§1

The Free Catholic Church is a Rome-free Catholic Church that has continued the apostolic succession and therefore has got validly ordained bishops and priests.

The Patriarch (Honorary Patriarch or World Patriarch) has his seat in Brazil.

The Primate Archbishop has his seat in Munich.

The seat of the Free Catholic Church in Germany is in the town of Munich.

§2

The Free Catholic Church sees itself as part of the One Church of Jesus Christ and, as a Catholic church, feels bounded to the early Church.

It is the mission of the Free Catholic Church to re-establish the old creed on the basis of the Holy Scripture and the general Christian tradition of the undivided Church of the first millenium.

The seven general church councils shall be a guidance:

1. Nicäa I of the year 325
2. Constantinople of the year 381
3. Ephesus of the year 431
4. Chalcedon of the year 451
5. Constantinople II of the year 553
6. Constantinople III of the year 680/81
7. Nicäa II of the year 787

The church services (Mass celebration - sacraments - administration - weddings and funerals) are held either in the Free Catholic or in the Tridentine rite.

The clothing of the Primate Archbishop is a red (purple) or black-red piped cassock, red cingulum, red cap; he wears a pectoral cross and the Fisherman's Ring on the right hand.

The rest of the clergy wears black clothing, including the Vicar-General who is entitled to wear a pectoral cross.

Our priest candidates are educated in our seminars or at our concordat church.

§ 3

Every person who wishes to be a Christian can become a member of the Free Catholich Church. It is, however, neccessary that he/she leaves his/her present church community.

§ 4

The Free Catholic bishops are legitimate successors of the Apostle St. Peter of Antioch, having the valid apostolic succession. Like in the old church, all priests are allowed to get married.

The episcopate is subject to celibacy and is an office for life.

§ 5

The 7 sacramentes (Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Extreme Unction, Ordination and Marriage) are understood as means of grace according to the old Catholic doctrine of the old church. The Free Catholic Church continues to be convinced that in the Holy Eucharist Jesus Christ is actually and essentially present in the shape of bread and wine.

The Holy Eucharist is administered under both shapes by dipping the holy host into the holy wine (intinction).

In the sacrament of Penance, the faithful confess their sins in a general penitential service according to old Christian tradition; a private confession must be granted upon request. There is a seal of confession.

§ 6

The head of the Church is the Primate Archbishop followed by the Vicar-General, the priests and the consistory.

The parishes are headed by the parish priests who are ordained and confirmed by the Primate Archbishop. All of the offices in the Free Catholic Church are honorary positions.

§ 7

The Free Catholic Church pursues worship of the Virgin Mary and of the saints, but rejects exaggeration.

Mary as the Mother of the Lord has our special veneration, followed by the holy apostles and martyrs of the Church.

§ 8

The Free Catholic Church rejects any church tax. Every member undertakes to pay a voluntary church contribution - the amount of which is determinated by the individual member him-/herself every year.

§ 9

We advocate full separation of state and church. In his/her conscience, every Free Catholic is obliged to respect and adhere to the statutory laws.

§ 10

The divorce under civil law is recognised by the Free Catholic Church as divorce. Therefore, our church can bless a new civil marriage since both spouses contract marriage and dispense the sacrament ot each other.

 

Newly revised on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Free Catholic Church in Germany.

 

Monsignor + Hilarios Ungerer D.D.

Primate-Archbishop

Munich, Advent 1998