Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez
Encyclopedia
Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Méndez (December 4, 1922 - October 29, 2009) was patriarch
of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
(ICAB - Igreja Católica Apostólica Brasileira), an independent catholic church
. The Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church lists 48 diocese
s, and is the mother church of the Worldwide Communion of Catholic Apostolic National Churches
(WCCAC), a loose communion of churches in 14 countries, with an estimated 2-3 million members worldwide.
, Venezuela
on December 4, 1922. After studying in the Roman Catholic archdiocesan seminary
in Caracas, he and his class of seminarians were sent to Solsona, Catalonia, in Spain, and on Thursday, August 10, 1944, Upon returning to Venezuela, at a time of massive upheaval in the country, Patriarch Dom Luis Castillo Méndez became involved in a movement called the "Curas Criollos" (Native Priests or literally 'Creole
Priests'). Having learned through periodicals about the church reform movement led by Dom Carlos Duarte Costa in Brazil
, and the founding of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church in 1945, Castillo Méndez entered into correspondence with Duarte Costa.
, would use Spanish
instead of Latin
in the liturgy, and would permit its clergy to marry. Castillo Méndez filed the new church's organizational papers with the Interior Ministry in early 1947, with signed affidavits from 250 fellow priests who had unanimously elected him Bishop of Caracas. The Minister of Interior immediately ordered the Federal police to ensure that Castillo Méndez not wear the vestments or insignia of the office of Bishop. However, the new church did receive public approval from the Democratic Action
and Communist Parties.
On March 8, 1947 Patriarch Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Méndez and the other three founders of the Venezuelan church were formally allegedly excommunicated
from the Roman Catholic Church. Roman Catholic Archbishop Lucas Guillermo Castillo stated in the excommunication directive that the four priests had "violated fundamental dogma of the Roman Catholic Church and held concepts blasphemous and offensive to the person and authority of the Roman Pope Pius XII." The notice further stated that any Catholics who supported the new church would also be excommunicated.
consecration
from Duarte Costa. However, the Venezuelan government did not consent to this trip, nor would it allow Duarte Costa to enter Venezuela. In the end, Castillo Méndez and Duarte Costa made arrangements to meet in the Panama Canal Zone
, a territory under the jurisdiction of the United States
, which did not have formal diplomatic relations with the Vatican. On May 3, 1948,Dom Duarte Costa consecrated Luis Fernando Castillo Méndez as a bishop, with the title of Bishop of Caracas and Primate
of Venezuela, he was assisted by Dom Salamao Ferraz, Bishop of São Paulo as co consecrator.
Patriarch Dom Castillo Méndez's consecration led to his official persecution by the Roman Catholic Cardinal in Venezuela. He arrived in Brazil on June 21, 1950, where he was installed by Patriarch Dom Carlos Duarte Costa as parish vicar and diocesan bishop of Uberlandia
in the state of Minas Gerais
. In 1957 he was moved to Rio de Janeiro where he served as auxiliary bishop. He was reassigned to Brasilia in 1960 or 1961, where he served as bishop of the state of Goias
. In 1961 he acquired Brazilian citizenship.
Patriarch Dom Luis, as he was now known ("Dom" being the honorific title 'Lord' for bishops in Brazil), is considered to be more theologically conservative than his predecessors. He used the Tridentine Pontifical
in the vernacular for all episcopal consecrations. However, like most independent Established Christian Churches, he denied papal infallibility
the same as the Orthodox churches and does not support obligatory priestly celibacy. In the 1980s, he entered into dialogue with Pope John Paul II at the Pope's request to see if reunification was possible. It was the Brazilian Church that refused, remembering the various ongoing acts of malice and even torture committed by the Roman Church against the Brazilian Church.
. One is inherited from the father, the other from the mother. The father's surname is written before the mother's surname, and when addressing a person formally, one usually uses the father's surname (e.g. Señor Castillo). (See article Spanish naming customs)
However, as an immigrant to Brazil, where the custom is to place the father's surname in the final position, Castillo Méndez was normally addressed as Méndez, even though this is technically his mother's surname.
Another Brazilian custom is to address bishops and high-ranking church officials with the honorific title of "Dom" followed by the individual's first name. Thus Castillo Méndez was often addressed as "Dom Luis."
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
The Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church is an independent Catholic church established in 1945 by Brazilian bishop Dom Carlos Duarte Costa, a former Roman Catholic Bishop of Botucatu.The ICAB has 58 dioceses and claims five million members in 17 countries...
(ICAB - Igreja Católica Apostólica Brasileira), an independent catholic church
Independent Catholic Churches
Independent Catholic churches are Catholic congregations that are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church or any other churches whose sacraments are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church...
. The Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church lists 48 diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s, and is the mother church of the Worldwide Communion of Catholic Apostolic National Churches
Worldwide Communion of Catholic Apostolic National Churches
The Worldwide Communion of Catholic Apostolic Churches is a communion of 14 Christian Church bodies. The Communion was born at the VI Worldwide Council held in Guatemala. WCCAC is the result of a long path, started by Dom Carlos Duarte Costa who in 1945 organized the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic...
(WCCAC), a loose communion of churches in 14 countries, with an estimated 2-3 million members worldwide.
Early life and ministry
His Beatitude. Patriarch Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Méndez was born in CaracasCaracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
on December 4, 1922. After studying in the Roman Catholic archdiocesan seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Caracas, he and his class of seminarians were sent to Solsona, Catalonia, in Spain, and on Thursday, August 10, 1944, Upon returning to Venezuela, at a time of massive upheaval in the country, Patriarch Dom Luis Castillo Méndez became involved in a movement called the "Curas Criollos" (Native Priests or literally 'Creole
Creole peoples
The term Creole and its cognates in other languages — such as crioulo, criollo, créole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kreol, kriulo, kriol, krio, etc. — have been applied to people in different countries and epochs, with rather different meanings...
Priests'). Having learned through periodicals about the church reform movement led by Dom Carlos Duarte Costa in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and the founding of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church in 1945, Castillo Méndez entered into correspondence with Duarte Costa.
Separation from the Roman Catholic Church
In 1947 Castillo Méndez and three other clergy formally established the "Venezuelan Catholic Apostolic Church." Like the Brazilian Catholic church led by its first Patriarch Dom Carlos Duarte Costa, the Venezuelan church was to be independent of the VaticanHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, would use Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
instead of Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
in the liturgy, and would permit its clergy to marry. Castillo Méndez filed the new church's organizational papers with the Interior Ministry in early 1947, with signed affidavits from 250 fellow priests who had unanimously elected him Bishop of Caracas. The Minister of Interior immediately ordered the Federal police to ensure that Castillo Méndez not wear the vestments or insignia of the office of Bishop. However, the new church did receive public approval from the Democratic Action
Democratic Action
Democratic Action is a centrist Venezuelan political party established in 1941. The party and its antecedents played an important role in the early years of Venezuelan democracy, and led the government during Venezuela's first democratic period...
and Communist Parties.
On March 8, 1947 Patriarch Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Méndez and the other three founders of the Venezuelan church were formally allegedly excommunicated
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
from the Roman Catholic Church. Roman Catholic Archbishop Lucas Guillermo Castillo stated in the excommunication directive that the four priests had "violated fundamental dogma of the Roman Catholic Church and held concepts blasphemous and offensive to the person and authority of the Roman Pope Pius XII." The notice further stated that any Catholics who supported the new church would also be excommunicated.
Entry into the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
In 1947 Castillo Méndez was serving as pastor of St. Teresa's parish in Caracas. Having been elected leader by his fellow priests in the nascent national church, he sought to go to Brazil to receive episcopalEpiscopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
from Duarte Costa. However, the Venezuelan government did not consent to this trip, nor would it allow Duarte Costa to enter Venezuela. In the end, Castillo Méndez and Duarte Costa made arrangements to meet in the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, a territory under the jurisdiction of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which did not have formal diplomatic relations with the Vatican. On May 3, 1948,Dom Duarte Costa consecrated Luis Fernando Castillo Méndez as a bishop, with the title of Bishop of Caracas and Primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of Venezuela, he was assisted by Dom Salamao Ferraz, Bishop of São Paulo as co consecrator.
Patriarch Dom Castillo Méndez's consecration led to his official persecution by the Roman Catholic Cardinal in Venezuela. He arrived in Brazil on June 21, 1950, where he was installed by Patriarch Dom Carlos Duarte Costa as parish vicar and diocesan bishop of Uberlandia
Uberlândia
Uberlândia is the main town in the Triangle region, west of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. With a population of 604,013 inhabitants, according to 2010 estimates, the city is the second largest in the state second only to Belo Horizonte...
in the state of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
. In 1957 he was moved to Rio de Janeiro where he served as auxiliary bishop. He was reassigned to Brasilia in 1960 or 1961, where he served as bishop of the state of Goias
Goiás
Goiás is a state of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. The name Goiás comes from the name of an indigenous community...
. In 1961 he acquired Brazilian citizenship.
Primacy
Upon Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa's death in 1961, leadership of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church was apparently in a flux for several years, with several individuals leading or claiming to lead the church, often for very brief periods of time. Some sources indicate that Castillo Méndez was leader of the church as early as 1961. Clearly by 1982 he was undisputed leader, elected that year as president of the Episcopal Council of ICAB. In 1988 he was designated Patriarch of ICAB, and in 1990 he was named Patriarch of ICAN,which then became the WCCAC, the church's international communion, positions which he held until his death.Patriarch Dom Luis, as he was now known ("Dom" being the honorific title 'Lord' for bishops in Brazil), is considered to be more theologically conservative than his predecessors. He used the Tridentine Pontifical
Pontifical
Pontifical may refer to the Roman Pontifical, a Roman Catholic liturgical book used by a bishop.When used as an adjective, Pontifical may be used to describe things related to the office of a bishop, such as the following:*Solemn Pontifical Mass...
in the vernacular for all episcopal consecrations. However, like most independent Established Christian Churches, he denied papal infallibility
Papal infallibility
Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error when in his official capacity he solemnly declares or promulgates to the universal Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals...
the same as the Orthodox churches and does not support obligatory priestly celibacy. In the 1980s, he entered into dialogue with Pope John Paul II at the Pope's request to see if reunification was possible. It was the Brazilian Church that refused, remembering the various ongoing acts of malice and even torture committed by the Roman Church against the Brazilian Church.
Passing
On the morning of October 29, 2009, at approximately 9 am, His Beatitude, Patriarch Dom Luis Fernando Castillo-Mendez, the Patriarch of Brazil and the Worldwide Family of Catholic Apostolic National Churches died, at the age of 86.Note on his name
As a native of Venezuela, Luis Fernando Castillo Méndez's family name (patronym) is Castillo, with Méndez being his mother's family name. In Spanish-speaking countries, people normally have two surnamesFamily name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
. One is inherited from the father, the other from the mother. The father's surname is written before the mother's surname, and when addressing a person formally, one usually uses the father's surname (e.g. Señor Castillo). (See article Spanish naming customs)
However, as an immigrant to Brazil, where the custom is to place the father's surname in the final position, Castillo Méndez was normally addressed as Méndez, even though this is technically his mother's surname.
Another Brazilian custom is to address bishops and high-ranking church officials with the honorific title of "Dom" followed by the individual's first name. Thus Castillo Méndez was often addressed as "Dom Luis."