As the Institutional Church rose from the ministry of Jesus and became codified into the Eastern and Western Churches, there have been moments of debate that have led to new directions. In 1054, for example, the Roman Catholic Church caused a schism with the Eastern Church over the insertion, without ecumenical agreement, of a phrase referred to as the Filioque or "and from the son". Roman Catholic leadership changed the creed of the Church by being inserting "who proceeds from the Father and the Son." Since this breach, the Roman Catholic Church has promoted herself as the "one true Church." This despite being the Ecclesial body who changed the orthodoxy. In 1517 theologians and clergy stood against the Roman Catholic Church's abuse of power and greed. This stance led to the Protestant Reformation and the creation of what would become the Lutheran, Anglican, and Presbyterian Churches.
The year 1648 brought about the end of the Thirty Years' War - a war between nations in response to the Roman Catholic Church's desire to control nations with theocratic rule and nations' desires to rule themselves. This war produced what we now call the Great Enlightenment. From this era, secularism in the form of science, secular governance, and academia invited humanity to be led primarily by reason. In 1730, as The United States of American was being born, The Great Awakening brought about the proliferation of Evangelicalism and the solidification of Methodism. As the Roman Catholic Church became aware of their new need to compete in a marketplace of ideas, the First Vatican Council, Vatican I, was convened.
The Roman Catholic Church, as a result of Vatican I, created the doctrine of "Papal Infallibility." Also, Pope Pius IX scribed an apostolic constitution named Ineffabilis Deus. In his constitution, he established the doctrine known as the "Immaculate Conception." While this was a practice of some Christian communities, the Roman Church made it into dogma with no real theological support. These overreaches by the Roman Catholic Church were again met with schism. In 1871, in response to Vatican I, the Old Catholic Church of Utrecht was born.
Breaks from Rome continued to occur in the modern era. The Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church was created in 1945 by Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa. Duarte Costa disagreed with several moves by the Roman Catholic Church, including their closeness with fascist regimes. In June of 1945, Costa broke with the Roman Church, establishing the Igreja Católica Apostólica Brasileira or ICAB.
Vatican II was a further source of consternation among communities of Catholics who split from Rome, claiming that the Papal See was vacant and that the modern "Popes" were no longer the Vicar of Christ. These communities have been quite popular among traditionalist Catholics.
While it may seem like the word "Catholic" is synonymous with Roman Catholic, it is merely a word that means "Universal" or that the subject applies to all of humankind. Likewise, the term "Catholic" refers to a culture of people with catholic ideas - The Mass, the Sacraments, the need for clergy, and apostolic succession. This understanding of Catholicism is at the foundation of the growth of the contemporary Independent Catholic Movement.
Independent Catholic communities exist throughout the world. The Reformed Catholic Church is one such community. The Reformed Catholic Church offers valid apostolic succession (the passing on of the ministry through the laying on of hands through bishops from the time of the Apostles), the seven sacraments, the same offices of the clergy, the same rituals and rites, and many other overlapping prayers and other necessities.
What makes the Reformed Catholic Church distinct is that it's inclusive, affirming, and open to all. This vision of inclusiveness welcomes women, LGBTQ, and married persons to Holy Orders, welcomes LGBTQ couples to the sacrament of Marriage and welcomes all to the Eucharistic table.
The Reformed Catholic Church began its journey toward service in 1997 when several clergy from other Independent Catholic Churches came together to offer a radical vision of an inclusive church rooted in Catholic tradition's essentials. There were many growing pains and winnowing events throughout its early years. Eventually, Bishop Chris Carpenter (a former Roman Catholic Priest) established the Reformed Catholic Church as a non-profit 501 (c)(3) Church in 2016. This milestone resulted from many years of work toward creating Canons of the Church, establishing approved rituals, developing training for aspiring clergy, and further efforts to define the body of the organization. Since the creation of the Church as a non-profit, the Church has grown and thrived
Learn more about the Reformed Catholic Church on their web site and find a local congregation near you.
Abiding Presence Faith Community
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