THE OLD CATHOLIC CHURCHES INTERNATIONAL, can trace it's origins back to the Old Catholic Church movement that began in the Netherlands. The reluctance of Pope Clement XI to appoint a Bishop to the Diocese of Utrecht (Holland) for nearly thirty years, frustrates Catholics in the Netherlands and prompts them to sever ties with Rome. They gain the support of two sympathetic Roman Catholic bishops, Archbishop Luke Fagan of Ireland and Bishop Dominique Varlet of France. These two bishops travel to Holland to consecrate Father Cornelius von Steenoven (at the time all three being Roman Catholic clerics), as the new Bishop of Utrecht to the Roman Church in Holland (October 1724). They are censured by the Pope for doing this without any Papal Mandate. They join a growing number of bishops in Europe; primarily France, Holland and Germany who continue to be at odds with the Pope and the Catholic Church in Rome.
In 1854 Pope Pius IX declares that the Pope speaks "ex cathera", that is with complete authority and infallibility, in matters of church dogma. At the First Vatican Council (1870) this position is embraced by Italian Cardinals and bishops, but many bishops from northern Europe feel slighted, they believed the system in place (prayer, deliberation and discussion) served better to steer the Church. They seek to debate the matter, but are abruptly silenced by the outbreak of war- the Prussian invasion of France. In fact, the First Vatican Council is never formally adjourned. Returning home to their own countries, these dissenting bishops eventually break from the Roman Catholic Church and begin what becomes The Old Catholic Church movement; "old" in this case referring to "the way things were before." They obtain recognition and support from The Church of England, which brings an Anglican influence- allowing priests to marry, disputing the infallibility of the Pope, ordination of women and making the Sacraments available to persons normally excluded by Roman Catholic doctrine; such as divorced or gay and lesbian persons and those who have been away from the Church and marginalized by it. Also support came from the Eastern Orthodox Churches, which is why to this date many of our Bishops are also consecrated in the Orthodox Line of Apostolic Succession as well as the Roman line.
Celebrating this progressive theology which began the Old Catholic movement, The American Province of THE OLD CATHOLIC CHURCHES INTERNATIONAL today; is better prepared to address the spiritual needs and concerns of most Catholic Americans. We permit priests to marry, ordain women (we joyously uplift the first female Black Catholic Bishop- The Very Rev. Tonya Frierson of our Diocese of Tennessee and Kentucky), welcome gay and lesbian persons into active church participation- including ordination, we allow a woman her right of choice and make available the Sacraments to divorced persons and others normally excluded by Roman Catholic doctrine. All while adhering to basic Catholic worship traditions and beliefs. We are proud to retain all claims and Documents of Apostolic succession and Sacramental authority. There are Old Catholic churches and clergy of The OCCI represented throughout the world. The OCCI is a proud member of The Order of Corporate Reunion, founded in 1874- which continues to this day to advocate a complete resolution to the Roman Catholic position that Aposotolic Succession is exclusive to Roman Catholics clergy.
In a Papal declaration, Dominus Iesus (August 6, 2000) Pope John Paul II affirmed that "there exists a single Church of Christ and, while not existing in perfect communion with the Roman Catholic Church, they (Old Catholics) remain united by closest bonds of Apostolic succession and adoration of the most Holy Eucharist and blessed Mary, Mother of God."
Most recently on November 1, 2014 Pope Francis reiterated that the Roman Catholic Church and Old Catholic Churches should continue to work together toward common goals and dialogue. For Pope Francis' statement on this subject, please CLICK HERE