Independent Catholic Churches

Independent Catholic Churches are, by and large, small Churches which have a claim to the valid tactile Apostolic Succession of their bishops, derived from one of the larger bodies or traditions claiming such succession. These Independent Catholic bishops are sometimes derided in mainstream Christian circles as "vagantes" or "wandering bishops." However, at least according to Roman Catholic theology, this situation in no way compromises their status as bishops per se.

Related Topics:
Apostolic Succession - Bishops - "vagantes"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Virtually all of the Independent Catholic Churches worship according to a set liturgy, one either derived from a mainstream historic Christian rite, such as the Syriac, Byzantine, or Roman, one that is some combination of these, or one that is unique to the Church in question. All are episcopal in polity, being led by bishops and priests, who are assisted by deacons. Most hold to some type of sacramental understanding of the Christian faith, closely related to those of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian, or the Anglican Churches. Most also hold to the Nicene Creed, but interpretations vary.

Related Topics:
Liturgy - Rite - Episcopal - Bishops - Priests - Deacons - Sacramental - Christian - Roman Catholic - Eastern Orthodox - Oriental Orthodox - Assyrian - Anglican - Nicene Creed

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, these Churches are divided with regard to the ordination of women, the ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians, the acceptability of same-sex marital unions, abortion, contraception, divorce, and other issues which are also controversial in more mainstream sections of Christianity, whether Roman Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, or Orthodox. However, unlike most of their more conventional counterparts, these Churches, usually being quite small, tend to be fairly internally homogenous with regard to these issues; in other words, divisions on these and other questions are between these Churches, not so much within them.

Related Topics:
Ordination of women - Ordination - Christianity - Protestant

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Additionally, some Independent Catholic Churches, such as the Liberal Catholic Church and the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch - Malabar Rite (the "Church of Antioch") are characterized by a theosophical or New Age orientation. Some, often describing themselves as "Evangelical Catholic" are High Church Lutheran.

Related Topics:
Liberal Catholic Church - Theosophical - New Age - "Evangelical Catholic" - High Church - Lutheran

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many of these Churches are offshoots of either the Old Catholic Movement, the Indian Orthodox Church, or both, and are small bodies usually consisting of one or more small congregations with a larger clergy:laity ratio than is usual in mainstream congregations. Some of these Churches, possibly turning necessity into virtue, have intentionally embraced an "Ignatian" model of parish organization, in which a bishop, not a priest, is the pastor of a parish and is assisted by a group of priests, an intraparish "presbyterate", as well as by one or more deacons. This model often prevailed during the first centuries of the Christian Church. Most Independent Catholic clergy are "tentmakers," pursuing their ministry as a part-time, volunteer calling while engaging in some other occupation in order to support themselves and their familes.

Related Topics:
Old Catholic - Indian Orthodox Church - "Ignatian" - Pastor - Parish - "presbyterate - Tentmakers

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some Independent Catholic Churches split off from or were expelled directly from the Roman Catholic Church or one of the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Others began life as Protestant Charismatic congregations that rediscovered both sacramentalism and the historic apostolic succession. Still others are offshoots of the Theosophical movement.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic - Eastern Orthodox - Protestant - Charismatic - Sacramentalism - Theosophical

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Continuing Anglican Churches are sometimes included in this grouping, but this is controversial, especially among the larger Continuing Anglican bodies, as is the inclusion of traditional Roman Catholic groups. The same could be said of the larger Old Calendar Eastern Orthodox and Ukranian Orthodox jurisdictions as well.

Related Topics:
Continuing Anglican - Traditional Roman Catholic - Old Calendar - Eastern Orthodox - Ukranian Orthodox

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While past critics of the Independent Catholic/Old Catholic movement noted a dearth of the well-educated and the successful among the clergy of these Churches, many highly educated and/or successful persons (published authors, composers, college professors, seasoned resigned Roman Catholic priests, and former Roman Catholic women religious and lay parish administrators) now number among the clergy of these Churches.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~