CONGREGATIO DIVINUM CARITAS

"The Catholics who think the pope is fallible"

This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 20.00 BST on Sunday 5 September 2010. A version appeared on p3 of the G2 section of the Guardian on Monday 6 September 2010.

Contrary to what was published in the article, the Old Roman Catholic Church in Europe does not "agree with Rome in their condemnation of contraception, abortion and homosexuality," this is a distortion of the position of the Church. The ORCCE does not condemn what it cannot doctrinally condone. The ORCCE teaches traditional Catholic doctrine and morals in common with the Roman Catholic Church, but we apply a more sympathetic approach than Rome when dealing pastorally with people whose actions have contravened traditional moral teaching.

Concerning the reconciliation of divorcee's and the Sacraments of the Church, it should be noted that the ORCCE has always maintained its inability to adjudicate on valid Sacraments celebrated by other recognised Catholic Churches. Divorcee's of failed Civil and/or non-Catholic marriages may be reconciled to the Church, after a period of counselling, through the Sacrament of Penance and thus be able to receive the Holy Communion.

The ORCCE has always been very clear about its position regarding the dogma of Papal Infallibility and our rejection of its definition in the decree "Pastor Aeternus" of the First Vatican Council. The ORCCE upholds the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church concerning the infallibility of the Church's "Magisterium" i.e. the infallibility of a doctrinal decision agreed by a universally recognised [ecumenical] Council of all the world's Catholic bishops.

The ORCCE, as with all faithful Catholics, looks forward to the visit of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI who, with his predecessors, this Church has ever recognised as "Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church", "Patriarch of the West" and the "Vicar of Peter" but of these, the title we hold most affection for is, "the servant of the servants of God." We hope and pray for the success of the Holy Father's visit to this country and with him pray for that unity of Christ's Body, the Church, which we know to be dear to the Holy Father's heart.