Old Roman Catholic Church in North America
Encyclopedia
The Old Roman Catholic Church was founded by Arnold Harris Mathew, Old Catholic Church
bishop for England
, on 29 December 1910. The Most Reverend Francis P. Facione
is the Titular
Archbishop
of Devon and the current Presiding Bishop
of this Independent Catholic
denomination. The Old Catholic Church
holds close to ideas of ecclesiastical liberalism
and is not associated with the Roman Catholic Church
nor general Protestantism
.
Bishop Matthew issued a declaration of independence of his followers from what he called "Continental Old Catholics" (Utrecht Union
) and listed "nine points of difference" between the two groups. http://www.orccna.org/history/declaration.htm
In 1914, Bishop Mathew appointed Bishop Rudolph Francis Edward Hamilton de Lorraine-Brabant, Prince de Landas Berges
, to establish the ministry of the Old Roman Catholic Church in the United States
. Shortly thereafter, Father Carmel Henry Carfora
, an Italian
Franciscan friar
who had left the Roman Catholic Church, was elected to succeed Bishop de Landes Berghes as Archbishop of the Old Roman Catholic Diocese of America. Following Archbishop Carfora's death in 1958, the North American Old Roman Catholic Church evolved into five autonomous but cooperating ecclesial bodies, one of which is the Old Roman Catholic Church in North America. http://www.orccna.org/history.htm
These groups, and others like them, are among those that are called Independent Catholic denominations, which are neither in full communion with the Holy See
of Rome
nor with the Utrecht Union
of Old Catholics.
While the term "Old Roman Catholic Church" is sometimes treated as synonymous with "Old Catholic Church", the Old Roman Catholic Church, unlike the Old Catholic churches, does not fully reject the dogmas of papal infallibility
and primacy of the Roman Pontiff
. Old Roman Catholic churches do not require clerical celibacy
and ordain married men to the priesthood. Some Old Roman Catholic jurisdictions are also open to the ordination of homosexuals and women, while others are more conservative on these issues.
The Liberal Catholic Church
evolved from the Old Roman Catholic Church and split from it over the question of Theosophy
.
Old Catholic Church
The term Old Catholic Church is commonly used to describe a number of Ultrajectine Christian churches that originated with groups that split from the Roman Catholic Church over certain doctrines, most importantly that of Papal Infallibility...
bishop for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on 29 December 1910. The Most Reverend Francis P. Facione
Francis P. Facione
Francis Peter Facione is the Titular Archbishop of Devon and the current Presiding Bishop of The Old Roman Catholic Church in North America, an Independent Catholic denomination.- Sources :*...
is the Titular
Titular (Catholicism)
In Roman Catholicism, a titular can be:*the cardinal who holds a titulus, one of the main churches of Rome. Such holders were initially by tradition native-born Romans . The first church in Rome to have a non-Italian titular was Santi Quattro Coronati: Dietrich of Trier was appointed titular in...
Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Devon and the current Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop
The Presiding Bishop is an ecclesiastical position in some denominations of Christianity.- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America :The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the chief ecumenical officer of the church, and the leader and caretaker for the bishops of the...
of this Independent Catholic
Independent Catholic Churches
Independent Catholic churches are Catholic congregations that are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church or any other churches whose sacraments are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church...
denomination. The Old Catholic Church
Old Catholic Church
The term Old Catholic Church is commonly used to describe a number of Ultrajectine Christian churches that originated with groups that split from the Roman Catholic Church over certain doctrines, most importantly that of Papal Infallibility...
holds close to ideas of ecclesiastical liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and is not associated with the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
nor general Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
.
Bishop Matthew issued a declaration of independence of his followers from what he called "Continental Old Catholics" (Utrecht Union
Utrecht Union
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...
) and listed "nine points of difference" between the two groups. http://www.orccna.org/history/declaration.htm
In 1914, Bishop Mathew appointed Bishop Rudolph Francis Edward Hamilton de Lorraine-Brabant, Prince de Landas Berges
Rudolph de Landas Berghes
Rudolph Francis Edward St. Patrick Alphonsus Ghislain de Gramont Hamilton de Lorraine-Brabant, Prince de Landas Berghes et de Rache, Duc de St. Winock , was an Austrian noble and Old Catholic bishop who resided in the United States.Prince Rudolph de Landas Berghes was born in Naples, Italy on...
, to establish the ministry of the Old Roman Catholic Church in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Shortly thereafter, Father Carmel Henry Carfora
Carmel Henry Carfora
Carmel Henry Carfora , raised Roman Catholic in his native Naples, Italy, was a co-founder and leader of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church...
, an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Franciscan friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
who had left the Roman Catholic Church, was elected to succeed Bishop de Landes Berghes as Archbishop of the Old Roman Catholic Diocese of America. Following Archbishop Carfora's death in 1958, the North American Old Roman Catholic Church evolved into five autonomous but cooperating ecclesial bodies, one of which is the Old Roman Catholic Church in North America. http://www.orccna.org/history.htm
These groups, and others like them, are among those that are called Independent Catholic denominations, which are neither in full communion with the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
nor with the Utrecht Union
Utrecht Union
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...
of Old Catholics.
While the term "Old Roman Catholic Church" is sometimes treated as synonymous with "Old Catholic Church", the Old Roman Catholic Church, unlike the Old Catholic churches, does not fully reject the dogmas of papal infallibility
Papal infallibility
Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error when in his official capacity he solemnly declares or promulgates to the universal Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals...
and primacy of the Roman Pontiff
Primacy of the Roman Pontiff
The primacy of the Bishop of Rome is an ecclesiastical doctrine held by some branches of Christianity, most notably the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion. The doctrine concerns the respect and authority that is due to the Bishop of Rome from bishops and their...
. Old Roman Catholic churches do not require clerical celibacy
Clerical celibacy
Clerical celibacy is the discipline by which some or all members of the clergy in certain religions are required to be unmarried. Since these religions consider deliberate sexual thoughts, feelings, and behavior outside of marriage to be sinful, clerical celibacy also requires abstension from these...
and ordain married men to the priesthood. Some Old Roman Catholic jurisdictions are also open to the ordination of homosexuals and women, while others are more conservative on these issues.
The Liberal Catholic Church
Liberal Catholic Church
The Liberal Catholic Church is a form of Christianity open to theosophical ideas and even reincarnation. It is not connected to the Roman Catholic Church, which considers it heretical and schismatic...
evolved from the Old Roman Catholic Church and split from it over the question of Theosophy
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
.
Archbishops
- May 1963 - 20 April 1974 Robert Alfred Burns
- 1974 - 5 January 1975 Andrew Gordon Johnson-Cantrell
- 12 April 1975 - Francis Peter FacioneFrancis P. FacioneFrancis Peter Facione is the Titular Archbishop of Devon and the current Presiding Bishop of The Old Roman Catholic Church in North America, an Independent Catholic denomination.- Sources :*...