Changes

There is no single Independent Catholic church. There are many such churches, with completely contrary beliefs to each other. Several of these hold the belief that they are the true Roman Catholic Church, and that the mainstream Roman Catholic Church has fallen into heresy or apostasy. We can group them into a few categories:

There is no single Independent Catholic church. There are many such churches, with completely contrary beliefs to each other. Several of these hold the belief that they are the true Roman Catholic Church, and that the mainstream Roman Catholic Church has fallen into heresy or apostasy. We can group them into a few categories:

==Old Catholic Church==

==Old Catholic Church==

*the '''Old Catholic Church''' was founded in 1870 by those who rejected the declaration of [[Papal Infallibility]] by the [[First Vatican Council]]. Other than that, they accepted the bulk of traditional Catholic teachings. They became attached to the See of Utrecht in the Netherlands, which had split from the Roman Catholic Church in the 1700s (partially over the issue of [[Jansenism]]). In more recent decades, the Old Catholic "Union of Utrecht" has moved in an increasingly liberal direction, accepting [[married priests]], [[women priests]], and increasingly accepting [[homosexuality]].

*the '''Old Catholic Church''' was founded in 1870 by those who rejected the declaration of [[Papal Infallibility]] by the [[First Vatican Council]]. Other than that, they accepted the bulk of traditional Catholic teachings. They became attached to the See of Utrecht in the Netherlands, which had split from the Roman Catholic Church in the 1700s (partially over the issue of [[Jansenism]]). In more recent decades, the Old Catholic "Union of Utrecht"<ref>https://www.utrechter-union.org/en/welcome/</ref> has moved in an increasingly liberal direction, accepting [[married priests]], [[women priests]], and increasingly accepting [[homosexuality]].The Conservative Union of Scranton<ref>https://theunionofscranton.org/</ref> was formed as result.

 

*the '''Liberal Catholic Churches''' <ref>https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/liberal-catholic-churches</ref><ref>http://www.theliberalcatholicchurch.com/</ref> started when some members of the Old Catholic Church, especially in the English-speaking world, developed an interest in [[theosophy]] and the [[occult]]. They retain many of the outer practices of the Old Catholic Church, but have augmented Catholic theology with theosophy. They have splintered into a number of competing churches. Most of them share the social liberalism which has developed in the Old Catholic Church.

==Traditionalist Catholic==

==Traditionalist Catholic==

*'''Traditionalist Catholic''' groups, which rejected the liturgical reforms of the [[Second Vatican Council]] exist along a spectrum. At one end, some exist definitely within the framework of the generally-recognized Roman Catholic Church; at other end, others have in effect established entirely separate churches. There are several positions in between with ambiguous relations to the mainstream Roman Catholic Church. In more detail:

*'''Traditionalist Catholic''' groups, which rejected the liturgical reforms of the [[Second Vatican Council]] exist along a spectrum. At one end, some exist definitely within the framework of the generally-recognized Roman Catholic Church; at other end, others have in effect established entirely separate churches. There are several positions in between with ambiguous relations to the mainstream Roman Catholic Church. In more detail: