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We are Catholic Christian communities that are committed to the person
of Jesus Christ and to His teaching. We accept and believe the testimony
of His apostles who were His first disciples and eyewitnesses of His
life, death, and resurrection from the dead. It was these same disciples
who passed on to the church their own testimony about the person of
Jesus and the events of His life. Embodied in their testimony are the
very teachings of Jesus Himself.
The Reformation
After the Great Schism, the Roman Catholic Church continued to develop
in Western Europe. For the next 450 years, during the Middle Ages, the
Popes consolidated their power and extended their influence over the
Church and society. With the dawn of the 16th century, the Roman Catholic
Church was overloaded with moral and political corruption. Many concerned
religious leaders made efforts to reform the Church.
These efforts at reform became known collectively as the Reformation.
Two very different reformations resulted from these tensions. One became
known as the independent communities that became Old Catholic. They
were called Old Catholics because they sought to turn the clock back
and adhere to the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church prior
to the various schisms.
Some of the independent Catholic communities derive their Apostolic
Succession through the Old Catholic Archbishop of Utrecht. The Archbishop
of Utrecht traces his Apostolic Succession back to the Holy Apostles.
The independent and Old Catholics therefore have a valid line of succession,
a valid priesthood and episcopate with valid sacraments. The Roman Catholic
Church has never denied this fact.
Distinctions of the Independent Catholic Church
How do Independent Catholic Churches differ from a Roman Catholic Church?
The Catholics of our community do not accept the teaching of papal infallibility
and, therefore, are independent of the pope's jurisdiction. As a result,
we are not bound by some of the canons and regulations that are formulated
and enforced in the Roman Catholic Church.
Priests and bishops are permitted to marry.
Women are encouraged to be more fully involved in the ministry of the
Church. As Saint Paul wrote,"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave
nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Divorced people who remarry are able to be reconciled to the church
through the grace of God and, therefore, are not excluded from the sacraments.
Therefore, a divorced person may remarry with the blessing of the Church.
Artificial contraception is an issue of conscience between husband,
wife, and God.
Each Catholic is an equal part of the Church. Therefore, lay people
are encouraged to play a prominent role in the Church.
No Christian is excluded from the sacramental ministry. All baptized
Christians are invited to participate in the worship and sacraments
of the Church.
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