Belief Statements
1. We believe in the truth and divine inspiration of The Holy Bible, which is without error.
2. We believe that Jesus is God, Messiah, and our personal Savior.
3. We believe that the bread and wine becomes the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Sacrament.
4. Holy Orders are open to both men and women, both married and single.
5. We do not ordain homosexuals and do not officiate same sex weddings.
6. Those who have been divorced and/or remarried are offered the Holy Sacraments of The Church. Annulments are not required.
7. We hold valid Apostolic Succession, originating from Jesus and Saint Peter.
8. Abortion and Euthanasia is murder.
9. Jesus died at The Cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Once you have accepted Christ as your Savior, you are forgiven. When you sin (hopefully you will sin less and less), thank God for forgiveness of your sins.
History
Agape of Jesus Catholic Church is rooted in a history of Catholicism outside the control of Rome. We are independent of Rome, but dependent upon Jesus. We are a member of the Charismatic Old Catholic Church, and have a valid line of Apostolic Succession. Therefore, we incorporate a valid priesthood with valid sacraments. We are committed to the Person and Teachings of Jesus Christ, Our King and Head of our Church. We are under the New Covenant (Grace), and we believe The Bible is the true inspired Word of God.
During the 1700's, Catholics of the Netherlands demanded the right to continue to elect their own bishops. Catholics have been utilizing their prophetic voices outside of the Confines of the institutional church. You can disagree with church practices and still remain a faithful Catholic.
Most Catholics are aware of The Second Vatican Council in 1963. This swept away the Latin Mass. There are Pre-Vatican II Catholics, who are not under Rome.
Many modern-day Catholics are not aware of The First Vatican Council of 1879. In Vatican I, "Papal Infallibility" was adopted. Catholics who did not accept Papal Infallibility are known as "Old Catholics." We are Old Catholics, and a historic part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. The Louisville Agape of Jesus Catholic Church was founded in 1994.
We believe Jesus is The Christ, the Son of the Living God, and we accept Him as our personal savior. We believe Jesus is God, the second person of The Trinity. We believe Jesus is the only way to God, the Father, and Heaven. The Holy Spirit is our guide. We believe in the three historic creeds: Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian.
The Church should be built upon the foundation of The Holy Bible, and not on man-made rules, laws and traditions. We believe in the Agape Love, the unconditional love of Jesus in the New Testament of The Holy Bible.
We want to learn to love one another as Jesus commanded. The Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God. We speak where The Bible speaks, and we are silent where The Bible is silent.
We believe in transbubstantiation, the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the bread and wine after consecration.
Our priests are permitted to marry (Matthew 8:14, 1 Timothy 3:15) and women may be priests (Galatians 3:28, Romans 16:1-16, John 20: 16-18)
"You are forgiven.....It is finished"......John 19:30
At Agape of Jesus, we teach and believe that we have been forgiven of all our sins - past, present and future.
Jesus dies for the sins of divorce, greed, pride, selfishness, breaking of The Commandments. There is overwhelming evidence written in The New Testament that sins are forgiven by what Jesus did on The Cross. Versus, such as......
"When you were dead in your sins, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins......He took it away, nailing it to The Cross," Colossians 2:13
"Your sins have been forgiven on account of His Name," 1 John 2:12
Catholics are taught to confess their sins to a priest. Protestants confess sins to God in order to obtain forgiveness. However, confession does not bring about forgiveness. Only the Blood of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, can do this for us. When you came to Christ and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, you accepted His forgiveness.
To explain, true confession focuses on our minds, not on our failures; but back to the finished work of Jesus Christ on The Cross, which leads to a thankful heart. So when we continue to sin (hopefully less and less), we thank God for what He has already done. Believe it! Your sins are forgiven! It is Finished!
Validations
Recent Validations:
The document "Dominus Jesus," issued by The Roman Catholic Magisterium in the Year 2000 was signed by Pope John Paul II on June 16th and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger on August 6th. The document states:
"The churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with The (Roman) Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds; that is, by Apostolic Succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular churches."
A Concordat was signed between The Holy Father, Pope Paul VI, and Archbishop Glazmaker of Utrecht in the Year 1976, recognizing the Catholic status of one another and the validity of one another's Holy Sacraments.
"The Roman Church recognizes the validity of Old Catholic Orders and Sacraments, " published 1974, Catholic Almanac, Our Sunday Visitor.
"The Old Catholics, like the Orthodox, possess a valid priesthood," Separated Brethren, William J. Whalen.
"....Catholics may receive the Eucharist, penance or anointing from sacred ministers of non-Catholic denominations, whose Orders are considered valid by The Catholic Church. This includes all Eastern Orthodox priests, priests of The Old Catholic and Polish National Church," from A Catholic Guide to the New Code of Canon Law by Thomas P. Doyle, OP.
"....Ordinations performed by bishops of The Old Catholic Church are considered valid," from A Practical Commentary on the Code of Canon Law by Reverend Stanislaw Woywood, OFM, LLB.
Historic Validations:
Utrecht receives Rights of Autonomy from Blessed Pope Eugene III in the Year 1145.
This Right is confirmed by Pope Leo in 1215 and becomes known universally as The Leonine Privilege.
Privilege subsequently reconfirmed in two Church Councils in the Years 1520 and 1717.
