Liberal Catholic Church

The Liberal Catholic Church ( LKK ) is a strong influence in their theology of Theosophy church. Such was and is the LKK until today an occult subsidiary organization of the Theosophical Society Adyar. The church is not to be confused with the Roman Catholic Church or the Old Catholic Church.

Dissemination

After adherents.com the liberal Catholic Church in 1990 had about 3000 members worldwide. In Germany, it has indicated that four communities in Austria, Switzerland, the liberal Catholic church is not represented. Religious scholar Georg Schmid is for Germany to 200 members.

History

The purely esoteric church was founded in 1916 by the two Theosophists James Ingall Wedgwood ( 1883-1951 ) and Charles Webster Leadbeater in England. The basic idea behind the foundation of the Liberal Catholic Church was by Eliphas Levi, but he died before the establishment of Theosophy in 1875, yet the modern esotericism and occultism had a big impact. The motive for the church establishment was the endeavor, despite the attitude of the Theosophical Society Adyar towards the churches to gain church followers. Wedgwood, who was previously an Anglican clergyman, was ordained on July 22, 1913 by Arnold Harris Mathew in the Old Catholic Church in England.

At a synod held on September 6, 1918 in London, the present priests and bishops, including Wedgwood as Presiding Bishop agreed on a new name for their reorganized Old Catholic church and finally called this The Liberal Catholic Church Liberal Catholic Church = ( LKK ). In the following years, Wedgwood was a lot, he consecrated many priests and bishops and opened many centers for the rapidly growing LKK.

From 1933 until their ban in 1937 called the LKK " Free Catholic Church." Since 1945 there are in the liberal Catholic church two branches, the Liberal Catholic Church International ( LCCI ), mainly in the U.S. and the Liberal Catholic Church ( LCC), mainly in Europe.

Liberal Catholic Church USA ( LCCI )

In the LCCI the theosophical beliefs such as reincarnation are optional, as well as vegetarian diet. In the liturgy of grape juice and wine can be used. Women can by allowing the ordination of women all ecclesiastical offices hold, homosexual men can be priests and priests can a salary.

Liberal Catholic Church Europe ( LCC)

In LCC, the theosophical beliefs are an integral part of teaching. There is no women's ordination, what is debated present in the Church, and priests can not receive a salary. Vegetarian diet and grape juice in the liturgy are mandatory.

Relations with the Ecumenical

The Liberal Catholic Church does not belong to the ecumenical community.

It does not recognize baptism and ordination of other churches, and their baptism and sacraments are not recognized by the other churches. However, existing church memberships LKK members can be maintained.

Gnostic Church

The Liberal Catholic Church is counted among the Gnostic churches. " Gnostic churches " are more modern churches founded, the appeal to Gnostic ideas, and often conflict with the beliefs of traditional churches in conflict. The self-image of being a " Gnostic Church ", is also expressed in the claim of the liberal Catholic Church expressed to belong to a "community of liberated saints." The members of this community of Liberated, which is also called the " White Brotherhood " were, got out of the cycle of incarnations, but send at certain times already freed members of the " White Brotherhood " on Earth. The order of these voluntarily incarnated for it is to lead people to the path of liberation. Their members are promised to be given to them assurance of salvation and knowledge of the 'true gnosis' help and support on their way to perfection.

Teaching

The curriculum of the Liberal Catholic Church come from the ideas of different religions, especially from Catholicism and Buddhism. A significant influence on the doctrine of LKK had the theosophist Franz Hartmann through his writing, "What is Theosophy " exercised in the Catholicism he ascribed a certain form of a secret school of theosophy. The deity of the liberal Catholic Church is one in essence with the all -pervading Brahman of the Vedas and manifest through the " second Person " of the Godhead in the imagined figure of the Logos or Demiurge, who is regarded as builders and maintainers of the universe.

There are no compounds of the Liberal Catholic Church to the well-known churches, because the differences are too great. Churches see their role in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and not in the dissemination of theosophical knowledge. So the Christian doctrine of original sin and its justification by the central key Christian concept of grace in the LKK was frowned upon.