In the Beginning
What am I doing here?
Jeff Duntemann, The Only Known Old
Catholic Layman
(tm), approached me and insisted that I should do a CatechismBlog. One
of the chief reasons was that, while talking to his nephew about "The
Davinci Code", he was asked: "If Jesus had kids, would they be
half-God?"
Quite obviously, Roman Catholic
Catechesis since
1970 or so has left quite a bit to be desired. Old Catholics are
diffused, and a small minority, but both he & I see a clear
need to
talk about what the Catholic Faith is, in an on-line forum.
As to what Old Catholics are, see
http://www.orccna.org. Briefly, Old Catholics have been
independent of Rome and the Papacy since 1724, but maintain the Deposit
of Faith, the Sacraments, and Apostolic Succession.
The Faith I teach here is that given to
the Apostles
by Christ, and explained and elucidated by the Church -- most
especially in the 7 Ecumenical Councils -- over the last 2,000
years. I am personally, influenced by the Documents
of Vatican II, but remain, as were the Fathers of that Council,
profoundly conservative.
I also have a great affection for
Orthodoxy --
Byzantine and Oriental, and agree with them in many ways against some
of the ideas and forms of the Western church (Catholic
&
Protestant). The Catholic Church is greater than either Rome
or
Orthodoxy, and both sides need to recognize that.
As to the form of this Blog -- I will
discuss
topics, and hope for feedback, questions, and comments from you, my
primary teachers -- for I learn in the process of teaching and
preaching. Being a Servant of the Servants of God, I do my
utmost
to try to meet your needs.
Oh -- who am I, that I should stand up
and declare
myself an expert on the Faith, and do catechetics? I am an
Old
Catholic bishop, and as a successor to the Apostles, that's my
job. I'm just computer literate and outspoken.
+Samuel B. Bassett, Old Catholic Bishop of Zzyzx in California