Monday, September 03, 2007

The Old Catholic Theses: A rather Anglican document, don't you think?

THE FOURTEEN THESES OF THE
OLD CATHOLIC UNION CONFERENCE AT BONN
SEPTEMBER 14-16, 1874

I. We agree that the apocryphal or deutero-canonical books of the Old Testament are not of the same canonicity as the books contained in the Hebrew Canon.

II. We agree that no translation of Holy Scripture can claim an authority superior to that of the original text.

III. We agree that the reading of Holy Scripture in the vulgar tongue cannot be lawfully forbidden.

IV. We agree that, in general, it is more fitting, and in accordance with the spirit of the Church, that the Liturgy should be in the tongue understood by the people.

V. We agree that Faith working by Love, not Faith without Love, is the means and condition of Man's justification before God.

VI. Salvation cannot be merited by "merit of condignity," because there is no proportion between the infinite worth of salvation promised by God and the finite worth of man's works.

VII. We agree that the doctrine of "opera supererogationis" and of a "thesaurus meritorium sanctorum," i.e., that the overflowing merits of the Saints can be transferred to others, either by the rulers of the Church, or by the authors of the good works themselves, is untenable.

VIII. 1. We acknowledge that the number of sacraments was fixed at seven, first in the twelfth century, and then was received into the general teaching of the Church, not as a tradition coming down from the Apostles or from the earliest of times, but as the result of theological speculation.

2. Catholic theologians acknowledge, and we acknowledge with them, that Baptism and the Eucharist are "principalia, praecipus, eximia salutis nostrae sacramenta."

IX. 1. The Holy Scriptures being recognized as the primary rule of Faith, we agree that the genuine tradition, i.e. the unbroken transmission partly oral, partly in writing of the doctrine delivered by Christ and the Apostles is an authoritative source of teaching for all successive generations of Christians. This tradition is partly to be found in the consensus of the great ecclesiastical bodies standing in historical continuity with the primitive Church, partly to be gathered by scientific method from the written documents of all centuries.

2. We acknowledge that the Church of England; and the Churches derived through her, have maintained unbroken the Episcopal succession.

X. We reject the new Roman doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as being contrary to the tradition of the first thirteen centuries, according to which Christ alone is conceived without sin.

XI. We agree that the practice of confession of sins before the congregation or a Priest, together with the exercise of the power of the keys, has come down to us from the primitive Church, and that, purged from abuses and free from constraint, it should be preserved in the Church.

XII. We agree that "indulgences" can only refer to penalties actually imposed by the Church herself.

XIII. We acknowledge that the practice of the commemoration of the faithful departed, i.e. the calling down of a richer outpouring of Christ's grace upon them, has come down to us from the primitive Church, and is to be preserved in the Church.

XIV. 1. The Eucharistic celebration in the Church is not a continuous repetition or renewal of the propitiatory sacrifice offered once forever by Christ upon the cross; but its sacrificial character consists in this, that it is the permanent memorial of it, and a representation and presentation on earth of that one oblation of Christ for the salvation of redeemed mankind, which according to the Epistle to the Hebrews (9:11,12), is continuously presented in heaven by Christ, who now appears in the presence of God for us (9:24).

2. While this is the character of the Eucharist in reference to the sacrifice of Christ, it is also a sacred feast, wherein the faithful, receiving the Body and Blood of our Lord, have communion one with another (I Cor. 10:17).

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ironically, 14-Theses Old Catholics (who are not within any Anglican Jurisdiction) are closer to authentic Anglicanism than Tridentine Anglo-Catholics (who are jurisdictionally Anglican).

BTW, the 14 Theses remind me of Jewel's Apology for Anglicanism, which was penned hundreds of years ago.

welshmann said...

AC:

As I understand them, the Roman and Eastern churches insist that it is possible to establish authoritative teaching on Holy Tradition alone. Classical Protestants, including orthodox Anglicans, insist that authoritative teaching must have a Scriptural basis, though Scripture must be read within Holy Tradition. As I read the post, Old Catholics would say that authoritative teaching can be based on Holy Tradition alone. Is that a fair assessment?

welshmann

Rev. Dr. Hassert said...

Welshmann,

I'm not sure that is completely accurate, and I think the statement itself was written to acknowledge the primacy of the Scripture per the Articles of Religion:

"The Holy Scriptures being recognized as the primary rule of Faith. . ."

They then go on to acknowledge that the unbroken tradition is "an authorative source." The elaborate that "this tradition is partly to be found in the consensus of the great ecclesiastical bodies standing in historical continuity with the primitive Church, partly to be gathered by scientific method from the written documents of all centuries."

Given that the Scriptures are the "primary rule of faith" I think this statement is closely alligned with the Anglican reformation canons which state that nothing should be taught in the church except that which can be proven from Holy Scripture or what the doctors and bishops of the ancient Catholic Church demonstrated from the same. This brings the position closer to the classical "sola Scriptura" stance of the classic reformation and away from Rome (which elevates the Pope above Scripture and tradition) and away from the radical reformers (every man alone with his Bible).

AC+