By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Bishop David M. O’Connell of the Diocese of Trenton has declared a newly formed “independent” Catholic church made up of parishioners of three closed parishes to be “schismatic.”
The Asbury Park Press is reporting that according to Bishop O’Connell, the founders of Our Lady of Guadalupe independent Catholic church, made up of primarily Hispanic and Portuguese members who were angry after the diocese merged three parishes in Long Branch, New Jersey, have no right to call their group a Catholic Church.
Bishop O’Connell issued a release saying the church, which is now associated with the American National Catholic Church, was created “by schismatic leaders who deny the unity of the Roman Catholic Church and its leadership and laws.”
The American National Catholic Church (ANCC) is not connected with the Vatican and follows the teachings of theologian and former Swiss priest Hans Kung, 83, who rejects the concept of papal infallibility and celibacy for priests. The ANCC believes in electing bishops and allows women as well as homosexuals to be ordained.
“Although claiming legitimacy as an ‘alternative’ or ‘independent’ Catholic Church, this group and the individuals leading or promoting it are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church,” O’Connell said. “No Catholic Church is ‘independent.’”
Our Lady of Guadalupe was formed mostly by members of St. John the Baptist Church in Long Branch which was closed in 2009 when the diocese merged it with Our Lady Star of the Sea and Holy Trinity to form the new Christ the King parish. According to O’Connell’s statement, some parish members — primarily Spanish and Portuguese Catholics — felt “displaced” by the merger, a notion O’Connell dismissed.
“Portuguese and Spanish-speaking Catholics feeling displaced? The fact of the matter is that Christ the King parish has extended a warm welcome to all members of the merged parishes and Masses and ministry in Spanish and Portuguese are offered and available to parishioners in the newly merged parish,” O’Connell said. “Something else is going on.”
The resident “priest” at Our Lady of Guadalupe is Anthony Testa, who is married. Once part of the traditional Roman Catholic Church, he parted ways over differences in “philosophy.” Known as Father Tony or Pastor Tony to his congregants, he presides over the day-to-day services of the parish and administering the sacraments.
Testa told the Associated Press (AP) that he will present the bishop’s statement to the congregation at a meeting this weekend, but says it doesn’t contain anything new.
“He’s just asking Guadalupe to reconsider what they’re doing; he’s not offering any changes in any way,” Testa said. “Nothing has really changed.”
According to Testa, parishioners want their own churches to continue operating. “They didn’t see a need to merge. They just want things back the way they were.”
Bishop O’Connell has been trying to reunite the schismatic organization with the Catholic Church, such as in April when he wrote to the church asking its leaders and members to return to the diocese.
“I pray that you will reconsider the dangerous, schismatic path you have chosen and I invite you to return to full communion with the Roman Catholic Church,” he wrote.
However, the parish’s public celebration of a “Mass” in honor of St. John the Baptist this past weekend, which was celebrated by schismatic ANCC bishop George Lucey, was a clear indication that the congregation has no intention of rejoining the fold.
At this point, O’Connell says his greatest fear is that Our Lady of Guadalupe founders will take “other well-intentioned Catholics down with them.”
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Photo is of Bishop David M. O’Connell
