The Cathedral Parish of the Annunciation

Statement Of Faith
By the Rt. Rev. Dr. Carmino de Catanzaro

I, Carmino Joseph de Catanzaro, chosen bishop of the Anglican Catholic Church, hereby declare my faith in the Catholic and Apostolic Faith revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord and in the Holy and co-eternal Spirit of God, and anathematise all errors contrary to that faith.

In particular, I confess one true eternal God, consubstantial and undivided Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, One Essence in Three Divine Persons, without any difference of inequality.

I confess Jesus Christ as "the way, the truth, and the life," the unique and final revelation of the Person and Purpose of God, in whom alone is the fullness of grace and truth, so that there can be no salvation apart from Him - that He is from all eternity the only-begotten Son of God, who is in all respects equal to the Father: who in time assumed human nature by the Holy Ghost from the Blessed Virgin Mary and became Perfect Man, remaining perfect in His Divinity, yet remaining One Christ: who in His human nature suffered for us and died to make "a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction" for the sins of all mankind, rose again from the dead, ascended into heaven and is glorified and reigns with the Father for ever as our Mediator and intercessor, and will come again to be the Judge of all mankind.

I confess the Holy Spirit as being one in Essence with the Father and the Son, proceeding from all eternity from the Father, sent into the world by the Son "in accordance with His most true promise": who is the Fountain of Life, active in creation, revealing to men the things of God and entering "into holy souls made them friends of God and prophets": the Sanctifier, Guide, and Counsellor of all who believe in Christ, active in all things pertaining to our salvation.

I believe in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, founded by Christ and entrusted by Him with the saving message of the Gospel, in which Christ our God is active through the Holy Spirit calling men to repentance, faith, and salvation, the mystical Body of Christ of which the baptised are members.

I believe in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, the Holy Eucharist, Penance, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and the Unction of the Sick as pre-eminent means of grace and covenanted signs of the Presence and activity of Christ through the Holy Spirit.

In particular, I confess Holy Baptism as the Sacrament of forgiveness of sins and new birth in Christ and of entry into the Church; Confirmation as the "seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit" in completion of Baptism; and the Holy Eucharist as the sacrificial act whereby Christ our Lord, the Eternal High Priest, unites us to His all-sufficient Sacrifice to bestow on us "remission of sins, and all other benefits of His Passion," as well as the sacramental act whereby He is present under the forms of bread and wine, and give Himself to us in His sacred Humanity, His Body and Blood, to be our heavenly food and to unite us to Himself and to our brethren in His mystical body

I confess that in Holy Orders Christ perpetuates the apostolic ministry which He has set in His Church as the messengers of His Gospel and the ministers of His Sacraments; that the three orders of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons by His institution are confined to the male sex; and that Bishops alone possess the fullness of apostolic authority as Pastors and Teachers of the flock of Christ and to transmit the Sacred Ministry.

I accept the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the authentic record of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, and as conveying His saving word to us and His unalterable moral demand, and thus as having final authority in Faith and Morals;

I accept the Seven Oecumenical Councils, to wit, the two Councils of Nicaea, the three Councils of Constantinople, and those of Ephesus and Chalcedon, as bearing authentic witness to the Gospel of Christ and binding all the faithful, and abhor and anathematise the errors rejected by them;

I reject as abhorrent to the Gospel the error that men can save themselves by their own works, and affirm that it is only by the grace of Christ that we are saved through faith:

I rejoice in the Communion of Saints, "the blessed company of all faithful people," in which the Holy Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ is eminent above all others as the first-fruits of those who are saved by her Son and sanctified by His Holy Spirit, and pray that I may have part in her prayers and those of all holy men and women "who have been the choice vessels of God's grace" in their several generations.

I confess that after this life all men will be raised to appear before the judgement seat of Christ, to receive the due reward of their faith and works, whether to reign with Him for ever, or to be rejected with Satan and his angels.

In confessing this saving faith I pledge myself to labour that it may be brought to all men everywhere to the best of my ability, that they may be brought to the saving knowledge of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. I seek for the unity of all believers in one visible communion, and pledge myself to pray and work for its realisation, and especially that this our Church will return to full communion with the ancient and apostolic sees of Christendom both East and West.

May God in His infinite mercy accept this my faith, not for any merit of mine, but only for the infinite merits of His beloved Son, and grant to me a sinner, His forgiveness, sanctification and salvation.

Amen.