Old Catholic Church facts for kids

This is an Old Catholic church in Jablonec nad Nisou, which is now in the Czech Republic. Some German Catholics supported a man named Döllinger when he disagreed with the Roman Catholic Church's idea of papal infallibility.

The Old Catholic Church is a name for a group of Christian churches. Most of these churches started in countries where people speak German. Their beliefs are quite similar to those of the Anglican Church.

What Are Old Catholic Churches?

Old Catholic churches are Christian groups that separated from the Roman Catholic Church. They are called "Old Catholic" because they wanted to keep older traditions. They felt the Roman Catholic Church had changed some important beliefs.

Why Did They Form?

These churches formed in the 1870s. This happened because of a big meeting called the First Vatican Council. This Council took place from 1869 to 1870. At this meeting, the Roman Catholic Church declared that the pope was infallible. This means they believed the pope could not be wrong when he spoke about faith or morals.

Many people, especially some professors and priests, disagreed with this new teaching. They believed it was a new idea, not an old one. So, they decided to form their own churches. They wanted to follow what they saw as the older, original Catholic beliefs.

The Name "Old Catholic"

The term "Old Catholic" was first used in 1853. It was used for the See of Utrecht, a church group that was already independent from the pope. Today, most Old Catholic churches are part of a group called the Union of Utrecht. This union helps them work together and share their beliefs.

See Also

• In Spanish: Iglesia católica antigua para niños