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Summer 2000
Deus
Caritas
A message from the Presiding Bishop
of the Old Roman Catholic Church in North America,
the Most Reverend Francis P. Facione, Ph.D.
"Woe to the shepherds
who mislead and scatter the flock of My
pasture"
This admonition from the Prophet
Jeremiah (23:1) addressed to the rulers of the
ancient Israelites might well have significance
today as one reflects upon the current situation
within the Church Catholic. Liberal and
conservative factions are engaging in a distressing
war of words, each side striving for the attention
and assent of the diminishing number of people in
the pews. Doctrinal confusion, inept leadership,
poorly formed clergy, single issue agendas, and
other challenges are all symptoms of a malaise
leading to a crisis in the Church. These and other
issues impacting upon the Body of Christ, which is
the Church, require sustained problem-solving
efforts.
The Old Roman Catholic Church in
North America, aware of its obligation to
participate in every sincere effort to find
solutions, is pleased to announce sponsorship with
The Society of St. Mark and New Perspectives of the
First Annual Frederick L. Pyman Lecture Series in
Pastoral Ministry. The focus of this first offering
on September 8, 2000 is "Crisis in the Church".
Elsewhere in this issue of New Perspectives will be
found information on the program and speakers for
this one-day ecumenical symposium in Louisville,
Kentucky. We have assembled a top-notch group of
church leaders to share with us their thoughts on
some of the issues confronting the Church as it
enters its third millennium.
A brief note on Frederick L.
Pyman. Archbishop Pyman, known to his friends and
brother bishops as "Freddie" was at the time of his
death, in 1993, the last surviving bishop elevated
to the episcopacy by Archbishop Carfora, who
consecrated him in 1943. Spanning more than fifty
years, Archbishop Pyman's career in ministry was
highlighted by a keen interest in ecumenical
relations--Christian unity--and marked by devoted
service to people of all faiths and backgrounds.
The founder of several mission parishes in southern
California, Arizona, and Nevada, he was also for
many years chaplain to Show Folks of America.
Archbishop Pyman was a prime mover in efforts to
restore order and collegiality within the Old
Catholic movement in the United States. He was a
founding member of the Council of Old Roman
Catholic Bishops in 1982 and served two terms as
its chairman.
Under his leadership, the
Council made significant progress toward
re-establishing fraternal working relationships
between Old Roman Catholic bishops which had
deteriorated since the death of Archbishop Carfora.
The Council of Bishops of the Old Roman Catholic
Church in North America is proud to acknowledge
"Freddie's" accomplishments and service to the
Church by dedicating its Lecture Series to his
memory.
I cordially invite our readers
and all persons concerned for the future direction
of the Church to join with us on September 8th in
Louisville as we examine issues affecting the
"Crisis in the Church".
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