Sacramental not Catholic

Recently I communicated with a friend that I prefer the phrase "Independent Sacramental Movement" in preference to "Independent Catholic." I am not involved in "Independent Catholicism," and I have no interest in claiming to be an "Independent Catholic." At one time in my life I was a Roman Catholic and then a Byzantine-Rite Catholic, in both instances I bowed my head to the primacy of the Bishop of Rome. I understand the rhetoric about the word Catholic being another word for Universal, yes I get that but lets be honest. When people claim to be "Independent Catholic" what are they really claiming?

What is important to me is the sacraments, and this is the reason I prefer "Independent Sacramental Movement." Eventually, I'd like to see the word independent removed from this designation, but I acknowledge that some folks are tied to the whole concept of being "independent" from Rome, but yet still getting their identity from a loose (sometimes not so loose) psychological link with Rome.

There will be some similarity between those in the Independent Sacramental Movement and the Roman Catholic Church, this is inevitable because we are both sacramental in nature and have a common ancestry. But I see no need to further an identity by association, to perpetuate the mentality of being Roman Catholic but simply without the Pope -- its been done before and was called the Protestant Reformation. I know I over simplify, because most Protestant Churches deny the efficacy of the sacrament of Holy Orders, but I hope my point is clear. It is better, I believe, to perpetuate an identity from within then to perpetuate an identity that you have through association with an external ideal.

I know, and know of, several people who are in the Independent Sacramental Movement who should probably be in the Anglican Church, or one of Byzantine Rite Catholic Churches (for the only reason that they are married). My personal situation within the Independent Sacramental Movement is only because of my love for the sacraments and my theological views. My theological views are not in agreement with any of the mainstream sacramental churches, especially the Roman Catholic Church. Personally, I am not an "Independent Sacramental" Bishop because I like pretty vestments, even though I do have a soft spot for liturgical wear (although I don't have much of it), nor am I a Bishop to pretend I am "just as good" as my Roman Catholic counterparts. I am not "just as good" because I am nothing like them, we are ontologically different.

What do I mean by "ontologically different?" What I mean by this is that I am similar to a Bishop in the Roman Catholic Church or Eastern Orthodox Church in that we are both recipients of Apostolic Succession through the sacrament of Holy Orders, in that we are similar. Other than that we deviate, and that is where the ontological difference comes into play. We are different because our missions are different. I do not Lord over a Diocese, nor do I attempt to herd people like sheep -- either by preaching a doctrine of Original Sin or other such theological extortion. It is my goal to achieve Gnosis, or acquaintance with the Fullness (God), and to help others who desire Gnosis. Achieving Gnosis becomes easier with the aid of the sacraments; especially the sacrament of the Eucharist. This is a clear reason I prefer the term Sacramental over Catholic in the establishment of identity, because it is the sacraments that compel me to be involved in this "movement," and not a need to associate myself with Catholicism.

I write this entry today in part because of a discussion I had with my wife after the recent announcement by Pope Benedict XVI regarding his reiteration of the doctrines espoused in “Dominus Iesus,” written when he was prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. She had said to me, after reading about the Pope's announcement, "Why do you want to be associated with this?" My response was, "I don't follow you, I'm not associated with the Roman Catholic Church." I understand where she is coming from, because it does seem like those of us in the Independent Sacramental Movement are playing at being Roman Catholic. It seems like the case sometimes, but it is something that I personally fight and resist. I know, however, that my fellow (ISM) bishops and priests don't always resist this urge, and I often believe there is a longing by some to simply wake up one morning and be under the loving care of Rome. I would be lying if I said I never get nostalgic for my past as a Benedictine monk, sometimes I miss being Frater Wolfgang, O.S.B. However, nostalgia and reality are two different things and when the day is over and I am reflecting on my life I acknowledge that I am a better person where I am at spiritually, and that my search for Gnosis is far better for me spiritually than to be trapped by my former state of ignorance.

I will end with a passage from the Gospel of Thomas:

Jesus said, "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the (Father's) kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the (Father's) kingdom is within you and it is outside you.

When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty."