Old Catholic church

• Formation: 1724, 1871
• Founders: Cornelius van Steenoven (1724), Johann Joseph Ignaz von Döllinger and others (1871)

The Old Catholic Church is a relatively small community of formerly Roman Catholic Western Christians who separated from the papacy over issues of doctrine. The schism occurred over a long period of time, but the specific cause of the movement, the one that spawned the Old Catholic Church, was the first Vatican Council of 1869–70. It was during this meeting that the Roman Catholic Church adopted the doctrine of papal infallibility in matters of faith and morality.

The Old Catholic Church has been a fluid community of Christians who believe that they adhere to the original traditions of the undivided Church. Although they separated from the Holy See of Rome, they consider themselves committed to the concept of Christian union. For example, Old Catholic churches and many churches in the Anglican Communion are in intercommunion, meaning that they recognize one another’s episcopates. The Old Catholic Church is a member of the World Council of Churches.

However, the name often causes confusion. The name Old Catholic may suggest a more conservative version of Roman Catholicism. In fact, this interpretation does not accurately reflect the nature of the Old Catholic Church. Many Old Catholic beliefs and practices are the same as those of the Roman Catholic Church, but the dogma of the two churches differs in many important ways.

History

Conflicts over dogma and the structure of the Christian churches are almost as old as the faith itself. For its first thousand years, the Catholic Church was undivided, but local bishops operated autonomously in communion with the rest of the Church. However, conflicts over leadership and canon law led to the East-West Schism (also called the Great Schism) of 1054, which led to the separation of the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.

Another major break occurred during the Protestant Reformation that began in 1517. But smaller disputes regarding faith and religious practice had arisen at various times throughout the years. One that occurred in the Netherlands in the eighteenth century eventually led to the creation of the Old Catholic Church.

In the early 1700s, the Church province of Utrecht was going to be placed under the direct control of the Vatican. Pope Clement XI suspended the Utrecht archbishop, Petrus Codde, and appointed a successor. However, the Church in Utrecht defied the order. Codde remained in place.

Utrecht was, in effect, an independent Catholic Church. The Utrecht clergy had elected Cornelius van Steenoven to succeed Codde, and the new archbishop appointed bishops and vicars who were not recognized by Rome. However, the laity remained loyal to the Roman Catholic Church, and in liturgical matters, the Utrecht church was identical to its Rome counterpart. However, the Vatican refused to recognize the appointed bishops for more than a century.

In 1853, Pope Pius IX assigned a new Catholic regime to the Netherlands, one that existed in parallel with the so-called Old Catholic See of Utrecht. Thereafter, the Utrecht splinter church was called the Old Catholic Church as a way of differentiating it from the Roman Catholic Church.

It was against this background that many Catholics in the northern parts of Europe rejected the First Vatican Council of 1869–70. This council continued the long effort to centralize power in Rome in the person of the pope. In time, the new doctrines of papal infallibility in matters of faith, morality, and universal jurisdiction (papal supremacy over local councils) prompted rebellion.

One of the leading scholars who disagreed with the new doctrines was J.J.I. Döllinger. Whereas northern bishops gave their allegiance to the dogma, Döllinger remained implacably opposed, and so he was excommunicated. Although Döllinger had no role in forming separate churches, he was an intellectual force behind their formation. Many Catholics in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland rejected the new dogma, believing that they were unsupported by tradition or scripture. As a result, they formed autonomous churches.

In 1889, these national churches joined with the archbishop of Utrecht to form the Union of Utrecht—the Old Catholic Church. The Declaration of Utrecht that created the new communion is the charter of Old Catholic doctrine.

Beliefs and Practices

The 115,000 worldwide members of Old Catholic churches are Christians whose beliefs and practices are generally quite similar to those of Roman Catholic traditions. These adherents accept the scriptures as the truth; they also accept both the Apostles’ and Nicene creeds, as well as the doctrinal decisions of the first seven ecumenical councils that occurred between the years 325 and 787 CE. For Old Catholic practitioners, the seven sacraments are a permanent obligation in the life of the Church. As with the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches, they believe the episcopate is a gift given by God to the Church. All of their bishops share in this gift and are part of a historical continuum that extends back in unbroken succession to the Apostles.

However, there are also significant differences between Old Catholic and Roman Catholic beliefs and practices. The Old Catholic Church has no central authority that is similar to the Holy See (the Vatican), and no single individual or hierarchy has ultimate discretion regarding issues of faith, dogma, or morality. The archbishop of Utrecht holds an honorary position, but the Conference of Bishops is the ultimate authority in the Old Catholic Church. Each diocese has its own synod, and clergy and laity together take responsibility for the life of their churches. Together, they elect bishops.

In another important break from Roman Catholicism, Old Catholic churches switched from Latin to local languages for the Mass almost from the start. In this way, they followed the lead of the Protestant Reformation. Confession to God through the intermediation of a priest is not required. Women have been ordained as priests. Although believers consider the Eucharist (Holy Communion) to be the core of their faith, Old Catholic churches offer it to all Christians, not just to other Catholics. Members of the Old Catholic Church believe that they are practicing Christianity as it was followed in the beginning.

Bibliography

“About Us.” The Old Catholic Church, theoldcatholic.church/about-us. Accessed 25 Jan. 2025.

Caruso, Robert. The Old Catholic Church. Apocryphile, 2009.

"History." Union of Utrecht, www.utrechter-union.org/en/about-us/what-is-the-ibc/history/. Accessed 25 Jan. 2025.

Horton, Victor James. The Old Catholic Church. Lulu.com, 2010.

The Old Catholic Missal and Ritual: Prepared for the Use of English-Speaking Congregations of Old Catholics in Communion with the Ancient Catholic Archiepiscopal See of Utrecht. Forgotten Books, 2015.

Owles, Fr. R. Joseph. Catholic But Not Roman Orthodox But Not Eastern: An Introduction to the Old Catholic Church. CreateSpace, 2013.

Queen, Andre. Old Catholic: History, Ministry, Faith & Mission. iUniverse, 2003.

Wagner, Archbishop Wynn. A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Old Catholic Church. Mystic Ways Books, 2012.

"Who Are the Old Catholics?" Old Catholic Diocese of Napa, www.oldcatholicdioceseofnapa.org/Who‗are‗the‗Old‗Catholics‗.html. Accessed 25 Jan. 2025.