Learning some history of our branch of the Catholic Church.
I have been reading from sites on the internet the history of Bishop Carlos Duarte-Costa, who some with in our Church call Saint Charles (rightly so). He lived in a time dealing with the problems of the Church in Brazil in the 1940s during World War II and Post World War II.
Those times remind me of the present time with the Roman Church in China, Russia, United States, India and even the Philippines.
It is my hope that our Clergy including our Bishop(s) learn an important lesson from our history of our branch of Catholicism. I wish to remind our Church not to embrace dictators or future dictators. Communism and Fascism is alive and well in our world. The Church needs to distance themselves from both. To be in “bed” with them, looking for special favors is not what our Church is all about.
There I wish to remind out Clergy this important lesson from Catholic Apostolic Church of America on a short bio of Bishop Carlos Duarte-Costa.
Saint Charles of Brazil (Bishop Carlos Duarte-Costa, 1888-1961) was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on April 1, 1911. He was consecrated to be the Roman Catholic Diocesan Bishop of Botucatu, Brazil, on December 8, 1924, and served in that office until certain views he expressed about treatment of Brazil’s poor, by both the civil government and the Roman Catholic Church in Brazil, caused his removal from the Diocese of Botucatu. Bishop Duarte-Costa was subsequently named Titular Bishop of Maura by the late Bishop of Rome, Pius PP XII.
Bishop Duarte-Costa’s criticisms of the fascist regime and oligarchy of Brazil in the 1930’s and 1940’s earned him repeated troubles and prison. In 1944 he was imprisoned by the dictator and remained there until pressure from President Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill and others caused his release. Of interest is the apparent lack of active protest against this unjust imprisonment by either the Vatican or the other bishops of the Roman Catholic Church of Brazil.
Bishop Duarte-Costa’s criticisms of the Vatican, particularly about Vatican foreign policy during and following World War II toward Nazi Germany, were not well received at the Vatican, and he was eventually separated from the Roman Church by Pius PP XII. This action was taken only after his public denunciations that the Vatican Secretariat of State was issuing Vatican Passports to some high ranking former Nazi officials, who were then fleeing to South America, from the Allies.
Bishop Duarte-Costa was a strong advocate in the 1930’s for reform of the Roman Church; espousing many of the key positions that the Second Vatican Council would, thirty-five years later, enact. His positions included a more pastoral approach to divorce, challenged mandatory celibacy for the clergy, and rejected abuses of papal power, including the concept of papal Infallibility, which the bishop considered a misguided and false dogma.
Bishop Duarte-Costa was involuntarily separated from the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church on July 6, 1945. This schism was, it should be noted, an act by the Roman Pontiff and was not initiated by Bishop Duarte-Costa. Duarte-Costa immediately established the independent Igreja Catolica Apostolica Brasileira (ICAB) on that same date which he led until his death in 1961.
My wish in Blogging this is to remind our Clergy (and Bishops) not to put your trust in government leaders. Not to openly endorse candidate(s) for political office. Not to accept money for favors (spiritual or temporal).
You may say your a private citizen and can express your preferences freely as a citizen of your country. But as a religious, deacon, priest, and bishop, you have a higher calling to the people of God and the God you serve. Keep your politics to yourself, work for the good of your people. Support ideas, fight injustice, and build a better world for God’s people. Keep your private politics to yourself. Build bridges to all.
I have learned the hard way in this life. As a religious and now as a Bishop in the Catholic Church. Do not mix politics and church. Its a bad combination! It leaves God’s people without a true shepherd to protect them. It cheapens the Church, and sidesteps Christ Himself.
Bishop Duarte-Costa found out within the Roman Church, and we hope and pray this will not end this way for the Holy Catholic Church!
Let us Live Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Alphonsus!
+ Most Rev. Stephen M Greinke
Bishop of Kansas, Titular Lupa
Greetings your grace, this is a true and accurate reflection of the events of the creation of the independent Catholic apostolic church of Brazil which is our parent church. Cardinal Duarte stood for the fair and equal treatment of all of gods children. He also oppose the granting of visas and transportation of former Nazi war criminals to South America. He spoke out against the various harmful policies of the Vatican. As noted in your article he paid the price by being expelled and separate from the church due to his opposition of inviting the church into politics. It is stated Cannelo of our church no clergy it’s me involved in local or national politics. The only time we are to publicly speak regarding what a government may or may not be doing is for human rights, the health and safety of gods people, and the abuse of power and ill treatment
Of Scottish people. At all times we are to abstain from public comments by the clergy regarding politics. Only general statements regarding prayers for a good government and the continuation of democracy for the rights of all people are permitted. Any other forms of comments interferes with our mission statement which is for the salvation of souls. It is our sole purpose in the Holy Catholic Church two pursue the salvation of souls and you oppose anything that would interfere with our ability to reach out to all of gods people Andrey Kompanietsfor the salvation of their souls. Pax et bonum, + John
Amen indeed. This saintly Brazilian priest and bishop spoke Truth to the Vatican and the prince of this world attacked him immediately. It sounds reminiscent of the situation in Phillipines awhile ago. The courage of the faithful is needed now more than ever. With fascist and Marxist organizations and governments gaining economic and political power this day, true Ambassadors of Christ’s Kingdom must step up and be the voice Jesus to a hurting world. Firmum est cor Meum.
Mark 317.372.3493.