Back to Home Page
A Short Background of Old
Catholic History
The tradition of Independent Catholicism, although
not well known, especially in
North America
, extends back to the earliest Christian Church. The Church, after the deaths of
the Apostles was composed of autocephalous Bishops; that is, independent
Bishops, each with his own Church and jurisdiction. Later, toward the close of
the second century, the diocesan church came into being where the Bishop had
under his authority several dependent churches, each of which was headed by a
Presbyter [Priest]. Yet even during this period the Bishops remained independent
of each other both in doctrine and in liturgy. The only tie between these
independent Churches was their participation in Church Councils, which were
regional or international meetings of bishops to discuss matters of faith and
morals, the most important of which have become known as the Great or Ecumenical
Councils.
Over time, these councils gave rise to a more
unified Church structure under the leadership of the
Patriarchies, the most influential of which were
Rome
in the West, and
Constantinople
in the East. However not all validly consecrated Bishops accepted the claims of
supremacy of the Bishop of Rome or the
Patriarch of Constantinople, or agreed with all of the doctrines proclaimed by the
various Councils. Consequently there have always been Independent Rite Catholic
Bishops and clergy; who, although holding valid Apostolic Succession and Holy
Orders are not a part of the Roman Catholic or
Eastern
Orthodox
Churches
.
The great majority of contemporary Independent
Catholic bishops and clergy in the West derive their valid succession from the
Old Catholic Churches of
Europe
. These Churches derive their succession from the "Oud Katholieke" or
Jansenist Church of Utrecht in the
Netherlands
, which separated from
Rome
in AD 1724. The Old Catholic Churches came into being at the time of the First
Vatican Council in AD 1870. The primary issue that precipitated the foundation
of these Churches was opposition to the doctrine of papal infallibility
promulgated by the aforementioned Council. This doctrine asserts that the Bishop
of Rome, when speaking as supreme teacher and lawgiver of the Roman Catholic
Church on a matter of faith or morals is preserved by the Holy Spirit from the
possibility of error. After its proclamation, a considerable number of Roman
Catholic theologians, priests and lay persons formed independent Catholic
Churches in
Germany
,
Switzerland
,
Austria
, and
France
; and in 1897 the National Polish Catholic Church was established in the
United States
and
Canada
. Collectively, these Catholic Churches outside of the jurisdiction of
Rome
have become known as the "Old Catholic Churches." Please see an
Article
about Old Catholism.
Together with most major Independent Catholic
Churches, the Catholic Church of America has a strong and
valid Apostolic Succession derived from the Roman Catholic Church thus allowing
a valid and efficacious celebration of the traditional seven sacraments. The Catholic Church of
America, which was canonically erected in
June of 2004, as well as most other Independent and
Old
Catholic
Churches
acknowledge seven Great or Ecumenical Councils. These are:
Nicaea
I, AD 325, Constantinople I, AD 381,
Ephesus
, AD 431,
Chalcedon
, AD 451, Constantinople II, AD 553, Constantinople III, AD 680, Nicaea II, AD
787. The Catholic Church of America also acknowledges the
doctrinal teachings of the undivided Church prior to the Great Schism of AD
1054.
As part of our pastoral reform efforts, the Catholic Church of
America has eliminated the biased-based
"traditional" impediments to Holy Order. Our Secular Bishops, Priests
and Deacons, who have not opted to embrace the promise of celibacy, can exercise
the option to enter into the Sacrament of Marriage. In addition, candidacies for
Holy Order are now open to all qualified persons regardless of gender, sexual
orientation, marital status or racial/ethnic background. Candidacies for those
with a vocation to enter into religious life are also open to those without
prejudice to their orientation, gender or racial/ethnic background. Women
religious may also, depending on the charism of their community, enter into Holy
Order.
The Catholic Church of America
has also implemented pastoral reforms affecting the celebration of the Sacrament
of Marriage. Our Catholic Church has reformed the process of obtaining an
annulment of marriage, which would permit one who has been divorced to reenter
the Sacrament of Marriage without unnecessary emotional or spiritual trauma. Our
Catholic Church welcomes all couples wishing to enter into the Sacramental
Vocation of Marriage.
Our Catholic Church endorses the concept of family
planning and permits families, with the assistance of their physicians, to
practice medically supervised avenues to choose appropriate times to bring
children into their lives.
The intentions of the pastoral reforms of the Catholic Church of
America are very simple. We wish to bring to
the Lord's Table all persons who have been denied their rightful place because
of the sins of social and theocratic prejudice.
Thus, we have committed ourselves to celebrating
Catholicism without any sinful acts of exclusion and with complete and
unconditional inclusion. We are the
Kingdom
of
God
on Earth and the catholic doctrine of social justice and peace demands that we
celebrate Catholicism as an inclusive community.
We invite you to come celebrate with us.
Please call 858-522-0072.
Back to Home Page
© ® 2000 - 2024 All intellectual property rights of this website are copyrighted and owned by Florentino C. Factor. Items provided on this website may be downloaded for personal use only. Catholic Church of America, 4135 Iowa Street, #9, North San Diego, California 92104 858-522-0072