About Us...
There is only one Catholic Church, but not all Catholics are Roman.
According to the teaching of the Apostles (the early followers of Jesus), that Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic.
Within that one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, there are many cultural and historic expressions of what it means to be that Church.
The largest and most well known expression of the Church is, of course, the Roman Catholic Church. There are also the Orthodox Catholic expressions (Greek, Russian, Byzantine, etc.) of the same Catholic Church. There are many Anglican Catholics (known as Episcopal in the U.S.) throughout the world as well.
The term free is used among many expressions of the Catholic Church to designate that they are not under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of the city of Rome (the Pope) nor any national government.
The Orthodox and Anglican expressions of the Catholic Church are free of Rome’s jurisdiction also, but use the more cultural and historic titles to designate their independence of control from anyone beyond their own bishop, which is the most ancient tradition of the Church.
Social Issues & Matters of Conscience
The Church is the people of God. The Latin word for "church," ecclesia comes from the Greek ek, which means "out," and kaleo, which means "to call." The Church is the people of God called out of bondage to freedom, sin to salvation, despair to hope, darkness to light, an existence centered on death to an existence focused on life.
“When we think of Church we have to think of a body of people, traveling together. We have to envision women, men, and children of all ages, races, and societies supporting one another on their long and often tiresome journeys to their final home.” Henry J. Nouwen
Some have allowed social issues and matters of personal conscience to divide the unity of the Church.
The Free Catholic Church strives to the meet the needs of those who no longer feel comfortable in their church of origin, regardless of the reason.
At Saint Francis Church, EVERYONE is welcome!
According to the teaching of the Apostles (the early followers of Jesus), that Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic.
Within that one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, there are many cultural and historic expressions of what it means to be that Church.
The largest and most well known expression of the Church is, of course, the Roman Catholic Church. There are also the Orthodox Catholic expressions (Greek, Russian, Byzantine, etc.) of the same Catholic Church. There are many Anglican Catholics (known as Episcopal in the U.S.) throughout the world as well.
The term free is used among many expressions of the Catholic Church to designate that they are not under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of the city of Rome (the Pope) nor any national government.
The Orthodox and Anglican expressions of the Catholic Church are free of Rome’s jurisdiction also, but use the more cultural and historic titles to designate their independence of control from anyone beyond their own bishop, which is the most ancient tradition of the Church.
Social Issues & Matters of Conscience
The Church is the people of God. The Latin word for "church," ecclesia comes from the Greek ek, which means "out," and kaleo, which means "to call." The Church is the people of God called out of bondage to freedom, sin to salvation, despair to hope, darkness to light, an existence centered on death to an existence focused on life.
“When we think of Church we have to think of a body of people, traveling together. We have to envision women, men, and children of all ages, races, and societies supporting one another on their long and often tiresome journeys to their final home.” Henry J. Nouwen
Some have allowed social issues and matters of personal conscience to divide the unity of the Church.
The Free Catholic Church strives to the meet the needs of those who no longer feel comfortable in their church of origin, regardless of the reason.
At Saint Francis Church, EVERYONE is welcome!
