What is an "Old" Catholic?

 

 

 

 

What is an "Old" Catholic?

 

 Old Catholics trace their origin to Utrecht, Netherlands.  The Catholic faith was brought to that country in the Seventh Century.  Over the course of its history the Utrecht church gained a level of autonomy in its operation and regarding the consecration of bishops. 

  

 In the nineteenth century, several parishes in Austria, Germany and Switzerland joined the Dutch church forming the Union of Utrecht in response to the Roman church’s assertion of papal infallibility. This church became known as “Old Catholics” because they rejected this new policy and adhered to the old teachings of the Catholic Church.

  

The Old Catholics held to the Ultrajectine tradition that came from the early church. This teaching, explained by Fifth Century Catholic theologian St. Vincent of Lerins, holds that the whole church in Ecumenical Council is the only infallible voice of the Church.

  

Although none of the Old Catholic Jurisdictions in America are as yet under the jurisdiction of the Utrecht church, many of these churches trace their Apostolic Succession through the Union of Utrecht.

 

 

What do you mean by "Catholic"?

 

At the end of the First Council of Constantinople (the second ecumenical council) the attendees added to the creed adopted by the First Council of Nicaea the phrase “we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.”

 

This proclamation defined the parameters of this ancient and undivided catholic church.  The term catholic meant universal.  The term apostolic referred to a line of succession from the original apostles of our Lord. 

This ancient church was lead by many different bishops who could trace their ecclesiastical authority back to the Apostles. 

 

A line of succession, passed on by the laying on of hands, existed throughout the world of the Roman Empire.   Many of these bishops were held in a higher position of leadership.  Several of  them known as Patriarchs lead churches in large cities like Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Rome.   

 

Although, the leaders of the church often disagreed, this church remained essentially united until the Eleventh Century, at the time of the Great Schism.  (Some jurisdictions had separated prior to the Great Schism, but the Eleventh Century saw the largest split in Christendom.)  The holy catholic and apostolic church ceased to be a united church at this time and divided into many spheres of power.

 

The churches that are catholic are the various Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Assyrian Church of the East, Roman Catholic Church, Old Catholic Churches, and Anglican Catholic Churches.  (This is not a comprehensive list of catholic churches.)

 

Although this catholic church is not a united church, we believe that it is united in the hearts and minds of those who believe in and love our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

What are Liberal Catholics,

Old Roman Catholics, Independent

Catholics? Are they the same?

 

 

Perhaps you’ve come across a church that refers to itself as “Liberal Catholic” as a denomination – or maybe “Independent Catholic,” or “Old Roman Catholic.”

 

These names are not synonymous.  Within each description “Liberal,” “Independent,” “Old Catholic,” Old Roman Catholic,” a number of self-governing jurisdictions exist.

 

Most Old Catholic Churches can trace their Apostolic lineage through the Utrecht Union.

A number of churches calling themselves by various names claim succession through Utrecht: some through Roman Catholic Bishops who left the Roman Church (i.e. Carlos Duarte Costa of Brazil, Pierre Martin Ngo Dinh Thuc of Vietnam), some through Anglican bishops and some through Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Bishops.   And some of these churches have questionable Apostolic origins.

 

Of these denominations - Old Catholic, Old Roman Catholic, and Liberal Catholic – there are differences from one to the other in basic beliefs.

 

Old Catholics adhere to the Orthodox teachings laid out by the First Seven Ecumenical Church Councils:  First Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.), First Council of Constantinople (381 A.D.), Council of Ephesus (431 A.D.), Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.), Second Council of Constantinople (553 A.D.), Third Council of Constantinople (680 A.D.), andSecond Council of Nicaea (787 A.D.)

 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON THE EARLY CHURCH COUNCILS.

 

 

Click Here to Return to our Main Page: http://www.occms.org/