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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.

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".