Statement of Faith – St. Thomas More's Purse

Directors, officers, employees, petitioners, and agents acting on behalf of Thomas More’s Purse, Inc are required to acknowledge and assent to the following statement of faith; and are required to maintain a signed copy of the statement of faith with the secretary of the board of directors.

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Renunciation of Satan

I renounce Satan, and all of his works, and all of his attractions.

Final Authority for Matters of Belief and Conduct

The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our Catholic faith. I assent that the magisterium of the Catholic Church speaks with final authority concerning divinely revealed truth, morality, the proper conduct of mankind, and biblical interpretation. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition are the sole and final sources of all that we believe.

In accord with the constant teaching of the Catholic Church ((Catechism of the Catholic Church (“CCC”) 2116, 2117), I oppose any occult, “New Age,” or other practices and forms of divination. I acknowledge that any occult, “New Age,” or other practices and forms of divination are expressly prohibited in the corporation, at its facilities, in its actions, at its meetings, or in its endorsements.

Submission to the Law of the Church

During the course of the centuries, the Catholic Church has been accustomed to reform and renew the laws of canonical discipline so that, in constant fidelity to her divine Founder, they may be better adapted to the saving mission entrusted to her.

The Code of Canon Law (“CCL”), as the principal legislative document of the Church, founded on the juridical – legislative heritage of Revelation and Tradition, is to be regarded as an indispensable instrument to ensure order both in individual and social life, and also in the Church’s activity itself. Therefore, besides containing the fundamental elements of the hierarchical and organic structure of the Church as willed by her divine Founder, or as based upon apostolic, or in any case most ancient, tradition, and besides the fundamental principles which govern the exercise of the threefold priestly, prophetic and kingly office entrusted to the Church itself, the Code must also lay down certain rules and norms of behavior.

I affirm that I am bound by and I submit to the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church (CCL 11).

I will not use, nor, to the best of my ability, allow others to use the corporation to publicly incite among subjects animosities or hatred against the Apostolic See or an ordinary (CCL 1373); to plot against the Catholic Church (CCL 1374); to impede the freedom of ministry, of election, or of ecclesiastical power or the legitimate use of sacred goods or other ecclesiastical goods (CCL 1375); or to intimidate an elector, one elected, or one who exercises ecclesiastical power or ministry (CCL 1375).

Right to Found and Direct Associations

The Christian faithful are at liberty to freely found and direct associations for the purposes of charity or piety or for the promotion of the Christian vocation in the world and to hold meetings for the common pursuit of these purposes (CCL 215). Since they participate in the mission of the Church, all the Christian faithful have the right to promote or sustain apostolic action even by their own undertakings, according to their own state and condition. Nevertheless, no undertaking is to claim the name Catholic without the consent of competent ecclesiastical authority (CCL 216).