The tradition of Independent Catholicism, although not well known, especially in North America, extends back to the earliest Christian Church. You can read more about our history by visiting our web pages: A Short History Overview, Old Catholic Resources, and A Historical Article.

The Catholic Church of America is a community of Christians comprising an autocephalous otherwise known as a "self-governing" Catholic Church. We are one of more than 100 Autocephalous Catholic Churches worldwide.

As discussed above, and to further illustrate this understanding of church, originally, during the first generations of Christianity, all local churches were independent and there was no central governing organization. These local communities were ministered to by what we would, today, call bishops and deacons. The rank of priest only began to emerge and differentiate from that of bishop later, during the mid-second century, as the Church expanded from the cities to the rural areas.

Beginning in the second Century, with the spread of Christianity into the rural areas outside the cities, and particularly after the devolution of the presbyter (i.e. priest) from the Order of Bishop, local churches began to be grouped together to permit better organization and supervision of orthodoxy. Parishes began to be led by priests. Bishops became heads of regions called diocese and bishops of cities, called a Metropolitan, or an Archbishop, supervised, but did not rule over or govern, the nearby rural diocese. Diocesan Bishops were completely autonomous in their own diocese so long as they remained true to the Faith.

All were organized under the leadership of some principal bishop called a Patriarch who headed the most important diocese in the world. In ancient times the Patriarchs were the Bishops of Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Rome, and Constantinople. Each was equal in rank, prestige, and authority; though particular honor was given to the Patriarchs of Rome and Constantinople as their Sees were the seats of Imperial Roman Government. Today, the Patriarch of Rome, also know as the Patriarch of the West, is also called the Pope. The Patriarch of Constantinople, called the Ecumenical Patriarch, is the leader of all Eastern Orthodox Churches, a title of honor not of governance, except within his own Greek Orthodox Church.

The Eastern Orthodox Churches, perhaps, better known as the Greek Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, etc., continue to follow the model of the Patriarch leader as a "first among equals'' today. Local Bishops and Metropolitan's have autonomy and are answerable to their "Synod of Bishops" rather than to the Patriarch in matters of orthodoxy and discipline. Though they employ a liturgy which is very different from that used in the West, they are none the less Catholic, and of ancient and Apostolic origin.

There are many Catholic Churches which, today, belong to the Orthodox family. Many have a national or ethnic character. All are completely self governing. Some, such as the Russian Orthodox Church, have their own Patriarch. Each shares a communion with the other Churches of Orthodoxy. Though formed at different times, all are said to have entered schism, i.e. severed relations, with Rome in 1054 in response to un-historical assertions of Papal Authority.

Western Catholic Christianity experienced an authoritarian approach to leadership under the control of the Patriarch/bishop of Rome, the Pope. Propelled by a vacuum of civil leadership after the fall of the Western Roman Empire and fueled by medieval political intrigues, the Popes soon asserted greater and greater authority. Through the years, assertions of Papal power and authority have frequently led to conflict and scandal. The Great Schism of 1054 in which Roman Catholicism split Christianity by breaking ties with Easter Orthodoxy, the scandalous conduct of the Renaissance Church, the Reformation of the sixteenth century, and numerous smaller schisms which have occurred since, can be traced to this authoritarian approach.

Western Independent Catholic Churches (i.e. those whose roots are through the Roman Catholic Church) include the Old Catholic Church, the Catholic Ecumenical Catholic Communion and the Catholic Church of America to name three, but as previously stated, there are many more.  These churches or for a better representation, these jurisdictions were formed in response to both the over centralization of the western church in Rome and a local need for a theology, spirituality and liturgy that spoke to and with the people.  Each has maintained a Catholic identity, Apostolic Succession, and continue Sacramental and liturgical worship, and follow the Traditions of the historic church.