A New Way to Be Catholic : Introduction

A New Way to be Catholic or Everything Old is New Again

A new way to be Catholic? What does that mean? We like to think of it as progressive, thinking, believing and doing. Similarly, what makes us Church? Sunday mass and huge stone buildings have their place, but what really makes us church is the going out into the world and being Christ to the people we meet. To all the people we meet.

But like massive stone cathedrals, the Church often becomes bogged down in bureaucracy and tradition. All too often, tradition keeps us frozen in time and in a backward-looking mindset as we continue to do things the way we have always done them because, well, that's the way we have always done them!

The true value of tradition, however, is that it provides a foundation from which to aspire to even greater heights of spirituality and catholicity. The United American Catholic Church, therefore, proudly stands on our tradition as Independent Catholics as we open ourselves to the leading of the Spirit in our reach for "that little springtime" of which Blessed John XXIII spoke so often.

Most of all, we espouse that love—not fear, guilt or shame—is the rock upon which the church is built and we aspire to act accordingly. Therefore,

We are welcoming:

• Ordaining men and women, married or single, gay or straight;
• Allowing the divorced and remarried to receive Communion;
• Allowing that family planning is a choice between God and the individual; and
• Allowing all Christians to participate in our liturgies and Sacraments.

We are progressive:

• Recognizing that Laity and Clergy both have a voice in Church governance;
• Recognizing women as equals in the laity, deaconate, priesthood and episcopacy;
• Using inclusive language in our liturgies where possible;
• Ministering out among the people as well as within a parish or congregation; and
• Striving to live our Catholicism every day, not just on Sundays.

We believe that this is the "Way" of which Jesus spoke and on which his followers founded the Church. This is the original, or "old" message that, sadly, has often been lost over the centuries, suffocated under stagnating tradition, fear of change, and political maneuvering. The UACC seeks in all we say and do, therefore, to uncover, dust off, polish, distill, purify and venerate the Church's original message of love and acceptance.

We invite you to come full circle with us, to a new way to be Catholic.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)