Communio Apostolica Internationalis
Sacrorum Cordium

Preamble

In fidelity to the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, rooted in the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and guided by the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church, we establish this Constitution for the Communion of Apostolic and Independent Sacred Churches (CAISC), that unity may be preserved, mission strengthened, and the People of God served in charity and truth.

Part I - Identity and Foundation

Article 1 - Nature of the Communion. CAISC is a spiritual and ecclesial communion of Churches, Missions, Ordinariates, and Religious Communities united in the apostolic faith, sacramental life, and shared mission.

Article 2 - Spiritual Foundation. The Communion is founded upon the devotion and spirituality of the Sacred Hearts: the Sacred Heart of Jesus, expressing divine mercy, pastoral charity, and faithfulness to the Gospel; and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, expressing humility in service, fidelity in prayer, and obedience to the will of God.

Article 3 - Apostolic Mission. The Communion is entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, celebrating the Holy Sacraments, and serving the spiritual and material needs of humanity.

Article 4 - Contemplation and Prayer. The Communion draws strength from the contemplative tradition, recognizing prayer as the foundation of all apostolic work and the source of its unity and mission.

Part II - Structure of the Communion

Article 5 - The Communion. Each member Church, Ordinariate, Mission, or Religious Community retains its own legitimate governance, charism, discipline, and pastoral structures. All participate in the unity of the Communion, sharing in its spiritual life, mission, and ecclesial fellowship, while respecting the diversity of traditions and expressions present within the Body of Christ.

Article 6 - Membership. Membership consists of Churches, Ordinariates, Missions, Religious Communities, and Apostolates. All members freely enter into communion and commit to the shared faith, mission, and principles of the CAISC.

Article 7 - Rights and Responsibilities. Members share in spiritual benefits and mutual support; uphold the apostolic faith and sacramental life; collaborate in mission and charity; and respect the unity and integrity of the Communion.

Part III - Governance

Article 8 - The Synod of Bishops. The Synod of Bishops safeguards the apostolic faith, the integrity of doctrine, and the sacramental life of the Communion. It serves as the principal collegial body of discernment, expressing the shared responsibility of the bishops for the life, unity, and mission of the Communion. Within the Synod, all bishops participate as brothers in the apostolic office, equal in dignity and responsibility, exercising their ministry not in isolation but in communion with one another. In this collegial body, unity is preserved through mutual discernment, fidelity to the Gospel, and a shared commitment to the life of the Church.

Article 9 - The Prime Bishop. The Prime Bishop serves as the visible sign and guardian of unity within the Communion, presides in charity, and fosters communion among all member Churches and communities. The Prime Bishop exercises this office as Primus inter Pares - First among equals - not as one of domination or jurisdictional supremacy, but as a servant of unity, entrusted with coordinating, encouraging, and safeguarding the common life of the Communion. The exercise of this office is ordered toward communion in Christ, respecting the legitimate autonomy, dignity, and responsibility of each member Church and its shepherds.

Article 10 - The General Chapter. The General Chapter is the representative assembly of the Communion, composed of delegates from member Churches, Missions, Ordinariates, and Communities. It serves as a forum for consultation, discernment, and the development of common apostolic direction.

Part IV - Ecclesial Life

Article 11 - Apostolic Faith. The Communion professes the apostolic faith received from the Church, faithfully transmitted through Scripture and Tradition.

Article 12 - Sacramental Life. The Communion upholds and celebrates the Holy Sacraments as essential means of grace, according to the traditions received within its member Churches.

Article 13 - Unity in Diversity. The Communion recognizes and receives the richness of diverse ecclesial traditions and expressions, including but not limited to Catholic, Old Catholic, Celtic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions. These expressions are welcomed as authentic manifestations of the one apostolic faith, provided they remain faithful to the Gospel, the sacramental life, and the received tradition of the Church. The Communion does not impose a single uniform expression of ecclesial life, but upholds unity in faith, charity, and mission, recognizing in each member Church a true participation in the catholicity of the Church. In this mutual recognition, the Communion affirms that catholicity is not confined to one form, but is lived and expressed in diverse yet harmonious ways within the Body of Christ.

Part V - Mission and Apostolate

Article 14 - Evangelization. The proclamation of the Gospel remains central to the life and mission of the Communion.

Article 15 - Pastoral Charity. Members are called to serve all people with compassion, especially the poor, the suffering, and the marginalized.

Article 16 - Formation. The Communion promotes spiritual, theological, and pastoral formation for clergy and faithful.

Part VI - Final Norms

Article 17 - Interpretation. The interpretation of this Constitution belongs to the Prime Bishop in communion with the Synod of Bishops.

Article 18 - Amendments. This Constitution may be amended with the discernment of the Synod of Bishops and promulgation by the Prime Bishop.

Article 19 - Promulgation. This Constitution is hereby promulgated and enters into force upon its official publication.

Conclusion. All structures of governance within the Communion are exercised in a spirit of synodality, service, and fidelity to the Gospel, for the building up of the Body of Christ.