A former Mesa Roman Catholic priest is moving forward in his efforts to help build and develop the Reformed Catholic Church in California. A sharp alternative to Roman Catholicism, the new church has been established in Long Beach under the leadership of the Rev. Monsignor Chris Carpenter, who had served as pastor of Christ the King Church in Mesa from 1997 until January 2006. Carpenter also had been the regular film reviewer for The Catholic Sun, the biweekly newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. He was known as “Father Flick.”
On Monday, the new vicar issued a press release to describe what his church was about: “Prayer, not politics. Community, not control. Love, not laws. Same sacraments, new spirit. Consider joining the Reformed Catholic Church, where ALL are welcome!”
Some 3 1/2 years ago, Carpenter would abruptly quit his Mesa parish and move to Long Beach, citing health and a need for change. Later he went public with his marked disagreements with his superior, Bishop Thomas O’Brien, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. At the heart of it was the church’s rejection of homosexuality. He had been one of nine diocesean priests who had signed a letter called The Phoenix Affirmation, signed by 160 pastors of many faiths calling for the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in the full life of their faith communities. The letter was produced by “No Longer Silent - Clergy for Justice.” All except one priest removed their names by an order of O’Brien or face disciplinary action. Carpenter complied, but he would later say “The Roman Catholic Church today barely seems like the same church I was ordained to served in 1995. ” Carpenter wrote that the environment of the diocese had become a shart contrast to his early days as a priest. “In the wake of the sexual abuse scandal and the death of Pope John Paul II, many of the church’s leaders seem more and more to me like the legalistic Pharisees whom Jesus condemned during his time,” he said.
Carpenter, who came out public as gay after moving to California, began ministering to people with HIV/AIDS.
In April, he wrote O’Brien to offer that he was leaving the Roman Catholic Church and embarking on helping expand the more progressive Reformed Catholic Church. He was subsequently excommunicated by the bishop for being in scism with the church.
Carpenter is now founder of what is called the first Reformed Catholic Church congregation in California. It has been named the Community of the Resurrection. He was appointed Vicar of California and is empowered to grow the church in the state. He is continuing his full-time ministry as a non-denominational/interfaith hospice chaplain.
“There is a growing number of disillusioned Catholics here and around the world who are eager for what the Reformed Catholic Church has to offer,” Carpenter noted last spring.
The Reformed Catholic Church (www.reformedcatholicchurch.org) will focus on the greater Los Angeles and Orange County area. His Community of the Resurrectin was dedicated last Easter. He said is is open to “people of all faiths, ages, backgrounds and sexual orientation.” Reformed Catholicsm descended from the “Old Catholics” who separated from Rome in wake of the 1870 declaration of papal infallibility. It is based in Columbus, Ohio. Said Carpenter’s press release, “It has experienced considerable international growth in the past 10 years as many Roman Catholics have become frustrated with the Roman church’s enduring opposition to the ordination of women, the inclusion of openly GLBT people, divorced and remarried people’s reception of the sacraments and optional celibacy for clergy.” He asserted their clergy are validly ordained and share in apostolic succession dating from the time of St. Peter.
Sunday Mass is 10 a.m. at McKenzie Mortuary, 3843 Anaheim Street, Long Beach. Carpenter can be reached at (562) 708-7198 or frcarpenter@reformedcatholicchurch.org.
The “Reformed Catholic Church” - another ecclesial body not interested in dialogue with the Catholic Church. Instead, they go their own self-indulgent way. Truly not the way of humility or of the Church.
Thankfully, like any repentant sinner, they would be welcomed back. Maybe with time and prayer.