Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch

The Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch (CACA) is an Independent Catholic jurisdiction in the United States, established in 1958 by Herman Adrian Spruit.

History
The former and deceased leader of the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch, Herman Adrian Spruit

After exploring several theological and mystical practices, Herman Adrian Spruit established the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch in 1958.[1][2] Being consecrated by Charles H. Hampton—a Liberal Catholic priest turned Old Catholic bishop whose holy orders descend through Hugh George de Willmott-Newman and the Catholicate of the West—, Spruit's jurisdiction became religiously pluralistic.[3]

Renting a former Roman Catholic chapel on Sundays, Spruit's jurisdiction has been described as theologically liberal through the ordination of women and LGBT persons to the presbyterate and episcopate.[4] The Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch also practices open communion.

Until her retirement in 2005, Spruit declared and consecrated his 4th wife, Meri Louise Spruit to succeed as head of the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch—establishing the church as a matriarchy.[1] She was then succeeded by Richard Alston Gundrey who has ordained numerous independent sacramental bishops for several jurisdictions other than the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch.

At an unknown time, the Roman Catholic hierarchy condemned lay participation in this jurisdiction's sacramental activities.[1]

Impact

Through the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch, multiple jurisdictions have sought and acquired episcopal consecration, such as the founding bishops of the Charismatic Episcopal Church,[5] and some founding bishops of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches although conditional consecrations extended forth through others such as a continuation of the American Orthodox Catholic Church and the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church for both churches.[6][7]

References
  1. "Book on Church of Antioch provides view to alternative versions of Catholicism". National Catholic Reporter. July 19, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  2. "History". Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch. Retrieved November 18, 2021. When he was again ready for ministry, he approached Bishop Hampton of the Liberal Catholic Church, and Bishop Hampton consecrated him to the episcopate on June 22, 1957. Within a year, Archbishop Spruit founded the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch. Archbishop Spruit was the Patriarch of the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch from its founding until his retirement. Meri Louise Spruit, (Reynolds) considered by many, the person who was responsible for making both Herman Spruit and the church successful, was enthroned Matriarch on February 27, 1986. She continued in that position until her retirement in 2005.
  3. "Spiritual Principles". Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch. Retrieved August 18, 2022. We affirm our openness to spiritual truth wherever it may be found, whether that is in ancient wisdom, modern thought, mystical or daily experience or one's inner-knowing.
  4. "Priesthood". Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch. Retrieved August 18, 2022. Holy Orders are open, regardless of gender, marital status, or sexual orientation. While we sympathize with the concept of the priesthood of the laity, we put great stock in the importance of apostolic succession. Our solution is to make Holy Orders available to qualified candidates who wish to serve Christ. Such candidates are required to have a level of academic achievement and prior life experience which demonstrates potential for successful completion of a program of priestly formation and for the professional practice of religion. Spiritual and priestly formation is supervised by the church's seminary, Sophia Divinity School.
  5. "About the ICCEC". Charismatic Episcopal Church. February 15, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  6. "Apostolic Succession of Archbishop Russ McClanahan". July 17, 2007. Archived from the original on July 17, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  7. Edward Jarvis, God, Land & Freedom: the true story of ICAB, Apocryphile Press, Berkeley CA, 2018, p 168
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