Luigi Mascolo
Encyclopedia
Luigi Mascolo was an Italian priest
who controversially defected to the Brazilian schismatic
church
the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
, founded by Bishop
Carlos Duarte Costa in 1945.
Luigi Mascolo was a priest of the Diocese of Matera-Irsina, born in the small south-east Italian town of Irsina
, who went to Brazil
as a missionary. The current leader of the Argentinian schismatic church, the Iglesia Católica Apostólica Argentina
, states that Mascolo had been sent to Brazil with the mission of undermining the Brazilian Church. In any case, he was won over to the "ICAB" and was consecrated a Bishop of the separatist church in 1964 by Dom
Antidio Jose Vargas. Legend recalls that Bishop
Mascolo bore a remarkable likeness to Pope John XXIII
. As Bishop
of Rio de Janeiro
for the ICAB, Mascolo sent for his aged mother from Italy
, who moved to Brazil under the impression that her son was the proper Catholic
Bishop of the city. Mascolo took the Apostolic Succession
of Carlos Duarte Costa to Argentina
in 1972, consecrating the first bishop for the Argentinian church, Leonardo Morizio Dominguez
. Current successors of the Argentinian schismatic church include the Instituto María Rosa Mystica, Sacerdotes Carismáticos Misioneros
.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
who controversially defected to the Brazilian schismatic
Schismatic
Depending on the context, schismatic may mean:* a member of a schism, or, as an adjective, of or pertaining to a schism* pertaining to the schisma in music* Schismatic temperament...
church
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
The Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church is an independent Catholic church established in 1945 by Brazilian bishop Dom Carlos Duarte Costa, a former Roman Catholic Bishop of Botucatu.The ICAB has 58 dioceses and claims five million members in 17 countries...
, founded by Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Carlos Duarte Costa in 1945.
Luigi Mascolo was a priest of the Diocese of Matera-Irsina, born in the small south-east Italian town of Irsina
Irsina
Irsina is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.The economy is mostly based on agriculture, with the production of cereals and wine.- The Village of Irsina and the Surrounding Countryside :...
, who went to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
as a missionary. The current leader of the Argentinian schismatic church, the Iglesia Católica Apostólica Argentina
Iglesia Católica Apostólica Argentina
The Argentine Catholic Apostolic Church sometimes known as the Argentine National Church, is a derivative movement of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church founded by the excommunicated Roman Catholic Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa of Brazil in 1945...
, states that Mascolo had been sent to Brazil with the mission of undermining the Brazilian Church. In any case, he was won over to the "ICAB" and was consecrated a Bishop of the separatist church in 1964 by Dom
Don (honorific)
Don, from Latin dominus, is an honorific in Spanish , Portuguese , and Italian . The female equivalent is Doña , Dona , and Donna , abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D."-Usage:...
Antidio Jose Vargas. Legend recalls that Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Mascolo bore a remarkable likeness to Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
. As Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
for the ICAB, Mascolo sent for his aged mother from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, who moved to Brazil under the impression that her son was the proper Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Bishop of the city. Mascolo took the Apostolic Succession
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
of Carlos Duarte Costa to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
in 1972, consecrating the first bishop for the Argentinian church, Leonardo Morizio Dominguez
Leonardo Morizio Dominguez
Leonardo Morizio Dominguez was the first head of the Iglesia Católica Apostólica Argentina. He had been a priest and military chaplain but came to disagree with the position of the Vatican, and so sought consegration from Bishops of the Independent Catholic Church in Brazil and then set up a...
. Current successors of the Argentinian schismatic church include the Instituto María Rosa Mystica, Sacerdotes Carismáticos Misioneros
Instituto María Rosa Mystica, Sacerdotes Carismáticos Misioneros
The Instituto María Rosa Mystica, Sacerdotes Misioneros Carismáticos is a small Christian Catholic religious association of priests and laypeople working in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was founded in 2004 by Bishop Gustavo Adrian Gabucci.-History:Gustavo Gabucci was born in Buenos...
.