UNIT 3: HISTORICAL ROOTS AND THE FRACTURE OF 1870
To understand why we are “Old” Catholic, one must understand the trauma of the First Vatican Council (1870). This was the moment the Roman Catholic Church fundamentally changed its governance structure, forcing a split that gave birth to our tradition.
3.1 The Dogma of Papal Infallibility
Before 1870, it was widely held (especially in Northern Europe) that the highest authority in the Church was an Ecumenical Council—the gathering of bishops discerning together with the Holy Spirit. This is known as Conciliarity.
At Vatican I, Pope Pius IX pushed through the dogma of Papal Infallibility and Universal Jurisdiction. This declared that:
- The Pope, when speaking ex cathedra, cannot err.
- The Pope has immediate, supreme power over every diocese and every Christian.
A group of German, Dutch, and Swiss Catholics refused to accept this “new dogma.” They argued it was a betrayal of the ancient faith. They did not leave the Church; they were excommunicated for remaining faithful to the Church as it had existed before 1870. They became known as the “Old” Catholics—those keeping the “old” faith.
3.2 The Inheritance of the AOCM
The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission claims this specific heritage. We are not “anti-Pope”—we respect the Bishop of Rome as a Patriarch—but we reject the innovation of infallibility.
From this Old Catholic root, we inherit three essential values that define our Ministry:
- Apostolic Continuity: We kept the bishops and the sacraments. We did not become Protestant.
- Doctrinal Balance: We stick to the Bible and the early Creeds. We do not add new burdens (like Infallibility or the Immaculate Conception) as requirements for salvation.
- Pastoral Freedom: We believe local churches should adapt to their culture. We do not wait for permission from a distant central office to serve the needs of our people.
This history is why we are Independent. It is not a rebellion against order; it is a preservation of the ancient, conciliar order against the centralization of power.
