- Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic)
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The Union of Utrecht is a federation of Old Catholic Churches, not in communion with Rome, that seceded from the Roman Catholic Church over the issue of Papal infallibility. The Declaration of Utrecht solidified this movement in 1889. The Union of Utrecht is in full communion with the Anglican Communion, as per the Bonn Agreement of 1931, and with the Philippine Independent Church.
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Theology and practices
The Old Catholic Churches reject the doctrine of papal infallibility; thus they reject the dogmatic status of the teachings promulgated in the Roman Catholic Church by such means, namely the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary. While Old Catholics affirm the Real Presence of Christ in the eucharist, they do not emphasize transubstantiation as the sole dogmatic explanation for this presence. Old Catholics generally refrain from using filioque and deum de deo clauses in the Nicene Creed and also reject a dogmatic understanding of Purgatory; however, they generally do recognize a purification by Christ's grace after death and include prayers for the dead in their liturgy and devotions. They maintain some basic Roman Catholic practices such as baptism by infusion (pouring of water) or the use of unleavened bread in the Eucharist. Additionally, they have many aspects in common with the Orthodox and Anglican Churches and Eastern-rite Catholicism, such as optional clerical celibacy.
The Old Catholic Churches tend to maintain a more liberal theological anthropology than the Roman Catholic Church. Thus, many churches of the Union ordain women to the priesthood. Angela Berlis was the first woman priest in the union, ordained in 1996. In addition, the churches of the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland offer the blessing of same-sex unions. The individual's primacy of conscience in ethical matters is stressed. Private confession is not mandatory, though it is practiced, and decisions regarding the use of artificial contraception are individual and discretionary.
Leadership
Individual member churches maintain a degree of autonomy, similar to the practice of the Anglican Communion. Each diocese of the Old Catholic Union of Utrecht has a diocesan bishop, and countries with more than one diocese have a bishop who is appointed 'bishop in charge' (or similar title). The Primate (primes inter pares leader) of the entire Old Catholic Church is the Archbishop of Utrecht (not to be confused with the Roman Catholic prelate who holds the same title). The current Archbishop is Joris Vercammen,[1] a former Roman Catholic, and a prominent churchman who serves on the central committee of the World Council of Churches.[2]
History
The mother church, the Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands, was established in the 18th century as a result of tensions between the local Catholic hierarchy and the Roman Curia. The other churches, such as the Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany, and the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland, followed suit after the First Vatican Council, which defined the dogma of papal infallibility.
The Polish National Catholic Church in North America resigned from the Union in 2004 over the ordination of women and the blessing of same-sex unions. There are no other bodies in North America affiliated with the Union.
See also
External links
References
- ^ See directory entry here at official website of the Union.
- ^ See his biographical entry on the WCC official website central committee pages.
Unifying institutions Old Catholic Archbishop of Utrecht · International Old Catholic Bishops' Conference · International Old Catholic CongressesMember churches Dependent jurisdictions Old Catholic Church of Croatia · Old Catholic Mission in France · Old Catholic Church in Italy · Old Catholic Church in Sweden and Denmark · St. John's Polish Catholic Cathedral, TorontoChurches in full communion Churches in the Anglican Communion Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia · Australia · Bangladesh · Brazil · Burundi · Canada · Central Africa · Central America · Ceylon · Congo · England · Hong Kong and Macau · India, North · India, South · Indian Ocean · Ireland · Japan · Jerusalem and the Middle East · Kenya · Korea · Melanesia · Mexico · Myanmar · Nigeria · Pakistan · Papua New Guinea · Philippines · Rwanda · Scotland · South East Asia · Southern Africa · Southern Cone · Sudan · Tanzania · Uganda · USA · Wales · West Africa · West Indies — extra-provincial churches
Churches in full communion: Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church · Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches · Philippine Independent Church
Categories:- Old Catholicism
- Religious organizations established in 1889
- Christian denominations, unions, and movements established in the 19th century
- History of Utrecht (city)
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