The Liberal Catholic Church Australia______________________________________________________________


	\| History \| Liturgy \| Beliefs \| Our Priests \| Where Are We \| Consecration of Be Pedro in St Francis in Sydney
	HISTORY	Back to Top
	The ancient Catholic See of Utrecht in Holland quarrelled with Rome in the early 18th Century as a result of it's involvement with the Jansenists. In 1870 other groups from Germany, Austria and; Switzerland in rebellion against the declaration of Papal Infallibility, joined the See of Utrecht to form the Old Catholic Church. The Liberal Catholic Church came into existance in 1915 - 1916 as the result of a complete reorganisation on more liberal lines of the old Catholic Church in Great Britain. We date the founding of the Liberal Catholic Church to the consecration of James Ingall wegwood in 1916. He was the first Presiding Bishop. Shortly after his consecration he travelled to Australia and consecrated CW Leadbeater Bp Wedgwood Bp Leadbeater
	LITURGY	Back to Top
	The Liberal Catholic Church is completely independent. It uses a Liturgy which emphasises the love, beauty and; justice of God, rather than the sinfulness of human beings. It aims to combine the traditional sacrament of worship incorporating stately ritual and; deep mysticism, with the wide measure of intellectual liberty and; respect for the individual conscience on matters of doctrine and interpretation. Members of the church are proud of the fact that it pioneered for half a century much of the liturgical and; doctrinal progress now emerging in other denominations
	BELIEFS	Back to Top
	Spiritual Experience and; sharing in community have led many Liberal Catholics to believe that: God is the ground for all being, God is in all things and; all things are in God; but all things are not God. God manifests in the universe as a Trinity: the Father, the source of all; Christ the Son, the Word 'made flesh'; the Holy Spirit, the life giver, inspirer and; sanctifier. The human spirit, made in the image of God and divine in essence. All people will utimately become one with Christ in God. The scriptures are open to various levels of interpretation and; that the individual must discover the truths hidden in them for him of herself. Other world religions are valid paths to the same truth that Christians find in him or herself. God is both the Father and; Mother. The Mother-nature of God brings forth and; nourishes all life and many Liberal Catholics see it's highest expression in Mary, the mother of Jesus. The divine feminine is manifested on earth in the sanctity of life and; the mystery of birth. It calls forth our deepest respect for creation and; in many of us a concern for the animal world and; the environment.
	OUR PRIESTS	Back to Top
	As in the early church, our clergy are unpaid. They give of their time freely in a spirit of living service to the furtherance of Christ's work in the world.
	WHERE ARE WE	Back to Top
	You will find Liberal Catholics in over 30 countries in the world. We have Churches in every capital city in Australia and; now on Magnetic Island.
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	Below are brochures for further information Freedom and Discovery Have you ever wished there was a church that... ? Introducing the Liberal Catholic Church The Liberal Catholic Church The Holy Lady Mary The Sacrament of Holy Baptism Why Sacramental Healing? Why the Holy Eucharist? Pastoral Integrity Bishop Graham's Easter 2009 Pastoral Letter A retreat talk by the Rev Dr Brian Harding: The Practice of the Presence of God - a constructive postmodernist view