consciousness to guide our lives. Never has anyone asked me questions about whether I believed specific traditional Christian doctrines. The atmosphere is one of acceptance and love, very refreshing for the 21st century. Like Native American ceremonies, we step outside of ordinary time, into the timeless time of spirit. The ancient forms contain the new age understanding of conscious evolution of the spirit. I like its paradoxical presentation. Could be the 12th or the 19th century, a time outside of time. I think of it as the resurrected Celtic Catholic Church, independent and connected to the Patriarch of Jerusalem, until the Roman Catholic Church swallowed them up in the 9th century.  Could be that this “old Catholic” way is the New Era of Merlin and Arthur’s Celtic origins budding from its ancient roots.