Belief Statements


Ecumenical Catholic Church+USA + Belief Statements +
*We believe in the Holy Trinity.* + *We believe that Jesus is the Christ, that he is God, and that he is our savior.* + *We believe that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of Jesus,* *worthy of honor,* *and worthy of liturgical observance and intercession in prayer.* + *We believe in the inerrancy and divine inspiration of Holy Scriptures.* + *We believe in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.* + We believe in the three historic creeds of the Catholic Faith Tradition: Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian. (see sidebar) + *We believe and accept the doctrines of the* *Seven Early Church Ecumenical Councils* *of the undivided catholic church.* + *We believe and appreciate the wisdom and guidance of the Early Church Fathers.* + *We believe in the seven sacraments of the Church:* *Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist,* *Anointing and Prayers for the Sick, Confession --Reconciliation,* *Marriage, and Holy Orders.* + *We believe that Jesus Christ* *is present in the Eucharist, body and blood* *under the appearance of bread and wine.* + We believe in and our clergy share in the Apostolic Succession of Holy Orders. (All Ecumenical Catholic Church+USA bishops are consecrated in the Vilatte, Utrecht, and Duarté-Costa lines of Apostolic Succession.) + *We believe that all Holy Orders (bishops, priests, and deacons)* *are open to both men and women.* + *We believe that celibacy* *for those in Holy Orders is a personal decision.* + *We believe in the sanctity of marriage* as a life long commitment between two persons who commit to each other to live together with with love, mutual respect, mutual support, faithfulness, and life-long commitment. *We also believe that within certain marriages there may be circumstances* *or conditions that make life within that relationship unbearable or dangerous* *and thus divorce becomes appropriate or even necessary.* *Realizing that Jesus is merciful and it is he alone* *who understands fully the reality of any human decision,* *the church welcomes to all the sacraments* *those who have been divorced and/or remarried.* + *We believe that all humankind is called to* *chastity and sexual purity within their state in life.* + *We believe that contraception* *is a personal decision of the married couple.* + *We believe that all life is sacred.* *We believe that abortion and euthanasia are the taking of human life.* + *We believe that the Gospel commandment* *to "love others as we love ourselves" is the key to living the Christian life* *and it manifests itself in global concern for all peoples,* *patriotism for one's nation, good citizenship,* *and responsible stewardship of our planet.*	The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (381 A.D.) We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, [bow] and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life + of the world to come. Amen. + The Athanasian Creed (Late 4th Century AD) Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith, except a man keep whole and integral, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. Now the Catholic Faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. For such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, the Holy Ghost uncreate; the Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible; the Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet, there are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated, nor three incomprehensibles; but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise, the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord. And yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord. For, as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord; so we are forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there be three Gods or three Lords. The Father is made by none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before or after the other. None is greater or less than another, but the whole three Persons are co-equal and co-eternal together. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity. Furthermore it is necessary unto eternal salvation that he believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ is God and man. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the world; and Man of the substance of His Mother, born into the world. Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Godhead as touching His Manhood. Who, although He be God, and Man, yet He is not two, but one Christ. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven; He sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give account for their works. And they that have done good shall go into everlasting life, and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This, then, is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.

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