Old Saint Stephens Church
AI summary — doctrinal positions on this page are inferred by AI from this church's own public statements and may be inaccurate.
Historical
Historical details
Founded1804
ArchitectureFederal architecture
Named afterSaint Stephen
Heritage statusNational Register of Historic Places listed place
Tension detected
A stance that departs from the denomination
The congregation's own words appear to differ from what its denomination's confession binds. This is an AI reading of the church's public text and may be inaccurate — the quotes below show what it's based on.
AI summary — these stances are inferred by AI from the church's own public text and may be inaccurate. Report a correction.
Roman Catholic Church denies.
This congregation affirms.
"rejects — Infant baptism is the norm. Baptism regenerates and incorporates into the Church. Emergency baptism of infants is a serious pastoral concern."
Inherited from denomination
What Roman Catholic Church teaches
Positions bound by the denomination's confessional standards. This is what the tradition teaches; whether this specific congregation publicly holds each is a separate question — see Statements below.
Confessional standard: Council of Trent (Canons) · Council of Trent (Decrees)
Affirms
- Apostolic SuccessionSTRONGHistoric episcopate — tactile line of consecration from the apostles.
- Assumption of MarySTRONGPius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (1950)
- Immaculate ConceptionSTRONGPius IX, Ineffabilis Deus (1854)
- Infant BaptismSTRONGWestminster XXVIII; Book of Concord SC IV; Council of Trent Session VII; Wesleyan Articles Art. XVII
- Marriage as one man and one womanSTRONGGenesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Perpetual Virginity of MarySTRONGSecond Council of Constantinople (553); universal patristic reception
- Real PresenceSTRONGTrent; Book of Concord (sacramental union); Chrysostom liturgy; 39 Articles Art. XXVIII
- TheotokosSTRONGCouncil of Ephesus (431)
- TransubstantiationSTRONGCouncil of Trent, Session XIII (1551)
Denies
- Believer's BaptismstandardBaptism practiced once, infant primary (RCC Trent; Orthodox catechism)
- Homosexual practice and biblical sexual ethicsSTRONGRomans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Permissibility of divorce and remarriageSTRONGMarriage is indissoluble; annulment (declaration of invalidity) is the only recourse (CCC 1650).
- Women in pastoral / ordained officeSTRONG1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Corinthians 14:34; historic apostolic practice.
Wrestles with
- Pacifism vs. just-warweakDefault just-war framework — usually unwritten. Inheriting at weak confidence.
In their own words
Statements
mission
<!DOCTYPE html> Mission & Vision | socstjames top of page The Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle Diocesan Priests Serving in Latin America since 1958 24 Clark Street Boston MA 02109 tel: 617-742-4715 fax: 617-723-7389 email: office@socstjames.com tax ID no: 04-2266770 Welcome Administration Friends Newsletter Who We Are Mission & Vision Alumni Board of Directors Current Members History Letters of Recognition Mission Photos Where We Serve Peru Ecuador Bolivia What We Do What You Can Do Become a Friend Parish Appeals Wills & Bequests Fundraisers Donate Today Sponsors FOR PRIESTSSource ↗
mission
<!DOCTYPE html> Mission Photos | socstjames top of page The Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle Diocesan Priests Serving in Latin America since 1958 24 Clark Street Boston MA 02109 tel: 617-742-4715 fax: 617-723-7389 email: office@socstjames.com tax ID no: 04-2266770 Welcome Administration Friends Newsletter Who We Are Mission & Vision Alumni Board of Directors Current Members History Letters of Recognition Mission Photos Where We Serve Peru Ecuador Bolivia What We Do What You Can Do Become a Friend Parish Appeals Wills & Bequests Fundraisers Donate Today Sponsors FOR PRIESTS JOSource ↗
wikipedia_intro
St. Stephen's Church is a historic church in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. It was built in 1802–1804 as the New North Church or New North Meeting House and was designed by the noted architect Charles Bulfinch. It is the only one of the five churches he designed in Boston to remain extant. The church replaced one which had been built on the site in 1714 and enlarged in 1730. The Congregationalist church became Unitarian in 1813, and the church was sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese in 1862, and renamed St. Stephen's. It was restored and renovated in 1964–1965 by Chester F. Wright, andSource ↗
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