PONTIFICAL SECRETARIAT
Credentials

Use of Credentials

(This page does not constitute legal advice except as pertains to Canon Law of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church.)

The Stato Pontificio Imperiale and United Roman-Ruthenian Church, as an ecclesiastical sovereignty, retains the right to issue identity documents and credentials as needed and to request thereby that all persons and governments allow the bearer to pass without hindrance and give all necessary assistance. Those to whom these documents are issued retain the right to travel as ecclesiastical officials in accordance with the terms of those documents, and as long as they remain in their office and in good standing. The documents remain the property of the Church and may be revoked at any time (APS 7.5).

The issue of documentation to its members is an inherent part of canon law and the international principals of sovereignty and is also consistent with the laws of just nations (APS 7.5). Pertaining to international law and, for purposes of example, to United States law, the following is noted:

The U.N. I.C.C.P.R., (International Convention On Civil and Political Rights) ratified by U.S. Congress and fully mandated by U.S. Presidential Executive Order #13107, clearly states in Article 12 that everyone has the right to leave any country, and to return to his own. Requirements to use a national passport are, in the United States, without penalty and held un-Constitutional. (See also United States v. Laub, 385 U.S. 475 (1967), Travis v. United States, 385 U.S. 491 (1967) 385 U.S. 491, Aptheker v. Secretary of State, 378 U.S. 500 (1964), United States v. Wheeler, and Worthy vs. United States 328 F.2d 386.)

In the United States, the Immigration and Naturalization Act defines passports as follows:

INA 101(a)(30): The term "passport" means any travel document issued by competent authority showing the bearer's origin, identity, and nationality if any, which is valid for the entry of the bearer into a foreign country.

22CFR § 51.23 Identity of applicant. (b) The applicant must establish his or her identity by the submission of government officially issued identification with photograph, or other identifying evidence which may include an affidavit of an identifying witness.

Ecclesiastical Sovereignty in the United States

  The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (42 U.S.C. 2000) further declares that any act of government which infringes on religious expression must make accommodation for religious expression by the least restrictive means possible, in each individual case. (See also 143 US 457 Rector Etc of Holy Trinity Church v. United States, U.S. Supreme Court, YODER V. WISCONSIN and Goldman v. W Weinberger 475 US 503, and U.S. Supreme Court FIRST UNIT. CHURCH v. LOS ANGELES, 357 U.S. 545 (1958) 357 U.S. 545.)

The Stato Pontificio, Imperial Roman Church constitutes an ecclesiastical sovereignty and government and hence is a competent authority to issue identification.

  As a further point of precedence, the above have been applied to groups such as but not necessarily limited to the Amish communities. They have been deemed to be a competent government authority based on their ability to exercise judicial punishment within their church law, which is a pre-condition to such status.

 

 

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