There are many orginzations that call themselves Catholic, that are not in union with the Church or its teaching. Here is a list of dissenting orgnizations that faithful Catholics must watch out for
8th Day Center for Justice
Heavily earth and creation centered, they "uphold the right to dissent against oppressive structures in church and society." Supportive of Pax Christi. Also supports the homosexual lifestyle: "The Center has long supported Jeanine Gramick, SSND and Bob Nugent, SDS for their work with the homosexual community..."(both religious were condemned by the Vatican for promoting active homosexuality). Supports Call to Action.
A Call to Action
The most visible dissenting group which is a movement of laity and religious seeking to reform the "sinful structure" of the "patriarchal" Church. One could call them the "mother of all dissenting groups" - feminist pun intended. CTA is infamous since its 1994 conference coverage on the CBS news program 60 Minutes. CTA promotes dissent against Church teachings on a broad front, including women's ordination, homosexuality, creation spirituality, married priesthood, and liturgical reforms, while incorporating new age and Wiccan spirituality. Bishop Bruskewitz excommunicated those that belong to this group in his Diocese. Many members belong to local groups called "small faith communities." Renew 2000 also promotes small faith communities. Membership draws heavily from former clergy, feminist nuns, and homosexuals. Members staff COR. CTA serves on the national task force for the We Are Church referendum. Get a more complete understanding of their position from their own information. For a list of their speakers at the 2004 conference, click here.
American Old Catholic Church
This group directly states their differences from being real Catholics. They:
Promotes a so-called "democratic" church whereby the people vote for their own doctrine, and support of pluralism ("believe what you want") via a "Constitution" and a "Catholic Bill of Rights." (Vatican II already gave us a Constitution.) Sample "rights" include self-determined divorce and remarriage, contraception, and homosexual relationships. Also calls for elected pastors, bishops, and pope. Part of the task force of the We Are Church referendum. Most members also are members of CTA. Membership draws heavily from ex-clergy, and disaffected nuns. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal. Protestant churches are "democratic."
Association of Pittsburgh Priests
Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC)
Promotes artificial contraceptive "rights," including abortion. Their focus is the "intersection of Catholic teaching and public policy." Bishop Bruskewitz excommunicated those that belong to this group in his Diocese. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal. They have been condemned by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB).
Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities (CPCSM)
Advocate of an active homosexual and transgender lifestyle based in the Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota area, "on behalf of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) persons." This group has its roots in the more widely known homosexual group Dignity.
Catholics Speak Out
Advocate of homosexuality and artificial birth control. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal and a sub-group of the Quixote Center.
Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA)
Promotes dissent against Magisterial teachings and questions the authority of said teachings. A "theological wasteland" according to Bernard Cardinal Law (June 18, 1997).
Celibacy Is the Issue
Promotes active sacramental ministry for former priests who are now married. Administers a "Rent-A-Priest" program providing former priests for parishes without a priest, or to perform marriages not sanctioned by the Church (i.e. homosexual "marriages") and to conduct illicit Masses. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC)
Not an organization per se, but a conference center for seminars and workshops working with the Enneagram -- an occult system of personality assessment. CAC features dissident speakers at its seminars and training workshops. Active in fostering dissident networking: "We envision CAC as a faith alternative to the dominant consciousness." See also the detailed review by Stephanie Block.
Challenge the Church
Based in Canada, promotes many dissenting opinions, including "female led liturgies," abortion, and inappropriate sexuality. (See Catholic Civil Rights League Volume 4, No. 3 issue).
Coalition of Concerned Canadian Catholics
Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Conference for Catholic Lesbians
Advocate of female homosexuality.
Core Of Retired Priests United for Service (CORPUS)
Former priests who advocate married priests. Most are married, and they perform illicit priestly ministries. Their founder Padovano is a prominent figure in Call To Action. CORPUS was instituted to provide support and fraternal affiliation for former priests. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Dignity USA
Advocate of homosexual "rights," including "marriage" within the Church. They form local chapters to provide "spiritual" support for practicing homosexuals who want to pursue full sacramental participation and ministerial duties. Vehemently opposed to COURAGE, the homosexual support organization promoting abstinence. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Federation of Christian Ministries
Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Fellowship of Southern Illinois Laity
A group which proposes Church reform in Call to Action style. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Franciscan Companions of the Immaculate
After their self-admitted schism from the Catholic Church, this group of religious joined the so-called "United American Catholic Church." This group dissents against Catholic teaching on a wide basis, including divorce/re-marriage, homosexuality, and "Mother God." Although claiming to follow authentic Catholic spirituality, this group incorporates Buddhist concepts and promotes as "His Holiness" as a title for the eastern pagan religious leader Dalai Lama instead of the Pope.
FutureChurch
A regional parish-based coalition seeking to address the priest shortage. FutureChurch claims the remedy is the ordination of married men and women. FutureChurch engages in educational presentations to parishes, grass-roots organizations, and the media. Its current project is a nationally-promoted dialogue on an "inclusive priesthood." Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Jesus Seminar
A seminar in which we are supposedly to learn what Jesus "really meant" in the Gospels. Much material follows the modernist liberal dissenting views which go against Church teachings.
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Feminist led group of religious sisters. They promote dissent against Vatican decrees regarding other dissenters such as Sr. Jeannine Gramick. They whine about the "patriarchy" in the Church, embrace creation spirituality, and demand "gender-equality," such as women priests (as evidenced by then-head Sr. Theresa Kane chiding the Pope during his 1979 visit to the USA). In addition, they spend time in politics lobbying Congress and promote United Nations secular initiatives such as the Earth Charter (consistent with eco-feminism) and International Criminal Court (along with the NETWORK organization).
Los Angeles Religious Education Congress
Not an organization per se, but rather an annual event for "religious" education covering the full gamut of dissenting topics and associated speakers. Sponsored by Cardinal Roger Mahoney.
National Coalition Of American Nuns
Bills itself as a "grassroots" organization for nuns concerned with "sinful structures" of society and church. Members work as advocates for social justice causes and promoting equality of women. Promotes gender-adjusted language, women's ordination, etc. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries (NACDLGM)
An organization trying to keep a lower profile, they err by failing to (i.e. oppress) provide the truth of the Church teachings. Rather, they promote documents which are not formal Church teaching, such as that titled 'Always Our Children.' They state "As baptized persons, lesbian and gay Catholics share the rights of all the baptized: 'to receive the sacraments, to be nourished with the Word of God and to be sustained by the other spiritual helps of the Church' (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1269)." However, they do not indicate that chastity is required, nor that active homosexuality is not acceptable whatsoever, nor that gays and lesbians living in sin are not eligible for the Sacraments except Confession/Reconciliation and repentance.
National Conference of Independent Catholic Bishops (NCICB)
Group for Bishops which may or may not have an active jurisdiction. Supports the active homosexual lifestyle as part of their "social justice" ministry. On their support of homosexual unions, they complain that the Catholic Church "hold and espouse such narrow-minded, exclusive and socially unjust beliefs."
8th Day Center for Justice
Heavily earth and creation centered, they "uphold the right to dissent against oppressive structures in church and society." Supportive of Pax Christi. Also supports the homosexual lifestyle: "The Center has long supported Jeanine Gramick, SSND and Bob Nugent, SDS for their work with the homosexual community..."(both religious were condemned by the Vatican for promoting active homosexuality). Supports Call to Action.
A Call to Action
The most visible dissenting group which is a movement of laity and religious seeking to reform the "sinful structure" of the "patriarchal" Church. One could call them the "mother of all dissenting groups" - feminist pun intended. CTA is infamous since its 1994 conference coverage on the CBS news program 60 Minutes. CTA promotes dissent against Church teachings on a broad front, including women's ordination, homosexuality, creation spirituality, married priesthood, and liturgical reforms, while incorporating new age and Wiccan spirituality. Bishop Bruskewitz excommunicated those that belong to this group in his Diocese. Many members belong to local groups called "small faith communities." Renew 2000 also promotes small faith communities. Membership draws heavily from former clergy, feminist nuns, and homosexuals. Members staff COR. CTA serves on the national task force for the We Are Church referendum. Get a more complete understanding of their position from their own information. For a list of their speakers at the 2004 conference, click here.
American Old Catholic Church
This group directly states their differences from being real Catholics. They:
- do not accept the teaching of papal infallibility
- claim independence of the pope
- refuse to be bound by some of the canon laws and regulations
- permit priests and bishops to marry
- encourage women to be ministers of the church (priestesses)
- allow divorced but not annulled people who remarry to participate in the sacraments
- allow artificial contraception
- invite all baptized Christians to the sacraments, regardless of the state of their souls (i.e. mortal sins, many of which are listed above) thus encouraging sacrilege
Promotes a so-called "democratic" church whereby the people vote for their own doctrine, and support of pluralism ("believe what you want") via a "Constitution" and a "Catholic Bill of Rights." (Vatican II already gave us a Constitution.) Sample "rights" include self-determined divorce and remarriage, contraception, and homosexual relationships. Also calls for elected pastors, bishops, and pope. Part of the task force of the We Are Church referendum. Most members also are members of CTA. Membership draws heavily from ex-clergy, and disaffected nuns. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal. Protestant churches are "democratic."
Association of Pittsburgh Priests
Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC)
Promotes artificial contraceptive "rights," including abortion. Their focus is the "intersection of Catholic teaching and public policy." Bishop Bruskewitz excommunicated those that belong to this group in his Diocese. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal. They have been condemned by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB).
Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities (CPCSM)
Advocate of an active homosexual and transgender lifestyle based in the Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota area, "on behalf of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) persons." This group has its roots in the more widely known homosexual group Dignity.
Catholics Speak Out
Advocate of homosexuality and artificial birth control. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal and a sub-group of the Quixote Center.
Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA)
Promotes dissent against Magisterial teachings and questions the authority of said teachings. A "theological wasteland" according to Bernard Cardinal Law (June 18, 1997).
Celibacy Is the Issue
Promotes active sacramental ministry for former priests who are now married. Administers a "Rent-A-Priest" program providing former priests for parishes without a priest, or to perform marriages not sanctioned by the Church (i.e. homosexual "marriages") and to conduct illicit Masses. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC)
Not an organization per se, but a conference center for seminars and workshops working with the Enneagram -- an occult system of personality assessment. CAC features dissident speakers at its seminars and training workshops. Active in fostering dissident networking: "We envision CAC as a faith alternative to the dominant consciousness." See also the detailed review by Stephanie Block.
Challenge the Church
Based in Canada, promotes many dissenting opinions, including "female led liturgies," abortion, and inappropriate sexuality. (See Catholic Civil Rights League Volume 4, No. 3 issue).
Coalition of Concerned Canadian Catholics
Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Conference for Catholic Lesbians
Advocate of female homosexuality.
Core Of Retired Priests United for Service (CORPUS)
Former priests who advocate married priests. Most are married, and they perform illicit priestly ministries. Their founder Padovano is a prominent figure in Call To Action. CORPUS was instituted to provide support and fraternal affiliation for former priests. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Dignity USA
Advocate of homosexual "rights," including "marriage" within the Church. They form local chapters to provide "spiritual" support for practicing homosexuals who want to pursue full sacramental participation and ministerial duties. Vehemently opposed to COURAGE, the homosexual support organization promoting abstinence. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Federation of Christian Ministries
Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Fellowship of Southern Illinois Laity
A group which proposes Church reform in Call to Action style. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Franciscan Companions of the Immaculate
After their self-admitted schism from the Catholic Church, this group of religious joined the so-called "United American Catholic Church." This group dissents against Catholic teaching on a wide basis, including divorce/re-marriage, homosexuality, and "Mother God." Although claiming to follow authentic Catholic spirituality, this group incorporates Buddhist concepts and promotes as "His Holiness" as a title for the eastern pagan religious leader Dalai Lama instead of the Pope.
FutureChurch
A regional parish-based coalition seeking to address the priest shortage. FutureChurch claims the remedy is the ordination of married men and women. FutureChurch engages in educational presentations to parishes, grass-roots organizations, and the media. Its current project is a nationally-promoted dialogue on an "inclusive priesthood." Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
Jesus Seminar
A seminar in which we are supposedly to learn what Jesus "really meant" in the Gospels. Much material follows the modernist liberal dissenting views which go against Church teachings.
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Feminist led group of religious sisters. They promote dissent against Vatican decrees regarding other dissenters such as Sr. Jeannine Gramick. They whine about the "patriarchy" in the Church, embrace creation spirituality, and demand "gender-equality," such as women priests (as evidenced by then-head Sr. Theresa Kane chiding the Pope during his 1979 visit to the USA). In addition, they spend time in politics lobbying Congress and promote United Nations secular initiatives such as the Earth Charter (consistent with eco-feminism) and International Criminal Court (along with the NETWORK organization).
Los Angeles Religious Education Congress
Not an organization per se, but rather an annual event for "religious" education covering the full gamut of dissenting topics and associated speakers. Sponsored by Cardinal Roger Mahoney.
National Coalition Of American Nuns
Bills itself as a "grassroots" organization for nuns concerned with "sinful structures" of society and church. Members work as advocates for social justice causes and promoting equality of women. Promotes gender-adjusted language, women's ordination, etc. Member of Catholic Organizations for Renewal.
National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries (NACDLGM)
An organization trying to keep a lower profile, they err by failing to (i.e. oppress) provide the truth of the Church teachings. Rather, they promote documents which are not formal Church teaching, such as that titled 'Always Our Children.' They state "As baptized persons, lesbian and gay Catholics share the rights of all the baptized: 'to receive the sacraments, to be nourished with the Word of God and to be sustained by the other spiritual helps of the Church' (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1269)." However, they do not indicate that chastity is required, nor that active homosexuality is not acceptable whatsoever, nor that gays and lesbians living in sin are not eligible for the Sacraments except Confession/Reconciliation and repentance.
National Conference of Independent Catholic Bishops (NCICB)
Group for Bishops which may or may not have an active jurisdiction. Supports the active homosexual lifestyle as part of their "social justice" ministry. On their support of homosexual unions, they complain that the Catholic Church "hold