CATHOLIC WORD BOOK - Knights of Columbus, Supreme Council

III in 1553 and 1554 and by Paul IV in
1555. He also noted related directives
requiring absolute ordination, according
to the Catholic ritual, of convert ministers
who had been ordained according to the
Anglican Ordinal.
Anglican Use Parishes: In line with
Vatican-approved developments since
1980, several Anglican use parishes have
been established in the United States with
the right to continue using some elements
of Anglican usage in their liturgical
celebrations. A Vatican document dated
Mar. 31, 1981, said: “In June, 1980, the
Holy See, through the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith, agreed to the
request presented by the bishops of the
United States of America in behalf of some
clergy and laity formerly or actually
belonging to the Episcopal (Anglican)
Church for full communion with the
Catholic Church. The Holy See’s response
to the initiative of these Episcopalians
includes the possibility of a ‘pastoral
provision’ which will provide, for those
who desire it, a common identity
reflecting certain elements of their own
heritage.”
Animals: Creatures of God, they are
entrusted to human stewardship for
appropriate care, use for human needs, as
pets, for reasonable experimentation for
the good of people. They should not be
subject to cruel treatment.
Annulment: A decree issued by an
appropriate Church authority or tribunal
that a sacrament or ecclesiastical act is
invalid and therefore lacking in all legal or
canonical consequences.
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Antichrist: The “deceitful one,” the
“antichrist” (2 Jn 7), adversary of Christ
and the kingdom of God, especially in the
end time before the second coming of
Christ. The term is also used in reference
to anti Christian persons and forces in the
world.
Antiphon: (1) A short verse or text,
generally from Scripture, recited in the
Liturgy of the Hours before and after
psalms and canticles. (2) Any verse sung or
recited by one part of a choir or
congregation in response to the other part,
as in antiphonal or alternate chanting.
Anti-Semitism: A prejudice against Jews,
and often accompanied by persecution.
The prejudice has existed historically from
the time of the ancient Persian Empire and
survives even to the present day. It has
been condemned consistently by the
Church as being in opposition to scriptural
principles and Christian charity.
Apologetics: The science and art of
developing and presenting the case for the
reasonableness of the Christian faith, by a
wide variety of means including facts of
experience, history, science, philosophy.
The constant objective of apologetics, as
well as of the total process of pre
evangelization, is preparation for response
to God in faith; its ways and means,
however, are subject to change in
accordance with the various needs of
people and different sets of circumstances.
Apostasy: (1) The total and obstinate
repudiation of the Christian faith. An
apostate automatically incurs a penalty of
excommunication. (2) Apostasy from
orders is the unlawful withdrawal from or