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The Birth of the Catholic Apostolic National Church of Brazil…
Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa was consecrated as the Roman Catholic Diocesan Bishop of Botucatu, Brazil, on December
8, 1924; functioning as such uneventfully until certain concerns he expressed (collaboration with Nazi War criminal in World
War II, the inequitable distribution of wealth in the country, and the terrible treatment of the Brazil's poor by both the
civil government and the local Roman Catholic Church) caused his removal from the Diocese. In the 1930's Bishop Costa was
the most outspoken Brazilian bishop in defending the poor. In 1937, at the insistence of the dictatorial Vargas regime in
Brazil, the Vatican forced Bishop Costa to retire as Bishop of Botucatu and he was appointed as Titular Bishop of Maura. Nonetheless,
he continued in speaking out on behalf of the poor and in 1944 was even imprisoned for several months. But his resolve did
not falter. Finally in 1945 after the Vatican assisted several Nazis and Nazi sympathizers in finding safe passage and refuge
in Brazil (Eichmann and Mengele), Bishop Carlos broke with Rome and went on to found the “Igreja Catolica Apostolica
Brasilia” (ICAB)—spawning a movement of Catholic Apostolic National Churches around the world. Bishop Carlos Duarte
Costa fell asleep in the Lord on March 26, 1967, after over forty-two years of service to the people as their bishop. He is
revered by the Brazilian Church and her daughter churches around the world as “St. Carlos of Brazil”.
The Brazilian Church suffered much persecution at the hands of hostile governments, and unfortunately even fellow Christians.
Many of the early deacons, priests, and bishops are today speaking out; giving their accounts of arrest, imprisonment and
even torture. The grey cassocks and soutanes worn by our clergy, a result of that early persecution, are now worn as a symbol
of honor in faithfulness and steadfastness—modern day confessions of faith. The Catholic Apostolic National Church of
Brazil has helped millions of people worldwide by establishing educational and social programs designed to feed, clothe, house,
and educate those in need.
The CANC of Brazil recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, in concert with its daughter
churches throughout the world, represented by their bishops under the fraternal and loving care of DOM Luis Fernando Castillo
Mendez, Patriarch of the Worldwide Communion of Catholic Apostolic National Churches. The dedication, courage, and love of
service to Christ through service to His people are the foundations of our family and still today we remain a Church of the
common people.
Detailed biography of Dom Carlos Duarte Costa (St. Charles of Brazil)
Other photos of Dom Carlos and His Beatitude, Dom Luis Castillo Mendez
ICAB Comes to the United States
Bishop Stephen Corradi-Scarella was consecrated Bishop in 1949, by (now Patriarch) Dom Fernando Castillo Mendez
and Carlos Duarte Costa. He was given the mission to build an Exarchate of ICAB in the United States, and began his missionary
work in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There he established the first Diocese in America of what later would develop into the Western
Orthodox Church in America (WOCA). During the 1960’s communication with the Mother Church in Brazil broke down, and
the American Diocese became essentially autonomous and no longer attached to the mission of ICAB. It is important to note
that WOCA later ceased to enjoy the Patriarch's blessing when it was apparent that it could no longer be considered canonically
Catholic.
Bishop Stephen guaranteed the continued viability of the work by consecrating additional bishops for the
United States before retiring from the active ministry in December, 1974. Bishop Stephen reposed in Christ in 1979, but his
mission continued in a variety of smaller independent jurisdictions. In 2005 Patriarch Luis named Bishop Andre Queen, SAC,
of Chicago, as his Apostolic Delegate to the United States and charged him with the mission of reuniting these children of
the Church with their common identity. Many have rejoined their brothers and sisters under their mother church of Brazil,
and again the ministry if Bishop Stephen bears fruit. Notably the WOCA has joyfully been received back into the communion,
thereby honoring and continuing Dom Carlos's mission of 1949.
The Catholic Apostolic National Church Today...
In August of 2005, in recognition of this Church’s unity of faith, familial lines of succession, and as
a result of full communion with the Igreja Catolica Apostolica Brasilia (ICAB), the church changed its name to the “Catholic
Apostolic National Church”. This comes after well over a year of much dialogue and inquiry between the two bodies. In
July 2005 the Church was represented at the 3rd International Council of Igrejas Católicas Apostólicas Nacionais in Brasilia,
Brazil, where the ratification of communion by the International Council of Bishops, with the approval of the Patriarch, DOM
Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez, took place. The Catholic Apostolic National Church is the only officially recognized and full
member of the communion of Catholic Apostolic National Churches (ICAN) in the United States today.
By developing new
methods and ideas with an emphasis on community and Catholicism our communities are able to address the needs of today's society
in the beginning years of the Twenty-First Century. The Catholic Apostolic National Church is an understanding of the Western
and Eastern traditions in one complete tradition. For the contemporary Catholic searching to maintain his/her Faith but desiring
to do so without excessive institutionalism that often loses contact with the individual; for those with a Catholic background
who feel impeded from full participation in the life and Sacraments of the Church; for the many unchurched who desire the
joy and peace of Our Lord's Word and His Holy Sacraments; our communities provide a viable opportunity and allow a person
to be a part of Christ's Church. Our communities can give attention to the individual spiritual needs of the faithful and,
where necessary, develop unique ministries to meet those needs.
His Beatitude, Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez Patriarch of the Worldwide Communion
Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez was the fourth Bishop that Dom Carlos Duarte Costa consecrated was Bishop (in
the Balboa Republic of Panama on May 3, 1948) receiving the title of Patriarch of Caracas and Primate of Venezuela for having
founded the Venezuelan Catholic Apostolic National Church. In June of 1950 Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez was persecuted
and pursued by the government of Venezuela, by order of the Roman Catholic Church. By the grace of God he escaped to Brazil,
where he was nominated by Dom Carlos Duarte Costa to be the Diocesan Bishop of Brasilia, and later acquired Brazilian citizenship.
Upon the death of the Patriarch, Dom Carlos, he became the Patriarch of Brazil and the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church.
Dom Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez of Brazil, 2nd Patriarch of the National Catholic Apostolic Churches (Igreja Catolica
Apostolica Nacionais) was consecrated by, and succeeded the late Bishop Duarte Costa as Primate in 1961. DOM Luis Castillo
Mendez is still leading the worldwide federation of the National Catholic Apostolic Churches founded by the late Bishop Carlos
Duarte Costa. These national churches are now estimated to have a combined worldwide membership which exceeds four million
members. According to the ancient practice of the early Church and among many Orthodox Christian bishops, such catholic apostolic
churches exist in their countries, functioning as autonomous, co-operating Churches, subscribing to the same core theological
values.
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