When people hear about Catholics, they usually think about the Roman Catholic Church. But, although it's the largest branch of Catholicism, it isn't the only one! Independent Catholics have been around since the 1700's and have roots in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches. Like the Early Church, our communities are independent, a model that served well for centuries before the role and power of the Bishop of Rome was expanded. Today, many Catholics choose to belong to faith communities that are not under the jurisdiction of the Vatican.

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost [Spirit], born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell: The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick [living] and the dead: I believe in the Holy Ghost [Spirit]: I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints: The forgiveness of sins: The resurrection of the body: And the life everlasting. Amen.

Thoughts on the Church
from Henri J. M. Nouwen

The Church is the people of God. The Latin word for "church," ecclesia comes from the Greek ek, which means "out," and kaleo, which means "to call." The Church is the people of God called out of slavery to freedom, sin to salvation, despair to hope, darkness to light, an existence centered on death to an existence focused on life.

When we think of Church we have to think of a body of people, traveling together. We have to envision women, men, and children of all ages, races, and societies supporting one another on their long and often tiresome journeys to their final home...

We often limit the Church to the organisation of people who identify themselves clearly as its members. But the Church as all people belonging to Christ, as that body of witnesses who reveal the living Christ, reaches far beyond the boundaries of any human institution. As Jesus himself said: The Spirit "blows where it pleases" (John 3:8). The Spirit of Jesus can touch hearts wherever it wants; it is not restrained by any human limits.

There is a communion of saints witnessing to the risen Christ that reaches to the far ends of the world and even farther. It embraces people from long ago and far away. It is that immense community of men and women who through words and deeds have proclaimed and are proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus.

Questions from Anthony,
a disenfranchised Roman Catholic

I really would like to know what connection your Church has to the Roman Catholic Church.

There are many ways of looking at a relationship … and the Church is—in my not so humble opinion—supposed to be a relationship. “My church” would see the members of the Roman Church as brothers and sisters in Christ although a number of the Roman Catholics would see the members of my church at best as “separated brethren” and at worst as “heretics and schismatics.”

But, I must say that many of the Roman catholic clergy and faithful have been very supportive of our ministry and what we hope to accomplish for the REign of God.

In very technical terms, some in the Roman Church would see our church as “valid” but “illicit.” Valid in that our sacraments are the same and are supported by the same apostolic succession of Roman clergy but illicit—"unlawful"—because we function without papal approval or the oversight of the local Roman Catholic bishop.

My own opinion vis-à-vis the Roman opinion about our church is spelled out on the “validity” page.

How were you ordained, in which Church I mean.

I am ordained in the Independent Catholic Movement (also called the Independent Sacramental Movement), a loose federation of independent churches/communities that trace our apostolic succession back into the one, holy catholic and apostolic church by way of the Old Catholic Churches of Europe or some of the newer independent catholic churches of South America. In some ways we are Catholic in belief but Congregational in government, the local congregation has a lot more say about its community life than a Roman parish might.

I was ordained with the same ritual (for the most part) as any Roman Catholic priest by bishops standing in the so-called Apostolic Succession. I was ordained a deacon in 1989 by Bishop C. David Luther whose succession came from a Brazilian Roman Catholic bishop named Carlos Duarte Costa; I was ordained a priest in 1990 by Bishop Paul Diederich whose succession was almost identical to that of C. David Luther; and, I was ordained a bishop in 2000 by Archbishop Roland Salvador, Bishop Joseph Johnson, Bishop Raymond Contois and Bishop Dennis Dumais. Salvador, Contois and Dumais received their succession by way of the Old Catholic Churches in Europe (+Dominique Marie Varlet succession), Johnson by way of the same Brazilian Roman Catholic Bishop (+Carlos Duarte Costa succession).

I love my Catholic faith, but no longer feel that I belong there.

I was baptized Roman Catholic and so raised and hear you—the hardest thing in my life was when I felt God call me out of the Roman Church to serve him elsewhere …

What similarities does your Church have to the Church of Rome theologically?

Well, as you might have guessed we don’t believe in Papal Infallibility. We do believe most everything else that the Roman Catholic Church teaches, at least as far as doctrine goes. We ascribe to the Nicene Creed for basic tenets and our ceremonies are very close to those of the Roman Church. We are less dogmatic than our Roman brothers and sisters and allow that the disciplines of the church can change with the needs of culture and the learnings we receive from modern science. We allow for the ordination of women, we are “open and affirming” of the members of the GLBTQ community, we allow for married as well as celibate clergy, and for the responsible use of birth control—although we tend to not allow for abortion as a means of birth control. We also have an Open Communion; we do not turn folks away nor require our members to abstain when visiting other churches that celebrate open communion.

I wasn't raised Catholic, is there room for me in your church?

Our cathedral parish enjoys the status of "Ecumenical Parish" within the International Council of Community Churches (ICCC); in other words, we have members who come from a variety of backgrounds and theological stances.  You may not realize it at first glance, but our current members come to us by way of the Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Congregational traditions.   Part of our Cathedral Parish's particular charism is the acknowledgment of the mystery of "unity in diversity" and it is in this spirit that when we say "All are welcome" we really mean "ALL are welcome."