Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: emory!dragon!catholics@gatech.edu Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Catholic mailing list Message-ID: Date: 25 Sep 90 08:01:13 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Computer Projects Unlimited Lines: 32 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu A Catholic mailing list now exists called Free Catholics. Free Catholics is a forum for disciples of Jesus Christ who wish to discuss Christian beliefs and practices as traditionally espoused by the Catholic Church and consists of members of various Churches in Christendom who identify themselves with the Catholic tradition. In a general sense, then, a Free Catholic is a disciple of Jesus Christ who expresses his or her Christianity in a way that accords with Catholicism. Catholic, meaning "universal," was first used by St. Ignatius of Antioch (d. 107) writing to the Smyrnean Church: "Wheresoever the bishop shall appear, there let the people be, even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church" (Smyr. VIII, 2). St. Pacianus, bishop of Barcelona (c. fourth century), wrote, "Christian is my name; Catholic is my surname." As used by the Church fathers, Catholic means the true Church consisting of the body of the faithful who recite the same creeds, belong to the same Church, have the same institutions, clergy, and hierarchy and who follow the same teachings of Christ as given to his apostles. Clearly, many Churches fall within this broad definition of Catholic. Members consist of Anglican Catholics, Roman Catholics, Eastern Catholics, or anyone of any denomination who wishes to discuss the Catholic approach to Christianity. To subscribe send to: catholics@dragon and I'll add you to the list. Bring a friend! Yours in Christ, Cindy Smith