Statement of Faith of the
Arabic Catholic Church of the
Arabic Catholic Archdiocese of the USA
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit! Amen
+بسم الأب والابن والروح القدس، الإله الواحد
We believe in Sacred Scripture as interpreted by the Holy Church, together with the Seven Undisputed Councils of the Church, together with doctrines believed by the Church as a whole prior to the Great Schism of East and West in 1054, as defining the belief of the Whole Church. Every person who wishes to become a member of the Arabic Catholic Church must affirm and belief this Faith as is written in the articles below.
We affirm and belief that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as interpreted by the Church, as containing everything that is necessary for eternal salvation, and as being the rule and ultimate statement of the Faith Arabic Catholic Church.
We accept the Canon of Scripture as handed down from of Old.
We belief that the Nicene Creed as the principal creed of the Faith of the Church. We also recognize the Western Baptismal Creed, commonly called the "Apostles Creed," and the hymn commonly called the "Athanasian Creed" as representing statements of the Nicene Faith of the Church.
We believe that the Nicene Creed is the statement of the belief of the Church and is not subject to interpretation which dismisses as merely allegorical or merely mythological any portion thereof.
We belief in the Seven Sacraments Word of God, Baptism and Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Holy Order, Holy Matrimony, Penance and Holy Unction administered with the unfailing use of the traditional outward and visible signs, and the form, matter, ministers and intention received of old. We also see the sign of the cross as a Sacrament because from the cross we see the visible sign of God’s Grace, Salvation, redemption and eternal life is brought forth from the Cross.
We belief in the Historic three-fold ministry of Bishops, priests and deacons, and the traditional rights and powers thereof, locally adapted in the methods of its administration according to the needs of the nations in which the Church resides, but historic in form, matter, ministers and intention.
We belief in accordance with the Sacred Scripture and ancient Tradition, only males may be ordained to the Diaconate, Priesthood, or Episcopate of this Church.
We belief in the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist when the Eucharist is performed by a validly ordained Priest of the Holy Catholic Church, with the elements ordained by Christ, and a valid Canon of the Mass including Christ’s Words of Institution and the Epiklesis to be said during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
We belief that those who receive the Holy Sacraments of the Church unworthily do so to their detriment, but do so without effecting the nature or efficacy of the Sacrament itself.
We believe that the "Sacrifice of the Mass" is a "making present" of Jesus’ One Sacrifice, once offered, forever. Jesus’ Sacrifice is made present on the altar, and, as such, the Mass may be spoken of as a Sacrifice. Therefore, it is appropriate that Masses be offered for the living and the dead, making present to the Church now the One Sacrifice once offered, and making very present the benefits of Christ’s Holy Sacrifice to the benefit of those present at the offering during Holy Mass.
We affirm that the Eucharist is the principal celebration of the Arabic Catholic Church; that its celebration of the Eucharist is commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ, and it shall celebrated on Sunday at Holy Mass and daily.
We belief that the unworthiness of a minister of a Sacrament does not invalidate the Sacrament, but, rather, that a Sacrament performed with the proper matter and form, and with the intention of the Church to make such action a Sacrament, remains valid, whether or not the minister is worthy to administer that Sacrament.
We belief that marriage, conducted as a Holy Sacrament, with the full understanding and intention of both parties to make a marriage, is indissoluble except by death. However, we believe that the Church may annul "marriages" which have taken place without full understanding and intention of the parties involved, and counsel that error be made on the side of compassion for those seeking to make marriages after divorce.
We belief an openness to all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including the so-called "Charismata," but finding it unscriptural to require that anyone exercise any particular Charism to be considered a full, believing member of this body. (I Corinthians 12:21) Those who exercise the Charismata are welcome and encouraged to exercise their gifts to the edification of the Church in an orderly, Biblical manner, subject to the godly discipline of the Pastor of the Parish to which they have allegiance of this Church.
We believe in an intermediate state wherein, after death, those who do not die in a state of grace but are destined for Eternal Salvation, will be purged of the last stains of sin. We deny that this intermediate state is a place of torture and fear, but affirm that any pains endured in this state are gladly embraced, as they are the pains of releasing our earthly bondage and conforming to the Will of God in all things.
We believe that there is a possibility that some will reject grace, no matter how often it is offered by the Church, and these people freely choose to remain in a state of separation from God through sin. This state of spirit we call "Hell." It is a freely chosen state of the damned to be damned. It is not the will of the Father that any will lost it is the well of men.
We believe that humans are truly endowed with free-will and can freely choose Life in Christ Jesus or death through the rejection of grace.
We believe that the Holy Scriptures are inerrant on all matters of faith and morals.
We believe that people are justified by faith, which is demonstrated in good works and obedient practice. Both faith and works are necessary to the living of a Christian life in the Church.
We believe that there is a "cloud of witnesses," the Saints, whom we may ask to pray for us as one would ask any other member of the Church to pray for. It is an idolatrous practice, however, to ask Saints to give us any material or physical blessing of their own. For, while the prayer of the righteous is very effective (James 5:16), yet every good thing comes from the Father through Jesus Christ (James 1:17).
We believe that Mary, was truly the “Mother of Jesus” When Mary is called "Mother of Jesus" we truly honor her who gave everything of herself to secure our Salvation. However, Mary is called "Mother of Jesus" in the sense that she bore Jesus Christ, who was and is the Incarnation of the Son, not in the sense that she generated, in any way, the Godhead.
We believe that the prayers of the Blessed Virgin are effective because of her great and unique faith, and because she has a relationship which is unique with God from having been the bearer of the Son. The relationship, which exists between Jesus and His mother, is the same relationship Jesus wants to have with all believers to come to know Him. Mary is unique because of her great faith, and it is this which gives special power to her prayers, and her maternal relationship with the Lord. We affirm that without Mary there is no Jesus and without Jesus there no Mary in the Church.
We believe that whatsoever is not repugnant to the Catholic Faith, but which aids in belief and devotion, may be believed as pious opinion, but may not be taught as doctrine of the Church.
We believe that faithful in Christian Marriage between a male and a female, free of impediments, is the only legitimate state for sexual expression between individuals.
نعمة ربنا يسوع المسيح، ومحبة الله، وشركة الروح القدس، معكم جميعاً.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God be with you all!
