When is a church not truly Catholic?

It has come to our attention that two churches in Winter Park are being advertised as King of Kings Catholic Cathedral and St. Dorothy Catholic Community, which one might presume are affiliated with the Diocese of Orlando and the Roman Catholic Church.

However, please be advised King of Kings Catholic Cathedral and St. Dorothy are schismatic churches that are not in communion with the Holy See. Adding to the confusion, King of Kings is the name of the Charismatic Prayer Group at Sts. Peter and Paul, a Roman Catholic Church, located in Winter Park.  More information about schismatic churches can be found in an article on the Florida Catholic’s website.

All valid parishes for the Diocese of Orlando are listed on the diocesan Web site — www.orlandodiocese.org. Included in this list of recognized Catholic churches are those in communion with the Holy See that fall under the jurisdiction of Eastern Rite bishops in the United States, such as the Maronite, Ukrainian and Byzantine Churches.

There are churches in Central Florida who use the term “catholic” even though they have not been decreed by the local bishop, are not in communion with the Holy See and do not recognize papal authority. That’s why it is important to check the Diocese of Orlando website or call the Diocesan office at 407-246-4800 to determine if a church is a part of the Diocese of Orlando, the Central Florida region under the leadership of Bishop John Noonan, whose apostolic succession derives from the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day.