Simply Catholic and Welcoming You

Church Schisms, Names and Validity of Catholic Churches

A Simple Catholic Altar Ready For Easter Mass. Eastern Churches have much more Elaborate Altar set ups and Vestments than Western Churches.

The church schism between the Eastern and Western church over Rome’s authority began long before Vatican I. In 867, Patriarch Photios convened the Council of Constantinople that excommunicated Pope Nicholas I for asserting authority “over every church,” condemning his claim to universal jurisdiction as non-canonical. This action foreshadowed the Great Schism of 1054, when the Eastern Churches officially separated from the "church of Rome", with the Patriarch of the Eastern Churches and the pope (patriarch of the Western/Roman Church) each excommunicating the other.

A millennium later, at Vatican I, Old Catholics, the term again given to those IN the church not embracing papal supremacy and infallibility, stood against the exact same centralizing innovations. Patriarch Gregory II Youssef spoke in Rome on May 19, 1870 and affirmed, “Roman Pontiffs did not … exercise … universal jurisdiction … without exception. This definition would completely destroy the constitution of the entire church,” and he refused to sign the decree of infallibility. Resulting in another church schism, this time between Rome and the "Old Catholics" refusing to conform. We align with the East in rejecting papal infallibility and centralized power. We uphold the conciliar faith and unity of the early Church.

We respect the Bishop of Rome as the first among his peers.

We pray for him and his ministry.

Papal infallibility and universal jurisdiction were declared in 1870. These are innovations, not part of the ancient faith. Thus the name “ Old-Catholic” for those who refused to switch to the “new Roman” authority.

St. Brigit's Community Catholic Church is NOT in union with Utrecht, instead choosing to have female clergy and be fully inclusive for all people. Our choice of name reflects our stance and ministry. Catholic does not mean Eastern, Western, Latin or Old churches. Catholic literally means universal.

Each of the Catholic churches say the Apostles and Nicene creeds. Thus we all pray for the "one, holy, catholic and Apostolic church". To state things over simply, we hold the same creeds, we just don't agree on the structure of our administrations. (Yes there is more to it than that - I did say I was oversimplifying it.)

The acid test for Catholic church validity remains that the church be non-heretical while possessing full Apostolic Succession and valid priesthood orders. The rest is about interpretation, culture, structure, expression, language and so forth.

Please remember that the real church is the people, the body of Christ. Believers in a loving God, Christ, the Son and His gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit active in the lives of those believers to advance the Divine Commission of Christ. All ministered to by clergy in that full Apostolic Succession and using their valid priesthood orders to administer the sacraments of Christ to the people of Christ.

The rest is/are the institutions of mankind and subject to human error, as has been unfortunately proven again and again in each of these churches. Thus the call to follow the Spirit rather than accept the rule of one man, no matter how Holy or who actually appointed him (or Her).

The faith itself is a gift from the Divine but then subject to human interpretation and implementation, that is were the errors come in! Thus we take the stance that all decisions on faith and all scriptural interpretations can only be done by a council of bishops under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Not a decree from one man.

Church Schisms and the Recognized Validity of Other Catholic Rites/Churches

An Example of Greek Orthodox Vestments

Church schisms have and will likely continue to occur. Most Catholic churches recognize the Apostolic Succession and validity of priesthood orders of their sister churches. Indeed, if you've arrived on this page from its predecessor page "Other Catholic Rites" we even listed there several of the church canon laws specifically recognizing this very question of validity and mutual acceptance of clergy administering the sacraments.

So, do our sacraments “count” in Rome’s eyes?

Yes! Roman Catholic sources confirm the validity of Old Catholic and other Catholic Rites sacraments. Our bishops and priests stand in unbroken apostolic succession.

St Brigit’s Community Catholic Church is a federally registered not for profit with nine lines of apolostic succession including Roman/Latin, Eastern, Anglican and Old Catholic lineages.

The Roman/Latin Catholic Church acknowledges the sacraments of the Old Catholic Church and other Catholic Churches as valid. All of our sacraments are valid under Roman Catholic Canon Law!

(Source: Catholic.com)

Canon 844 Sub 2 of the Code of Canon Law and other canons, permits Roman Catholics to receive sacraments from other Catholic rites/churches clergy when necessary. (See our Other Catholic Rites page on this website for more details.)

(Source: Vatican Code of Canon Law)

Dominus Iesus (2000) affirms that Other Catholic Rite Churches possess “true sacraments and apostolic succession” and are “true particular churches.”

(Source: Vatican.va)

We are not schismatics who reject Christ

We are Christians who love the Church.

We honor the See of Peter as it stood in the first millennium, serving, not dominating.

Our forefathers chose faithfulness over conformity in 1870.

We are guided by the Holy Spirit, to stand with the poor, the marginalized, and the voiceless. This commitment comes directly from our conviction that justice, compassion, and solidarity flow from the faith of the early Church and our shared journey in Christ.

Those Roman Catholics who judge us for “rejecting Christ” or "not being the true church" are, in effect, rejecting their own canon law and bishops.

The Holy Spirit leads the whole Church. Christ remains the head of His Body. Unity means communion in truth and love, not submission to power.

We love Christ.

We honor Christ.

We seek theosis, union with Him through grace.

We were Old Catholic/Community Catholic because we remained faithful to the Church of the first millennium.

Today we choose to be called Community Catholics because we are no longer in communion with the Union of Utrecht, instead choosing to have female clergy and full inclusivity for all people.

We affirm the seven ecumenical councils.

We embrace apostolic succession.

We believe Christ is truly present in our sacraments.

Works Cited

1. Catholic.com – The Validity of Old Catholic Church Sacraments

2. Vatican Code of Canon Law, Canon 844 sub 2

3. Vatican.va – Dominus Iesus (2000)

4. USOCC.org – Validity of the Church

5. Union of Utrecht aka Old Catholics

Church Schisms, Names and Validity of Catholic Churches

Church Schisms and the Recognized Validity of Other Catholic Rites/Churches

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