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On October 22, 1945, The Most Reverend Frederick L. Pyman, was given Apostolic Mandate and Authority for: The Western States Regionary Diocese which included the states of: California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Oregon, Arizona and Washington. Further it stated that Bishop Pyman was the ONLY recognized Bishop and Apostolic Ordinary in those states for: The North American Old Roman Catholic Church.
During an intense three years that followed, Bishop Pyman discovered that there were several small groups already using, without permission or authority, the name and title of Old Roman Catholic. He attempted to bring unity to these groups but was unsuccessful. In his own words: "It was a mess, and made me very sad and Archbishop Carfora VERY angry." Due to the liberal incorporation laws in many of the Western States it was also impossible, at that time, to stop others from using the legal name of: Old Roman Catholic. To many variations could be adopted legally, while actually holding no real apostolic authority or mandate to function from the Synod and Primate of The North American Old Roman Catholic Church.
During this period, for all intents and purposes, the Diocese of the Western States of: The North American Old Roman Catholic Church was to become dormant due to the existing circumstances in the Western States area.
One year later in November of 1948, The Most Reverend Frederick Littler Pyman, 1st Regionary Bishop of The North American Old Roman Catholic Western States Regionary Diocese - petitioned The Most Reverend Carmel Henry Carfora, Archbishop Primate of The North American Old Roman Catholic Church to create a safe and corporately secure Apostolic Jurisdiction in which Bishop Pyman, his clergy and faithful could continue their ministry and apostolic labors in behalf of Christ and His Church. On November 7th, 1948, Archbishop Carfora, by apostolic mandate, established The Evangelical Orthodox Catholic Church in America, with the Most Reverend Frederick Littler. Pyman as its first Bishop. Archbishop Carfora remained as Primate of The Evangelical Orthodox Catholic Church in America until his death in 1958.
With The Evangelical Orthodox Catholic Church now secure for many years, and in his retirement from The Evangelical Orthodox Catholic Church in America, Bishop Pyman who was still active as the head of the Society of Augustinian Restorationists, transferred the dormant Western States Regionary Diocese of The North American Old Roman Catholic Church he had held for many years back to the Old Roman Catholic Church of North America in 1989 to help preserve and restore unity.
Sadly, Archbishop Pyman passed on to be with our Lord on: January 22nd,
1993. He is loved and missed by many, including all those within The
Evangelical Orthodox Catholic Church in America that he led for so many
years. Rest in Peace, beloved Father in God.
WHEREAS: The EVANGELICAL ORTHODOX (CATHOLIC) CHURCH IN AMERICA, an
autonomous body not desiring organic unity with the
North American Old Roman Catholic Church in America; and
WHEREAS: Recognizing the Authority and Jurisdiction and Gifts of
the Most Reverend Carmel Henry Carfora, S.T.D., to the
Evangelical Orthodox Catholic Church in the matter of
Valid Apostolic Successional Orders [and acting on a
Protocol of Election and granting a mandate of
establishment], and
WHEREAS: The Regionary Ordinary, the Most Reverend Frederick Littler
Pyman, S.T.D., does at this time, and has always recognized
the Most Reverend Carmel Henry Carfora as his Ecclesiastical
Superior, and
WHEREAS: the clergy, clericus and Officers of the Evangelical Orthodox
Catholic Church, taking cognizance of the varying disputes,
gossip and rumors emanating from the pseudo Neo Catholic
bodies which have littered the Pacific Coast with their
heresies and detrimental moral and ecclesiastical practices,and
WHEREAS: Acknowledging the necessity for forever silencing the charlatans
and pretenders to that which is NOT, and NEVER has been their
prerogative, and this terrible condition has prevented until
this time any hope of the advancement of the work of the non
papal catholic churches in the western states:
THEREFORE:
BE IT KNOWN, that the Regionary Ordinary, The Most Reverend
Frederick L. Pyman, S.T.D., acknowledging the Primate, Carmel
Henry Carfora as His Ecclesiastical Superior, IS WILLING to
SUBMIT and ACKNOWLEDGE the Most Reverend Carmel H. Carfora,
S.T.D. as the Metropolitan-Primate of the Evangelical Orthodox
Catholic Church in America, but must, of necessity of its
survival, deter from Organic Unity with the North American
Old Roman Catholic church, but WILL ACCEPT a status such as
the Autonomous Bodies in essence, enjoy within the Church of
today.
WE, THE MOST REVEREND CARMEL HENRY CARFORA, S.T.D., AND THE
REGIONARY ORDINARY, FREDERICK LITTLER PYMAN, S.T.D. DO AGREE
AND CONCUR WITHOUT RESERVATION TO THE ABOVE, THE PRIMATE ACTING
AS AN ARCHBISHOP OF THE OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AS CONSECRATED
BY ARCHBISHOP DEL LANDAS BERGHES.
November 7th, 1948
------------------
_________________________ _______________________________
+Carmel H. Carfora, S.T.D. +Frederick Littler Pyman, S.T.D.
Archbishop Primate of the Regionary Bishop, The Evangelical
Old Roman Catholic Church Orthodox Catholic Church in America
in America - (Per De Landas Berghes)
John D. Bresingham, O.F.M. Secretary to the Primate
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