Reformed Catholic Church (Venezuela)
Encyclopedia
The Reformed Catholic Church of Venezuela
(Anglican Rite) is a member jurisdiction of the Latin-American Anglican Church, a part of the global Orthodox Anglican Communion
, and has received recognition from the Conservative Anglican Church of North America
, a small United States-based group. It is therefore not a part of the Anglican Communion
or the Roman Catholic Church
.
.
Not surprisingly, several high ranking prelates in the Roman Catholic Church
have criticized the new jurisdiction for attempting to divide the larger Catholic Church, and asked Roman Catholics to avoid the church.
The church is headed by Mons. Enrique Albornoz, who serves as the Metropolitan Bishop. This church is based in South America
and is not connected to any of the North American churches that have used the name "Reformed Catholic Church."
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...
(Anglican Rite) is a member jurisdiction of the Latin-American Anglican Church, a part of the global Orthodox Anglican Communion
Orthodox Anglican Communion
The Orthodox Anglican Communion was established in 1967 as a self-governing worldwide fellowship of national churches in the Anglican tradition. The Orthodox Anglican Communion was one of the first such communions to be formed outside of the See of Canterbury and therefore is not part of the...
, and has received recognition from the Conservative Anglican Church of North America
Conservative Anglican Church of North America
The Conservative Anglican Church of North America is an independent Anglican church. It is not in communion with The Episcopal Church or the Church of England, and it considers that women cannot be Anglican priests....
, a small United States-based group. It is therefore not a part of the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
or the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
History
The jurisdiction was inaugurated in June 2008 by Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans who rejected (among other things) the Roman Catholic ban on married priests. News reports claim church leadership has expressed support for some of the policies of President Hugo ChávezHugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
.
Not surprisingly, several high ranking prelates in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
have criticized the new jurisdiction for attempting to divide the larger Catholic Church, and asked Roman Catholics to avoid the church.
The church is headed by Mons. Enrique Albornoz, who serves as the Metropolitan Bishop. This church is based in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and is not connected to any of the North American churches that have used the name "Reformed Catholic Church."